How to Hire Movers to Load and Unload

Hire movers to load and unload a moving truck or storage container and you'll save money.

When you move, sometimes you don't need to hire a full-service moving company. If you have a truck or are renting a moving truck or a storage container, a good alternative is to hire movers to help you load and unload it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine your needs. When you hire movers to load and unload for you, they need to know what the job is to give you an accurate quote. You are hiring them for labor only, not for truck rental.

2. Know the size of the truck or storage container you need to have loaded or unloaded and the itemized goods to be loaded or unloaded. They'll need to know if you have any particularly heavy pieces of furniture, for example, to bring the correct manpower.

3. Check Craigslist. Many movers advertise themselves for hire on Craigslist. Log onto Craiglist. A direct link is provided in the Resources section below.
   
   Click on your state, then your city where you need to have the loading or unloading done. Scroll down and look under the Services heading. Click on Labor/Move.

4. Look through the movers who are advertising themselves for hire. Read each ad carefully and choose two or three to email, if possible, for more information. Use an email address that you create special for this purpose. Don't use your regular email address to contact potential movers.

5. Interview the movers by asking for references, if they are insured, etc. If these things are important, move on till you find movers who are insured and can give references. Often students offer moving services so hire who you are comfortable with.

6. Call moving companies to hire movers to load and unload. Many full service moving companies hire out their workers for just this purpose. See if they can meet all of your criteria.

Tips & Warnings

• Have a neighbor, family member, or friend with you when the movers come to load and unload your possessions.
• Often movers have dollies they can bring to help in your move. Ask if they can do that at no extra charge.

Resources

• Craigslist

[joanhaines]

on 8/1/2009 This is much better than imposing on friends to help. Everybody hates to be asked.

[Gottaloveit]

on 8/1/2009 I swear I'll never move myself again, especially with all the junk I've accumulated!

[Gardengates]

on 8/1/2009 I've moved myself and I've moved with movers. Getting organized and choosing a good mover can make the difference between a decent or dreadful experience. Thanks for the helpful suggestions.