You’ve signed the lease and you have a move-in day. Now every Gen-Z or 20-something’s biggest moving dilemma: Do I beg my friends to help me move with the promise of free food, or do I actually adult and hire movers?
The last time my husband and I moved, we did the adult thing for the first time: we hired movers. And honestly? Game changer. We will never go back. Here are 5 things every Gen Z should know before hiring movers.
1. Packing Everything Ahead = Actually Important
However long you think packing will take… add at least three more days. We spent 2–4 hours most weeknights for two weeks packing, and every time we finished a room, we thought we were smooth sailing.
Wrong. The day before the movers came, I was walking in circles packing all the random things that slipped through the cracks. As someone who will repack an entire box just to keep everything from the same shelf together, the number of boxes labeled “misc” or “random stuff” was my worst nightmare.
The moment the movers arrived and the paperwork was signed, it was go-time.
Movers move fast. You will want to be 100% packed. No procrastinating. Ideally, nothing outside of a box when they show up. Since most movers work on hourly rates, time is literally money. You don’t want to be packing those random things while the movers do their thing.
2. Labeling Boxes Isn’t Just for Type A People
Writing “Bedroom” on a box might seem fine—until you're digging through five “bedroom” boxes at midnight trying to find your bed sheets so you can crash after a long moving day. Trust me: be specific.
We labeled each box by room (like Kitchen, Bedroom 2, Primary Bathroom) so the movers knew where to drop things off. Then, on the side of each box, we listed a few items inside.
For example:
BEDROOM
– Sheets
– Pillows
– Alarm clock
This not only helped the movers place boxes in the right rooms but made unpacking way easier for us later.
Pro tip from a first-timer: Pack a small carry-on suitcase with your essential “day-of” items. We threw in toothbrushes, skincare items, pajamas, chargers, and a change of clothes for move-in day. It was the one bag we didn’t lose in the chaos. It saved us from tearing through random boxes just to find a clean shirt or face wash.
3. Movers Work Fast—Be Ready
These are not your college buddies taking beer breaks. They hustle. Our moving team was only 3 men, but they were professionals. They immediately got to work wrapping our furniture and loading the truck.
When my husband and I moved the first time, we moved from a 1 bedroom apartment (and only 7 pieces of furniture) to our 1200 sq ft rental home with a U-Haul and about 6 friends. It took all day: 6 hours just to get everything to the new house. Then came the unpacking.
This time with movers, we had about twice the amount of furniture, and twice the amount of boxes. But the movers had all the furniture and all the boxes in our new home within 4 hours and 30 minutes.
And we didn’t lift a finger.
4. The Best Part? We Actually Had Energy Left
Once everything was off the truck, we had the time, and the energy, to start unpacking right away. No sweat-drenched friends, no time crunch to return the U-Haul, no collapsing on the floor with a pizza. Just a low-stress start to settling in.
We had a few friends and family stop by that afternoon to help us start unpacking. By dinner, we had unpacked our kitchen, bedroom, closet, and our books in our bookshelf (priorities).
We woke up the next morning to a home. Not a hellscape of boxes and stress to sort through before work on Monday.
5. We’re Not Rich–This Was a Strategic Investment
When we decided to move, we just assumed we would once again beg our friends and pay them in food. But the more we thought about it the more we realized it was probably worth the price to get the pros involved this time around.
We did tap into our savings account a little bit, but we did the math and decided it would be worth it for us.
If you're budgeting for your own move, make sure to factor in more than just the cost of the movers. Here's what else added up for us:
- Security deposit, pet deposit, and utility startup fees: Especially if there’s any overlap between leases, these charges can hit all at once.
- Moving supplies: Some movers sell boxes, tape, and packing materials—more convenient, but it adds up.
- Eating out on moving weekend: Once your coffee maker and cookware are packed, your local coffee shop and Chipotle will call your name.
- Hiring a cleaner for the old place: If you don’t have the time or energy to deep clean yourself, this can help you get your security deposit back.
- Little “new home” purchases: Think: extra shower curtains, storage bins, trash cans for added bathrooms. Things you don’t realize you need until you’re unpacking.
- Tipping your movers
We almost forgot this and had to scramble for cash at the last minute. Plan on tipping 15–20%, just like you would for good service at a restaurant.
Note: If you’re feeling bougie and really don’t want to lift a finger for the whole move, some moving companies also offer packing and unpacking services. We had the time and energy to pack and unpack, but if you have the resources, why not?
If you’re a Gen Z-er debating texting your group text or hiring for your next move, I get it. But after experiencing what it’s like to save the time, and sweat, and still having the energy to unpack on move day, we are never going back.
So no shame in choosing the easier route, even if it costs some money. Sometimes the adulting option is also the smart one.
[FAQ] Still Considering? Quick Answers to your First-Time-Hiring-Movers Questions
- How do you find good movers?
Especially in a big city like north Dallas, there are a lot of moving companies to choose from. I would start with talking to your friends and family that have used movers. We found 3 Men Movers through a friend who had recently moved and they had great things to say about the company.
Green flags: hourly rate that is broken down in 15-minute increments, good reviews, transparent pricing, noted care for things like antiques and furniture.
- What happens on move day?
Our moving team showed up right on time at 8:30, parked the truck in front of the house, and came to meet us. I gave them a quick tour of the house and noted the heaviest/largest things to move to ensure they were aware before they started loading. Then, the manager went over the contract with me, got my signature, and they immediately got to work.
Once they started, we stood by and answered questions when needed.
- How do I book movers?
If you haven’t received a quote, you’ll want to first contact the company to get a quote. Most moving companies will either send you a free quote or have a Moving Cost Calculator on their website. It’s a good way to get an idea before committing. When you’re ready to book, there is usually an online booking portal or contact form.
You can tell a lot by a company by how they communicate with potential clients. If it takes them several business days to get back to you, or if they don’t get you an official quote quickly, they may not be super organized.
Bottom line: you do not have to talk on the phone to make it happen. A Gen Z win.
- Do I need to pack fragile or antique things myself?
A good moving company will treat your things well. And they should also have a plan in place in case of accidental damage. Our movers wrapped every single piece of furniture with care and packed the truck carefully, too. We have a few antique furniture pieces, and after watching them wrap each piece of our six-piece, white, modular couch, I wasn’t stressed about the removable glass doors on our antique hutch.
That said, if you have anything especially valuable or sentimental, check the insurance policy in your contract before signing. Some companies offer coverage for damages, but not all do.
And seriously communicate with your moving team. During the initial walk-through of your place, point out the fragile stuff. If your great-grandma’s china cabinet has a history of falling apart when the wind blows, say so. Movers are pros, but they’re not mind readers.