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The dilemma is real: Trying to execute a full-service sized move on a DIY budget.
Most people agree that moving is one of life’s most stressful events because the checklist is a mile long and disrupts your life for weeks. Doing it all or paying to hire everything aren’t always realistic options.
What can you do when you’re moving and don’t really have enough time or a big budget? You don’t have to choose between going all-in with a mover or DIY. There are options that save you time and money.
“What if you could get the hardest parts handled — without paying for everything?”
Keep reading for a better way to approach moving that disrupts life less and supports your budget with flexible moving strategies.
In this guide:
- Flexible move strategies
- How much they cost
- The benefits of a flex-move
- Other ways to save time and money
Best Flexible Move Options to Save Time & Money if You Can’t Afford a Mover for Everything
No one enjoys weeks of late-night packing sessions, wrestling with cheap tape, and wading through what looks like a million boxes. And that’s before moving day.
Moving sucks because you:
- Pack: Everything that fits into a box
- Lift & Load: All the heavy things
- Squeeze: Bulky & awkward items through doorways
- Load & Unload: All your belongings from the old place and into the new one
- Unpack: Everything you packed into a box
Moving in Colorado or anywhere consumes your life for days, weeks or months. It’s exhausting and ... better when you hire a mover to do everything. That’s expensive.
For a detailed breakdown of moving costs, read How Much Do Movers Cost? Insider Pricing Answers to Budget Smart and Save .
So why not hire a mover for the most time-consuming part and DIY the rest? Consider a meet-in-the-middle way to move, or a flexible move, so you don’t stress over time or money.
What Realistic Moving Strategies Help When I Split the Work with a Mover?
Moving used to be all or nothing. You either moved yourself or hired a mover to handle everything — and paid full-service pricing. Thankfully, things have changed.
Imagine a less scary move – having to do less and money isn’t such a big decision.
Mix and match services, whether it’s a local or intrastate move within Colorado, or an interstate one.
Here are the best and realistic flexible moving strategies:
- We Pack & You DIY Load and Unload
- You DIY Pack & We Load and Unload
- You DIY Pack, Load and Unload, & We Unpack
Learn about Bailey’s Moving’s financing before booking your move.
We Pack & You DIY Load and Unload Option: What It Is, Costs, and Benefits
Packing is one of the biggest reasons people hate moving. Who has spare time, patience, or mental bandwidth to pack, tape, and label all those boxes?
Why Americans Hate Packing
Top reasons (survey results)
Biggest pain points
Time-consuming
43% of respondents
Difficult
37% of respondents
Emotional toll
Dreaded
36% of respondents
Stressful
34% of respondents
Source: Airtasker survey (as cited in the article draft).
Packing Services: What’s Included and What They Cost
Packing overwhelm is real. Trying to guess how many boxes you’ll need or how much to pack each day wears you down before you start. Skip the stress - hire a mover to handle the packing and check it off your to-do list.
What’s Included When You Hire Packing Services
Bailey’s Moving packing services include:
Packing Supplies:
- Cartons/Boxes (We call them cartons – Most people call them boxes)
- Tape
- Padding
- Labeling
Time and Labor:
- Packing all items that fit inside a carton/box
What Is Crating When I Hire for Packing & What Items Need It?
Bailey’s Moving supplies boxes for everyday belongings. But valuable, fragile, or unusually shaped items may need a custom crate — a wooden box built for protection.
Items that often require crating include:
- Large or oddly shaped mirrors
- Extremely large TVs
- Valuable paintings
- Taxidermy
- High-value art
- Large antiques
What About Specialty Containers?
Specialty containers (dish packs, mirror cartons, TV boxes) usually cost more. The most common higher-priced containers include:
- Wardrobe
- King/Queen Mattress
- Mirror/Picture
- TV
Packing: It’s All About the Boxes – How Many & What Size
The number and size of boxes are central to how much you’ll pay for packing. If you want an idea of how much packing costs, let’s break down how many you might need.
How Many Boxes? Average Number of Boxes Needed
- Two bedrooms: 60 – 70
- Three bedrooms: 100 – 200
- Four bedrooms: 200 +
Several factors impact packing service pricing, and each move is unique, so we’re giving you general price ranges. Your pricing might be higher or lower depending on how much stuff we’re packing, the number, and the mix of box sizes you need.
How Much Will I Pay for Packing?
Number of Bedrooms & Average Price Ranges:
- Two: $1,500 - $3,000
- Three: $2,500 - $4,500
- Four: $3,000 - $5,000
The Benefits of Hiring a Moving Company for Packing Services: Save Time and Your Sanity
Most people have more stuff than they think. It’s hard to accurately estimate how long packing takes, the number of boxes and rolls of tape you’ll need, and how much to pack each day. Fall behind, and you’ll scramble to finish on moving day.
Anytime Estimates compared what people think versus reality. Here’s what they found.
Estimates vs. Reality
Estimated: 2–3 days
Actual: 7–14 days
Getting a week or more of your life back is worth the cost — especially if you work full-time, have kids, or simply don’t want to spend your evenings buried in boxes.
If you’re DIY-packing, read How to Pack Moving Boxes the Right Way and where to find free moving boxes for tips.
Valuation, Because Things Break During a Move: How You’re Covered If We Pack Your Stuff
Things are lost or broken during a move, and it can be expensive to replace them. Movers will replace, repair, or reimburse you for items that break in a box they packed. It’s called Full Valuation and seems like a small benefit until something breaks. It helps you avoid the extra expense of buying replacement items after moving-day mishaps.
How Moving Valuation Coverage Works with Packing
A lot of people think that not having Full Valuation saves money, but this is one cost that can save you more at the end of moving day if your expensive TV or furniture ends up broken.
- We typically use our own boxes.
- Our cartons are designed to be more durable.
- Since we pack everything, all the boxes are covered if you choose Full Valuation.
Valuation works like moving insurance (though technically it isn’t insurance). Full Valuation covers your shipment at a higher rate based on your chosen shipment value and deductible.
If you decline full coverage, you get Basic/Released Value protection, set by federal law at $0.60 per pound.
Example
A 50-lb item worth $1,400 breaks → you receive $30.
Things valued at more than $100 per pound of their weight aren’t covered at their full value unless you disclose these items separately and in writing before your move.
To understand how valuation works, read Don’t Forget Valuation Protect Your Stuff If it Breaks on Moving Day .
You DIY Pack & We Load and Unload Option: What It Is, Costs, and Benefits
Large, awkward items often make DIY moving impossible without a strong crew. Movers can solve tricky situations — like lifting a couch over a balcony when it won’t fit through the doorway.
Hire a Moving Company for Loading and Unloading Services as a Smart Way to Move with Less Effort
Loading and unloading are the most physically demanding parts of moving. You might have helpers, but let’s be honest — they don’t want to be there.
Anytime Estimates found that 49% of Americans choose DIY moves.
because they have helpers, yet:- 29% of people used an excuse to avoid helping
- 39% of DIY movers didn’t get as much help as expected
Read our article for more on safely moving heavy items .
We call it “transportation,” but it means the same thing. We bring the truck, load everything into the trailer, drive to your new place, and unload everything.
How Much Will I Pay for Loading & Unloading Services?
You need to know how much it costs, so let’s look at average prices before the details on how they’re calculated. Here are ballpark ranges for loading and unloading:
Number of Bedrooms & Price Ranges:
- Two: $4,000 - $6,000
- Three: $6,000 - $9,000
- Four: $10,000 - $12,000
What’s Included & How Are Loading and Unloading Costs Calculated?
Hire a mover and spare everyone from the physical labor and the constant back-and-forth.
Bailey’s Moving loading and unloading services include:
- Transport: A truck and driver
- Labor: A trained crew to load and unload
Local Colorado moves are typically completed in one day. Costs are based on:
- Number of hours
- Hourly rate
- Crew size
Bailey’s Moving uses its own trucks for loading and unloading services.
Factors that increase time, labor, or crew size:
- Stairs: More flights = more time
- Elevators: Waiting adds time
- Long carry distances: Adds time and labor
- Shuttles: More common for mountain moves. Narrow, steep, or long driveways may require a smaller truck to shuttle items to and from the home
These situations are common in Colorado neighborhoods with hills, tight access, or older buildings.
You DIY Pack, Load and Unload & We Unpack Your Boxes in Your New Place
Unpacking services are one of the most underrated and least expensive moving services that have a big impact on your moving experience. Wading through a ton of boxes and trying to find items in a sea of unopened containers is stressful after an exhausting day or a few.
Hiring movers to unpack helps you organize, put everything where it belongs, and settle in faster.
How Much Unpacking Costs & What’s Included
It costs less than you think because unpacking takes less time and box size doesn’t change costs.
How Much You’ll Pay for Unpacking in Colorado
Price ranges for unpacking based on the number of bedrooms.
- Two: $1,000 - $2,000
- Three: $1,600 - $3,000
- Four: $2,000 - $3,300
What’s Included in the Cost of Unpacking with a Mover
Movers unpack everything and place items on flat surfaces or in the center of the room they belong in.
Unpacking services include:
- Opening and unpacking all boxes
- Placing your items in the room you specify
- Removing all packing materials
How Moving Companies Calculate Unpacking Costs in Colorado
Unpacking is charged per box, just like packing, except, specialty items don’t cost extra to unpack. It’s cheaper because it’s easier and faster to unpack.
Are you unpacking yourself? Read How to Unpack After Moving for helpful tips.
Unpacking Services: Big Benefits for Less Cost
Unpacking a hundred boxes or more is a daunting task, especially after a long moving day. Hiring a mover to unpack that sea of boxes and take the mess with them gives you a head start on your fresh start.
Less Overwhelm After Your Move
Unpacking is overwhelming. Over 25% of people take more than a month to finish unpacking.
The mover unpacks every box and places everything in the center of its designated room, so it’s easier to put it in the proper place.
Hiring a full-service moving company is the easiest way to move. Read What is Full-Service Moving and What Do They Do? to learn more.
Why Hiring Partial Moving Services like Packing, Loading & Unloading Saves More Than You Think
Hiring movers isn’t just easier; it also helps you avoid common moving mistakes and unexpected costs.
You Won’t Underestimate How Much Stuff You Have
Most people underestimate the amount they own. The weight of your inventory is often a wake-up call — what looks like “not much” can easily total 15,000 to 20,000 pounds.
Moving 15,000–20,000 pounds takes more time, labor, and money to pack and transport. Professional movers help you plan realistically from the start.
Professional Movers Pack You So Much Faster
Professional movers pack efficiently, stay focused, and can even help you downsize, so you’re not paying to move items you don’t need.
Professional Packers with Moving Companies are Trained – They Just Pack Better
In addition to time savings, movers have the experience to avoid packing mistakes that result in item damage during the move. Moving without at least one lost or broken item is rare, even with professional movers.
An efficient and experienced crew are less likely to break items in transit when they pack your stuff. Even the best movers can lose or break something, but hopefully you choose Full Valuation and are covered if they do.
How to Get Full-Service Moving Company Benefits & Still Pay Less During Your Colorado Move
Life is overwhelming enough — and then you move. You don’t need to choose between a stressful DIY move or an expensive full-service option. Instead, hire a moving company for the parts you dread or don’t have time for, and DIY the rest.
Packing, loading, and unloading services save money, protect your sanity, and make your move smoother — especially when you must move out before your new home is ready. You can get the full-service moving perks you want while staying within a realistic budget.
Want a flexible move plan that fits your budget?
Get a free quote from Bailey’s Moving and build a flexible moving plan that works for your timeline.
