Moving house is no easy feat. It can be stressful and expensive, not to mention physically taxing. Lifting heavy furniture and carrying boxes all day is bound to tire you out, and then there’s still the problem of somehow transporting all of your things to your new home.

What will most Americans do for their next move: hire a moving company or rent a truck and do it themselves? Data from a recent CivicScience survey show U.S. adults are twice as likely to hire a professional moving company than they are to rent a truck for their next move. In fact, the majority of those asked (42%) reported that they would most likely hire a professional company. Only about 16% reported that they would make use of no external resources to move, relying only on themselves and their vehicle.

Combining those that would rent a truck and do it themselves and those who would rent a truck and hire moving help, it can be seen that more than a third (35%) of Americans are likely to use a truck rental company in their next move.

What’s More Important: Your Time or Money?

Income is likely the key driver behind how Americans plan to do their next move. The more a person earns, the more likely they are to choose convenience and hire a professional moving company. In fact, two-thirds (66%) of those who earn more than $150,000 a year reported that they are planning to hire a professional moving company, while only 29% of those who earn $50,000 or less a year reported the same.

Those who live in rural areas are more likely to favor renting a truck over hiring a professional company than those who live in the suburbs and city. Almost half (48%) of Americans living in suburbs report planning to hire a professional company in their next move.

The data also indicate people looking to move in a year or less are the least likely to say they will hire a moving company but the most likely to say they will use their own – or a borrowed – vehicle. Generally speaking, the farther into the future someone’s next move is, the more likely they are to envision themselves hiring moving professionals with a truck. 

The reality of the housing market right now is that the number of consumers who plan to buy a residential property within the next two years has jumped significantly since the start of the year. Those who say they will never buy a place of their own dropped significantly as well, so we are looking at a wild real estate market with a an influx of newly converted, soon-to-be buyers – who, according to the data, have the greatest likelihood to opt for renting a truck rather than hiring movers.

U-Haul Is the Go-To for Most DIY Movers

To better understand public opinion of truck rental companies, CivicScience asked over 2,000 U.S. adults about their experiences with different companies. The clear crowd favorite is U-Haul, with 55% of those asked reporting a positive experience with the company, and only 27% not interested in it. The figures for Ryder, Penske, Enterprise, and Budget Truck Rentals don’t even come close to U-Haul’s. Disinterest is high at 70% or more for these brands.

All in all, it seems that most Americans are going to be using some kind of moving assistance company the next time they change locations. With so many newly-converted buyers making plans in the next two years, moving companies and truck would be smart to prepare now, and learn how to appeal to first-time homebuyers.