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Yes, it is cheaper to move yourself than to hire professional movers. The average DIY move costs $120 to $2,300, while professionals cost $890 to $2,570 on average or up to $12,000 for the longest distances. While you’ll save on the cost of professional labor with a DIY move, you’ll spend more time and energy packing, loading, transporting, unloading, and unpacking.

The base rental cost of a truck is cheaper, on average, and they tend to offer more room than a container. However, the total cost depends on the rental period, distance, move size, storage needs, and travel costs. The main benefit of choosing moving pods is that you don’t have to drive a large truck by yourself, and they can double as storage space. Shipping containers are more efficient for long-distance moves than trucks. 

Start by removing any obstacles in the moving path, such as side tables, lamps, or other furniture. If your couch has legs, unscrew them. Measure the couch and the stairway to ensure you have enough room; if it seems unlikely, examine the shape and size of the couch and decide whether it might fit better up the stairway and through doorways on its side, held diagonally, or moved in an upright position.

Consider putting the sofa on a dolly to go up the stairs. It should be able to fit upright on a standard dolly with wheels. You’ll still need to lift the dolly—with the couch on it—up the stairs, but it will reduce the physical strain. The person holding the dolly should pull the couch up, while the helper should be on the other side, keeping the couch secure and steady.

If you don’t have a dolly, the person in front should lift the couch slightly higher than the person in the back to create more stability. The person in the back should also be the stronger mover, as most of the weight will be distributed there.

To pack mugs securely for a move, start by lining the bottom of a moving box with padded packing material like bubble wrap. Wrap each mug individually, tucking the ends of the bubble wrap inside the mug for a snug fit. For extra protection, consider using a moving box with built-in slots to keep the mugs separated.

When placing the mugs in the box, pack them tightly enough to prevent them from shifting, but not so tightly that they are under pressure. Fill any empty gaps between the mugs with additional packing material. To keep the box from becoming too heavy, it's best to pack no more than 10 mugs per box. Finally, be sure to label the box as “fragile” so movers know to handle it with care.