Planning a move comes with plenty of decisions. One of the biggest is whether to rent a moving container or hire professional movers. Both options get your things to your new home, but they ask for very different amounts of money, time, and effort.
We at President Movers move homes in this city every week, so we will be straight with you. For some moves, a container is the right call, and for most full-home moves, hiring a crew works out better. This page walks you through both, so you can see which one fits your move and why.
We are a local moving company with a 4.9-star rating. We are fully licensed, insured, and WorkSafeBC compliant, and every price we quote is written down with no hidden fees.
Want a quick answer for your own move? Call us at 604-900-5433 for a free quote.
What Is a Moving Container?
A moving container is a large box that a company drops off outside your home. You load it yourself over a day or two if you need the time, and once it is full, they pick it up and drive it to your new address, or hold it in storage until you are ready.
The container does the driving, but you still do the packing and the lifting. That part is easy to forget when you book. In our years on the job, the container is rarely the hard part of a move. The hard part is:
- The two flights of stairs.
- The tight doorway.
- The fridge that will not turn the corner.
All of that is still on you.
What Does Hiring Professional Movers Include?
When you hire us, our trained crew comes to your home and does the heavy work for you. We:
- Wrap your furniture.
- Carry the boxes.
- Load the truck and drive it.
- Unload it all at the new place.
We can also handle the packing and unpacking of your stuff if you would like the full service. The idea is simple. You do far less, and our crew takes on the parts that cause the most stress and injury. A good mover reads a room in seconds, so we can see which piece needs to come apart, which one goes first, and how to keep it moving without a scratch on your walls.
Moving Container vs Movers: Cost Comparison
A moving container often looks cheaper at first, and for a small move it sometimes is. If your budget is tight and your load is light, the container can save you money.
But the sticker price is rarely the full price. On top of the base rate, you may also pay for:
- Packing supplies and moving blankets.
- A dolly.
- Every extra day you keep the container.
And if a box is packed poorly and something breaks, that loss comes out of your pocket. When you hire us, you get a clear price up front. It lists the crew size, truck size, hours, and fuel, so you know the full cost before we lift a single box, with no hidden fees and no surprises on the day. Once you add up your own time, your fuel, hiring local movers near you often costs less than a container first seems to.
Comparing Time and Effort: Which Option Saves More?
A container gives you time to pack at your own pace, and if your dates are flexible and you are in no rush, that can feel less stressful. But the whole timeline still rests on you. You pack it, you load it, and you fit it around work and family, so a move we finish in one day can take a full weekend when you do it alone. And you still have to unload it at the other end.
We work fast because we do this every day. We know:
- How to lift a heavy dresser without hurting our backs.
- How to pad a narrow hallway.
- How to load a truck so nothing shifts on the road.
Loading order matters more than people think, and getting it right is what keeps your things safe from your old door to your new one. We load and unload moving homes in a single day, which leaves you free to settle in.
Protecting Your Belongings During the Move
With a container, you can move at a slow, careful pace, which helps if you have a light load and a few strong hands to help. But lifting heavy furniture without the right training or gear is where most moving injuries happen. Sofas, mattresses, and appliances are heavy and awkward, and stairs or tight doorways make it worse, so with a container, all of that lifting is yours.
There is one more thing worth knowing. A container sits open on your property while you load it, and it is not climate-controlled, so bad weather, a slow leak, or a break-in is your risk to carry. Most container firms also will not let you pack certain items, such as:
- Paint, propane, and other things that can catch fire.
- Plants.
- Food that can go bad.
When you hire us, our crew brings dollies, straps, and padding to protect both your things and your home. We are fully licensed, insured, and WorkSafeBC compliant, and basic valuation is part of every quote. That cover, along with a crew that lifts the right way, is often the reason people choose us over a container.
The Middle Path: Rent a Container, Hire Us to Load It
You do not have to pick just one, because many people use a mix of both, and we are happy to help that way.
Here is how it works. You rent the container and keep it on your property, and we send a crew to do the heavy part. The lifting, the stairs, and the careful loading – so your things are packed tight and safe for the road. You still save on the truck and the driving, but you skip the sore back and the risk of a bad load.
This is a smart choice if you like the container price but do not want to carry a sofa down two flights of stairs. Just ask about our loading and unloading services when you call, since we load and unload rental trucks, pods, and containers across locations.
What About Storage Between Homes?
Sometimes your new place is not ready the day your old lease ends, and this is where a container has a clear edge, because it can sit in storage for days or weeks until you are set.
We plan for this too. If your dates do not line up, we can hold your things safely and bring them over when your new home is ready. Either way, a gap between homes does not have to throw off your whole move, so just tell us your dates and we will work around them.
When Should You Choose a Moving Container or Professional Movers?
We would rather point you the right way than win a job you did not need.
A container is the better pick if:
- Your move is small and your budget is tight.
- Your dates are flexible and you are in no rush.
- You have few stairs, or none.
- You have friends or family who can help you lift.
Hiring us is the better pick if:
- You are short on time.
- You are moving a full home.
- You are dealing with stairs or a high-rise in Metrotown or Brentwood.
- You are moving fragile or heavy items.
- You just want a calm, done-for-you day.
Most full-home moves include movers, and that is where a trained crew saves you the most time, stress, and risk.
Why Families Choose President Movers for Moving Homes
We are a local, moving team with a 4.9-star rating and years of experience across the Lower Mainland. We know the buildings here, the strata rules, and the elevator bookings that shape a smooth move. We even know when you need a Street Occupancy Permit from the City to park the truck out front.
Here is what you can count on with us:
- A vetted crew — every mover is a full-time worker, background-checked and drug-tested, never a same-day hire.
- A written price — clear and upfront, with no hidden fees.
- Full cover — we are fully licensed and insured.
- No weekend charge — we work seven days a week, evenings and weekends too, at our standard rates.
Whether you need residential movers for a house or need a hand with a small condo move, we treat each with the same care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far ahead should I book my move?
It is best to book a few weeks ahead, and even earlier during the busy summer months when dates fill up fast. If your dates are flexible or you are moving in the off-season, you can often book a little closer to the day.
Can you load a container I already rented?
Yes, and this is one of our most-asked jobs. You keep the container on your property, and our crew handles the lifting and loading for you, so your things are packed tight and safe for the road.
Do you charge extra for stairs or a high-rise?
No, there are no hidden stair fees. We look at your building when we quote, so the price you see is the price you pay, elevator bookings and all.
Is my stuff covered if something breaks?
Yes, we are fully licensed and insured, and basic valuation is part of every quote. A container, on the other hand, leaves that risk on you.
Do you work weekends?
Yes, we move seven days a week, evenings and weekends too, and we do it all at our standard rates with no weekend charge.
Get a Free Quote Today
Not sure which option is right for your move? Tell us the details, and we will give you a clear, honest quote, so you can choose with full confidence.
Call us at 604-900-5433, or request your free quote online today.
Contact President Movers
- Burnaby Office: 5535 Hastings St #105, Burnaby, BC V5B 4S7
- Vancouver Office: 833 Seymour St, Vancouver, BC V6B 0G4