Having moved ourselves by hiring a van, ordering a man with a van, and going professional I can advise. We had the same situation as you on moving out of house 2. We moved 3 streets, farmed out the kids and got stuck in. Problem 1 was in those days, no mobiles, so if the phone was cut you off you didnt know about completion, problems etc. Couple moving out of our new place had done no packing as removers were booked to do this. They hadn't noted this. They turned up expecting boxes and furniture and found ornaments and books still on shelves.
In the meantime we are chased by our buyers to get out. So our stuff was on the left lawn, new bods stuff on the right side. Good job it didn't rain. When I got to new place I found hubby and his dad had loaded everything into the car port which was filled to the rafters. I nearly cried.
Our move this Feb was man and van. It snowed. A lot. Man said he wasn't coming out because the van was up a snowy hill, he had given the guys the day off and 'anyway, no one moves on a day like this' There are not enough @*! on the keyboard to describe my answer to him. We shared our new occupants removers who were great in an emergency.
Moving 3 weeks ago - got the professionals in. We are in our fifties now and I dont have the strength, the nerves or want the hassle. So, had a great team to move us 120 miles up the road, a split delivery to 2 houses and they didn't put a foot wrong. �950 well spent.
Get proper quotes, based on them visiting the house, verbal estimates (which some decline to give) are low to get you. The proper quote, in one instance, was double!!.
Undoubtedly the best move we ever did was into our 1st home. We had collected quite a few things and we had a removal van to take us. A lovely day helped by Mum and Dad. Dad was a removal man by profession!.