Movin' on up: Change homes quickly and painlessly.

Byline: John Gallagher

DETROIT _ Between now and Labor Day, in the busy season for moving companies, millions of Americans will pack up and transport all their belongings to new homes. The lucky few will have employers pay the bill as part of a corporate transfer. But for the vast majority of people, moving day means aching backs, frayed nerves and a diminished bank account.

It needn't be that way. Moving may be a chore, but it's a task that lends itself to a host of money-saving _ and stress-busting _ techniques.

Your key decision is whether to hire professionals or do it yourself, either by renting a truck from U-Haul, Budget or another rental company, or simply by asking a friend who's got a van or pickup truck to help.

Professional movers cost more, but they can save you a lot of time, money and grief.

"I've moved enough times to know that I couldn't call on my sons anymore," says Judi Davis, a teacher who recently moved. She hired the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Detroit, and they completed the job in half a day.

"I learned a long time ago that it's important to get a professional," Davis says. "Somebody who knows what they're doing. And as your friends get older they say `no.' "