If you’re planning on moving house in the near future, then you might be considering the merits of taking control of the move yourself.
This might be viewed as a cost-cutting exercise. After all, if every other aspect of the move is costing you dearly, you might be inclined to save a little by handling the physical act of getting your property from one place to another yourself.
Let’s consider the relative merits of the DIY approach, versus hiring a traditional moving company.
Cost Savings vs. Hidden Expenses
The most obvious cost saving here is that you won’t need to deal with the moving company and its fee.
This saving can be substantial, depending on where you are in the country.
However, it’s worth exploring the costs you’re incurring, too. You’ll need packing materials, fuel, and a suitable vehicle.
If you own a van, or know someone from whom you can borrow one, then this might make more sense.
Flexibility and Control vs. Time and Effort
If you handle your own move, then you’ll be in charge of every step along the way – right down to the way you assemble the cardboard boxes.
More crucially, you’ll be able to set your own pace and pay special attention to items of particular value. You should be prepared to set aside several days of your time in order to do this.
Also worth considering are the physical demands. Getting an entire household packed up and onto the back of a van is hard work!
Personal Responsibility vs. Professional Expertise
The people who work in removals have considerable expertise and experience.
They’ve encountered packing challenges of every shape and size, and they’re often able to quickly find solutions for new challenges.
They also tend to be covered by specialised insurance, which means that damage to items will be covered.
If you take the DIY approach, you’re therefore assuming a degree of risk. You might suffer an injury, drop something, or simply take a lot longer to get everything done.
Use of Personal Vehicles vs. Renting a Van
When considering the use of a rented van for your DIY move, ensuring you have temporary van insurance is crucial to protect yourself and your belongings during the process.
If you’re using your own vehicle, and it isn’t quite large enough for the job, then you might need to make many trips.
If the new house is just around the corner, then this might not be a problem.
If you’re moving across the country – or across the world – then the challenges might be considerable. Of course, larger items, like sofas or shelving units, might not even fit in the back of a smaller van – which makes hiring a larger one unavoidable.
She has been writing professionally for 8 years, with articles published in various print and online publications. She is an avid researcher and strives to bring her readers the most up-to-date information and insights on the topics she covers. Danielle is also an expert on home renovation, interior design and construction, and she loves helping homeowners turn their dreams into realities. When she’s not writing or editing, Danielle enjoys spending time with her family, gardening and exploring nature.
