Is it ever a good idea to manage your move alone?
There are countless decisions to make when moving house. It’s hardly surprising that when it comes to actually moving, you just want the simplest solution. Professional movers feel like they fit that bill, but with average moving day costs now coming in at almost $2,000, many homeowners are wondering whether they could actually do without this additional cost.
That’s not to say that movers might not still end up looking like the best choice for you, but it is worth considering whether you could skip this hassle and simply do it yourself. Keep on reading for a few questions that could help you decide either way.
1) How easy is your move?
Some moves are significantly easier than others. This is especially true of local moves, which involve limited stairs, small drives between properties, and a timeline that leaves space for you to be back and forth.
However, everything becomes a lot more challenging if you’re moving long-distance, need to be out of your old property before you can access your new one, or simply need to traverse multiple staircases enroute.
Write a checklist of potential challenges, and be completely honest about how you’d manage them alone vs with a professional company. If you think you could find your own solutions, then it might be worth going for it. If not, then professionals are always worth the money.
2) What’s your plan for vehicles?
It’s unrealistic to assume that you can move yourself in a standard car. Even if you have limited belongings (which we’ll get onto soon), you still need space for big items like your bed, couch, and so on. So, it’s also worth being specific about how you intend to actually traverse moving vehicles if you do this alone.
Obviously, this needn’t be a problem if you already own a van that can fit everything you need to transport. However, even if you don’t,a DIY move could work if you know a friend with a van who’s willing to help. You might also want to consider van rental, which will be cheaper than professional movers in most cases. However, if van rentals are high, or you simply don’t have access to a van for any reason, then there is no realistic way to manage this alone.
3) How many belongings do you actually have?
Lastly, it’s worth considering how many belongings you actually have. For instance, if you’re moving into your first home, or if you’re relocating between fully-furnished apartments, then you might not actually have all that much to transfer. In which case, there’s simply no need for professionals to get involved.
Alternatively, you’re sure to struggle moving a whole house’s worth of belongings, especially if you’re a family of four or more. In this case, you should definitely do yourself a favor and call those professionals already!
Is it ever a good idea to manage your move alone? Maybe, and these questions could help you to know once and for all!
