When it comes to relocation, one of the first things is to decide who will conduct the moving. Should you do it yourself or ask for professional help in the process? You need to plan this big change carefully. This implies that you should take into account all the risks of DIY moving and compare it to an assisted one. Only then you can rest assured that your move will be as stress-free as possible.
Risks of DIY moving are not always apparent
If you are considering a DIY relocation, you should know that the ideal situation would be when:
- you don’t need to move too many things;
- you’re moving only a short distance from your current home;
- you’re taking care of just a few fragile, heavy or bulky items;
- you have plenty of time to safely pack your belongings while fulfilling your daily duties;
- you have eager friends that are free to help you (un)load;
- you move in one go, while driving your own vehicle.
What if this is not the case?
Every relocation should start with listing your belongings, downsizing if necessary, acquiring packing supplies, wrapping and packing, loading the vehicle, moving, unloading, and then unpacking your belongings. And all while you (try to) live your daily life, taking care of the administrative part of the relocation. Ask yourself, can you really do it all on your own and be on time? Or should you consider asking for assistance at some phase of the relocation process?
Risk of overspending on your DIY move
It is not difficult to guess why people choose to move on their own. We can’t ignore the fact that most of us are hard-pressed to save wherever we can. It seems logical to assume that it’s easiest to save on financially demanding projects like relocation. What complicates this is actually a very simple fact that it is even easier to oversee hidden or not so obvious costs following the move. You don’t need to think about those specific costs if you’re dealing with carmackmoving.com, because moving companies incorporate those costs in their price. However, you should always ask for a no-obligation, free, detailed moving quote before you make any decision.
Moving tip no. 1 – Avoid overspending at all costs.
The DIY move begins with renting the right-size moving truck if your belongings can’t fit in your own vehicle. If you’re moving long-distance, have you thought of the cost of renting a truck, cost of fuel, road tolls and taxes, parking fees, food, drinks, and lodging expenses? Furthermore, you will need to balance between a good-quality, but pricey packing material, and a cheaper substitute, that would put your items at risk of being damaged. Whatever you might save on packing material, you will likely spend on moving insurance (or even more). And it doesn’t end there.
Quite importantly, time IS money.
Risk of wasting too much time
Hopefully, you will manage to prepare for the long-distance move in your spare time. But, what if you can’t manage it and need to take unpaid leave? Preparing for the move doesn’t include only packing, but also gathering medical and/or school documentation, signing out of your memberships, changing your address and other information with relevant institutions and services. To avoid the risks of DIY moving it is very, very important to know in advance what to expect from the long-distance move, so you don’t get surprised.
Moving tip no. 2 – Don’t waste time. Invest it in more important endeavors.
There is also a matter of downsizing your inventory. It takes time to sort out your belongings and get rid of all unwanted and excessive items. This process requires your presence and effort, especially if you’re organizing a yard sale or giveaway. Searching for a reputable but affordable moving company is likely to take a while, but you’ll spend that time well. Especially considering the experienced service you will receive in return, not only for moving your belongings but (un)packing and (un)loading them. The best thing you could do if you’re still considering to move on your own is to start preparing for the move some 14 weeks in advance. That should be sufficient to arrange everything in a timely manner and don’t get too stressed out in the process.
Let’s say that you have plenty of time, but what about the experience and moving equipment?
Risk of damaging property and items
Truly, how much experience do you have in carrying heavy or bulky furniture? It is not enough to keep your belongings in one piece. You also need to take extra care of your property and your own health. The most common risks of DIY moving are different kinds of damage caused to and by your furniture. To avoid dented walls, scratched floors and chipped tiles, you’ll need to acquire protective blankets, dollies or harnesses. Even if you’ve arranged for special services for moving heavy furniture, you’ll still need to carefully handle any fragile items. Choosing adequate and sufficient wrapping and packing material is as important as properly loading your boxes. Make sure that the heaviest boxes are at the bottom and those other containers can’t shift or topple over.
Moving tip no. 3 – Avoiding damage and injuries during a DIY move is not an easy task. So, break a leg!
Risk of personal injuries
The most common types of moving problems are always the ones you think you can avoid easily. While you can quickly fix a scratch or a dent, you’ll want to be extra careful when it comes to your health and that of your helpers. Your top priority should be to assure that small kids or pets are nowhere near the action on moving day. If you can, bring as many helping hands and realistically asses your abilities to handle heavy items. Keep your pathways clear and free of obstacles at any time. After all, you don’t want to worry about a costly medical bill in case of a serious accident.
Weighing the pros and cons
The first thing to consider is – should you move on your own at all? Different circumstances require a different approach. This entails that the risks of DIY moving can be avoided simply by careful planning.
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