A successful house move is, without a doubt, a lot easier when planning is done well in advance, and all logistics are mapped out for ideal moving house time frames.
This ensures that all packing is done on time and there aren’t any last minute worries or concerns about getting possessions safe and secure for moving from a current home to a new house.
When getting ready for a move, homeowners would likely be weighing up the costs of hiring a removal company versus doing it themselves for a house move.
Even more so, which option would save money, and make it a bit easier to move house.
Although it is up to each individual to choose how they would prefer to move, they should consider the pros and cons of both options.
In this article, we discuss how to move a house by yourself and when you should consider professional movers for the job.
First, let’s look at some considerations for moving with your own resources.
How to move a house by yourself
In some cases, moving house by yourself could make sense in terms of costs or transport.
You might be moving from a fully furnished rental to a new house, or you might be downsizing and will need to move fewer items to your new home.
Especially in the case of moving house with minimal items, you can certainly save money. However, you need to remember the limitations of moving a home on your own and how you will need to ensure that your possessions are kept safe at all times.
Considerations
A small move could validate doing the job on your own
Deciding to move your belongings on your own during a move could be easy if you have few items to transport.
Also, if you only need to travel a short distance, loading packed items into your car and moving them from one point to another can be easy.
Route planning can be easy
If you map out your journey for moving, it will take some of the stress out of the moving process.
Just remember to consider any events happening in your area that could impact traffic, as you will need to adjust the timings for your move in advance.
It can be easy to get all the packing materials that you need
Typically, the materials and supplies you will need for a move on your own would include the following:
- Sturdy cardboard boxes
- Bubble wrap
- Packing tape
- Packing paper
- Moving blankets
- Plastic bags
- Labels
- Marker pens
- Mattress bags
- Scissors and tape
- A hand truck (which you will need for heavier items)
- Cleaning supplies
- A toolbox (especially if some furniture will need to be disassembled)
- Cleaning supplies
- Protective gloves
- A box cutter
Provided you pack and plan in advance, your move should be seamless
Some homeowners might prefer moving house by themselves, giving them more flexibility and control over the entire process.
Provided you allow enough time for your move, as well as packing, loading, and unpacking at your new home, you should be able to navigate this new chapter in your life successfully.
Checklist for how to move a house by yourself
Over and above handing over keys, updating your insurance and new address details, and ensuring that all utilities will be operational when you are moving into your new place, it is important to keep the below points as well from a practical perspective.
Begin packing as soon as possible, starting with non-essentials first
Books, clothes you will not wear until the next season, and any other decor items or crockery can be considered here. Allow yourself at least one month to two months to have enough time for all items to be packed and ready to be moved.
Create an inventory list and label your boxes accordingly
Make sure your inventory list includes which items are packed in which boxes (numbering boxes according to the rooms in your current home will give you a good idea). This will ensure you remember all packed items.
Pack an essentials box
Are there certain items you will need immediately after arriving at your new home, such as tools or other items?
You can just add them to an essentials box where you know where to find them.
Make arrangements for your pets
It might be best to arrange for pet sitters or pet daycare on the day of your move, especially if you are moving on your own.
This will allow you to focus on the job at hand, and you will not need to worry about pets getting out of your property while you are loading boxes or furniture.
Ensure that you have enough petrol for your car on moving day
You want to avoid getting stuck at the side of the road with an empty tank, so ensure you have sufficient fuel.
Check your tyres as well to ensure that they are ready for the trip. If you are leasing a van, make sure that it is returned in time.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of moving house by yourself?
When choosing to move a house by yourself, you must keep the below considerations in mind:
Pros
- A cost-effective option if you have only a few items to move and your new house is close to your current home. Moving house by yourself can be cheaper if you have minimal items, such as clothes and personal items.
- You can call on friends for additional transport and help loading items if needed. Friends who are happy to assist with a move can help with travelling with some of your belongings from your current home to your new house.
- Fragile items can be carefully moved. A box filled with special keepsakes or fragile ornaments can easily be moved without worry.
Cons
- Multiple trips if you need to drive several times. Moving on your own can become a tedious process if you need to make several trips from your current home to your new house due to limited space in your car or having only one vehicle to rely on. It can be time consuming, leaving you exhausted at the end of the day.
- Renting a moving truck of the wrong size. It could be an honest mistake to think that you will only need a small moving van when moving house yourself. However, if you misjudge the size you need and rent a too small van, you could end up needing to pay more and incur petrol costs that you might not have budgeted for.
- You will need to consider van hire. You must factor in costs if you need a van for your moving needs. These costs can typically be around £54 per day for a small van or around £66 for a short wheelbase (SWB) van for daily rate. Considering the above costs, you will need to remember that if you need more than one day to move and hire a van over several days, it can become expensive. Also, in some cases, there is an age limit when hiring a van, which ranges from 25 to 30 years, depending on the type of vehicle you want to hire. You will need to confirm with the company that you hire your van from what their requirements are, as well as the insurance that they offer.
- Long distance travel challenges can be challenging. If you are travelling with your whole family in tow, it can be tiring when your new home is far away from your current house. This bigger time frame can make anxiety worse and add to the emotional impact of changing from one home to the other.
- Heavy lifting could be an issue. If you do not have extra help from friends or know the proper lifting techniques when moving large furniture, you could risk injury to yourself. Your friends are not obligated to help you move; unless they express their willingness, you should not expect extra help.
- You might get the wrong moving boxes and not even realise it. Not every box that is empty is, literally speaking, a good moving box. You need sturdy containers, otherwise, the bottom of the boxes could break, and your belongings could potentially be damaged.
- If you are moving from a rental property, you cannot have any delays if you need to be completely moved out by a specific time. Moving on your own could take extra time, which means if you take more time than you are allowed to, you could delay your landlord in getting your rental cleaned and ready for the next tenants. This could lead to extra costs you might have been unprepared for.
Why should you consider using a moving company for your big move?
A big move, with several furniture pieces and heavy items, might be more practical when handled by professional movers.
Here are more reasons why working with a moving team would make more sense.
A professional moving company already has a perfectly outfitted moving truck
Moving companies already have all the necessary moving equipment for getting belongings safely to a new house.
You will not need to worry about hiring a moving vehicle or any other rented vehicle, as your full moving quote will cover everything.
Hiring professional movers will ensure you do not have to worry about heavy lifting or loading moving boxes
Professional moving teams have enough manpower to load heavier items and regular moving boxes onto a truck.
They will also know how to safely position every item to ensure it is secured while travelling.
The whole process could take a shorter time than when you would have done the job yourself
Moving day, especially when it involves travelling a long distance, can take a lot less time than when you do the job yourself.
Everything is covered, from packing and getting everything into the moving truck to securing your belongings.
Are there any disadvantages to using a moving company?
Professional movers can make the job of moving house easy, and when you work with a reputable professional moving company, you can be assured of a great service.
Cost considerations do come into play when working with moving professionals.
For instance, some moving companies might charge an hourly rate, which could be around £50 and £80 when you use two movers with a van, and packing services could come in at an average of around £35 per hour.
The total cost of your move will depend on several factors, such as distance travelled and the number of items moved, so ensure you check with your moving company what you would expect.
Moving house by yourself vs. using a moving team – which would be best?
Whether you choose to do the job yourself or get professionals in, you must pick the option you will be most comfortable with.
A professional moving team used for a big move can perfectly protect your valuables, and ensure that you do not have to worry about belongings getting lost.
Remember: Using an external team can make moving a lot easier, so if you want to opt for a more seamless experience, consider using a professional company.
On the other hand, if your move is going to be small and you have fewer items to move, you can certainly do it on your own.
Just remember that there will be some challenges if you have heavy items that need to be transported and that you will need help from friends or vehicle rental to ensure you have all the resources for your big move.
Need assistance with moving house?
If you decide to work with professional movers, our expert team would be happy to assist you with everything that you need. Contact us today – we look forward to hearing from you!
