Moving house: DIY or professionals?
You’re moving. Great! Congratulations. But you don’t know whether to run the DIY gauntlet or fork-out for a professional removalist? There are obvious pros and cons to both. If you’re on the fence, here are some tips from Australis that might help you decide what’s right for you.
DIY moving
Yep, we get it – moving is expensive and that’s before you consider the costs of hiring a removalist. If you can save some cash by doing it yourself, why not? If that’s the way you want to go, here’s some tips from us to make moving day easier if you decide to go it alone:
Plan, baby, plan
If you’re prepared for the big day, you’ll make it all the easier on yourself. Start by reading our articles on the week to week prepping for moving day. When you’re moving yourself, it’s important that you are realistic about what you’ll need to do and how long everything will take you. If you underestimate your workload, you won’t be ready by moving day and the downside of doing everything yourself means that you can’t delegate forgotten tasks.
Boxes
As soon as you know you’re moving, start collecting packing boxes, tape, and tissue paper to wrap delicate items. Chatting to your local supermarket about taking any unused boxes off their hands is an easy way to save money you’d otherwise spend on crates. Or, you can put the call out to friends or on social media. Either way, make sure you have lots of boxes and that you get them early!
Pack it away
Once you have your packing materials, start the process early. Tackle it room by room over several weeks so that everything is ready to go on the morning of moving day. If you’re doing it yourself, the last thing you want is to be tackling those last minute items when you should be loading up the van. Undertaking a serious declutter in advance of packing will cut down the work you have to do, and stop you transporting items you don’t use from home to home. When you pack, inventory everything as you go so you know what box contains which items. You’ll be tired after a big day of moving and labeling boxes properly means less frustrated searching for the kettle and your bed sheets once you arrive at your new home.
Map it out
Planning also means you should know where items will go in your new home. Draw up a floor plan of your new home and indicate where big items will go. Make sure you work from precise measurements so you know that your fridge will fit in that nook! Planning where your furniture will go also means you don’t need to think about it at the point when you’re lugging heavy items inside your new home. These are great for when you use a removalist also.
Get the right van and equipment
If you plan to hire a van so you can move your belongings yourself, get several quotes from different companies so you know you’re getting a good deal. Make sure the van is big enough to transport all your household belongings, and that you’ve got the right equipment to assist you to move heavy items, like the fridge. If you don’t have the right sized vehicle, you risk needing to make several trips. And make sure you know what equipment you’ll need to help you move big, bulky items, or you could injure yourself.
Are you strong enough?
You might be fit and healthy, but seriously consider if you’re up to the task of moving a whole house full of furniture. Make sure you’ve got strong, fit back-up to help you and that you know the correct way to lift. You might have a gym membership, but how often do you practice carrying your fridge down three flights of stairs? Make sure your safety is a priority over any perceived savings you’ll make with a DIY.
Make it social
If you do move everything yourself, you’ll likely need friends or family to assist. Show them you value their help by making the move a social event. Plan to shout dinner at your local, or throw on a BBQ at your new place at the end of the day. After all, if they’re helping you now, what’s the chances you’ll be called upon to return the favour in the future? Best to set the accepted social standards now!
Hiring a professional removalist
If it’s that easy, why would you hire professional help?
Um, heard the expression “easier said than done”? It definitely applies to moving and there’s plenty of good reasons to bring in the professionals. Firstly, removalists do this every day for a living. How often do you do it? Who do you think might be better at it?
Sure, hiring a removal company might cost you a little more upfront, but think about your peace of mind. Moving a house full of belongings is physically hard, and requires expertise to ensure safe transport of your things. Think about all the money you have spent over your lifetime acquiring your belongings. Paying for an expert to transport them means they’re far more likely to arrive undamaged than if you and Johno from down the road tackle the job. Just a few damaged items could wipe out any savings you might make on a DIY job.
And, think about the weight off your mind (not to mention your hips and back!) when you know your things are in the hands of experts. It also means you’re free to direct traffic and tend to last minute tasks, children and pets on moving day, rather than packing and unpacking furniture.
Here are a few tips for when you decide to call in professional removalists.
Get solid quotes
Don’t commit to the first quote you receive. Removal companies vary in the way they cost their services, so get at least three quotes so you know you’ve got the best deal. Make sure your quote is based on information you’ve provided about your belongings and the properties you’re moving from and to. Did you know that if you don’t advise about some things like tricky property accessibility, you could be charged more? Your quotes should be fixed job costs, not ones based on an hourly rate. If your move takes longer than anticipated, you’ll pay more.
Industry accreditation and insurance
Australis prides itself on its reputation. After all, you don’t stay in business for over thirty years if you’re bad at what you do. Like all good removals companies, Australis has industry accreditation and appropriate insurance. When you look for a removals company, ask them about their accreditations and what insurance they carry. You can also look up customer reviews online to see what previous customers have to say about your chosen removalist.
Experience with moving interstate
If you’re planning a long-haul move, such as from Adelaide to Melbourne, make sure your removalist is experienced in these types of moves. Australis is an expert in moving households interstate and knows that when you’re skilled with a particular route, there’s a far lower risk of anything going wrong.
Want an obligation free chat?
If you’re unconvinced that hiring an expert removalist is worth it for you, please call us to chat. If you can do it yourself and there’s no foreseeable benefit to you in hiring a removalist, we promise not to try and twist your arm! But if you’re just not quite sure what’s best for you, we’re more than happy to talk to you about the pros and cons to put your mind at ease.
