The question whether you should hire a moving company or do it yourself happens every time you need to move. The answer also changes depending on your stage of life and what resources you have available. Here’s a short guide to help you answer that question.
Key questions to ask yourself first:
- How busy are you with work and other responsibilities?
- How much spare time do you have to pack?
- Are you naturally organised?
- Will you get help from your family or friends?
Most people don’t like moving, but some do. Some people are very organised and enjoy the process. If you’re one of those people, we salute you. Let’s look at each of the processes in more detail to work out if you’re equipped to move or need to hire professionals.
Are you good at packing?
Packing is an art form. When done properly, it protects your belongings from breakages or damage. The only people who pack with speed and precision are the people who do it every day (that’s us by the way). If you don’t have plenty of time to pack properly, then call in the pros. We can do it in a fraction of the time.
Are you organised?
A successful move always happens with good organisation. This includes planning what needs to happen at every stage in realistic and achievable chunks. It’s a job for people who enjoy making to-do lists, labelling boxes and ringing around to organise what needs to get done.
If you’re not naturally organised or don’t enjoy it, then you’re better using the pros for your own peace of mind. Getting a packing and moving service will make your life infinitely better either side of the move.
How well do you manage stress?
There’s no denying that moving is stressful, especially if you have to manage it yourself. Stress is not good for your mental or physical well-being, even if you feel that you thrive on it for motivation. The job of the professional mover is to take a lot of this stress off your shoulders by getting the big jobs done on time and to schedule.
Are you practical and fit?
Moving is hard work. It requires lifting for long periods and moving heavy objects. It also requires disassembling and reassembling furniture and some appliances or equipment. If you don’t think you can do this yourself, professionals do it as part of your moving service.
Can you load a truck?
Loading a truck isn’t easy unless you know how or have done it often. It’s also hard physical work. Many DIY movers underestimate the time and effort required to load a truck, and don’t load it properly, resulting in damage and breakages. We load trucks every day, know all the tips and tricks, and have the equipment to secure your load.
Can you drive a truck?
Many trucks can be driven with a standard vehicle licence, but they’re often smaller trucks without much capacity in the cargo hold. So, if you have a lot to move, you’ll have to choose between doing multiple loads yourself, or having movers shift everything in one go.
There’s a lot to consider with any move. If you want more information to help you make a decision, feel free to call us for advice and help.
