7 Risks of DIY Moving

Moving into a new home is an exciting prospect for many reasons. It can be the perfect chance for a fresh start or a way to grab a fantastic opportunity. Whatever your reasons for moving are, chances are you will be excited about it. And you might be tempted to attempt a DIY move. However, we should warn you that DIY moving can be dangerous. Sure, it might seem cheaper and easier to organize, and there is some truth to that: DIY moves come with a degree of freedom. Still, taking the risk usually isn't worth it. We have put together a list of 7 risks of DIY moving to prove this. We hope you find it helpful.

1. Expenses

Hiring movers isn’t cheap, true. But, going through a DIY move can be even more expensive. You will need packing supplies and fuel. You will have to rent out a moving truck unless you already own one. Of course, there are the expenses of replacing things damaged during the move if something happens. As such, DIY can be an even more significant drain on your wallet and be exhausting for you mentally, especially if you have items that are hard to move. Thus, think carefully about how much you are willing to spend on your move, and you might realize that your finances would be better off with hiring movers.

2. Damaged belongings

The most considerable risk you take with a DIY move is damaging your belongings. Without being extremely careful and knowing how to pack and load everything properly, there is a genuine risk that you unintentionally damage your property in the process. If you don't pack your items properly, they will be damaged in transit. If you're not careful with loading, you could damage them before you even set off. Finally, your belongings might get damaged in transit anyway unless you're a cautious driver. There is a reason why people usually hire movers - you're better off hiring a moving company.

3. DIY takes more time

Plain and simple, DIY takes a lot longer because you have to do everything yourself. Packing, organizing, loading, unloading, unpacking. All of this falls to you if you opt for a DIY move. And this becomes more and more apparent if your move is long-distance, especially if you end up having to make multiple trips to move everything. Time management is challenging during a DIY move, and unless you handle it perfectly, you expose yourself to the risk of something going wrong. It's better not to take the risk and rely on experienced help to get you moved safely and on time. Of course, knowing how to manage your time, for example, knowing when to start packing, can help. But it is still better to save time where you can.

4. Property damage

When loading all of your belongings by yourself, you don’t just risk the items you are moving. If something happens while you are carrying something heavy, there is a genuine risk that it will also damage the property. For example, dropping a weighty piece of furniture onto the hardwood floor could ruin it. If that happens, you wouldn't only have to replace the damaged piece of furniture but also plan to replace your flooring. Obviously, this is both expensive and time-consuming. This is why movers usually have an assortment of tools they use while loading and unloading your belongings instead of doing all of it by hand.

5. Physical injuries

The biggest among the risks of DIY moving is the risk of injuring yourself. Moving heavy or awkwardly shaped objects is complicated for many reasons. If you don't adequately protect yourself against injuries, you can get seriously injured in the process. This includes broken bones and possibly more severe injuries. Therefore, it is much better to hire an experienced mover to prevent any mishaps. When it comes to your life and physical health, we always recommend avoiding risks as much as possible. This risk also extends to any friends or family helping you with the move. So, before you take on a DIY relocation, think long and hard if you are ready for the dangers of the process.

6. Security

Unless you have many friends helping you out, another of the risks of DIY moving is security. After all, you have to simultaneously worry about your old home, new home, and the belongings in the truck. Needless to say, this is not easy. On the other hand, if you hire movers, you can oversee the entire process and make sure nothing happens to your old home or your belongings while you are moving everything to the new house. On top of that, your movers are also constantly on the lookout while your belongings are being moved.

7. Inconveniencing your friends

Chances are, when going through a DIY move, eventually, you will want some help. Then, your best call is to ask your friends if they can help out. However, not everyone is always going to be happy to help. After all, you would be taking quite a bit away from their free time. You also expose them to the risk of injuries while they are helping. If they get injured during the process, they could even blame it on you, which can cause trouble with your friendships.

The risks of DIY moving - concluded

A DIY move can seem a lot easier than hiring movers. However, hiring movers helps avoid many dangers that you would otherwise expose yourself to. We hope you found this list of 7 risks of DIY moving helpful, and we wish you luck with your move.