Since relocation can burden a family budget, it is no wonder that many people will try to reduce moving costs by organizing the whole process alone. DIY moving can seem like a smart way of saving some money. However, this process may come along with several downsides. First, you will need to spend more time planning and organizing everything. In addition, without movers, there will be a lot more physical labor. Also, your items may undergo damage resulting from improper packing. Finally, some unexpected costs may emerge at any moment, especially for first-time movers. For these reasons, it would be useful to hire movers DMV to reduce the costs of moving and the level of stress. If you still wish to go on your own, discover what could be the hidden costs of DIY moving.
DIY relocation is time-consuming, and time is money
One of the most common traps that people fall into when moving on their own is not being aware of how much time the whole preparation process takes. You will need to plan everything in detail. Not to mention hours and days of sorting and packing your entire home, as well as loading and unloading boxes. If you decide to contact residential movers Washington DC, this will significantly reduce the time for the whole procedure.
Also, depending on the size of your home, you will need from three to six months of your time to properly prepare everything. This can result in spending more time off work, which can seriously affect your home budget. In addition, you will have less time to spend with your friends and family due to the tight moving schedule.
The hidden costs of DIY moving may appear from not decluttering properly
Since you will not be paying professional packers to pack, load, transport, and unload your belongings, you might not feel the urge to cut down on your bulk as much as possible. Movers usually charge for packing by volume or weight, and in this case, you would get rid of all the unnecessary items to reduce the costs of packing and transportation. Decluttering can be tough for many reasons. You may be emotionally attached to certain items that may not fit by size or style in your new home.
For this reason, many people end up packing a lot more than they would if they hired professional movers. In reality, the unnecessary bulk will clutter your transport vehicle. You may need to go two or more times from your new home to your old home. This will result in spending more on the hidden costs of DIY moving, such as additional transportation costs.
DIY relocation can bring a risk of damaging the items
When packing on your own, or with the help of family and friends, you will certainly organize your time and take this action at the time it suits you. However, DIY packing means that you will need to provide a variety of packing materials of different sizes and shapes. Only imagine that you will need to wrap up every single item in your home. Not to mention packing for a long-distance relocation. If you want to save on packing material, you may end up using some second-hand boxes or improvising inappropriately when wrapping items. This may lead to your belongings getting damaged. For this reason, it would be useful to compare the costs of hiring long distance movers DC and handling items on your own. Some of your valued possessions can suffer irrevocable damages. In the end, you will spend more on replacing those items.
Some injuries may happen as well
Packing and loading your belongings include a lot of physical work. If this is your first-time relocating and you do not have much experience, it can be even harder. Manipulating and lifting bulky objects such as closets, fridges, or beds may result in serious physical injuries. Also, one of the most common injuries that happen is a back injury. This kind of injury may keep you on the sidelines and put off moving preparations for literally several weeks. Plus, you will need to take more time off work and pay for extra medical expenses. If you hire one of the moving companies DC area, you will not have to worry about damages and injuries. In addition, you will protect those friends and family members who are helping you pack and load the items from any serious physical injuries that may occur.
Other hidden costs of DIY moving
When renting a relocation truck on your own, you may need to go back and forth several times transporting your goods. Apart from additional fuel costs, you might need to buy additional rental truck insurance. Most rental companies do not require the purchase of such insurance. In the event that the truck is stolen or hits another vehicle on the road, most insurance policies cover these costs. However, you will need additional insurance in case of a personal accident or cargo damage.
This will provide additional protection for your items in the truck. This will increase your moving budget since you will be expanding your policy. If you decide to hire a professional moving company, you will not have to worry about these insurance costs. Your movers will provide all the necessary paperwork and cover the insurance for your belongings.
Relocation on your own can be an exciting experience. However, there can occur the hidden costs of DIY moving. You may end up packing a lot more than you originally planned. Or realize that you do not have enough packing material. This may result in additional stress while trying to obtain more moving boxes at the last minute. For all these reasons, one of the best things you can do is to do the research and compare the costs of a DIY move vs. renting a moving company. Finally, you will decide what is best to be done for a successful relocation.
