The Top 5 Risks of DIY Moving

Is it time for you to move to a new home? Is the cost of hiring a moving company prompting you to consider doing it yourself? Are you considering DIY moving?

Well, you’re not alone. Lots of people choose to tackle their own moves on a daily basis and to varying degrees of success.

In fact, we regularly get calls from Edmontonians and Albertans alike who thought they could handle their relocations themselves only to realize that it’s way less hassle and mess to simply hire a qualified Edmonton moving company.

Dollars & Sense

We totally understand that the thought of paying a moving company can tempt someone to take the do-it-yourself approach.

However, failing to analyze your pre-move situation carefully may turn out to be a terrible mistake (believe us, we’ve seen it dozens of times before!)

It’s important to point out that the do-it-yourself approach certainly offers some advantages, but it also offers some serious disadvantages.

Hours of wasted time, potential damage to your expensive items, and significant property damage on moving day are three big problems you need to consider. It’s also worth mentioning that you can seriously injure yourself while moving. Anyone who has injured their backs will know how significant such an injury can be and how easy it is to do!

Common sense says that most people choose the do-it-yourself moving approach for two reasons:

  1. Save money.
  2. Avoid the perceived hassle of finding a reliable, affordable moving company.

Unfortunately, they fail to consider these two very crucial questions:

  • Will the potential risks of a DIY moving option be worth your trouble?
  • Will these potential risks outweigh the benefits of hiring qualified moving professionals?

With all this in mind, let’s take a close look at the five big risks of not hiring professional moving companies and how you can prevent them if you decide to go the DIY moving route.

Photo of professional movers loading boxes

1. Personal Injuries

Moving yourself is one huge challenge that could put your health at risk. For instance, you could injure your knee or back while moving heavy furniture. It can happen to experienced, professional movers so it can absolutely happen to you!

Here a re some tips & trick you can do to mitigate personal injury from a DIY move:

  • Use durable moving equipment.
  • Get some of your friends and/or family members to help you.
  • Respect your physical limitations.
  • Make sure that small children and pets are absent on moving day.
  • Keep your pathways clean and free of obstacles.
  • Wear comfortable clothing that will allow you to move with ease.
  • Use proper lifting techniques while lifting and carrying heavy items.
  • Keep fluids on hand so that you can stay hydrated.

Safety should be your #1 priority when relocating. You can avoid a costly medical bill if you take care and pay attention to the safety tips above.

2. Lost Time

It’s understandable that you don’t want to spend hours on the phone calling around to moving companies in your area. However, it’s crucial to point out that the time you spend contacting reputable movers in your area can pay off big time in the end!

Here’s why:

  • You’ll inevitably have to dedicate time (and potentially effort) to getting your friends and family members to help you pack and move heavy items.
  • You’ll be responsible for arranging all the details, such as the moving vehicle, boxes, blankets, insurance, etc. – take it from us, this is not an easy chore!
  • It will take you several days (if not even longer) to pack up your home. Professional and experienced moving companies – like the fine folks here at Alberta First Moving – are well-known for completing this task within one day.

What’s the bottom line? Every moving detail, consideration, and potential mistake will cost you precious time. So this begs the question: Are you really saving time when you move on your own?

3. Higher Costs

If you’re entertaining the idea of moving on your own, the price of a professional moving company may well be the only thing encouraging you to take the DIY route. Bit it’s important to keep in mind that self-moving may not always be cheaper than hiring a professional moving company!

If you’re moving a short distance, it may seem like a good idea to get help from your friends and use a pick-up truck. And at first thought, that makes real sense.

However, easy as that may seem, you have to consider that you will run into some hidden costs with do-it-yourself moving. Costs such as:

  • Truck rental.
  • Extra insurance.
  • Packing supplies.
  • Fuel.
  • Moving equipment.
  • Pesky road tolls and taxes.
  • hotel fees.

… Do you really want to deal with all this?

4. Damaged Items

Your move may be more suited for a self-move, but think about your heavy items.

Kitchen appliances, large furniture pieces, and speciality items must be taken into consideration. You are looking at several safety and security concerns, both for your own person and for your valuable possessions.

Can you handle your heavy items and speciality pieces without damaging them? Are you sure you can?

Professional moving companies can move your heavy items and speciality items with ease. They have the skill and tools to get the job done. An added bonus is that they also have appropriate insurance coverage.

5. Property Damage

Potential property damage is one factor that many people fail to take seriously enough. From scratches and scuffs to broken parts and ripped fabric, even the slightest amount of property damage can be hard to fix on some pieces such as antiques and upholstered furniture.

There’s also the potential damage to the residence to be considered.

Professional moving companies have top notch moving equipment and they fully know how to use it. You don’t have to worry about property damage if you hire them.

Here are some common examples of residential (or commercial) property damage:

  • Chipped and dented walls.
  • Damaged hardwood floors, cracked tiles, and scratched floors.
  • Broken bannisters and damaged staircase steps.
  • Broken window glass or door glass.

Property damage of any sort is a headache you don’t need, for so many reasons. One reason is that repairing damaged property can cost hundreds, even thousands of dollars. This could be an absolute nightmare if you are on a tight budget.

However, you can avoid this if you simply hire a moving company with years of experience in the industry!

Moving without the help of a professional moving company can be extremely stressful if you don’t have any expertise in this area.

By now, you should understand that hiring a reputable moving company will be your best bet. But if you don’t, or if you’re still willing to risk it, then hopefully you’re now more aware of what to watch out for when tackling a DIY move.

If you do choose to hire a moving company…

You should get at least three price quotes from moving companies in your area. This will help you get the best price and is a simple strategy that can help you save decent money.

You should also ask for references. The prospective company should be able to give you at least five references. The company’s references will help you see if the company pleased their customers in the past. After all, it would be a grave mistake for you to hire movers with a poor reputation! Contacting the references will help you find out if the prospective moving company will be able to suit your needs.

At the end of the day, it’s most important for you to stay safe! If you don’t feel like you’re physically capable of moving then it is absolutely be a wise idea to hire a moving company.

Questions? Want a quote? Then feel free to contact us to learn how Alberta First Moving can help you with your next move.