How Difficult Is It To Move Home By Yourself?

Is it a good idea to move home by yourself, after all, how difficult can it be?

On the face of it, moving home, as long as you are organised and the move is well planned, should not be that hard. But as many many people discover on moving day, the theory is so much easier than the reality.

The level of difficulty moving home is dependent upon many factors. Every home move is different, and your physical fitness, as well as numerous other considerations, will determine whether it is even possible for you to move by yourself.

Moving home by yourself, also known as DIY moving or a Do It Yourself home move, is no easy undertaking, so in this week’s home moving blog we look at every aspect of why you would choose to move home yourself rather than hire a removal company.

We help you decide whether moving home by yourself is worth all the hard work and stress.

• Is Moving Home Yourself Worth It?
• Is it Hard to Move Home by Yourself?
• How to Pack When Moving Home By Yourself
• 8 Tips for Moving Heavy and Large Furniture by Yourself
• Tips for Loading a Rented Moving Van
• How Long Does it Take to Move Home by Yourself
• Is it Best to Move Home Yourself or Hire a Removal Company?

Is Moving Home Yourself Worth It?

Physical ability aside, time and money are two of the major factors when deciding how to move home.

You may find this checklist that I use whenever I have a DIY job to do at home useful to sense check whether moving home yourself makes sense for you. I always look at it this way:

• Am I physically able to do this job?
• Do I already have the tools I need?
• How much will it cost me to hire or buy the tools I need?
• Do I have all those sundry items I’ll need?
• How much will it cost me to buy all those little extras?
• How long will it take me to do it?
• Do I need to take time off work to get the job done?
• Do I have the skills to complete the job?
• Is it a one person job or do I need help?
• How stressful is doing the task going to be?
• Will it be cheaper and easier to hire a professional?

Invariably, the bigger the job, the more complex it is, the more sense it makes to hire a professional to do the job for you.

You can easily apply these questions to a DIY home move.

Questions to ask yourself before attempting to move home by yourself:

• Are you physically strong and fit enough to move home by yourself?
• Do you have all the packing materials you need?
• How much will the packing materials cost?
• Do you have lifting straps, furniture dolly’s, or sack trucks?
• How much will it cost to hire the furniture moving equipment?
• Do you have access to a free van for moving?
• How much will it cost to hire a self-drive van?
• Do you have the correct driving licence to drive a van?
• Do you know how to load a van safely and legally?
• Are you confident enough to drive a van in the city or down country lanes?
• How long will it take you to pack all your things?
• Do you have that much free time or do you need to use up some of your annual leave?
• Do you know how to pack your things safely?
• Do you know how to move heavy and large furniture?
• Do you need help to move furniture?
• Is moving by yourself just too stressful?
• Is it better, easier and even cheaper to hire a professional removal company?

The bigger your home move is the more time you will need to plan and execute your move. And do not underestimate what hard work it is carrying boxes up and down stairs all day, not to mention trying to move heavy and large pieces of furniture.

Moving house yourself can make sense if you have no furniture to move and are moving only a short distance, in most other scenarios think very carefully before attempting a DIY move. 9 times out of 10 it will actually be cheaper, easier and safer to hire a full-service removal company.

Is It Hard to Move Home By Yourself?

Most people will tell you it is really hard work and very stressful moving home. But is moving home yourself as hard as people would have you believe?

Let’s look at each aspect of your home move in terms of time and money, as well as difficulty.

How to Save Money Moving Home by Yourself: Move Fewer Things

Before any home move, you should ask yourself exactly what you intend to move to your new home. The fewer things you take with you, the cheaper and easier your home move will be.

#1 Make a floor plan of your new home to determine if any furniture you would like to take actually fits in the available space in your new home.

#2 Measure doorways, stairs, the height of the ceilings, and any tight corners to ensure your furniture can be moved through those tight spaces. This is really important. Many people doing a self-move discover on moving day how crucial this is, you can waste hours trying to maneuver a piece of furniture that it is impossible to get through a doorway for example.

#3 Consider if it is cheaper to replace furniture than try and move it. Flat-pack type furniture is especially fragile and not designed to be dismantled and reassembled. Trying to move such furniture in one piece often results in irreparable damage.

#4 Go through each room deciding what you absolutely need and love. Those are the items you will be taking. Anything else can be sold or donated to charity.

#5 Many people get free moving boxes from stores or through free ad websites which can save you a ton of money. However, this can be a false economy if the boxes are not strong enough and your possessions end up getting damaged, so choose your moving boxes carefully.

How to Pack to Move Home Yourself

Once you have decluttered and got rid of all the things you don’t need or want anymore then packing for your home move should be easier. But it is still one of the biggest tasks when moving home.

How difficult is it to pack for a home move yourself?

If you do not declutter and approach your packing marathon in a logical way then packing for your home move is going to take a very long time and be an arduous task. Meaning very difficult.

If you are just moving clothes and a few items that can be boxed, then packing yourself is relatively easy.

But without preparing properly for packing then it is definitely the worst part of moving home.

You can make packing for a home move easier by following these 5 essential packing tips:

#1 Packing always takes longer than you think. Never leave the packing until the last minute, start packing as soon as you can, ideally 2-3 weeks before moving day.

#2 Gather your packing supplies. The better quality your packing materials, the more protection your things will have when being moved. Buying cheap packing tape is particularly frustrating to use and you just end up using more, so buy the best you can. Good quality boxes, tape, and bubble wrap are essential.

#3 Use small boxes for heavy items and larger boxes for light things. An absolute maximum weight of 20kg per box is recommended, but ensure your boxes are strong enough to hold whatever you put in them.

#3 Start packing the least used items first, things like seasonal clothing, ornaments, and artwork. Working your way to moving day when you will only have a very few essential items to pack.

#4 Photograph high-value items and any electrical appliances that you disconnect, it will be so much easier to reconnect them properly if you have a pictorial guide. Pictures of any high-value items before and after they are packed will help in any insurance claim that you have to make.

#5 Label every box with a list of contents and which room they should be placed in at your new home. This will make unpacking so much easier.

#6 Using uniform-sized boxes to pack your things will maximise the space in your removal van.

How long does it take to pack a home for moving yourself?

There is no magic formula for working out how long it will take you to pack your things for moving home. If you work fast, have only a few things to move, are not taking any fragile items that require extra care when packing, then it will take nowhere near as long as someone who works slowly, has numerous small and fragile things to pack, and a house full of possessions.

Also bear in mind that you will have distractions as well as everyday tasks to attend to, including looking after kids maybe or only packing in your free time.

It is realistic to assume that each room in your home will take a whole day to pack, more for rooms like the kitchen, less for a spare bedroom or the bathroom.

However, as a general guide it takes this long for the average person to pack for a home move:

• Allow 10-15 hours for a studio or 1 bedroom flat
• 1-2 days for a 1 bedroom house
• 2-3 days for a 2 bedroom house
• 3-5 days for a 3 bedroom house
• 4-6 days for a 4 bedroom house
• 7+ days for a 5 bedroom house

This may not seem like it will not take too long, but this assumes you are well organised, have decluttered, have all your packing materials to hand, and do not have anything else to do but pack.

Always allow extra time for packing as you will almost certainly need it.

Bonus tip: Always pack with unpacking in mind. The more effort you put into packing your things properly and labelling the boxes very clearly, the easier your unpacking will be.

How much does it cost to pack a home for moving by yourself?

Based on the average number of moving boxes for the size of home you are moving, these are the latest prices for buying all the packing materials you need. Obviously, if you have a lot of items to pack you will need more moving supplies and the cost will increase.

• I bedroom home packing kit costs £55-£65
• 2 bedroom home packing kit costs £75-£85
• 3 bedroom home packing kit costs £114-£125
• 4 bedroom home packing kit costs £125-£160
• 5+ bedroom home packing kit costs £240-£350

You can get all your packing supplies at a discounted price in our packing supplies store, delivered straight to your front door.

Do you have items that will require specialist packing?

There are many items throughout your home that will require extra care when packing them for a home move, ornaments, glasses, plates, artwork, mirrors, and collectibles to name but a few.

These items will require extra thick boxes and extra protection to ensure their safety during your move. There is also a right way and a wrong way to pack fragile items.

If you have particularly valuable items then it may be that you need specialist moving crates made and only a specialist packing company can do this for you.

But for the average home mover, just knowing how to properly pack fragile items will be all that you need to know.

Each fragile item will require different packing techniques which you can learn more about in far more detail in these specialist packing guides:

• A Guide to Packing Fragile Items When Moving Home
• How to Pack Jewellery for Moving
• How to Pack Pictures and Mirrors for Moving
• How to Pack Plates and Glasses for Moving

Note: Many insurance companies will not insure items being moved that you have packed yourself so check with your insurers.

8 Tips for Moving Heavy and Large Furniture by Yourself

Moving furniture by yourself can be dangerous and hard work, not to mention very costly if you get it wrong.

As mentioned earlier be sure that you have used a floor plan so that you know the piece of furniture can be moved safely and will fit not only through any tight spaces, but will fit in the new home.

There are some essential skills and equipment you will need, as well as knowing how to prepare for moving heavy and large pieces of furniture.

#1 Dismantle as much of the furniture as you can.

#2 Photograph the furniture so that you know how to reassemble it.

#3 Number each piece so that you know how to put it back together again.

#4 Keep all the fixings in one bag per piece of furniture, clearly labelled exactly what they are for.

#5 Use old blankets to wrap and protect the furniture when moving them.

#6 Using a furniture dolly or lifting straps will make moving heavy furniture so much easier.

#7 Ensure your route to the removal van is clear of all tripping hazards.

#8 Load heavy furniture onto the removal van first and pack your moving boxes towards the back of the van.

Every piece of furniture and appliance that you need to move will take care and sometimes special packing or moving skills.

Here are some essential guides with detailed packing and moving instructions for the most common furniture and kitchen appliances:

• How to Move a Piano: 120 Piano Moving Tips
• How to Move a Refrigerator by Yourself
• How to Move a Wardrobe
• How to Move a Washing Machine
• How to Move an Oven
• How to Move a Bed by Yourself
• How to Move Heavy Furniture

Loading a Moving Van for a DIY Home Move

The final piece of the jigsaw for moving out of your home is loading the van.

How you load the van will affect its stability and safety, and an incorrectly loaded van is not only dangerous but can result in damage being caused to your possessions.

There are a few tips for ensuring you load your removal van properly:

#1 Load heavy pieces of furniture like wardrobes and washing machines against the bulkhead of the van.

#2 Secure large pieces of furniture so that they cannot move using straps or rope.

#3 Load the van evenly so that the weight is spread over the entire van floor.

#4 Keep fridges and freezers upright and secure using ropes or straps so that they cannot shift

#5 Load heavy boxes on the floor with lighter boxes on top.

#6  If the van will not be filled, place the boxes so that they gradually slope down to the back doors rather than a wall of boxes that will fall over.

#7 Under tables, between chair legs, and between the boxes and the roof can be filled with bags or softer items like pillows and duvets.

#8 Cover any sharp edges of furniture with blankets so that they do not get damaged or rub against other items as the van moves.

#9 Furniture should be placed back to back so that the face does not get damaged.

#10 Large items like mattresses should be secured to the sidewalls of the van.

#11 Secure the last line of boxes so that they do not shift when the van is being driven. This will prevent them from falling onto the back door and causing you can injury when you open the doors.

Driving and loading a self-drive rental van can be very daunting for people moving home themselves so be sure you have the skills and confidence to drive a rental van yourself.

For a more detailed look at all you need to know about moving home yourself with a self-drive van read All You Need to Know About Self-Drive Rental Vans.

How Long Does it Take to Move Home By Yourself?

When it comes to moving home A + B + C will not give you the amount of time you need to load, travel, and then unload your things.

There are many things that will be particular to your home move that can add or subtract time:

• How many flights of stairs
• How far from the home to the van for loading and unloading
• How much stuff you have to move
• How many pieces of furniture you are moving
• How many tight spaces to negotiate
• The travelling distance from old to new home
• How many people will be helping you move
• How big your hire van is – do you need to make more than 1 trip?

If you were to double the time that a professional removal company would allow moving the average-sized home then that will give you a rough idea of how long you will working for on moving day. Of course, the more helpers you have, if there are no obstacles or unforeseen issues, then the less time it will take.

How long does it take a removal company to move you on average?

• 1 bed flat – 2-3 hours
• 2 bed house – 3-4 hours
• 3 bed house – 5-6 hours
• 4 bed home moves can take anything from 1 to 2 full days depending upon how much stuff you have to move.

Is it Best to Move Home Yourself or Hire a Removal Company?

Now you have found out how much it costs and how long it takes to move home by yourself you will be able to make a more informed choice as to just how difficult and time-consuming moving home on your own can be.

Consider these points when thinking of moving home yourself:

#1 Only you know whether you are physically able to move heavy boxes and furniture all day long

#2 How many friends will actually turn up to help you on moving day

#3 On moving day will the van rental company have the right sized van you thought you had reserved. It is very common for them not to have the van you ordered available.

#4 There is the stress of moving heavy and large furniture, maneuvering it through tight spaces and up and down stairs.

#5 The other factor to take into consideration is the weather. Walking in and out of rain all day with box after box is no fun at all.

#6 Finally there are the risks involved in moving home yourself. How long could you afford to be off work with a damaged back or what if you damaged the rental van?

Is moving home yourself really worth the risk?

It is no wonder that the majority of people moving home choose to hire a professional removal company.

And most people are surprised by the excellent service and outstanding value for money that a really good removal company will give you.

Before deciding how you will move home get yourself some no obligation, free home moving quotes. It takes just a few minutes and you may be pleasantly surprised just what excellent value for money a good removal company is when you consider all the downsides of moving home yourself.

Get your free, no obligation, home moving quote now.

If you still decide that moving home is the right decision for you please visit our home moving blog where you will find a whole range of guides and tips for people moving by themselves.