DIY Removals vs Hiring a Removals Company
When moving house, it is tempting to try and save money at every opportunity but when it comes to removals, is moving everything yourself a real money saver or a false economy? In this blog, we investigate the real pros and cons for moving yourself and whether hiring a removals company could be a better choice for your pocket, health and state of mind…
If you are just starting out, or live in unfurnished rental accommodation and you’re moving into another rental property, or you have bought your first home, then you may not have much to move, so it certainly would be cheaper to try and move house yourself. However, over the years people usually accrue more and more possessions and find themselves surprised at how much stuff they have when it comes to moving time!
The other benefit to moving yourself is that if you have plenty of time to move house, you can do so on your own schedule without worrying about whether you are ready for your movers to arrive.
If you are looking to move house yourself, there are other things that you need to take into consideration, such as van hire.
Hiring a van to move house
According to statistics from the Department of Transport, 41% of Londoners don’t own a car, so those looking to move within London will either be reliant on the goodwill of friends and family or must look for a home removals service that they can trust.
If you don’t have a car or own a small vehicle, then you would need to hire a van to move your furniture and other property but there are aspects to take into consideration:
1. Do you have the right driving licence?
Most drivers have a category B driving licence as standard meaning that they can drive a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500 kgs) in weight and most standard vans won’t exceed the Category B weight limit, even when fully loaded. A Luton van is likely the biggest van individuals can hire.
2. Are you old enough to hire a vehicle?
Most van hire companies have age restrictions for hiring vehicles, so if you are under 25 then you may have to seek help from a friend or relative who is happy to hire a van and help you out. Some vehicle hire companies also have upper age limits so if someone over 70 has offered to help you move this may hinder your moving plans so do check in plenty of time before you make other arrangements.
3. Are you a confident driver?
If you are not a confident driver or used only driving small cars then you may find driving a heavy van for the first time a little daunting, particularly if you are moving in cold, snowy weather or you need to navigate down narrow streets.
When should you hire a removals company?
Hiring a house removal company such as Britannia Sandersteads is an easy and stress-free way of moving home. A removals company such as Britannia Sandersteads can also offer additional services such as packing and storage if you need extra help.
You may also want to consider using a removals company if you are contending with the following issues:
– Heavy, large or oddly-shaped items
– You are moving midweek and have no friends or family available to help you move
– You are outside the age limit to hire a van to help you move
– You need a large van e.g. 7.5 tonnes as you have a lot of items to move.
If you have decided that hiring a removals company is best for your needs, whether you are moving down the road or across the world, contact Britannia Sandersteads on 0800 998 1910 or email info@sandersteads.com.