According to the last census, one in six Australians had moved house in the previous year, while around half had moved during the previous five years. This translates to a great deal of moving about for Australians, which means lots of time and stress.
So, what is the best tactic for moving house? Take a look at five ways you can relocate, along with a few key pros and cons for each.
Getting Friends and Family Involved
Your friends and family may be able to help you move out of your home and into a new one. This will mean that you don’t have to pay for a team to help you move. Although, remember that your vehicles may be limited in what they can carry.
The Pros
• A low-cost option, as you probably won’t need to pay your family members and friends the same rate as you would a professional.
• Spending time with people close to you can make a move an enjoyable experience.
• You can return the favour and help friends and family with their moves in the future, creating a group of people who are ready to help each other out.
The Cons
• Moving is a big job, and your family and friends might not necessarily want to spend the day handling such a task.
• Moving is logistically tricky, and your loved ones may not have the skills required to complete the task in the right way.
• Your friends and family might not have a van or other removals vehicle.
Renting Your Own Van
Renting your own van puts the power in your hands and may provide a few cost savings in the process. However, bear in mind that you’ll still need to find other people to help you.
The Pros
• Total flexibility, as you are responsible for driving the van.
• Generally a cheaper option than hiring a professional team.
• A van should provide enough space to minimise the number of trips.
The Cons
• You will need to handle all of the lifting and logistics yourself.
• It may be difficult and dangerous to handle a fully-laden van if you are inexperienced.
• You’ll still need to find team members to help you.
The Full DIY Approach
This is the bare-bones method, involving only you, your car, and your grit and determination.
Only consider this option if you are fully confident in your capabilities.
The Pros
• The most flexible option, as you remain in charge of everything.
• You may be able to achieve significant cost savings compared to other methods.
• Everything is self-contained, so there is no need to hire anyone else or any other vehicle.
The Cons
• You will be responsible for everything, handling a complex task all by yourself.
• Without specialist vehicles, it will take many trips to move all your belongings.
• There are many different factors involved, all of which could cause the project to go severely wrong.
Recruiting the Neighbours to Help Out
If you have particularly friendly, helpful, and physically fit neighbours, they may be able to help you move. Just be sure to let them know the scale of the job.
The Pros
• This is another low-cost option, as you probably won’t need to pay neighbours as much as a professional team.
• You will gain the opportunity to bond with your neighbours.
• You can also return the favour by helping out your neighbours in the future.
The Cons
• Your neighbours may be even less inclined than your family and friends to help you with such a big job.
• You will still need to find a vehicle to help you with the move.
• Your neighbours may not have the skills needed to carry out a complex move.
Hire A Professional Team For Your Move
A professional team provides a comprehensive service, handling the entire project from end to end.
It may be better to call upon the services of professional companies such as AAA City Removalists, Zoom Removals or other established removalists.
What’s more, they will often have insurance to protect your property during transit. This is important as your contents insurance will usually not cover goods damaged during a move.
The Pros
• Professional teams provide everything you need and handle the complete move from start to finish.
• These professional teams are also highly skilled and fully insured, providing you with peace of mind.
• Professionals can provide reliable guarantees to help you plan the move more effectively.
The Cons
• Generally, this is the most expensive option of the five.
• You will need to book in advance to make sure you can get a professional team for your moving day.
• You might miss out on the opportunity to bond with family and friends or with new neighbours.
Weighing Up Your Options
There is no single “best” option for your move. It comes down to you, your equipment, where you are moving to, your team, and finally, the level of responsibility you’re happy to take on.
If you can call upon your own van, as well as a strong and expert team of personnel ready to assist your project, then you might be able to plan and handle the move yourself. It’s always better to be safe and secure when moving house, and professional assistance can help make sure of this. Remember if you are using professional movers, check accreditations such as afra.com.au.
