HOW TO PULL OFF A SELF-MOVE

Moving into a new home comes with such a long list of expenses that hiring a professional moving company is one of the first expenses that many buyers tend to try and work around. While using a professional moving company will reduce the risks of damage to your furniture and injury to yourself, smaller moves can be done effectively by yourself if you plan carefully and take all the necessary precautions.

Ask for help
It is highly unlikely that any individual has everything required for a move – even if it is just some extra muscle power to help with the heavy lifting. In the build-up to moving day, ask around to find out if anyone in your social circle can help you out. Remember not to strain your friendships by not acknowledging those who’ve helped you. This could come in many forms, from a small gift to treating them to a free dinner or drinks after the move.

Have new furniture delivered to your new address
If you need new furniture, make sure you arrange to have it delivered to your new address. Yes, this might mean that your living room goes without a couch for a few weeks, but it saves you the hassle of lugging another big item to your new home. Besides, you have to pay for delivery in most (if not all) cases, so you might as well get the store to deliver it to the right address.

Move furniture and boxes on separate days
On many occasions, homeowners will receive the keys to their new home a day or so before the scheduled moving day. If this happens, take advantage of the extra day by moving the smaller items and boxes first. Even if you only receive the keys on the day, stretching the moving process over a few days will alleviate some of the strain of doing it on your own.

Create an operational checklist
To make sure nothing gets overlooked on the day, have an operational checklist ready so that you can ensure that the day runs smoothly. Be prepared for accidents that might happen on the day and have extra duct tape, packing boxes, and securing straps for dropped or torn boxes, as well as ropes to tie down items that need extra securing.

Keep refreshments on hand
Make sure to stash a few bottled waters and snacks in the front cabin of your car to keep hydrated and fuelled during the move. Most new homeowners forget to think about this when they’re relocating, which only depletes their energy quicker and slows down the move.

Final Words of Advice
Relocating is no walk in the park, so you need to weigh up the pros and cons of doing it alone carefully before making a decision. Unless you have a towbar and a large trailer, a bakkie or a SUV with collapsible seats, you are going to have to fork out some cash regardless, so make sure you explore the costs of each option before you decide that hiring professionals will be too expensive of an option.