Money Research Collective’s editorial team solely created this content. Opinions are their own, but compensation and in-depth research determine where and how companies may appear. Many featured companies advertise with us. How we make money.
Tips for an Easy DIY Move
By Nicole Symon MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE
When preparing for a move, one of the biggest decisions you have to make is whether or not to hire professionals. If you’re planning to forgo professional help and complete a DIY move, there are some things you can do to make it easier.
In this guide, you’ll learn valuable tips on how to do a lot of the work yourself to save money. We also include guidance on when you should consider hiring help.
8 DIY moving tips for an easy and successful move
Moving by yourself is a huge endeavor, and you need a strong plan of attack to limit stress. Some of the top DIY moving tips and tricks include finding free packing supplies and using a checklist to keep track of the tasks to do when moving so you don’t forget anything.
1. Declutter
There’s no point in packing up and moving items to your new home that you no longer want. Make your move easier and less expensive by decluttering your home beforehand. Give yourself plenty of time — a month or two at least — so you can declutter everything without rushing.
Start with areas like your basement and attic, where you store items you don’t use frequently. Go through all your belongings and sort them into keep, donate or sell and trash piles, depending on what you plan to do with them. Be honest with yourself about what you’re really going to need and use in your new home. It’s easy to find a reason to keep everything, but that will only make your move more challenging.
Once you’ve sorted all your stuff, throw out all the items in the trash pile. For the other items you don’t want to keep that are still worth something, either donate or sell them. Some organizations that accept clothing and household item donations include the Salvation Army, Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity. There may be other local organizations as well. Consider hosting a garage sale or listing more expensive and valuable items on resale sites. You can use those funds to increase your moving budget.
2. Start packing well in advance
If there’s one thing you really shouldn’t procrastinate on, it’s packing for your move. The longer you wait to start packing, the more frantic and stressful the process will be.
A general guideline is to allow at least one day of packing for each room in your home. So, for example, if you have a three-bedroom home, expect to spend at least three to five days packing up all your belongings. If you researched professional movers beforehand, their websites may have offered time estimates for how long your move would take. Keep in mind that everything takes longer when you’re moving by yourself, and you need to account for that in your scheduling.
You shouldn’t wait until the last week before your move to do all your packing. Even if you don’t have a lot to pack, take your time and start packing well before your moving date.
The first things you should pack are the items you use least often. This may include holiday decorations, artwork, off-season clothing and media like books and video games. When it gets closer to your moving date, you can pack up the items you regularly use, like your electronics, linens and dishes. Remember to pack a box of essentials with all the items you’ll need during and immediately after your move.
3. Shop around for the best-priced rental trucks
Unless you own a truck or know someone who does, you’ll probably need to rent a truck for your DIY move. You shouldn’t just select the first truck rental company you find, though. Shop around and request quotes from the best moving truck rental companies to ensure you get the best deal on a truck rental.
So how much should you expect to pay? According to Angi, renting a moving truck costs $1,000, on average, but prices can go as high as $3,500. Some factors that will affect your moving cost include the size of the truck you need, how long you plan to rent the truck and how far you’ll travel. If you need a large truck for a long-distance move, you’ll likely pay more than the $1,000 average.
4. Find free boxes and packing materials
One of the most helpful moving tips is to find free packing boxes and supplies rather than buying new materials. You can get moving boxes for free in a variety of places. It saves money and is more environmentally friendly. Often, all you have to do is ask.
Some places to look for free moving boxes include online boards like Craigslist, Facebook and Nextdoor. If you ask, grocery and liquor stores are often willing to give away their empty cardboard boxes for free. Check your local gas station convenience stores to see if they have any extra boxes. You can also ask friends, family members and coworkers who recently moved if they’ll give you their used moving boxes.
Finding free packing materials may be slightly more complicated than finding boxes, but it’s still possible. You’ll need packing materials like bubble wrap and packing paper to keep your fragile items safe during transport. Look on the same online boards and ask people you know if they have packing materials they don’t need anymore. You can also collect and save materials that come with packages you order and reuse them during your move.
5. Pack and load the heaviest items first
The heaviest items in your home are often the most difficult to pack. They’re also the most likely to damage your other belongings during transport. For these reasons, you should pack and load your heavy or awkward items — like furniture — first.
Make sure you know how to pack a moving truck before you start loading your items. Large and heavy items should be placed at the back and bottom of the truck, while fragile items should be closest to the truck’s door. Pack your heavy items in large boxes or wrap them in moving blankets before placing them in your vehicles.
6. Move over the weekend
When planning a DIY move, you have more freedom over when to transport your belongings. Conversely, if you were to hire a moving company, moving over the weekend might be more expensive than on a weekday.
Consider completing your DIY move on a weekend. You likely won’t have to miss work or worry about the move interfering with school if you have children. There’s also no rush hour traffic to contend with during weekend moves which can make the trip go much faster.
7. Use a checklist
Use a moving checklist to keep track of all the tasks you still need to complete for your move. The checklist will help you stay on track and ensure you don’t forget any critical details. Some items to put on your list include:
- Gathering all your packing and moving supplies
- Donating or selling unwanted items
- Making an inventory of the belongings you’re moving
- Packing all your items
- Changing your mailing address and transferring utilities
Check each item off the list as you complete it. That way, you’ll know you accomplished everything you need to do for a successful move.
8. Ask friends and family to lend a hand
Opting for a do-it-yourself move doesn’t mean you must forgo help altogether. Call on your friends and family to lend a hand with your move. Make sure the people you ask to help you are reliable so you know they’ll show up when you need them. You also want to make sure they’ll treat your items with care.
When you’re asking for help with your move, acknowledge that it’s a big favor. Some people may be unwilling to help, and that’s okay. Give at least two weeks’ notice of your request to avoid putting anyone on the spot.
When your friends or family members arrive on moving day, be clear about what you want everyone to do. Have a plan and explain it to the group. Consider offering snacks and drinks to keep your helpers refreshed and energized throughout the process.
When to consider hiring professional movers
There may be better options than a DIY move for some people. If you’re not sure whether you should try moving by yourself or hire professional movers, working with professional movers is generally preferable in the following scenarios:
If your budget allows for it
Hiring professional movers, whether a full-service moving company or labor-only movers, is an added cost. If your moving budget is already stretched thin, a do-it-yourself move is probably the way to go since it’s the cheapest way to move. If, on the other hand, you have some additional room in your moving budget, it may be worthwhile to spend the money on professional movers.
The amount you’ll pay for professional moving services depends on the distance of your move, the type of movers you hire and where you’re located, among other factors. On average, two movers for two hours cost between $211 and $362, according to Uhaul data. You may be able to find movers in the $25 to $50 per hour range, depending on where you live.
If you have limited time
Moving by yourself is generally much more time-consuming than working with professional movers. If you’re short on time, you may want to hire movers rather than try to complete the move yourself. The last thing you want is to rush through your move and hurt yourself or the items you’re moving.
The time it takes professional movers to get all of your belongings out of your home and onto the truck depends on the size of your home. Consider these general guidelines:
- 2 to 3 hours for a studio or one-bedroom home
- 3 to 5 hours for a two-bedroom home
- Around 7 hours for a three- or four-bedroom home
- 8 to 10 hours for homes with five or more bedrooms
Don’t expect to match these timelines if it’s just you and a few friends moving your belongings. Professional movers do this for a living, so they have all the right tools and techniques to make the moving process quick and easy.
If you’re doing a long-distance move
If you’re moving more than 100 miles or crossing state lines, that’s considered a long-distance move. This longer distance between your old home and your new home can make it difficult to move your belongings yourself. You typically won’t be able to visit your new space frequently leading up to a long-distance move since it’s time-consuming and costly.
Professional movers are especially helpful for long-distance moves, like a move across the country. By hiring professionals for your move, you won’t have to worry about making multiple trips or safely transporting your items over long distances. The movers will handle that for you. Many of the best long-distance moving companies offer customizable services.
If you have several furniture items
People with relatively few pieces of furniture may be able to easily pack up and transport all their belongings. However, hiring professional movers would be wise if you have many large pieces of furniture.
Compared to one person, a team of professional movers can transport pieces of furniture much more efficiently and safely. A full-service moving company will load your furniture into the moving truck, drive it to your new home and typically unpack your items. The more furniture you have, the more of a difference this professional help will make. Professional movers typically offer protection for your items, which can offer added peace of mind.
If it would be too much of a strain on you
Moving all your furniture and other heavy items yourself can seriously strain your body. You may injure yourself or struggle to do all the heavy lifting. Hiring professional movers is the solution if you think DIY moving is overly strenuous.
Experienced movers can have the knowledge and tools to move heavy items safely. Working with professionals means you won’t have to worry about hurting yourself or dealing with an injury during the stressful moving process.
Apply these tips to avoid a complicated move
Applying the best moving tips and advice ensures your DIY move is as smooth and easy as possible. Don’t forget to pack well before your move date and look for free packing supplies. You can always hire professional movers if you decide you need additional help.