For many people, the idea of moving house is nightmare fuel. However, it doesn’t need to be as stressful as it might have been in the past. Whether you’re doing a big move with the children or you’re downsizing from a family home that once was but has now become too big of a house for you and your partner.
Moving home requires a fair bit of planning and making sure you have everything planned ahead, will make the move a lot easier as a result.
Photo by Robinson Greig on Unsplash
Why hiring a van beats paying for a full removal service
The primary advantage of hiring a van is that it will help to save you a lot of money compared to the go-to which is usually a full-service moving company. There are a number of other benefits that come with hiring a van for moving.
Lower upfront fees
By hiring a van, you avoid paying the higher fees that come with hiring out a full professional team of movers.
The main expenses are then limited to just the van rental fee, as well as the fuel and optional insurance where it’s needed. This is often considerably a lot cheaper than one of the all-inclusive removal quotes that you’ll get.
Saving money is always a great benefit when it comes to moving home and the lower upfront fees can really help when processing the sale of a home.
No hidden charges
Removal companies will often add on some extra fees depending on your needs and wants, both before and on the day of the move.
These extra fees can soon add up, from heavy or bulky item charges to waiting times and storage requirements.
With a DIY move, you are generally responsible for any pre-agreed costs and you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be looking to pay for the day, as well any additional costs like extra mileage charges.
No hidden charges can help you feel a lot better about the move as a whole.
Include your family and friends
Rather than paying for professional movers an hourly rate to help with your move, you could always look at the help of your friends and family where it’s appropriate.
Of course, this is all dependent on where you’re living and who is available to help you with this type of heavy lifting and moving of furniture. You may not always have the right people available for the moving day either.
While it might be a little more challenging to find people to help, there’s still a large saving to be made on labour charges that would otherwise be incurred.
Flexibility and control
When you hire a van there’s a lot more flexibility and control that you have over the entire moving project as a whole. It gives you command over the move, so you’re not having to be tied into anyone else’s schedule. You also have ownership and eyes on your stuff at all times.
Set your own schedule
Setting your own schedule is a good one because it can help in situations where the house move isn’t going quite to plan.
With a moving company, you’re restricted to their own availability on what dates they can do, as well as the schedule for the day. They may even have another move to do, where thet share the space with your furniture. This can lead to a sense of apprehension and confusion which could result in lost belongings too.
Privacy
With a van hire, you won’t have strangers turning up and being responsible for all your personal possessions. That can be a significant comfort for those who really value some of their belongings.
You can also prep and pack your belongings your way, rather than having someone else do it for you.
Who are vans most suitable for?
Vans are most suitable for the following:
- Smaller moves – Relocating from one flat to another is often the best use for van hire.
- Local moves – If you’re only moving down the road, a van might be enough to help with going back and forth from your old property to your new one.
- Physically able movers – If you and your helps are all capable of heavy lifting and the physical effort that comes with it, van hire is suitable.
Of course the trade-off is whether you’re looking to save money or you’re more about reducing the effort on your part.
Hiring a van is a highly cost-effective and customizable moving solution that can benefit your move greatly.
Choosing the right van size for your move
So how do you choose the right venue size for your move?
1. Inventory and categorize
First and foremost, write down everything before you move. Make a list of everything that’s needed to be packed up and put in the back of the van. Group items and measure any large items to make sure it will fit into the van space.
2. Account for the extra space
You’ll want to account for the extra space that you might need for packing materials. Your belongings after all will be in larger boxes, in bubble wrap and padding that might all take up a bit of extra room.
That’s why it’s good to factor in a buffer so that you can reduce the risk of anything not fitting in properly. It’s better to have a larger van than a van that isn’t big enough for everything to go in.
3. Match your needs to the van size
Matching your needs to the van size is also important. While small vans might be ideal for some, they might not be enough for those who have a lot more furniture. Consider the following:
- Small van – Best for studio apartments and one-room moves
- Medium vans – For one or two-bedroom properties
- Large or luton vans – Ideal for a three or four-bedroom house or a move that has many large items.
Moving home can have it’s stressful moments but with the right van hire, it can save you the time, money and stress that you’re looking to achieve.
Moving can be very stressful. Thank you for the information.