Every change is a challenge – it offers many opportunities and brings a lot of excitement, but causes great anxiety and presents a number of difficulties as well.
![A self-move gives you control of the relocation ptrocess.](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/self-move.jpg)
Moving house – one of the most life-changing events a person can ever experience – makes no exception. In fact, it poses an entire set of challenges – finding an appropriate new home, moving all your earthly possessions to a new location, leaving friends and familiarity behind, adjusting to a new environment, etc. Organizing and performing the actual relocation is quite a trial as well – you need to pack your belongings, find an efficient way to transport them to your new home, set up your new place, etc.
There is no doubt that when faced with a house move, you’ll try your best to overcome the challenges and ensure a smooth transition to your new life. And since you probably don’t trust anyone to take better care of your items than yourself, you may think that it will be best if you do it all yourself.
Performing a DIY move will certainly give you greater control of the relocation process (you will be able to do things at your own pace and in your own way) and may save you some troubles down the road (such as dealing with rogue movers, for example). Not to mention, that it seems to be a much cheaper option than hiring professional movers.
Yet, a self-move poses many risks that may easily result in a moving horror story unless properly assessed and adequately prevented.
So, before you make the brave decision of moving by yourself, make sure you’re well aware of the potential hazards (both obvious and hidden ones) and consider your other options as well – you may find that a DIY move is not worth the risk, after all.
Here are the biggest relocation risks you will face if you choose to move without professional help:
#1. OBVIOUS SELF-MOVING RISK: Damaged Items
The first image that comes to mind when thinking of the possible risks of moving house is a crushed box full of broken items. It is such a common scenario that people may actually be surprised if they find all their belongings intact upon delivery.
Yet, if you hire experienced packers to prepare your items for shipping and trustworthy movers to transport them to your new home, your possessions have every chance to survive the relocation safe and sound. The pros have the skills (rich experience and profound knowledge) and the resources (quality packing supplies and specialized moving equipment) to do the job right and ensure the best possible protection to your belongings. Besides, they offer insurance options that cover the cost of repairing/replacing items that have been lost or damaged while in their custody, so you can have your peace of mind.
If you decide on a self-move though, you put your belongings at great risk:
![Damaged items are among the most common moving risks.](https://www.mymovingreviews.com/move/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/broken-items.jpg)
1) You may not be able to pack your items safely enough:
- You may not have appropriate packing materials;
- You may not know how to pack a box the right way;
- You may not be familiar with the specific packing techniques for different types of items – clothes, shoes, books, breakables, furniture, appliances, electronics, etc.;
- You may commit a major packing mistake, etc.
2) You may not be able to safely load/unload your items or secure them properly inside the moving vehicle:
- You may damage your belongings when taking them out of your home or when loading them on the moving vehicle (drop them, bump them against a wall or a door frame, etc.);
- You may not know how to properly pack the moving truck or how to prevent the items inside from shifting, toppling over, or bumping into each other during transit;
- You may damage your goods when unloading them at your final destination and taking them inside your new home.
3) Your items may get damaged or stolen during transit:
- You may not be able to safely navigate the large and heavy moving vehicle – any sharp turns, sudden stops, and/or quick accelerations during transportation may result in shocks or vibrations that can cause damage to your items;
- You may not have provided proper protection to your sensitive items – artwork, electronics, and other delicate articles may get damaged if they spend a lot of time on the road in extremely high or extremely low temperatures;
- You may get in a traffic accident and lose (or badly damage) your belongings;
- Your possessions may get stolen when you stop for a rest and leave the moving vehicle unattended for some time (during the night, while having a meal, etc.).
Additional useful information: Driving a moving truck tips
4) Your items may not have adequate insurance, so you’ll have to pay the full repair or replacement costs out of your pocket should something happen to your belongings on the road.
Related: Types of moving insurance
The possible damage to your items is one of the most obvious risks of moving by yourself, but it is not the only risk of damage during a self-move.
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