Organising a DIY house move

Moving house without removalist or packing services simply means adding a few more steps into the usual planning and preparation.

We have already outlined ways to get your household ready for moving well ahead of time and the best ways to tackle moving day, but if you are making a DIY transition then you need to consider the following steps.

Book your van and moving equipment stat

Having the right transportation and moving equipment is imperative. You should book these items at least a month ahead of moving day – the last thing you want is to be stranded on the big day or frantically trying to find last-minute solutions.

Review your home’s contents and make a basic inventory. Take measurements of the largest items so you can evaluate the size of the van, ute, trailer or truck you will require. The larger the vehicle the fewer the trips, but you need to check licence requirements for larger vehicles and you don’t want to spend budget on an unnecessary up-size.

There are many national commercial vehicle hire companies, including Thrifty, Budget, Hertz and Avis. Talk to your chosen hire company about moving equipment such as ropes, bungee cords, blankets, boxes, packing material and, most importantly, trollies. Investigate flatbed, stair-climbing and collapsible trollies, as these can save your back on moving day.

When friends, family or loved ones are helping you with a DIY home move, taking all necessary safety precautions is essential.

Bribe friends and family

Wrangling friends, family and friends of friends (even exes!) is part and parcel of a DIY house move. Whoever is helping you, have the courtesy to be organised with a planned schedule for the day.

Consider this checklist:

• Have all your goods packed, labelled and ready to go before your helpers arrive.
• Dismantle furniture.
• Do your best to organise convenient vehicle access and parking at both the pick-up and delivery locations.
• Pre-arrange care for children and pets.
• Allocate tasks to your helping team, such as carrying, loading, driving and unpacking.
• Brief your team as to what items will go where in your new home and alert them to any fragile or heavy items.
• Have plenty of refreshments on hand, including water, tea, coffee and snacks.
• Provide towels, baby wipes and gloves to keep everyone comfortable.
• Aim to move at non-peak traffic times.
• Make sure someone is on hand to open doors and guide the unpacking at your new home.
• If possible, stick up temporary signs in your new home indicating where furniture and boxes should be placed.

Thank your helpers – a gift of beer, wine or bubbly is often appreciated. Hosting a post-move dinner is another option.

Continue reading our Moving House Guide with: Pre-organise the set-up of your new home