Should You Hire a Removal Company or Hire A Truck and Do It Yourself?

When it comes to moving, there are a number of options that you can choose from to be sure that your possessions get from A to B in the safest and smoothest way possible. Will you move your belongings yourself using a hire truck or hire trailer? Or  will you seek the services of a removal or transport company to do the moving work for you?

Both options have their pros and cons.

Moving is a big process, so make sure that you research accordingly and choose the option that works best for you.

Along with the costs involved, it's important to consider what insurance cover is required or included, and what impact both options will have on your life as you move from one place to another, or one state to the next.

If you're choosing to move long distance, the cost of moving interstate can vary greatly depending on which option you choose.

That's why we’ve uncovered the major points that you need to consider when moving, and discuss the pros and cons of both hiring a removal company and choosing to hire a truck or trailer to complete the move yourself.

Get ready to move!

1. The  Costs of Moving

The first thought that comes to mind when moving is the cost.

Just how expensive is hiring a transport company or removalist? Is it worth spending more money on a removalist when you could be saving money by transporting everything yourself? Is there money to be saved when doing the move yourself, especially if interstate moving is involved?

Removalist- Removalists usually charge by the hour, and often charge extra for certain services. The hourly cost is usually for one truck, and can cost extra if more than two removalists are used to transport your belongings.

If you want the removalists to pack and unpack your belongings, this will also be at an additional cost.

Don’t forget that removalist costs also factor in the type of property you’re moving from and to (such as double storey house or apartment) and takes into account the distance travelled and number of rooms packed. The cost of moving interstate has a large impact on the  quote provided by removal or transport companies.

The costs can climb, but there is a peace of mind knowing that there will be professionals moving your belongings who are both experienced and covered by the appropriate insurances.

DIY- When choosing the DIY option, costs become individual. That’s why you need to be sure you factor in all of the necessary, costs and plan ahead.

This includes factoring into your budget things like;

• Hiring a truck or hire trailer for moving day;
• Sourcing and purchasing packing materials;
• Potential out of pocket expenses to recover lost or damaged items;
• Sourcing enough people to help you move;
• Paying for insurances;
• Considering State-to-State costs and what is involved with one way truck hire;
• Time required to move everything.

Again, the cost when moving interstate without the help of a removal or transport company can add up.

There are costs involved for both, so it's just a matter of finding the most productive and safest method of moving based on your requirements.

2. The Cover 

Moving is a physically strenuous job. The  heavier the box, the  higher the risk of injury. The  longer the  trip, the  more processes involved. That's why it's incredibly important to research the insurances available to you.

It's important to keep all parties and possessions as safe as possible, but what insurance does a removal company need to ensure that all of your belongings are covered?

And, what insurance do you need to be able to cover your DIY move?

Removalist- Professional removal companies have several different types of insurances that cover your contents. This includes;

• Public Liability Insurance
• Carriers Liability Insurance
• Motor Vehicles Third Party Liability Insurance

These insurances are the responsibility of the transport company, no matter whether you’re moving interstate or to the next suburb. There's nothing else that you need to do other than to confirm that the removal company has the  appropriate insurances.

Should a removalist become injured while moving your goods it is the responsibility of the removal company to ensure the insurances cover this. This coverage also includes any lost or broken belongings during transit.

DIY-  When you are hiring a truck and moving yourself, you are also in control of organising the relevant insurances. These insurances help to cover yourself, your helpers and your property should anything unexpected happen.

These include arranging for;

• Contents Insurance- with coverage details and timeframes varying between insurers, so please double check this.
• Transit Insurance- to cover your belongings during transit.

If you choose to hire a moving van or truck, you may need to consider additional insurances. These can form part of the agreement between you and the truck hire company, and can vary if you are moving interstate or overseas.

Usually the hire company covers the insurance for the van/truck/trailer and not the goods inside, so keep this in mind when finding a hire trailer, truck or van for your next move.

3. The Convenience

Moving is a time consuming process that involves a lot of planning and research. Yes, the costs involved and the insurances required are important pieces of the moving puzzle, but what happens when you just don't have the time?

It takes a lot of time to stop everything, pack up our belongings, and move to the next destination. This is where we see the  biggest difference between hiring a removal company to transport your contents and completing the move for yourself.

Removalists- When you hire a removal company, they do the work for you. They have options to cover the entire process from start to finish.

This covers everything from packing to lifting, insurances to kilometres travelled. It's less stressful than when you do the move yourself, allowing you to have more time to focus on other things.

Interstate removalists are also able to complete all tasks across all states, giving you breathing space when it comes to travel insurances and no nasty surprises when there's a larger distance of kilometres travelled.

DIY- Deciding to complete the move yourself will take up significantly more time that what it would to hire a removal or transport company. This is because you are to organise everything from start to finish. If you do travel down the DIY Moving route, you need to consider;

• Insurances
• Possible storage requirements
• Packing and packing materials
• Transit- including hire van/hire trailer/ hire truck and associated vehicle insurances
• Help with heavy lifting
• Unpacking and rubbish removal

There are pros and cons to either option. It's all about finding the option that works best for you.

If you're unsure of how to approach your next move, contact Best Rated Transport HERE and we can help you decide what may be your best option.

Let's get moving!

*Disclaimer: Please use this blog as a guide only. Remember to conduct your own review and research at your own discretion, including the cost of moving interstate.