DIY moving

Does it make more sense to move house on your own? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Preparations

If you decide to move house by yourself, you must rent or otherwise reserve a suitable vehicle well in advance. A rental vehicle should have at least a bed protected against the elements and come with sufficient wool blankets. To carry bulky furniture you also need shoulder straps.

During loading and unloading, you want a parking place as close as possible to the building entrance. For this, talk to the landlord or contact the local police station. It's also important to arrange for sufficient helpers on site. Keep in mind that these people will want to have plenty of food and beverages.

A note about liability

A DIY move is less expensive, but you should keep in mind that professionals work more quickly and carefully. If any damage arises during the move, the liability insurance of the voluntary helpers does not come into effect; it does not pay in the case of friends helping out or similar goodwill services. The insurance only pays if you have a written contract with your helpers in which an hourly wage is set.

If one of the helpers is injured, as a rule the person at fault is liable. If an accident occurs with a rented transport vehicle, you should notify the police so that the insurance coverage goes into effect. It's recommended to take out some transport insurance.