Are you moving with decorative furniture items in tow? If so, then you’re probably wondering if you can get away with moving such items yourself. I mean, it’s no surprise, given the fact that moving is an extremely costly endeavour.
However, there are some disadvantages to moving such items without the help of a professional moving company. That is why to help you decide if you should take the DIY route in transporting some of your luxury and decorative furniture pieces, we’ve come up with a list that weighs its pros and cons.
What Classifies As Decorative Furniture?
Before we go on to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of moving decorative furniture, it is best to establish a clear distinction as to what is classified as such. By its definition, a decorative or accent furniture is a piece of furniture that complements a room’s decor while standing out, all at the same time.
More than function, a decorative furniture’s primary purpose is to serve as a focal point in the home. To put it simply, decorative furniture is used to add life and colour to an interior space. Decorative furniture may come in the form of a large, imposing piece of furniture, a chair with a strong profile or colour, a vintage chest, a small table, a set of picture frames, or a work of art, among many others.
The Alternative: A Removals Company
It would also be crucial for you to understand just how exactly the alternative option works. That way, you can accurately determine how exactly you want to move your belongings.
A removals company provides relocation services to those looking to move house or offices, whether it be local or long-distance. Most moving companies even offer all-inclusive moving services, which means aside from the transportation of your items from one place to another, you may also depend on them for the following:
- Packing materials
- Disassembly and packing of items
- Unpacking, reassembly, and arrangement of your belongings
- Temporary removal storage
Because they are skilled and experienced in transporting all kinds of furniture, you can trust them to handle your decorative and luxury items, as well as your other belongings, with the utmost care.
They will also have the necessary equipment to make sure that even your most expensive pieces of handcrafted furniture stay in perfect condition throughout the move. Moreover, you can trust that if the fruits of your blood, sweat, tears, and hard work do get damaged under their care, you will get fairly compensated for the repair, refinishing, or replacement of your items.
To put it simply, a removals company will help make the moving process quick, easy, affordable, and hassle-free.
Worried about how much a removals company would cost? Check out how removal costs are typically computed here.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Moving Decorative Furniture Pieces Yourself
Pros
You Won’t Have To Pay For Professional Help
There’s just something unsettling about having to pay for a service that you and your friends can do yourselves. Why would you need to pay someone else to do it when you can just buy your mates some pizza and beer for doing the same thing?
You Will Have Full Control
You will be able to move on your own terms, schedule, and pace. Without the limitations and restrictions that would have otherwise been dictated by the service contract of your removals company, you will essentially be in charge of the whole moving process. You won’t even be charged extra if you encounter any delays!
That also means you won’t have to worry about your decorative or accent pieces being misplaced upon its unloading in your new home. You’ll know exactly where everything will be unloaded, thus giving you that extra peace of mind you deserve.
No Need To Worry About Handing Off Your Precious Pieces To Strangers
While professional movers are skilled and experienced in handling all kinds of furniture, you can’t deny that handing off your most precious furniture pieces to a total stranger will render you somehow anxious and uneasy.
By coordinating and handling all aspects of the move yourself, you won’t have to sit through a long car ride wondering just how well the removalists are taking care of your favourite velvet couch.
Cons
You’ll Be More Hands-On and Therefore, More Stressed
Because you’ll be doing all of the planning, organising, and heavy lifting, there are more things for you to stress over. This includes:
- Determining how to protect your precious and fragile items during the move.
- Finding an appropriately sized moving truck to rent.
- Purchasing boxes and packing materials.
- Recruiting people to help you out with the move.
- Planning how to load up your items into the moving truck.
Why put yourself through the trouble of doing all this when you can hire someone else to do it?
There Will Be A High Risk Of Damage To Your Decorative Furniture Pieces
As already mentioned, most of these decorative pieces are fragile and precious. They are, therefore, objects you wouldn’t want to risk damaging or losing. By deciding to move these kinds of items by yourself, though, you are effectively putting them at risk.
After all, you wouldn’t have the mastery of moving and transporting antiques, fine art, glass furniture, and the like. Additionally, you have to remember that by moving these items yourself, you are also obligated to purchase separate transit insurance for them.
That means if you forget or choose to get transit insurance for your stuff, you will also be paying for the repair, refinishing, or replacement costs yourself.
It’s Going To Be Physically Demanding
Again, you will be doing all the heavy lifting. That means you’ll also be putting yourself at risk for moving-related physical injuries such as back pain, cuts and bruises, muscle cramps and other injuries, inguinal hernia, joint pain, and many more. Yikes!
You Won’t Actually Be Saving Money
Yes, you read that right! While it seems unlikely, doing everything yourself probably wouldn’t save you as much as you think it would.
Van rental and fuel costs alone will put you out a few hundred pounds! Just think of how much more boxes and packing materials would cost you when you don’t have the efficient packing skills a professional mover would!
So, Do I Need A Removals Company?
That decision will still be up to you. After all, only you will be able to determine what is right for you and your most valuable and precious items. Just be sure to carefully evaluate your choices based on your requirements and lifestyle before making your decision.