Is Hiring a Removals Company Worth It?

Lyons Removals and Storage
Apr 12
4 min read

Let's do an honest and straightforward breakdown

It is still one of the most asked questions we get, it was is 1982 and it is still in 2026 and, when we have done our research - it is also one of the most "Googled" questions too - so we thought it was time to do a breakdown for you and answer all of your questions. “Do we really need a removals company… or can we just do it ourselves?”

It’s a fair question.

The cost of moving hous is already high, we know that... stamp duty, legal fees, deposits it’s natural to look for places to save money. For some, a DIY move feels like the obvious answer. The truth is, it’s not always as straightforward as it seems.

When a DIY Move Can Work

Let’s start with the reality sometimes, doing it yourself does make sense.

A DIY move might work well if:

You’re moving from a small property (1–2 rooms)
You don’t have much furniture or heavy items
You’re moving locally (short distance)
You have reliable help from friends or family
You’re not under strict time pressure (eg. moving from rented to rented or into an empty house)

In these situations, hiring a van and doing it over a day or two can be manageable.

Where DIY Moves Start to Fall Apart

This is the part people don’t always plan for, a house move isn’t just transporting your boxes from one house to the other, there's lots of other cogs to consider - timing, coordination, and pressure.

Here’s where things can quickly unravel:

Time pressure on completion day. You may need to be out by a certain time (usually the case), it doesn't allow for flexibility, your property is legally owned by someone else at 12 midday and if you are not out, they can fine you through their solicitor.
Underestimating how much you own, one van turns into three trips. One day worth of van hire quickly turns into calling and booking two.
Heavy and awkward items, sofas, wardrobes, appliances these aren’t designed to be moved easily and getting them in and out can cause damage if you don't know what you are doing - not only that...but do you know a window fitter that can get that pane of glass out to to get your sofa in? Because we do!
No backup plan - If something goes wrong, there’s no team to step in and fix it for you.
No insurance cover. If something breaks, it’s on you.

This is where “saving money” can start costing more, in time, stress and sometimes actual damage.

Cost Comparison

A lot of people compare it like this:

Van hire: £100–£200
Fuel: £50–£100
Maybe some help from friends: “free”

But what’s often missing from that calculation is:

Extra days off work
Multiple trips (more fuel, more hire time - you have just doubled your initial calculation)
Replacement costs for damaged items
Physical strain or injury
The stress of doing everything yourself

Suddenly, the gap between DIY and professional isn’t as big as it first looked.

What You’re Actually Paying For

When you hire a professional removals company, you’re not just paying for a man and a van. You’re paying for:

Experience - knowing how to move efficiently and safely
Speed - what takes you two days might take a team a few hours and keep the stress of the time limits at bay
Protection - proper handling, equipment and insurance
Problem-solving - delays, access issues, tight spaces… all handled
Peace of mind - you don’t have to think about every detail because we have the move covered

It’s not always "why should I pay someone to do something that I can do myself" , it’s more about not having to carry all the decsions and stress yourself.

Where Lyons Removals Fits In

We’re not writing this to tell you you have to hire a removals company but we are here to make it easier if you decide to.

At Lyons, we:

Plan your move properly from the start
Handle packing, lifting, tight access problems and transport
Work around delays (because they do happen)
Offer storage if things don’t line up perfectly
Bring a calm, experienced team on the day

We’ve been doing this for 40 years and we’ve seen every scenario you can imagine.

So… Is It Worth It?

If your move is small, flexible and low pressure, maybe not.

But if you’re:

Moving a full house
Moving with your whole family
Working to a deadline
Feeling stretched already
Or just want the day to go smoothly

Then yes in most cases, it is definitely worth it, not because you can’t do it yourself.

But because you don’t have to.

If you’re weighing up your options and want honest advice on what you should do for the best, we’re always happy to chat. No pressure at all.