Moving yourself is by far the cheapest route: you mainly pay for a rented van and some materials. You set the day, the pace and the approach, and because you pack everything yourself you know exactly where your things are. Ideal for a small volume with enough strong helpers.

It takes a lot of time and physical effort, and you depend on helpers who actually show up on the day. You arrange the van, materials and planning yourself. Count on hidden costs too: fuel, food and drinks for your helpers and a favour to return later. And without insurance, any damage is on you.

A company is fast — often done in a day — and experienced crews prevent mistakes and overruns. Your belongings are insured during the move, the right equipment and a furniture lift if needed are included, and you carry nothing yourself. (Dis)assembly and placing items in the right rooms can often be added, if agreed.

It's clearly more expensive than doing it yourself and you have less scheduling freedom. Watch for surcharges that can be added afterwards — for stairs, lifts, narrow passages or extra stops — and check whether (dis)assembly is really included. Always ask for a detailed, written quote so you avoid surprises.

A studio, small apartment or student room with few belongings is often easy to move yourself. Rent a van, ask a few strong friends and you're done in a day's work. A company for the one heavy piece is always an option as a separate job.

For a family home with lots of heavy furniture, a company saves you days of work and plenty of back pain. They're often done in a day and your belongings are insured in transit. Here, peace of mind usually outweighs the price difference.

Live high up, have a narrow stairwell or is parking a nightmare? Then pros with a furniture lift quickly pay for themselves — what costs you a full day of hauling, they do in a couple of hours and without damage. Always report these details in advance.

Is there time between your old and new home, or doesn't everything fit at once? Then you don't have to move it all in one go. Temporary storage bridges the gap, and by decluttering first you move less volume — which lowers the cost, whether you go DIY or hire a company.