For a 1-bed flat with mostly Ikea, DIY can save you a few hundred euro. For a 3-bed family home, the maths almost always works out the other way.
The hidden costs of DIY
- Van hire and fuel: €120 to €250 for a Luton van for the day
- Two trips because the van is too small (most people underestimate)
- A friend's day off work plus food and a few pints
- No goods-in-transit insurance if something gets dropped
- A scratched floor or door frame in the new house
When DIY makes sense
Small flat, short move, light furniture and a strong friend or two. You'll get away with it.