Key Highlights of Common Moving Mistakes That Are Made
- Moving can be a stressful process, but avoiding common mistakes can make it smoother.
- Proper planning, including decluttering and gathering packing supplies, is crucial.
- Researching and booking movers early ensures availability and potentially better rates.
- Protecting your belongings with insurance and proper packing techniques provides peace of mind.
- Creating a detailed moving checklist helps keep you organized and reduces the chance of oversights.
Moving to a new home is exciting, but it can feel overwhelming, which can lead to mistakes if you are not careful. Packing, planning, organizing, and trying to find the proper moving company can create chaos, leading to minor or even major errors, which is understandable but still frustrating. These mistakes can cause stress, waste time, and lead to unexpected costs. However, with some planning and preparation, you can make the moving process easier and feel more confident in your overall moving situation.
The 10 Common Moving Mistakes You Should Avoid
Moving to a new house is a significant life event, bringing excitement and worry. While you may feel thrilled to be in a new space and city or neighborhood, you should use all of the time you have leading up to your move to plan it properly, as moves can often come with unique challenges. Even the best planners can make typical moving errors, like packing mistakes or forgetting items that must be attended to.
To make your move easier, 1-800-PACK-RAT has compiled a list of ten of the most common mistakes you should try to avoid. Understanding what others have faced can reduce stress and make your transition to a new home more successful.
1. Failing to Declutter Before Packing
One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is keeping things they don’t need anymore. It is imperative to clean up things before you pack a single box. This will help make your move easier and cheaper.
Check each room and look at what you own. Decide what to keep, donate, sell, or throw away. You could have a yard sale or use online marketplaces to sell things you don’t want. This can help you eliminate items and earn extra cash for moving costs.
Remember, you will have less to move if you have less to pack, so you might not need as big of a portable container to move or store your stuff in. This will save you time, energy, and money on supplies and transport.
2. Underestimating the Number of Packing Supplies Needed
It's easy to overlook how many cardboard boxes, packing paper, and bubble wrap you will need to keep your things safe during the move. Running out of moving supplies while packing can cause big problems, delay you, and add stress during a busy time.
To prevent this, look at what you have and make an educated guess as to how many boxes you will need. It’s better to have some extra boxes than to run out, and starting this process early will allow you to go back and buy more boxes if you underestimate how many you need without throwing your schedule into chaos.
Also, remember to get other packing supplies like packing tape, tape guns, markers for labeling, and furniture pads for your bigger items.
3. Delaying the Start of the Packing Process
Procrastination is a trap we all fall into, especially if our moving date is weeks or months away. However, waiting until the last minute to pack is a bad idea in the long run. Packing usually takes longer than you think, and rushing can lead to improper packing, broken items, and forgotten essential items and tasks.
Instead, make a packing schedule well before your moving day and begin packing away stuff that you are not using or that is well out of season. Set aside specific times for packing different areas or rooms, and stick to packing away the nonessentials. This method helps you pack carefully so you won't miss anything important and get a head start on the packing process, especially when you have plenty of lead time. It also helps protect your items during transport when you have the time to pack everything correctly.
Remember that a packing process that is started ahead of time will make your moving experience smoother and less stressful.
4. Not Scheduling Movers or a Moving Company Well in Advance
Whether you opt for the less flexible and troublesome avenue of renting a moving truck or pick the portable moving container route that gives you the time you need to pack at your pace, waiting until the last minute to schedule either can get you into big trouble. This is especially true during the busy moving seasons of May - July.
Begin your search process for a moving company at least a couple of months in advance of your move. While moving truck rental companies tend to work off inventory in your local area, making picking your preferred moving date harder, portable moving companies like 1-800-PACK-RAT can make the move happen on your schedule. You pick your moving date, we deliver the container to you, you pack at your pace, then we pick up the container and move it to your new home or store it. It is that simple.
However, if you wait until a week or so out to try to schedule a move, chances are your moving date will be booked, or you will have to settle for a less-than-ideal moving solution. Get your quotes from your moving companies and try to have one selected at least a month out from your moving date. That way, you can book your company as well as any third-party professional labor assistance you might need to help pack your container or auto transportation providers.
5. Skipping the Purchase of Moving Insurance
Moving insurance is often ignored, but it's vital for keeping your things safe during a move. Accidents can happen. Even though good moving companies treat your items well, unexpected issues like truck crashes or storms can still cause damage or loss.
Moving insurance usually helps cover your items' repair or replacement costs in these cases. It gives you peace of mind and protects your money. Before you move, ask the moving company about their insurance options. For 1-800-PACK-RAT, we offer multiple levels of Contents Protection Plans you can choose from to add for each container you use, giving you peace of mind that your stuff is covered in the case of an accident occurring.
Check the policy terms and coverage limits of any solution provider. This will help ensure they match the value of your things. If you need more protection, consider increasing your protection amount or getting extra coverage from another insurer.
6. Not Gathering Multiple Moving Estimates
Getting several moving estimates is vital for making an informed choice and getting the best price for your move. While 1-800-PACK-RAT is the best you can get in the portable moving and storage space, we understand that budgets need to be stuck to for our customers. Things like distance, the amount of stuff you have, and extra services can all change the overall cost - you can learn more about 1-800-PACK-RAT's costs here.
Reaching out to different companies helps you compare their prices directly and maybe make a better deal. Ask each mover for a written estimate that lists all the services included and any extra fees they might have. Remember - you often get what you pay for, so if a deal seems too good to be true or sounds like it might not be real, trust your gut instinct. No moving company is perfect, but the one you choose should have a quality solution with a quality customer service team to assist.
This straightforward method lets you make a fair comparison and choose the best company that fits your budget and needs.
7. Overlooking the Importance of a Moving Checklist
A detailed moving plan is essential for staying organized and keeping stress low. A good moving checklist helps you keep track of key tasks related to your current home, deadlines, and appointments so you won't forget anything.
Your checklist should include everything from cleaning out and packing to letting utility companies know about your move and setting up mail forwarding with the United States Postal Service. Break tasks down into smaller steps, set realistic deadlines, and adhere to them as much as possible.
Using a checklist keeps your next move on track. It reduces the chances of rushing at the last minute and helps you feel more in control during this busy time. Download 1-800-PACK-RAT's moving checklist here, and keep track of all of your important dates and to-dos easily!
8. Improper Packing of Valuable Items
Valuable and fragile items need special care when packing. You can't just put them in boxes with padding. To properly protect things like glassware, electronics, artwork, and important documents, you must plan carefully and use the right packing methods, such as masking tape for additional support.
Get good packing materials such as bubble wrap, packing paper, and boxes for fragile items. If you are looking to save money, you can use old bedsheets, towels, or newspapers (make sure the ink doesn't bleed first) to keep your stuff secure. Wrap each item separately and use padding to stop the shifting of contents and protect lighter items from breakage during transport.
Label boxes clearly and liberally with "FRAGILE" written on them. This will help movers identify and handle them with extra care.
Another tip is if you are moving very valuable items such as jewelry or other highly valuable items, try to keep these items with you at all times. While the companies you work with should be trusted, keeping these belongings on you is always a good rule of thumb to avoid any mistakes or loss of valuable property. It will give you peace of mind knowing your heirlooms and expensive items are always within your possession during your move.
9. Forgetting to Arrange for Parking Permits on Moving Day
When you're moving, finding a spot for your moving solution or portable container at both your old and new home can be an overlooked detail. If you do not plan for it, you may face delays, parking tickets, and added stress on moving day.
If you live in a city or urban environment and need to park your moving solution on the street, be sure to call the parking authorities in your city. If you are in a neighborhood with an HOA, contact them for guidance to avoid any fines or notices. Take the time to figure out the parking rules early in the moving process and if you need permits. Some places have special loading zones or time limits, so being prepared is a good idea.
Getting parking permits and sharing the parking plan with the moving company helps make the moving day smoother and more efficient.
10. Neglecting to Pack an Essentials Box
After moving, the unpacking process can be chaotic. Finding key items like toiletries, a change of clothes, or essential documents might feel like an arduous search. To make this easier, pack an essentials box.
Before you finish packing, set aside a box or suitcase for essential items you will need immediately at your new home. This box should have toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a few changes of clothes, and important documents that you want close by.
Label this box clearly with permanent markers, and load it into your container or moving solution last so it is the first thing you unload at your new home. This way, you have everything you need to settle in without digging through many boxes if you are not feeling up to unpacking immediately.
Use 1-800-PACK-RAT to Make Your Upcoming Move as Mistake-Free as Possible
Good planning and organization are essential to avoiding mistakes when moving, as some of the most significant issues occur for movers when their backs are against the wall time-wise and they are rushing to get stuff done. Start your preparation and packing as early as possible to get a head start, and be sure to choose a moving solution that works on your schedule, not the other way around.
1-800-PACK-RAT is here to assist you with any moving and storage needs. Whether you are moving locally or long distance or need to store your stuff for a while, we have you covered. With over 75 storage warehouse locations across the continental United States, we can cover your moving and storage needs where you are. Let us bring the moving and storage to you - no driving on your part means less stress and fewer chances for a mistake to happen so that you can focus your attention on other matters!
Let us help reduce moving mistakes and make your upcoming move simple. Call us today or go online for a free quote and see how easy we can make your upcoming moving and storage event!
Frequently Asked Questions About Commonly Made Moving Mistakes
What's the Best Way to Declutter Before a Move?
Start by sorting your things into groups: keep, donate, sell, or throw away. You can have a yard sale or use online marketplaces and social media to help you clean out your old home and make some extra cash. Remember that moving less means a lighter load and more room in your new space! A good rule of thumb is if you haven't needed, worn, or cared about the item in question in at least the past 12 months, then you probably don't need to hang onto it.
How Early Should I Book Movers?
Booking professional movers should be one of your first tasks once you have a moving date. Try to book at least 6-8 weeks ahead, especially for long-distance moves and if you plan to move during the late Spring and Summer months. When you book early, the first moving company you contact has enough time to help with your move. This also boosts your chances of getting your preferred date when moving with 1-800-PACK-RAT and settling into your new place smoothly.
Why is Moving Insurance Important?
Imagine arriving at your new home and finding out that some of your valuable items were damaged while being moved. Planning and packing carefully is vital, but accidents can still happen. Moving insurance can help cover loss or damage and protect you from surprise costs, giving you peace of mind during moving.
How Can I Ensure My Valuables Are Packed Safely?
When packing valuable items, it’s important to use enough bubble wrap and packing paper. Make the bottoms of your boxes strong by using extra tape and labeling them as fragile. If you have very fragile items, think about using special boxes that offer more protection. With careful planning and good padding, you can lower the chances of damage while moving.
What Challenges Am I Likely to Face by Moving?
Moving poses common challenges, such as underestimating moving costs, not decluttering before moving, and failing to plan ahead. It's common to face logistical issues like delays, damages, and stress. Preparation and organization are key to overcoming these moving hurdles successfully.