The stress of moving can lead to making common moving mistakes that cost you money, time, and (sometimes) your sanity. Like all big tasks in life, it’s best to have a plan. And one of the best places to start is knowing what not to do during a move.
The following covers some of the common moving mistakes that movers come across repeatedly. Don’t feel bad about yourself if you’ve made these mistakes, almost everyone does at some point in their lives. But by knowing what to avoid, it makes it easier to create a moving plan that is both effective and efficient.
Avoiding These Moving Day Mistakes Will Make Your Moving Experience Better
The following list of 7 common moving mistakes does not cover every moving mistake people make – that list would be considerably longer – but it does hit on the ones that plague people most frequently. They all should rank higher on every person’s list of things to avoid during a move.
Hiring the Wrong Mover
Unfortunately, the moving industry attracts plenty of scam artists looking to separate you from your money or your belongings. Common tactics include offering a too-good-to-be-true cost estimate, then asking for more money once all your items are loaded on the truck. At the worst, they might drive away with all your items and never show up at the final destination. It’s absolutely imperative to hire only licensed movers with good reputations and years of experience in the moving business.
Procrastination
Otherwise known as “waiting until the last minute.” A move can feel overwhelming, and when people feel overwhelmed, they put off doing what has to be done. As with most large tasks, the key to a successful move is to start early and take one small step at a time over a longer period of time. This includes clearing out the clutter, buying packing supplies, taking on your move one room at a time, and having a plan for the kids and your pets during the move. Procrastination only leads to more work down the road, as well as the stress of an approaching deadline.
Forgetting to Set Up Your New Home
In the rush to move out of your old home, it’s easy to forget to take the steps to set up your new one. Some of the steps you need to take include the following.
- Contact the eclectic company to have power on when you arrive
- Check into what you must do to register your vehicle if you move to a new state
- File a change of address form with the post office
- Send a change of address letter or email to family, friends, and business contacts
- Have cleaning supplies in case they are needed at your new place
- Have toilet paper already purchased and available when you arrive
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Another helpful step is to find the location of places you will need to visit once you arrive, including a grocery store, gas station, post office, car wash, etc. For those who work out or run, it helps to locate a gym, yoga studio, and/or a park with good running trails so you don’t miss time on your workout routine.
Unorganized Boxes
Once you arrive at your new home, you can skip a lot of frustration and time wasted by having clearly marked boxes so you know what’s inside each box. This is especially important for items you will need right away, such as cooking utensils, clothing, cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and paper towels.
Not Doing the Declutter
It’s a rare person who actually enjoys decluttering a home. For most people, the need to get rid of the junk they have accumulated through the years is the first point where procrastination kicks in. As with packing, it’s important to take on small projects over time when it comes to decluttering. Plan ahead to donate items, hold a yard sale or give things away to friends and family.
Not Understanding Mover’s Liability Coverage
Liability coverage that protects you from loss or damage of your items during a move is misunderstood by many people. Most states require movers to have basic carrier liability coverage that is typically based on about 60 cents per pound per item if an item is damaged (that can vary by state). Reputable movers will direct clients to third-party companies that offer higher levels of coverage. However, before buying additional coverage, people should check their current homeowner’s insurance to see if the policy includes coverage of items lost or damaged during a move. Whatever approach you take, just make sure you understand what liability coverage you have before movers start to put your items in the truck.
Not Taking Advantage of Available Services
Some of the bigger moving companies will offer extra services such as packing and unpacking your items, junk removal, and auto transport. The packing services can save you time and money on packing all your own items. Junk removal is a huge help on that decluttering project. And auto transport can save you the time, money, and stress of driving your car a long distance to your new home.
No move is ever going to be completely hassle-free, but eliminating these common moving mistakes is a big step toward greatly reducing move-related stress. Keep them in mind as you prepare for your next move.
