Moving to a new house is always an exciting time. It’s also a lot of work though. You’ll need to pack all your belongings, hire professional movers and ensure all the logistics are in order. However, there are some things you can easily do yourself in order to make sure your move goes smoothly and without any hitches. Here are six common mistakes people make when moving that can be easily avoided with a bit of extra planning.
1. Packing Last Minute
If you pack at the last minute, your belongings will be disorganized and messy. This can be a huge headache because everything will be all over the place when you move into your new place and start unpacking. You’ll also be stressed and anxious because if something goes wrong with the movers (for example, they break a few things), then it’s going to throw off your timeline for moving in!
In addition to all this stress, chances are that some items won’t make it into the truck on time—meaning that when you arrive at the new house, there will still be boxes left behind! This is an unsettling feeling because nobody wants to spend their first night after moving in sleeping on an air mattress with no sheets on their bed!
2. Not Packing Efficiently
If you want to make sure that nothing gets lost or damaged in transit, it’s important to pack efficiently and strategically. If there are things that are used most often (like shoes), they should go into boxes first and be labeled accordingly. As for items you won’t need right away (like holiday decorations), they should be packed last so they don’t get damaged by other items being shifted around during the move.
Pro Tip: Build a box of all the essentials you will need the first few nights after settling in your new place. It should include hygiene essentials, electronics, and your important documents. This way, you won’t have to unpack every other box to find a toothbrush or a change of sheets!
3. Not Hiring Professional Movers
When you’re in the process of moving, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by all of the details. If you need an outlet for that energy, consider hiring a professional moving partner instead of your friends (who you bribed with a slice of pizza). It’s crucial to do your research before contacting any moving companies because scammers out there will try their best to take advantage of people who don’t know what they’re doing.
Be sure that potential movers have been around long enough (older than five years) and have been reviewed favorably by past customers before hiring them. You can also check out their websites directly by Googling “[name] Moving Company Reviews” or “[name] Moving Company Reviews & Complaints.” This will help ensure that you deal with professionals instead of con artists!
4. Hiring Professional Movers during Rush Hours
Moving during rush hour is a sure way to make a move go awry. The traffic will be terrible, you won’t have time to do everything you need to do, and you’ll likely end up paying more for the move than you should. Instead of hiring professional movers during rush hour, simply hire them on another day (weekdays are great).
If possible, hire them in the evening or even at night. This allows for extra driving time since everyone else isn’t on the roads yet! You’ll also save yourself some money by avoiding those high hourly rates that companies charge during peak hours.
5. Forgetting to Change Address on Important Documents
Have you ever forgotten to change your address on important documents? If so, don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us. Fortunately, it’s an easy mistake to avoid. The first step is gathering all your utility bills and mailing them to yourself at the new address. This way, when the old bills come in, they’ll be forwarded back to you instead of accumulating at the old place.
If there are other accounts with this sort of system (like credit cards), do them too! Then go through all those things and update them accordingly. This can even include updating emergency contact information for doctors or hospitals if applicable (if not already done).
6. Not Doing Research on Moving Costs Beforehand
When planning a move, there are several things to consider. For example, you should think about the cost of renting trucks and hiring labor. This can get pricey, so it’s important to do your research beforehand. Another thing to keep in mind is that moving costs tend to be higher in the summer because this is when most people move. If you’re looking at moving costs from one state or city versus another, make sure to consider how far apart they are since this will affect both shipping costs as well as travel expenses (gas or plane tickets).
If you can avoid these common mistakes, you’ll have a much easier time moving to your new place! Take the time to plan out everything. That way, when your move date comes around, and there’s no time left for planning (or packing), you won’t have forgotten anything important. You must keep in mind that moving is complicated, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by all of the details. So to avoid this, refer to our guide above to make your move go smoothly.