How to Move Your House Efficiently
6 Common Moving Mistakes To Avoid
Are you making a big move soon? Whether you’re going to the other side of town or the other side of the country, everything from packing to unpacking can become stressful during a move. This is especially true if you need to keep up other daily activities throughout the moving process, such as taking the kids to school or heading to work or school yourself. Whether you decide to do it all on your own or hire a moving company, it is important to know which mistakes to avoid so that your move goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Taking Too Much With You
If you’ve lived in your current house for years and years, you’ve probably accumulated plenty of stuff. The problem is, you likely don’t need to take it all with you to the new place. The key to cutting back on a near-hoarding situation is to organize it all before you start packing. When you already have the boxes out, it can be tempting to toss everything you own in. By organizing beforehand, you get rid of unnecessary items, saving space and effort in the process. Decide what to do with each item by considering whether you’ve used it in the past year, and then donate or sell what you can.
2. Equating Saving Money to Doing It All Alone
It’s too easy to assume you’ll save tons of dollars by doing everything yourself. If you’re only moving a few streets over, renting a truck and asking your friends to help you may truly save you money. However, if you have a bigger move on the horizon, you likely won’t be able to gather enough people to help you, especially if you consider they may need to take time from their own jobs to move your things. In these situations, it’s beneficial (especially for your stress levels) to hire moving services. A reputable moving company can help you with everything from packing and transporting to unpacking and setting up your new home. Good companies also have insurance that protects your valuables.
3. Not Using Enough Protective Layers
Are you protecting your fragile items well as you pack? If not, you could find yourself spending hundreds more dollars to replace items. Delicate glassware, China, and ceramic items require bubble wrap, cushioning rolls, and plenty of tape to remain protected. Carefully and individually wrap each item, adding extra layers of cushioning where you can. Remember, it’s better to overdo it with padding than not to use enough and end up with broken items.
4. Not Labeling Boxes Well
Organization is a requirement when you pack. If you aren’t packing yourself, make sure you hire a moving company that is used to keeping things well-organized. By packing your items by category and ensuring each box has a proper label, you won’t be left wandering around in search of your dishes or your toothbrush on your first night in your new place. In fact, it’s a good idea to pack a single suitcase that includes your toothbrush and toothpaste, medicine, a change of clothes, items for pet and kids, and any other essentials you’ll want right away. This is especially true if you’re moving a long distance and will be on the road a lot.
5. Procrastinating on the Moving Process
When you have so much to do and so many other responsibilities, it’s too easy to keep putting your moving-related tasks to the side. If you want everything to go smoothly, you need to start early. Find a checklist to help you track everything you’ve completed and still need to complete for your move, including booking a moving company, and create a due date for each item on the list to help you stay on track. Remember, people move in the spring or summer most often, so you’ll need to reserve a company further in advance during these months.
6. Trusting the Wrong Company
Of course, even when you hire a moving company, you need to do your due diligence. Not all companies are created equally. Research each one first to find out which moving services it offers, how much it charges, and the specifics of what is included in the cost. Read the company’s online reviews, ask for references, and verify license and insurance information. Remember to go over any fees, including unexpected ones, before signing a contract to hire the company. After all, having help for moving is only beneficial if it is help that you can trust.
Moving is an exciting time in your life. Don’t let it become overwhelming if you don’t have to. Never be afraid to ask for help, be it from your friends and family members or from a professional moving company. When you don’t have to do it all yourself, moving is much easier and settling into your new home will be much happier.