Moving can be a stressful and overwhelming process.
Between getting your new place, selling your old place, canceling bills, letting everyone know, and packing...it's enough to make you lose your mind.
However, with careful planning and awareness of common pitfalls, many of these mistakes can be avoided. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most common mistakes people make when moving and how to avoid them.
1. Underestimating the Time Required
One of the most common mistakes people make when moving is underestimating how long the process will take. From packing up your entire life to cleaning the old place and moving into the new one, moving is time-consuming. It’s easy to think you can pack up your home in just one weekend but in reality, it often takes much longer.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Start the moving process as early as possible, preferably as soon as you get the keys to your new home. Create a timeline with specific tasks to complete each week leading up to the move. Begin by packing items you don’t use daily, such as seasonal clothing, books, or rarely used kitchen appliances. The earlier you start, the less stressful the process will be.
2. Not Decluttering Before Packing
Another major mistake is packing everything without going through your belongings first. Moving is the perfect time to declutter and get rid of items you no longer need. Taking things you don’t need or use to your new home not only wastes time, but also increases the cost of your move.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Before packing, go through each room and sort your belongings into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard. Be ruthless in your decluttering efforts. Ask yourself if you’ve used an item in the past year; if not it might be time to let it go.
3. Failing to Label Boxes Properly
It’s surprising how many people skip labeling their boxes or label them in a way that’s not helpful. Without proper labeling, unpacking can become a chaotic nightmare as you scramble to find essential items like bed sheets or kitchen utensils.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Clearly label each box with its contents and the corresponding room. You can also use a color-coding system where each room has a designated color. For example, use blue tape for kitchen boxes, red for bedroom boxes, and so on. This way, movers or helpers will know exactly where to place each box in your new home, making unpacking more manageable.
4. Overpacking Boxes
While it may seem efficient to fill each box to the brim, overpacking can lead to boxes that are too heavy to move safely. This increases the risk of injury and could cause the boxes to break, damaging your belongings.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Limit the weight of each box to a manageable level, ideally no more than 50 pounds. Use smaller boxes for heavy items like books or kitchenware, and reserve larger boxes for lighter, bulkier items like bedding and clothing. Distribute the weight evenly and reinforce boxes with packing tape to prevent them from breaking.
5. Ignoring the Importance of an Essentials Box
When moving, it’s common to forget that you’ll need immediate access to certain items once you arrive at your new home. Not having an essentials box can lead to frustration when you can’t find your toothbrush, medications, or a change of clothes.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Pack an essentials box (or suitcase) with everything you’ll need for the first 24-48 hours in your new home. This should include toiletries, medications, basic kitchen supplies (like a few plates, utensils, and a pot or pan), important documents, a few changes of clothes, and bedding. Keep this box with you during the move so it doesn’t get mixed up with the other boxes.
6. Not Researching Moving Companies
Choosing a moving company without proper research is a mistake that can lead to a host of problems, from damaged belongings to unexpected fees. Not all moving companies are reliable, and some may even engage in fraudulent practices.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Do your homework before hiring a moving company. Read reviews, ask for recommendations from friends or family, and check the company’s ratings with the Better Business Bureau. Get estimates from at least three different companies and make sure they provide you with a written contract outlining all the terms and fees. This will help you avoid unexpected costs and ensure your belongings are in good hands.
7. Forgetting to Notify Important Parties of Your Move
Many people forget to notify important parties about their move, which can lead to missed bills, lost mail, and disruptions in services. It’s essential to update your address with various organizations and service providers before you move.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Create a checklist of everyone you need to notify about your move. This includes your employer, bank, credit card companies, insurance providers, utility companies, and the post office. Don’t forget to update your address for subscriptions, online shopping accounts, and any other services that send you regular mail. It’s also a good idea to set up mail forwarding with the postal service to catch any stray pieces of mail that might slip through the cracks.
8. Not Protecting Valuable Items
Moving can be rough on your belongings, especially valuable or fragile items. Without proper protection, these items are at risk of being damaged during the move.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Invest in quality packing materials such as bubble wrap, packing paper, and sturdy boxes. Wrap fragile items individually and label the boxes as “fragile” so movers know to handle them with care. For valuable items like jewelry or important documents, consider transporting them yourself rather than packing them in the moving truck.
9. Procrastinating on Addressing Repairs or Cleaning
It’s easy to leave repairs or deep cleaning until the last minute, but this can add unnecessary stress as you scramble to get everything done before moving out.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
As soon as you know you’re moving, start making a list of any repairs that need to be addressed. Tackle these tasks early, so you’re not overwhelmed at the last minute. Similarly, start cleaning your home as you pack, focusing on one room at a time. This way, you won’t have to deal with a massive cleaning job right before you move out.
10. Neglecting to Take Care of Yourself
Moving is physically and emotionally exhausting. Many people push themselves too hard during the moving process, leading to burnout, injuries, or illness.
How to Avoid This Mistake:
Remember to take care of yourself during the move. Get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and take breaks when needed. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, family, or professional movers. Moving is a big job, and it’s okay to delegate tasks to others.
Conclusion
Moving doesn’t have to be a nightmare. By being aware of common mistakes and taking steps to avoid them, you can make the process much smoother and less stressful. Start early, stay organized, and remember to take care of yourself along the way. With the right approach, you’ll be settling into your new home with ease in no time.
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