Ensure a Successful Move by Avoiding These Moving Mistakes

At the beginning, moving into a new place may sound simple. You throw your stuff in boxes and hire movers to transport your belongings from one place to another, right?

The process rarely goes that smoothly.

Without proper planning, you can make several moving mistakes that can cost you time and money, and create tons of stress. Here are seven moving mistakes to avoid to keep moving day uneventful and frustration-free.

Mistake No. 1: You didn’t purge before moving day.

While the homebuying process is busy, you’ll regret it if you don’t set aside a chunk of time to clean out your cabinets and closets before moving day. You undoubtedly have stuff stashed away that you don’t want to take to your new place. Waiting until moving day to try to clear these things out will compound your workload (and your stress).

Mistake No. 2: You waited until the last minute to book movers.

Reputable movers may book up months in advance, especially during summer. Instead of calling movers the week before moving day, contact them as soon as you have a closing date. Talk to at least three, and get quotes. Once you choose, ask for a contract that lays out the terms you’ve agreed upon.

Mistake No. 3: You skipped over the fine print.

That contract we mentioned? Don’t just throw it into your paperwork without reviewing it thoroughly. Sometimes there will be fees and requirements added to the contract that weren’t discussed beforehand.

Mistake No. 4: You didn’t acquire enough packing supplies.

Not having enough boxes, tape, bubble wrap, newspaper and other necessary materials can stop a packing session in its tracks. Assess every room’s contents in advance and purchase enough supplies to handle it all.

Mistake No. 5: You forgot to label your boxes.

If you don’t properly label your boxes, the mess can delay your unpacking for days. Invest in some heavy-duty markers and clearly mark the room where every box should go, as well as its contents.

Mistake No. 6: You didn’t pack an essential “GO” bag.

Don’t let your toothbrush, face wash, and pajamas end up in some obscure box. Make a list of your must-haves ahead of time and pack them in a small suitcase. The morning of moving day, carry it to your vehicle to keep it from getting lost in the shuffle.

Mistake No. 7: You packed your boxes too heavy.

It may be tempting to pack every box to the brim. Don’t do it. Not only can it make it more difficult to carry each box, overpacking can cause a box to collapse and damage everything inside. By lightening the load of each box, you’ll make them easier to carry and protect your belongings from damage.

Be proactive to avoid mistakes that will create moving day headaches. Start planning ahead of time, prepare by purging and purchasing the necessary moving items, and hire reputable movers. These tips are essential to making your move a painless, damage-free process.