Top Mistakes to Avoid When Moving: Lesson Learned from the Pros
Moving can be one of life’s most stressful events, whether you’re relocating across town or to a new city. With so many details to consider, it’s easy to make mistakes that can add stress, cost, and frustration to an already overwhelming process. However, with the right planning and knowledge, you can avoid the common pitfalls and ensure your move goes as smoothly as possible.
At National City Mover, we’ve helped thousands of people make their moves stress-free, and through our years of experience, we’ve gathered the top mistakes that many people make while moving. Let’s explore these mistakes and how you can avoid them to have a smooth and hassle-free moving experience.
1. Not Planning Ahead
One of the biggest mistakes people make when moving is leaving everything until the last minute. Moving involves much more than just packing a few boxes and calling a moving company. You need to create a moving plan well in advance—typically at least six to eight weeks before the move date.
Pro Tip: Start by creating a detailed checklist with a timeline for every task, from hiring a moving company to packing specific rooms. This allows you to tackle one task at a time and stay organized.
2. Underestimating the Amount of Stiff You Have
Many people are surprised at just how much stuff they’ve accumulated over the years. Moving can be the perfect opportunity to declutter and reduce the load, but failing to assess the amount of items you need to pack can cause unnecessary delays.
Pro Tip: Before packing, go through each room and take inventory of your belongings. Create piles for items to donate, sell, or discard. The less you have to move, the less you’ll pay in moving costs, and the less stressful the entire process will be.
3. Not Hiring Professional Movers
While moving may seem like something you can handle on your own, hiring professional movers can save you a lot of time and stress. DIY moves often lead to mistakes like damaging furniture, wasting time loading and unloading, and struggling with heavy or delicate items.
Pro Tip: Hiring a professional moving company like National City Mover not only saves you time but ensures your items are moved safely and efficiently. Our experienced movers use the right equipment to handle all types of furniture, boxes, and specialty items, making your move hassle-free.
4. Failing to Pack Properly
Packing is more than just throwing everything into boxes. Improper packing can lead to damaged items and can make the entire move more difficult. Fragile items, electronics, and even furniture require special care when packing.
Pro Tip: Use high-quality packing materials such as bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and sturdy boxes. Label fragile items clearly, and don’t overload boxes. If you’re unsure how to pack delicate or high-value items, consider letting professional movers handle the packing for you.
5. Forgetting to Notify Important Parties of Your Move
When moving, it’s essential to notify various institutions and services about your change of address. This includes the postal service, utility companies, banks, and insurance providers. Failing to do so can result in missed mail, service disruptions, or even delays in receiving important documents.
Pro Tip: Create a list of all the entities that need to be notified of your move. Don’t forget about your healthcare providers, subscriptions, or any memberships that may require an address change.
6. Ignoring Moving Insurance
Accidents can happen during a move, whether it’s damage to your furniture or a delay in delivery. Many people underestimate the importance of moving insurance and assume everything will be fine. However, if something goes wrong, you could end up footing the bill without insurance.
Pro Tip: Ensure that your moving company offers insurance options. At National City Mover, we provide moving insurance to give you peace of mind. We highly recommend considering full-value protection for valuable or fragile items.
7. Not Having a Moving Day Plan
On moving day, the lack of a clear plan can lead to chaos, frustration, and missed deadlines. This includes not having enough time to get everything packed, failing to direct the movers, or not ensuring your new home is ready to receive your belongings.
Pro Tip: The night before your move, create a moving day plan. Have a specific time to begin loading the truck, make sure your new home is ready for unloading, and keep an essentials bag (with toiletries, clothing, and important documents) handy for the first night in your new place.
8. Packing items You Don't Need
Many people make the mistake of packing things that they no longer use or need. This can add unnecessary weight to your move and cost you more money in transportation fees.
Pro Tip: Take this opportunity to declutter. Go through your clothes, kitchenware, and other belongings and get rid of items that no longer serve you. Donate or sell anything that’s in good condition, and discard anything that’s broken or outdated.
9. Not Considering the Weather
Moving during extreme weather conditions, such as a heatwave or a winter storm, can complicate the process. Not planning for adverse weather can lead to delays, damage to your belongings, and even safety risks.
Pro Tip: Check the weather forecast before your moving day and make arrangements for any necessary adjustments. If you’re moving in hot or cold weather, ensure that you have proper clothing and hydration and take precautions with sensitive items like plants and electronics.
10. Overloading Your Vehicle
If you’re moving on your own, you might try to save money by overloading your car, pickup truck, or rental vehicle with too many belongings. This can lead to items being damaged, your vehicle being overloaded, or even injury when lifting heavy boxes.
Pro Tip: If you’re moving locally, consider renting a truck or hiring professional movers instead of relying on your personal vehicle. A moving truck is designed for safe, efficient transportation, and professional movers have the experience to handle large items without causing damage or injury.
11. Not Thinking About Your New Home's Layout
Before you move, it’s important to know how your furniture and belongings will fit into your new space. Moving into a home with a different layout can leave you struggling to find space for everything.
Pro Tip: Visit your new home ahead of time and take measurements of the rooms and doorways. Create a floor plan or consult with your moving team to ensure that your large furniture will fit through doorways and into rooms.
Conclusion
Moving is a significant undertaking, but by avoiding these common mistakes, you can make the process much easier and more efficient. Proper planning, hiring professional movers, and staying organized are key to ensuring that your move goes smoothly. National City Mover is here to help with every step of your relocation. From packing and transport to unloading and setup, we have the expertise to handle your move with care.