10 Common Mistakes To Avoid When You’re Moving

Let’s face it—no one really loves moving. People might love getting a new home and starting a new adventure, but the moving process itself is often frustrating. There are so many moving parts leading up to moving day and on the day of.

What if we told you that you could eliminate all the stress and worries by avoiding these 10 common mistakes when moving? Read on to see how.

Forgetting the Checklist

Preparation is key. Moving from one home to another without any sort of planning is a recipe for disaster. Start by creating a checklist. Writing things down and checking them off as you go makes the process run smoother and could even relieve some anxiety surrounding the move.

Create the checklist once you finalize your move-out date. Starting two or three months in advance is a good jumping-off point. Creating this list a few months before your move gives you plenty of time to handle everything in your old and new home. Keep the list on your phone or computer for safekeeping.

Consider giving yourself deadline dates for each task so that things don’t start to pile up. Put reminders on your phone for better organization and to hold yourself accountable.

Starting Late

Do not procrastinate when it comes to moving. You will almost always forget something if you do! If you decide to start the process a week or two before the move, things are more likely to slip through the cracks. Regardless of a checklist, the stress and urgency can cause you to forget tasks or leave things behind.

You don’t need to start doing all the heavy lifting immediately. Starting the process can be as simple as creating the checklist, gathering the supplies, or looking into local moving companies. The goal is to just start the process. Once you get the ball rolling, everything else will fall into place. You’ll gain some momentum and motivation to succeed.

Spending Too Much

A lot of homeowners make the mistake of buying expensive moving supplies. Of course, you want to ensure the safety of your possessions, but you don’t need to break the bank to do so. Instead of investing in brand-new boxes, see if some of your favorite grocery stores have discarded boxes they no longer need.

Some of the boxes you collect over the moving process will likely be new, but they don’t all need to be. Carefully survey free boxes you find and make sure you get ones that you trust to carry your belongings. Boxes that are too damaged will create more problems than solutions.

Ignoring the Budget

If you have a budget, stick with it. When you start compiling your checklist, create a budget for yourself as well. Write down the things you need to do and buy for a successful move. Write the prices next to each task or item and create a budget around those figures. Give yourself some wiggle room in case certain costs increase or surprises appear during the move.

Incorrect Packing

Don’t make the mistake of packing your heaviest items in large boxes. People think the bigger, the better. However, most of your heavy items need to go in smaller boxes. Carrying the heaviest items in the most awkward boxes will hurt your back and legs during and after the move.

Pair things with the adjoining room you plan to place them in. It’s important to consolidate and create space where you can, but you should avoid stuffing things in boxes just to make them fit. When you start to unpack, you’ll be moving from room to room, trying to find the proper placement for everything.

Not Documenting

Documenting during the moving process means taking measurements and pictures. For starters, you need to take measurements of your new home. You don’t want to encounter issues when trying to move the sofa through the front door. Measure the couch and all other larger furniture items, then measure all the entrances of your home.

Write each measurement down in the same place so that when the move-in day arrives, you’ll know what area of the entrance is best for all your belongings. Trying to force things through could damage the interior and exterior of your new home.

You may also want to take pictures of all setups before dismantling them, especially regarding your electronics. You may not remember what the setup looked like by the time you unpack your things. If you still have the manual for a device, place it inside the box you pack the device in. Keep all compatible wiring with its partnering device as well.

Not Labeling

Packing away all your belongings without labeling them creates unnecessary difficulty. Make things easier for yourself by labeling everything as you pack it away. A lot of first-timers make the mistake of thinking that placing boxes in a certain order, both in their home and the moving truck, will help them know what’s what. Unfortunately, that rarely works out.

Others think that opening everything as soon as they arrive and leaving it open is sufficient, but that’s not true either. Label the boxes so that you can place the items in the rooms they belong to, and decide what room you want to start on first. This process will help you stay organized and avoid unnecessary stress.

Forgetting the Mail and Lights

Don’t forget to forward the mail and utilities. You don’t want to move into a cold home with no hot water, nor do you want all your mail sitting at your old address. You can turn on the utilities for your new place as soon as the paperwork is in order.

Go to your post office and provide them with a date on when you need them to start forwarding your mail. If you want, they can start immediately to make sure you don’t leave anything behind at your previous address.

Doing It Yourself

Don’t try to move alone. It’s possible, but it’s not ideal. Everyone needs a little bit of help, and what better people to ask than professional movers? Here at Capitol North American, we handle moving and storage in Las Vegas to make the day much easier for your household.

If you need to use our storage unit to store a few things you’re on the fence about, survey our facilities and learn about our services. We’re happy to help you achieve a worry-free moving experience.

Forgetting the Insurance

When you work with a moving company, make sure you look into their insurance packages. You’ll have homeowners’ insurance with your new home, but it never hurts to have a little extra protection.

Don’t make the mistake of forgetting or neglecting the insurance to save yourself money. Insurance saves you money in the event that an accident happens during the move.

We make it our mission to help you avoid these 10 common mistakes when moving. For more information on achieving a successful move, visit our website or contact us today.

10 Common Mistakes To Avoid When You’re Moving