By: melvin anthy

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving

When you’re juggling a lot of things at once, you’re bound to make some errors. While it is human to make mistakes, moving is already stressful enough. The fewer mistakes you make during the moving process, the more enjoyable (and cost-effective) it will be.

Some things in life are better learned the hard way, but moving isn’t one of them. The more you know about what you should and shouldn’t do before you make your next move, the better. So keep reading to discover about the 8 common moving blunders you should avoid.

1. Not doing research on your moving company

There are many moving companies to choose from, but not all of them are created equal. You’ll need to seek referrals, study reviews, and call a few different businesses for information and estimates to discover the best professional movers for the job. You’re taking a big risk with your belongings and your peace of mind if you merely pick the first name that comes up on the search engine results page. You’re also doing your bank account no favours because price comparisons are the only way to determine if you’re receiving a fair bargain.

2. Not getting the right insurance

Interstate movers must provide both released-value and full-value protection to their customers, according to federal rules. Because many consumers know their goods are worth more than that, the full-value protection gives coverage based on your own estimate of the items being transported. If your contents are damaged, full-value protection does not mean the moving company will write you a check for that amount (instead, you’ll get a replacement item of comparable value or the firm will pay for the item’s repair).

Separate liability insurance, which some movers offer and is governed by state law, or supplemental moving insurance from a third-party company are other options. You can also examine if your home’s insurance policy covers objects in transit if you have one.

While the chances of you having to use your insurance are slim (assuming you’re working with a reputable moving company), you must decide how much risk you’re willing to incur. If you fail to do so, you may find yourself with little to no redress if something goes wrong.

3. Not getting outside help when you need them

Professional movers are not cheap, but they are usually always worthwhile. Even if you have friends to help, moving alone will take more time and effort than hiring professionals. It’s also going to be a lot riskier if you have high-value stuff. While there are times when relocating yourself is the best option, it’s a mistake to dismiss the thought of hiring a moving company simply because you want to save money or believe it will be a simple task (it rarely is).

4. Not allowing enough time to pack

Packing takes time, even if you’re just dumping items into moving boxes hastily. It’s nearly unavoidable that places that you thought would take 10 minutes to pack end up taking an hour, and then there are those areas that you know aren’t going to be easy from the start (hi, kitchen). Allowing yourself insufficient time will always result in stress, stress that could have been prevented with greater planning.

5. Giving yourself too much time to pack

On the other hand, starting too early might be just as detrimental as starting too late. Giving yourself too much time not only prolongs the moving process unnecessarily but also increases the likelihood that you’ll pack something you later need and then have to search through already packed boxes to find it. Plus, who wants to be around moving boxes for much longer than necessary?

6. Refusing to part with things you don’t need

There’s no better time to trim down your personal stuff than during a relocation process. The fewer stuff you have to move, the better, and there’s no point in wasting time packing and unpacking anything you don’t want or need. Yet, instead of organising and getting rid of things, we get caught up in the desire to decrease tasks and simply dump everything into a box. Bringing superfluous items can increase the cost of your relocation in terms of labour and petrol, in addition to being a waste of time.

7. Forgetting to pack a moving essentials bag

Why is it that the most crucial items are often the most difficult to locate following a move? A moving essentials bag is a tiny duffel bag or suitcase where you store the stuff you can’t afford to lose and/or the items you’ll need on moving day and the first few days at your new place. If you don’t bring one, you’ll be frantically searching through boxes for a single item, or you’ll have to go out and buy something you already own.

8. Failing to budget correctly

Moving companies give you estimates rather than quotes because it’s hard to predict the cost of your move down to the penny. However, it’s still a good idea to obtain a broad sense of how much your relocation will cost, especially if you’re trying to stay within a budget. After a relocation, sticker shock is normal, but it can be avoided by completing the research ahead of time to determine what you’re comfortable spending and how much you’ll need to budget.

Conclusion

It doesn’t have to be a big chore to relocate to a new place. Prepare ahead of time by taking steps to avoid frequent moving blunders, and you’ll be on your way to a much smoother transition. While surprises are still possible, at least you’ll know you’ve addressed all the essentials. For more moving tips and consultation, get in touch with us here.

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