Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing for a Move

If you’re like the average American, you’ll move a few times throughout your lifetime. 

Proper planning should help you avoid nightmare scenarios that leave you stressed out. For instance, reading moving company reviews should help you steer clear of shady operators. Such companies might offer you super-low rates and then add invoice-inflating extra fees. If you balk, they may threaten to unload your stuff in the middle of nowhere — leaving you stuck between a rock and a hard place. Does that scenario seem far-fetched? It’s not uncommon.

But there are other things that — while not as dramatic as having your stuff thrown out in the middle of the road — can make life harder than it needs to be.

If you’re preparing for a move, ensure that you avoid these stress-inducing errors at all costs.

Hiring Mover Lacking the Right Equipment or Services

It’s one thing to hire a disreputable company. You can usually avoid doing this by doing some research. But what happens if you select a reputable company but don’t research enough to find out if it has the right equipment and services to meet your needs? 

If you need help with a long-distance move but hire a mover that only does local or short-distance moves, you’ll be in a quandary. Even if such a company says it can help you out, you’re better off going with a specialist. 

You’ll also want to find a mover that has enough moving trucks to meet your needs. If you’re moving with lots of stuff, ensure the mover can accommodate you.

Failing to Take Proper Measurements at Your New Home

Do you want to take your fridge, sofa set, washer-and-dryer combo, bedroom set, or other furniture or equipment to your new home? You can do yourself a big favor by taking measurements to ensure that the things in your current home will fit in your new space. Imagine moving with an expensive sofa set and finding out that it can’t be maneuvered into the living room or den of your new home? If you take measurements ahead of time, you’ll know what fits.

Getting Too Few Boxes or the Wrong Kind of Boxes

You’ll likely need more boxes than you think. Aim to get more than you believe is necessary and be prepared to go out and get more. It can be tempting to get a bunch of free boxes from a grocery store or elsewhere. But what you need are moving boxes. Moving boxes are thicker and designed to hold up to the rigors of the move. The boxes you can get for free at a grocery store won’t protect your stuff nearly as well. You can get moving boxes from a big-box store or the moving company you hire.

Procrastinating During the Packing Stage

It’s easy to procrastinate when it comes to packing up ahead of a move. Do your best to avoid doing so. As soon as you know you’re driving, you need to get started. Make a plan and stick to it. If you do this early enough, you’re more likely to achieve your goal. Don’t be afraid to ask family, friends, and neighbors for help if you’re running out of time and need some assistance.

Holding onto Too Many Things You Don’t Need

Most people have more stuff than they need. Before you move, you might find it helpful to take an inventory of everything you have. If you have things you don’t want or need, consider getting rid of them ahead of moving day. You can donate stuff or hold a garage sale. Throw out anything that’s well past its best-before date. You’ll save money if you get rid of things since you might be able to get by with a smaller truck.

These are some of the mistakes you need to avoid if you want to plan a move that doesn’t become a nightmare. Ask the mover you hire for help if you have any more questions. They’ve been asked just about any question related to moving, so they’ll be able to help.