Moving to a new home is exciting, but let’s be serious – moving day sucks. With all the packing and preparation ahead of time, nerves are raw. Then there’s all the moving of boxes, the travel, the time and let’s not forget everything that could go wrong. Make your move easier by avoiding these common mistakes.
1. Hiring the wrong mover.
We’ve all heard horror stories about moving scams, and perhaps maybe you’ve been the victim of a moving scam yourself. You can steer clear of a less-than-upstanding mover by doing your homework. The Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, your state transportation regulator, the U.S. Department of Transportation, or your relatives, friends, neighbors and colleagues are all good sources of information about whether a moving company is worth your time. Doing some homework online can save you a lot of heartache on moving day.
If you’ve done your research and still aren’t confident in the movers you’ve come across, you always can go the DIY route — just be sure you’re up for the task.
2. Messing up the quotes.
If you hire a mover, you should be able to have someone from that company come to your place for an in-home moving estimate. If a moving company won’t do an in-home estimate, you should think about shopping around for another mover.
Along those lines, don’t rely on just one quote from one mover. Contact several movers for quotes. If you really like one mover over another but your favorite company is a little pricey, try negotiating for a lower price. Always make sure to get a moving estimate in writing.
3. Packing too much stuff.
Now is the time to purge. Think about whether you can trash some of your possessions, donate them to charity, or give them away to friends and relatives. Perhaps you could hold a garage sale to clear out some of the clutter. If you haven’t seen, worn or used something in a year, it’s best to think hard about whether you need to keep it and whether you need to haul it to your new place.
4. Failing to schedule your move well in advance.
During the summer months, good moving companies are booked up quickly. Rather than waiting till the last minute, make sure your move is scheduled months in advance. You don’t want to be scrambling to find a mover the day before you’re supposed to head out. Moving already is stressful enough without adding that frustration.
5. Ignoring the need to pack ahead of time.
You’ll find very few people who’ll say that packing is fun. Most people think packing and unpacking are the worst part of moving. You can lessen the load by beginning to pack well before moving day comes along. Start by boxing up stuff that you won’t need right away. For instance, if you’re moving in the summer, pack up your winter clothes so that they’re out of the way. Also, be sure to carve out time in your schedule to check items off your packing to-do list.
If you get down to the wire and need help with packing, enlist friends, neighbors, relatives or colleagues to lend a hand. Make sure you’ve got plenty of food and beverages as a “thank you” for your volunteer helpers. If you can’t rustle up any free help, consider hiring laborers to do the packing for you. The more help and time you have, the less stress you’ll feel.