8 Common Moving Mistakes You Absolutely Want to Avoid

There are a lot of moving mistakes that you can make if you don’t have any previous experience and think that relocation is just a simple and easy task that can be done in a couple of hours. If you’ve moved before, you know that that’s far from the truth. However, relocating can be simple, but with some quality preparation. Here are the most common mistakes people make and tips on how to prevent them.

Once you’ve chosen one of the safest neighborhoods and told everyone you’re relocating, it’s time to focus on the process itself. Before you start checking out where the best rooftop bars are, make sure you know which moving mistakes there are and how to avoid them. We have prepared a list of tips that you can use to have a straightforward and stress-free move.

1. Not Starting on Time Causes a Lot of Moving Problems

Even though it might seem that you can move in an hour and that you already know the drill, it’s still possible to make mistakes. Relocating has many things you have to think about, and it’s almost too easy to overlook something that can ruin your move. The first thing you can do to make yourself more comfortable about all of this is to start on time - it’s the key to stress-free relocating. If it comes down to learning how to pack to move in a hurry, you’ve already put yourself in a situation where you can mess something up. Start preparing at least six weeks before the pick-up date. That will give you enough space to create a detailed relocation to-do list and to learn how to organize your move.

2. Keeping Unnecessary Stuff Is One of the Most Common Moving Mistakes

Let’s be honest - not everything you own should be on your new apartment checklist. If you wish to know how to move efficiently, go through your home and purge. You will feel a huge relief once you see that there’s much less stuff to take care of. Check each room and be very strict about what goes and what stays. You can: 

• Donate the unwanted items to a charity organization, 
• Sell them online or on a garage sale, 
• Give them away to friends and family, 
• Throw them away. 

If You Didn’t Declutter Your Home Before Relocating, You’re Wasting Time and Money

Relocating everything you own, even though you haven’t used something for years, means that you’ll end up paying much more for your move. The more unnecessary stuff you bring, the more space they’ll take up on the truck, which automatically increases the price. You will spend money on the materials to cover and protect everything, but you’ll also waste time wrapping them. If you declutter, you’ll just be able to focus on important items.

3. Not Making a Relocation Budget

An accurate relocation budget is a truly essential thing to have. Research and find out how much everything costs and plan accordingly. These are the things that you should include in your budget:

• Transportation costs (renting a truck for a DIY move),
• Packaging materials,
• Rent and deposit for the new home,
• Basic utilities for the first month.

If you’re planning to hire a moving company, start shopping around. Get quotes from reputable moving companies, see what’s included in the price and whether you’ll have some services included in the quote. Some companies even offer a free storage unit or free packaging, so try to find someone that has the best offer.

This Is One of the Moving Mistakes That Can Cost You More Than Just Your Money

If you make a ballpark estimate of how much your move costs without researching, you can create a big problem that will be more expensive than just the money you’ll spend. It can leave you with all the packed things on the sidewalk without any savings to cover the costs. It can become a nerve-racking experience that will be hard to recover from. If this is an unplanned move and you haven’t prepared a budget for it, there are ways to move and save some money. Watch the video to find out how you can relocate on a budget.

4. Packing Without a Pre-Thought Order

So, you’ve decluttered and made a packing list of what you want to bring to your new apartment or house. What now? The only correct answer is to start packing with a plan. Create an inventory list and begin with the stuff that you surely won’t need before the pick-up day. Those are the items that you keep in your garage, basement, or attic, and you still need them occasionally. Go room by room, and don’t start with another area until you’re done with the first one. 

While you pack, label every box with a number, color, or its contents. Find a method that works best for you and stick with it. Don’t forget to put a label on boxes with fragile contents - you’ll avoid a lot of damage that way. The label should be visible from every corner so that neither you nor the movers can make a mistake and put something heavy on top of the box full of glasses or anything similar.

Try to Avoid This Mistake: It Will Cause Chaos When Unpacking as Well

Relocation tips aren’t just for the period before the pick-up but also for the days after you arrive and start unpacking. If you just threw random things into boxes without an order or a plan, you won’t have the slightest idea what’s where and it will take you days to unpack. If you kept track of every packed item, unpacking will seem like a breeze.

5. Getting Low-Quality Packing Supplies

Investing in quality packing materials and supplies is one of the great relocation hacks you can use to have a smooth move. That way, you’ll know that the package won’t tear apart, and the tape won’t peel off in the middle of the move. You won’t risk the safety of your belongings, and there will be one worry less on your mind. 

However, investing in high-quality packing materials can cost a lot, especially if you have a big move, so you can improvise. Use the stuff you already have, such as soft linens, towels, and alike for protecting breakable things or try to get free boxes. If you do, pay special attention to their condition. If they’re damaged or ripped, they won’t hold the weight of your possessions without some modifications. Put some extra cardboard on weak spots and tape them well. Another thing you can do is simply use the weak boxes for light and non-breakable things.

6. Forgetting to Pack a Bag With Essentials

A bag with relocation essentials can be a lifesaver. Be sure you’re not forgetting anything - get your toiletries, clothes for a couple of days, some snacks and water, disinfectant wipes, wallet, important documents, keys, chargers, and all other important items with you. Be ready for a couple of days, depending on how long your move will last. It’s much easier than opening boxes and taking out stuff from them (if you even have access to them during the move). If you’re relocating with pets, do the same for them - keep their bowls for food and water with you, some toys, and their documents. The same goes for your kids and other family members.

7. Thinking That a DIY Move Equals Saving Money

In case you’re focused on learning how to save money to move, try not to get lost in that process. Doing everything by yourself doesn’t equate to saving money, even though it might seem like that. You can try and do something, but it could be the wrong way, and your possessions might get damaged, which will result in a higher cost than if you hired movers to do that for you. Also, we all know that time is money, so if you spend too much time doing something, you will also lose money. DIY moves are difficult, and they call for some previous experience and knowledge. If you’re not that good at something, it’s much better to leave it to the experts than to risk doing something wrong.

8. Hiring a Company Without Doing Research

Unfortunately, there are lots of relocation scams you can expect because of the relocation industry challenges and issues. If you hire just anyone before going online and checking the ratings of that company, you could be in trouble. Many companies present themselves as the best ones, but the truth is that many of them aren’t even registered or licensed. According to the relocation industry statistics and trends, an average US citizen moves 11.7 times in their life, which is quite too many times to let someone scam you.

There’s an Effective Solution to This

You don’t have to waste hours online searching for the perfect company for your move - there’s a moving app called Mod24 that can show you all reputable and professional companies in the area available to help you with the move you had planned. One of the best Mod24 features is that you can be sure that no one will scam you - all reviews you find on the app are trustworthy, and only a person who has used the service can leave a review. This moving company app lets you find movers who can do what you imagined, you’ll be able to compare the prices of all the companies available, and everything’s done in just a few clicks. 

To use our app to compare moving companies, create an account, enter your basic information, pick-up and delivery zip codes, dates, and the size of your home. What Mod24 brings to the industry is that there won’t be anyone calling and disturbing you - contact us, book a move, and enjoy all the benefits of this amazing app for moving.