The Most Common Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

June 23, 2021Moving Tips
Eva Johnson

Digital nomad born in New York but currently living online, Eva knows everything there is to know about packing and moving.

Planning a relocation is a challenging process. It can become time-consuming and expensive if you don’t do it correctly. Many people tend to make some moving mistakes that cost them in the long run. However, the vast majority of those slip-ups are easily avoidable. In fact, if you follow the series of simple steps and actionable tips we’ll offer, you will be just fine. The main factors to take into account entail starting the preparations and planning timely and finding the most reliable relocation and car shipping company. Once you cover these two, you will be able to move smoothly.

What Are the Most Common Moving Problems and Mistakes?

Those who are about to relocate to a new state usually have quite a lot on their plates. Firstly, they must carefully plan their relocation budget. However, many fail to get the right information due to a lack of research. If you choose to hire a professional team that will take charge of auto transport and shipping your belongings safely, you are bound to do a lot of internet surfing, scrolling, calling, and comparing.

Many people who fail to do so have a hard time dealing with frauds, losses, damage, and moving scams. Other typical errors, miscalculations, and oversights include:

  • Piling up unnecessary items and struggling to get rid of them,
  • Waiting for the last moment to sort, clean, declutter, and pack,
  • Skipping to-do and inventory lists,
  • Not paying enough attention to the moving essentials and getting lost,
  • Refusing to ask for help,
  • Not getting the adequate packing materials, boxes, tools, and supplies,
  • Letting the bills and utilities slip your mind entirely.

If you plan to move efficiently, be sure to keep reading this article and find out how to avoid these frequent errors.

A man covering his face with hands
Understand the problem to deal with it.

Skip the Scammers: Spot Reputable Movers Easily

Some moving hacks cover useful advice and tutorials on lifting heavy furniture and getting kitchen elements packed safely and tightly. On the other hand, some simply entail being cautious and detailed. How to spot reliable movers and get the services you need? Follow these guidelines:

  • Take a good look at their website and see if you can find all the relevant information you seek. If they lack basic info, they might be a fraud in disguise.
  • Once you get a free quote through the website, you will want to obtain a more accurate estimate. Those who only agree to provide estimates over the phone should immediately raise suspicions. However, those who are relocating during the coronavirus pandemic might only be able to get an online estimation. However, it should still entail a detailed digital tour of your home.
  • Watch out for the excessively high down payments. “Reputable moving companies” that request them are most likely scammers. On the other hand, if the pricing seems too good to be true – rest assured that it is.
  • Keep tabs on the moving company’s history. Those who change their name a lot probably have something to hide. Occasional rebranding is normal, but every major change that seems too frequent is a red flag.
  • Ask about your rights and responsibilities and don’t be too timid to request to take a look at the contract in advance. That includes obtaining more information regarding insurance.

Ultimately, if you want to make sure that the service provider is legit, run them through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety database. Regardless of the type of help you want to get, from assistance with getting packed to getting an enclosed auto transport trailer – be sure you’ve chosen wisely.

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Avoid Another Common Moving Mistake: Think About Auto Transport

Wherever you’re headed and whether you’re relocating to another state alone or with family – you will unquestionably need to use your car once you get there. However, you get chills down your spine at the very thought of driving for miles and miles, trying your luck at various rest-stops, potentially lousy hotels, and overpaying for meals at diners along the road. These fears can be particularly bad if you’re about to move with children.

Does hiring a car shipping company sound like a good solution? If you are concerned about how much it costs to ship a car, no worries there. If you are a bit low on cash, you can go for a cheaper option. Instead of getting an enclosed trailer, you can use the open trailer. Just get your plane tickets and enjoy the ride. Professional drivers will ensure your vehicle’s safety and deliver it timely to your new home.

red vintage car
Hire a reliable relocation and car shipping company.

Get Ready for Packing – Do it ASAP!

No matter how appealing it often seems – procrastination is always the enemy. And in the worst-case scenario, it goes hand in hand with hoarding habits. If this sounds familiar, don’t just sit around contemplating your schedule. Get started:

  • Canvass every room – cabinet by cabinet and drawer by drawer,
  • Make lists and catalogs – know what you own and what you should toss,
  • Purge mercilessly – get rid of everything you won’t be using after the move,
  • Earn a few extra bucks by selling some of the items that only clutter your home,
  • Get your boxes and supplies as soon as possible – and don’t be cheap. Purchase some extra materials just in case, and if you end up not needing them, simply give them away to someone when you’re done. And if you plan to save up even more, you can always find some of the necessary supplies for free.

Are you feeling motivated yet? Since we have covered the basics in regards to the initial stages, here are some more actionable decluttering, packing, and moving tips.

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Don’t Be a Hoarder – Learn to Avoid Making This Error and Declutter Your Home

Many people encounter moving problems due to the excessive amount of stuff they have decided to keep. Give yourself a few extra moments to take a close look at all the rooms, corners, and drawers. When you find:

  • Old, outdated, and semi-functional devices,
  • Paperwork that doesn’t serve you anymore,
  • Clothes that no longer fit,
  • Mismatched socks, glasses, or mugs,
  • Expired products or medicine,
  • Anything that actually still has a purpose, but you won’t use it…

get rid of it. Shred the old documents, recycle the stuff you can, give away or sell the items that are still in good shape. Similarly, take a second glance at your family car and see whether there is stuff that doesn’t fall under the category of things to keep in your car.

Here’s Another Slip-Up – Forgetting the Basics When Getting Packed

The list of the things you forget when you move can be quite extensive. In fact, people tend to leave behind their passports and other important documents. But those are not the sole essentials that you can just forget when the big day approaches. Double-check your:

  • Medications,
  • Valuable belongings,
  • Clothing left at the dry cleaners,
  • Stuff from storage,
  • Cords and chargers,
  • House plants,
  • Toiletries,
  • Tools from the basement or garage.

Implementing some creative storage ideas can come in handy on multiple occasions. However, forgetting to carefully search storage areas and see if there’s something left behind that you’d like to take with you, sell, or donate is way too common.

to-do list
Write down the inventory and agenda to be sure you're not forgetting anything.

Know the Enemy: Getting Packed Without Labelling the Boxes

When you purchase or get boxes for free, it’s not enough to see if their sizes match your needs. You should also label them upon placing your belongings inside. Start by packaging the stuff you don’t find essential and that you don’t use on a regular basis.

When that’s done, move on to the necessities. Pack together all those belongings that fall under the same category. Use markers instead of memorizing where your stuff is. Because if you don’t, you will have quite a problem on your hands once you begin unpacking.

Don’t Place Heavy Items in Large Boxes

If you are relocating for the first time (and enjoying doing it yourself), you can easily make a rooky error. For instance, did you know that the heaviest objects should always go in the tiniest boxes? That way, you will avoid hurting your back or shoulders and damaging the box.

Don’t Forget to Pack the Essentials Bag

Many people face the same struggle – they think that they’ve packed correctly and loaded everything onto moving trucks correctly, but when they arrive and start to unpack, they find that they don’t know where their essentials are.

Luckily, it’s really simple to overcome this issue. Prepare a relatively small bag or suitcase where you can store the belongings you can’t afford to lose and the possessions that you know you’ll want to have on relocation day. Also, think about the belongings you’ll use in the first couple of days at your new home. Pick a bag and fill it with the necessities such as your wallet, keys, important documents, essential toiletries, phone and laptop chargers, medicines, and spare clothes.

Packed and labeled boxes
Be careful with sorting your stuff and be sure to label each box

Too Much Time VS. Not Enough Time to Prepare – Avoid Both!

Experts say that you should begin the preparations approximately two months prior to the relocation day. That way, you can tackle every significant task, get packed, and figure out the financial side of the moving process. Finally, you should pick the most suitable movers.

If you’re not sure that’s what you want to do, check out the most common reasons people ship cars with car shipping companies and decide whether any of them apply to you. You should start packing at least two weeks ahead.

But before you do, take care of the rest. Sorting and decluttering should take place 6-8 weeks before the date of the move. Finally, book relocation services and state-to-state car transport at least one month in advance.

Tasks You Most Likely Didn’t Take Into Account

With all of the chores and research that await, you can easily let some seemingly minor responsibilities slide. However, skipping to fulfill some of those tasks can draw some substantial expenses and additional stress. These are the aspects people often neglect when being overwhelmed:

  • Don’t leave paying your bills and taking care of utilities for the last moment,
  • Avoid postponing the final cleaning,
  • Take measurements when visiting the new home, and be entirely sure about the amount of space you will have at your disposal,
  • Explore the area from multiple sides and points of view, from schooling to public transportation,
  • Don’t take your taxes too lightly, be sure to pay them before you leave,
  • See how your health insurance coverage will work after the move,
  • Don’t forget to change your address.

Bonus tip for job seekers: Update your address on professional networks and in your resume, and filter your search to match the new location.

person holding a paper with a word help written on it
Pay your bills and taxes timely, and don't forget those other important tasks and dealing with paperwork.

Follow These Guidelines and You Won’t Make any Moving Mistakes

Once you wrap your mind around these brilliantly simplistic pieces of advice, you will relocate smoothly and avoid all potential pitfalls and moving problems. Learn these steps and stick to the proven patterns to have the best and most cost-effective experience.

Since safety comes first, don’t forget to look into your relocation options thoroughly. It’s not only scammers you must be aware of. Hiring a reputable team to help you will reduce your stress and tension.

More importantly, they will diminish any risks of getting hurt when pulling and lifting massive furniture and electronics. Additionally, when you rely on a respectable crew, you can find a cheap way to ship your car and avoid issues, lengthy rides, and all the dangers of road rage.

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