11 Common Residential Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

You’re ready to plan your next move but aren’t fully prepared. If only you knew about the common moving mistakes that many experience. 

Imagine a smoother moving experience with mistakes at the minimum. It’s not a fantasy it can be a reality. 

This guide will go over the most common residential moving mistakes and how to avoid them. Read this guide and let these residential mistakes be a thing of the past today! 

1. Breaking Fragile Items 

If you find a moving company, they have the experience to avoid your items from breaking. Even if you have all of the home moving supplies, breakage could still occur. 

When you hire a pro they’ll have the proper supplies, tools, and know-how to handle even the most delicate of items. More delicate items will be placed in furniture pads or in blankets. Ropes, wrap, straps, and dollies can be used as well. 

2. Going Over Budget

The cost of moving can add up fast and wind up costing you much more than you anticipated. If you work with a moving company, they can give you a more accurate estimate about how much everything will cost. Once the contract is signed with them, you’ll know that the price is locked in. 

3. Not Planning Ahead

Take your time planning ahead to avoid surprises. It’s a good idea to make a list of everything that you need to do such as hiring movers/using a moving truck, paying your last month’s utilities and rent, obtaining your security deposit, etc. If you miss out on important matters it could make things more stressful. 

4. Stressing Out 

Moving to new homes can be stressful for many, but it’s best to stay calm. Stressing out in a situation will make it more difficult for everyone involved and not help. If you stress out too much you might wind up missing a step or causing an accident. 

5. Not Researching Companies

When it comes to a local or long-distance move, you might be tempted to go with the first mover that you find. This is a mistake because you should research each company to ensure that they’re a great fit.

Look at their reviews, services, and testimonials. Check out what type of move they offer whether it’s long-distance, local, etc. 

6. Not Taking the Time To Pack

Don’t wait until the last day to pack, plan ahead! Consider how much you’ll need to pack and how long it’ll take you. 

Start off with one room at a time as you pack and go. Consider what you’ll need as far as packing goes.

You’ll also want to think about if the movers will be offering you packing supplies. You could also consider hiring a mover just for larger items and then you only have to worry about packing smaller and fragile items. 

7. No In-Home Estimates

As you’re taking a look at the different moving companies in your area, receive in-home estimates before you move forward. Some might offer an estimate over the phone or through email which might not be the most accurate. 

Doing this might wind up giving you a surprising estimate later on. It’s best to reach out to a few movers, have them physically come into your home, and give you a free estimate. 

8. Trying To Move Everything Yourself

Even if you want to save money, if you move the items yourself you could become injured. It could wind up costing you about the same if not more. 

You’ll need to rent a truck, consider fuel costs, buy packing material, and more. There are also tolls, taxes, lodging, etc. Consider all moving options including hiring a pro. You could also consider hiring them only for the larger items that’d be more difficult for you to move. 

9. Not Buying Insurance 

Be sure that the moving company you choose has reliable insurance. If they don’t and someone gets hurt or an item breaks, you could be liable. 

Many areas require that moving companies have insurance. If they don’t, that’s not a good sign that they’re a reputable company. When you go with a moving company, ensure that you have full value protection against any items that go missing or are damaged. 

10. Not Having a Bag With Important Documents

Important items that you can’t do without should be kept separate and in a bag with you. Whether it’s social security cards or other documents, medication, etc.

Include other items that you’ll need such as a change of clothes. This is especially important if you’re flying since your bag could get delayed in transit. 

11. Getting Hurt

When packing for moves, many people might feel that they can do everything themselves. They pack everything up, go to move, and then hurt their back or another area. What wound up being a way to save money could wind up costing you more. 

Professional movers are trained on how to properly place and move items. They also wear special gear to ensure that they don’t hurt themselves. You could wind up seriously hurting yourself such as taking a fall as you move items down a flight of stairs. It’s best to reach out to a professional and let them at least take care of the heavy lifting. 

Exploring Common Residential Moving Mistakes

After exploring this guide on common residential moving mistakes, you should have a better idea of what to expect. Take your time researching movers in your area and ensure that they have great reviews to back it up.

Would you like to read more informative guides? Be sure to check out our other articles on our site today!