7 Moving Day Mistakes
Moving day can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! When you plan ahead and get the appropriate help, you’ll find that it goes more smoothly than you thought possible, allowing you to relax and enjoy your new home. If you want to start looking forward to the big day rather than dreading it, here are some common moving-day mistakes and how you can avoid them.
1. Sleeping In
Moving day is not the day to sleep late. Even if you’re not moving until the afternoon or evening, surely you can find something else that needs to be done. If you’re actually finished packing everything and have all your boxes ready to go, you can do a few laps around your house and you’ll likely find something you missed. It’s just best to go to bed early, get a good night’s sleep, and then wake up early so you feel ready for the big day. If you hired a moving company, you can likely expect a phone call at some point to give you an update on their estimated time of arrival, and you should be up and ready for that!
2. Waiting Until the Last Minute to Pack
Many people underestimate how much stuff they have, which means they also underestimate how much time it will take them to pack. You don’t want to still be packing after the movers arrive, so make sure you don’t save this task for the last minute. In fact, it’s usually best to start packing months before you move if possible, or at least weeks before. And you should be done a few days before moving day if you want to reduce your stress level. If you truly don’t have time to pack everything, or if you’re just now realizing how much work it’s going to take you, consider paying for packing services from movers in your area. The experts can often pack within hours, and you’re going to need this kind of hustle if you’ve waited until the last minute to pack.
3. Forgetting to Organize Your Boxes
Packing doesn’t mean just throwing your things into boxes willy-nilly. There’s a method to the madness, or at least there should be if you want to reduce your stress when you move out — and when you move in to your new home. The first step to keeping the boxes organized is to mark them with which room the items will go in. Then keep related boxes near each other. For example, all the boxes of kitchen items should be kept together during the move, so place them near each other to ensure anyone who moves them will keep them together. In addition, if the items inside are fragile and need to be handled with care, be sure to mark that on the box.
4. Deciding to Bring Everything You Own
If you pack your belongings yourself, you’ll probably be surprised by how many things you have that you never use or simply forgot about years ago. Ask yourself if you really need to be taking these belongings to your new home. Doing so could make your move take a little longer, so consider throwing them out or donating them to a charity before you move. At the very least, consider putting them in storage for now. This way, you avoid a common moving mistake and your move is easier, making it possible to get a fresh start at your new home.
5. Not Having the Moving Materials You Need
Don’t make the moving-day mistake of approaching moving day with only a few boxes and no markers or packing tape. Not having the moving-day essentials can make it harder than it has to be, or even delay your move entirely. If you have heavy furniture to move, make sure you have a dolly and the proper shoes to wear while moving it. If you hired movers, you won’t have to worry so much about these essentials, especially if they’re going to pack for you as well. In that case, you should still make sure you wear comfortable shoes to keep your feet safe and have some bottled water available to stay hydrated.
6. Packing Up Items You’ll Need on Moving Day
So, you’ve packed everything away and you feel very prepared to move. But what happens when you arrive at your new house and you need to brush your teeth or change your clothes? Digging through your boxes on moving day is probably the last thing you want to do. This is why you should pack a bag with the essentials you’ll need the first few days in your new home. These include toiletries, soap, medicine, a few changes of clothes, some snacks, toilet paper, phone charger and a flashlight.
7. Not Getting the Right Help on Moving Day
Not hiring movers means all the duties that come with moving day are on you, or maybe you and a few friends. If that doesn’t sound appealing, hire movers. But don’t choose just any movers. Look at reviews and ask your friends and family who they recommend. Keep in mind you deserve to get help from a company that will arrive on time on moving day, be careful with your belongings and have a respectful attitude from start to finish.
If you’re interested in getting help on moving day, contact Ayer Moving & Storage for a free estimate. We offer moving assistance with local, interstate and international moves. We also provide moving truck rentals, storage services, and packing help, so call today to let us know which services you need.
