Few things in life are as less fun as moving. Relocating is, in fact, one of the most exhausting and stressful things a family typically has to go through at least once. Some have even moved dozens of times in their lives.
But since relocating to another address is necessary and inevitable in most cases, the best thing you can do is to make it as less stressful as you can make it. Avoiding the following moving mistakes would be a great place to start:
Doing the grunt work yourself
We understand the need to handle your precious belongings personally, but can’t you at least limit it to stuff you are actually capable of carrying? Sure, you might save some money if you passed on hiring movers to do the grunt work yourself but getting hospitalized because you threw your back after trying to lift that heavy box by your lonesome is a not-so-smart way of spending those savings, is it?
Hire reputable movers in the local area. If you're moving from Davenport to Kissimmee then you'd want to use movers in this area. All you will ever have to carry are your valuables and light, fragile stuff you wouldn’t trust other people to handle.
Not researching movers
Considering that there are “moving companies” out there that are nothing more than scams, it would be foolish to hire movers without doing any research on them.
If you’re looking for a moving company, you have to make sure that the movers you’re eyeing have the proper licenses and insurance, both of which should at least tell you that they are legitimate and not some shady operation. An actual office address, a website, a moving truck with a conspicuous logo, and complete and verifiable contact details are also excellent indicators that you’re not dealing with con men. Also look to see that they are listed on Google, are there any reviews?
It would also be great if you can examine their Better Business Bureau record, and find out if there have been complaints against them in the past.
Failing to ask for estimates from multiple companies
Getting the best deal should always be on your mind when hiring movers. And the best deal doesn’t mean the cheapest, because the service could be that cheap as well.
So if you can, ask for estimates from at least three different movers. We’re talking about on-site ones, because they tend to be more accurate than those made over the phone or the Internet. When a representative of the moving company is already on-site, give him or her all the information that you think is relevant from special requirements to potential complications.
You will also have to be extra vigilant when reviewing the paperwork. Some unscrupulous movers may sneak in an extra charge or two. You also have to read the fine print. It may be tedious work, but it’s for your own good. The bill of lading must be very clear and that you agree with every single provision. If they ask you to sign blank documents, you better rethink your decision to hire them. Never sign those papers no matter what.
Bringing everything with you
Surely, you have stuff that you don’t need or want anymore. Why bring them to your new place when you already have the perfect opportunity to get rid of them once and for all? Before moving day arrives, it would be best if you have already thrown, sold, or given them all away.
Not labeling your boxes
You know what would make moving even more stressful? Not knowing which box you put which stuff because you forgot to label the boxes. Imagine how frustrating it would be to scour through dozens of boxes to find that one thing that you want or need. Sharpies aren’t that expensive. Buy a few and save yourself all that trouble.
Spending too much on packing materials
If you have the budget for new boxes, bubble wrap, and cushioning rolls, then go ahead and buy them. But if you don’t want to overspend on packing materials, you can always recycle old boxes, newspapers, and other packing stuff readily available in your home.
Not checking the weather forecast
Nothing puts a damper on moving day worse than rain, snow, or hail. Check the weather forecast to verify weather will not cause your moving process to be any longer or harder than it needs to be. If the forecast does not look in your favor, reschedule the moving truck before it is too late.
Miscalculating your available time
Most people think they have all the time in the world to pack, only to wake up one day and they still have tons to pack. Plus, the moving truck is already on its way to pick everything up.
Procrastinating is incredibly common but packing when you’re scheduled to move is a surefire way of ending up with frayed nerves. Always pack ahead of time. You can do it gradually, or you can do it one time as long as all your things are packed at least a day or two before moving day.
Packing everything into the moving truck
Your couch, appliances, piano (if you have one), and most of your belongings should be in the moving truck. Your essentials, on the other hand, should be with you the entire time, especially when the move takes you to another city or state. The truck could arrive late, and you wouldn’t want to be stuck without anything to wear, eat, drink, or brush your teeth with, among other things.
If you’re moving to a faraway location, always pack a survival bag containing a change of clothes, toiletries, water bottles, snacks, medication, phone charger, and anything you consider necessary for your survival.
Forgetting about your mail
It’s common for people who are relocating to forget about their mailing address. To avoid losing your mail, all you have to do is go to the website of the post office and fill out a change of address form. Don’t forget to indicate that your relocation is temporary or permanent.
Not doing inventory
We cannot state enough how important an inventory is when moving since it's your only way of making sure that everything important made it on and off the moving truck. While it’s next to impossible to watch every single possession packed, loaded into the truck, and off-loaded once it reaches its destination, an inventory will at least reassure you that you never left anything behind.
It may be next to impossible to make moving day a stress-free one. By steering clear of the mistakes mentioned above, you can at least avoid adding to the issues that usually hound people who are relocating and make the entire thing more bearable for everyone involved.
Posted by Florida Realty Marketplace on
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