Avoid These Packing and Moving Mistakes
Planning a move takes a lot of time as well as a lot of serious organizational skills. Think about all the possessions you have- all those items stuffed into the backs of closets, attics or basements, and how long it might take to pack all those things up for a move. Plus, there’s the fact that you need to hire movers or rent a moving truck, purchase packing supplies, deal with turning utilities off and on at both houses, changing your address…the list goes on and on.
Planning a Move 101 – Don’t Make These Common Mistakes
To help your moving day go as smoothly as possible, we’ve compiled a list of some of the most common packing and moving mistakes people tend to make along with the solutions for how to avoid them.
Mistake #1: Waiting until the last minute to start planning your move.
We guarantee that your moving day is going to arrive much faster than you think! As soon as you have a target moving date in mind, start making some arrangements. For instance, decide if you’re going to go the do-it-yourself route and rent a truck or use a moving company. If you’re moving yourself, you’ll need to start hinting around to friends and family that you’ll need their assistance on moving day. If you’re just packing the boxes and not moving them, start getting quotes from moving companies. Create your moving checklist and packing list to help you stay on track during this hectic time. You should also start stockpiling some packing supplies like boxes, newspaper, packing paper, packing tape, etc.
Mistake #2: Waiting until the last minute to start packing.
Again, this mistake comes down to thinking you’ll have more than enough time to prepare for your moving day. In reality, it makes good sense to start going through items as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Start purging broken items or things you no longer need, and pack up seasonal belongings, knick-knacks, some of your artwork, and clothing. This is also a helpful step if you’re trying to sell your house as it helps stage your home by clearing out some of your personal items.
Mistake #3: Not thoroughly researching moving companies.
It can be tempting to book the first moving company that gives you a reasonable quote and has availability for your moving date, but it’s important to do some background checks first. It’s recommended to contact at least five moving companies and not only get estimates, but also ask if they provide insurance to cover your belongings. Also, read some online reviews to find out if there have been any major complaints about their services.
Mistake #4: Using incorrect packing supplies and/or techniques.
This moving mistake tends to arise due, once again, poor planning. When you have just a few days left before your moving date, you may start frantically tossing items into whatever boxes or bags you have, and throw all thoughts of organization to the wind. Keep in mind that cardboard boxes that have seen better days can easily break when filled with heavy contents or can spill when not properly sealed with packing tape.
Mistake #5: Forgetting to label your boxes.
Label everything. We mean it. The last thing you want to be doing as you’re moving into your new home is search for the box that has your daily toiletries in it. Plus, unlabeled boxes mean the movers or your helpers will just drop them wherever there’s an open space; as you’re unpacking, you’ll find the box that goes in the bedroom in the living room, boxes for the kitchen in the hallway, and so on.
National Storage are your one-stop shop for all of your moving and storage needs! We have a variety of box sizes, packing tape, and bubble wrap! We also have a variety of sizes of storage units available at our locations in both Michigan and Ohio to help your moving day go as smoothly as possible. Contact us today to learn more.