3 Common Mistakes to Avoid When Moving
No matter where you are moving to, relocating your belongings and family members to a new residence can be difficult. While it is such a common task, most people are not prepared for the physical and emotional stress of moving. From packing and organizing to loading trucks and carrying heavy furniture and boxes, it is easy to see the challenges of relocating a home. Thankfully, you can make the process easier with proper planning and research. By avoiding these common moving mistakes, your relocation will be efficient and free of stress.
Not Purging
One of the most common mistakes made through the moving process is waiting to donate and sell items you no longer need until after you move. Unfortunately, this only makes the packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking part of your relocation longer and more stressful.
A few weeks before the actual day of your move, spend some time purging your home. Create a few different piles of items that will be donated, trashed, or sold. Bring large bags and boxes of gently used clothing, toys, books, and other items to your local restore or donation facility. If you are planning to sell items, make sure to list them quickly on your local buy/sell websites and phone apps. This will ensure you have sufficient time to get them sold.
Purging items you no longer wear, want, or need before the moving day will make your relocation efficient and effective.
Procrastinating
You may think you have months or weeks to get your home organized, cleaned, and packed before moving day, but you should never procrastinate on these tasks. Do not wait until a few days before to begin packing up your home. This will only cause stress and confusion on the days leading up to your move. As soon as you know you will be moving, begin cleaning and organizing items you will not need in the upcoming weeks.
Pack up seasonal clothing first. If you are moving in the summer, pack away your winter jackets, boots, and accessories. On the other hand, if you are moving in the fall or winter months, start packing shorts, sandals, and swimwear well before you move.
Your kitchen and living room is a great place to start packing early, since there are most likely many items you do not necessarily need. Wrap all china, glassware, and specialty items from the kitchen in newspaper and bubble wrap. Also, pack up picture frames and decorative accessories from around the house. Since these items do not serve an actual function, you will not need them out in your home before moving day.
Skimping on Packaging
Whether you are packing your items yourself of hiring the moving company to pack and transport your belongings, avoid skimping out on durable packing materials. You may think newspaper is sufficient for protecting breakables or that you are not traveling far enough to need heavy-duty protection, but this can be extremely dangerous considering how damage is so common during a move.
A set of glasses may not be expensive, but one small drop of your box or a bump in the road can damage all of your glasses. Since these are the most commonly damaged items during a move, invest in specialty glass boxes. Mirrors should also be packaged in a specialty box that is constructed of thick cardboard with a Styrofoam interior. Lastly, purchase a television box that is designed for transporting flat screens.
To avoid the stress and cost of replacing these items, do not skimp out on proper packing materials. Think of these specialty packing materials as an investment in your emotional and financial health. Talk with a long distance moving company to learn which packing materials are the best.
Moving does not have to be the most stressful event of your life. By avoiding these common mistakes, your move will be an efficient and stress-free one.