Moving house is exciting, stressful and hard work—but it’s also something most people only do a handful of times in their lives.
This means it’s hard to become an expert at moving house and, as a result, there are some common moving errors that people make.
Read on to discover these five moving mistakes to avoid.
Mistake #1: Failing to Plan Your Move Early
You might think moving home is ‘simple’. Afterall, it’s just putting everything you own into boxes, right?
If you’ve ever moved before, you’ll know it’s not that easy.
A successful house move requires some planning, and the earlier you do it the better.
Create a Comprehensive Moving Checklist
First of all, it’s worth creating a moving checklist. There’s a lot of moving parts during a move, and it’s a mistake to rely on your memory alone.
This checklist should include pre-move tasks like decluttering the attic or selling furniture you’re not going to need in your new home, as well as lists for each room of what to pack and logistical arrangements.
This checklist maps out what’s required and makes it less likely you’ll leave too much work to the last minute.
Set a Realistic Moving Budget
Moving house, even if you do everything yourself, will cost some money. Whether this is just cardboard boxes and packing materials, or you’re going to employ a moving company, make sure you know how much you can afford to spend on your move.
Mistake #2: Underestimating Packing Needs
One of the most common packing mistakes when moving is underestimating how much stuff you actually have to pack. Over the years you’ll have acquired many more possessions that you realise, whether they’re on display or packed away deep in the loft.
As a result, people often don’t buy enough boxes or packing materials, and underestimate how much time they’ll need.
Use High-Quality Packing Materials
Thinking you’re saving money on cheap packing materials is a false economy that you’ll pay for further down the line.
The boxes and other packing materials you use have to protect your belongings during the move, and cheap boxes and insufficient protective packaging won’t be up to the job.
If you’re working with a professional moving company, but they’re not doing the packing for you, ask if they have any advice on packing techniques and the best materials to use.
Start Packing Well in Advance
Leaving it too late to start packing is arguably one of the most common moving errors people make. This is also more likely if you’ve not prepared a moving checklist.
You’ll also probably have more things to pack than you realise. Although you might make fast progress at first, it’s all of the miscellaneous stuff that doesn’t fit into an obvious category that can take the most time.
Mistake #3: Not Hiring a Professional Mover
Unless you’re only moving across the road, or you don’t have many things to relocate, it’s usually a mistake to think you can do everything yourself. It’s not just the physical excursion that makes it a challenge—although manual handling is one of the main causes of personal injury—but also all of the things that you might not think of or be experienced in, like sorting out parking permits, how to pack fragile items or space-efficient packing techniques.
A professional moving company won’t only make moving day much less stressful, but it’s also the best way to ensure everything arrives at your new home safely.
Benefits of Choosing a Reputable Mover
The benefits of choosing a reputable mover for your house move include:
- Save valuable time you’d otherwise have to spend packing
- Avoid the risk of injuring yourself moving heavy items
- Ensure your valuable and fragile items are packed securely
- Save money on van hire, packaging materials and the cost of damaging expensive items
- Avoid making common moving mistakes that make the process more stressful
Mistake #4: Packing Valuables Improperly
Wrapping a vase in newspaper isn’t going to protect it from getting bashed in the back of the van—it’ll just keep all of the pieces in one place.
Professional movers will often take care of this for you, but even if you don’t purchase this part of their service, they might be able to provide advice on how to correctly pack fragile items.
Use Proper Packing Techniques for Valuables
The best packing technique to employ will depend on the types of valuables you’re packing. For example, jewellery should be stored in solid cases to protect the stones and metalwork, while fragile items like vases should be wrapped and padded with bubble wrap, polystyrene or similar materials.
Mistake #5: Forgetting Essential Notifications
Once moving day is complete you’ve certainly earned a rest, but don’t forget to change your address with the people and organisations that matter.
From your employer and bank, through to your friends and family, it’s best to make a checklist for your change of address to make sure you don’t forget anyone.
Update Your Address and Utilities Early
The best advice is to get ahead of your address changes and do it early where possible. For example, you should be notifying your utilities companies (gas, electric, water and internet provider) ahead of time anyway to make sure you switch over on the correct day.
How Happy2Move Helps You Avoid These Mistakes
Here at Happy2Move we offer a comprehensive house moving service that will ensure you can avoid these common moving mistakes. From planning and packaging, through to logistics and delivery, we’ve helped hundreds of households all over London and the UK relocate.
What’s more, when you choose Happy2Move you’ll receive:
- A fully insured service
- Professional packing help
- Furniture assembly and disassembly
- Optional add-ons to make sure your move goes even more smoothly
Get Your Moving Quote Today
So what are you waiting for? If you’d like to find out more about how Happy2Move can make your house move a breeze, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today. Alternatively, request your free free house moving quote.
