Moving Mistakes to Avoid

For many people, the process of moving house or business premises is one that evokes dread. We’ve all heard a few horror stories about moving. However, there are certain moving mistakes which we see time and time again.

Above all, a lack of planning is the most common moving mistake – and this, in turn, can lead to numerous issues, including high moving costs.

We’ve put together a list of the top moving mistakes to avoid. This information will make it easier for you to identify the pitfalls of moving – and help you to avoid them.

1. Inadequate Planning & Insufficient Time

Moving house or business premises is a complex task that requires careful planning and plenty of time.

Many people are under the misconception that you can simply book a removalist and sort everything in the week up to the moving date. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple – especially if you have a lot of belongings to move!

As a general rule of thumb, it takes at least a month to sufficiently plan and prepare for a move. Remember, there many tasks involved in moving; it’s not just about the packing.

Tasks to factor in include:

• Research removalists and compare quotes
• Budget (factor in all costs associated with your move, so you don’t have any nasty surprises)
• Order packing materials (boxes, paper, bubble wrap and tape)
• Declutter
• Pack
• Book cleaners
• Pay outstanding bills
• Transfer all utilities
• Organise insurance
• Update your address details
• Redirect your mail
• Arrange childcare and pet care
• Book storage hire and temporary accommodation (if your move out/in dates don’t align)

Creating a task list should be your number one priority. This will keep you on track and prevent you from forgetting things. It’ll also help to keep you motivated – especially when you enjoy the satisfaction of ticking items off the list!

Start the packing process as soon as you acquire the packing materials. If you don’t have large blocks of time to set aside for packing, 10 minutes here and there soon adds up.

As the old adage goes, ‘a clear space equals a clear mind’ and working in a tidy environment can lead to an increase in motivation and energy. Moving house is the perfect time to declutter. So, think carefully about what items you really want to take with you. Be ruthless and get rid of any items that are either no longer of use to you, or hold no sentimental value. The more ruthless you are, the less clutter you’ll have in your new home!

Don’t make the mistake of booking suppliers such as removalists, cleaners, child and pet care providers, and storage companies too late. Businesses do get booked up, which can cause havoc to your plans. So, be sure to make arrangements well in advance.

2. Not Hiring a Reputable Removalist

A lack of research, due diligence and advance planning can lead to poor decisions when it comes to removal firms.

Research a few removalists in your area and narrow down your search by checking out their customer reviews on platforms such as Google My Business, Product Review and Word of Mouth. This will provide you with the best indication of what their service is really like and will enable you to filter out those whose service seems below par.

Once you have a condensed list of prospective removalists, contact each of them and ask the right questions.

Ask them about their experience, licenses and insurance. Limited experience can mean higher risk to your precious belongings. Also, ask how many trucks they’ll be using. If there aren’t enough removal trucks available on the day of your move, this will result in multiple journeys, which can push out the time it takes for you to complete your move.

Key questions to ask include:

• How many years have you been in business?
• What licenses do you have?
• What insurance cover do you have?
• How do you calculate the cost of the move?
• Is your quote a binding or non-binding estimate?
• Are there any extra fees?

3. Not Comparing Quotes

Be sure to compare quotes. If you just go with the first company you receive a quote from, you may be paying more than you should.

However, remember that not all services are equal, so make sure you’re comparing apples with apples.

4. Insufficient Protective Packaging

Rushed packing can lead to damaged goods and breakages.

Pack up one room at a time, starting with the items you won’t need prior to the move. Carefully wrap fragile items in plenty of protective bubble wrap or paper and place the heaviest items at the bottom of the box to prevent breakages.

Alternatively, hire in the professionals. This is especially important if you’re a professional services business with lots of IT equipment or other specialist gear, such as machinery parts or cosmetic equipment.

5. Not Labelling Boxes

Not labelling your boxes is another common moving mistake – and can lead to chaos at the other end.

Label each box by room, so the removalists will know where to place them. Also, list the contents of each box, so you’ll know exactly where to find what you’re looking for. For example, ‘KITCHEN: crockery and tea towels.’

Doing this will save a lot of headaches come moving day.

6. Forgetting to Keep Out Essential Items

Don’t forget to keep out a few essential items that you’ll need on moving day.

Put together a survival kit of items to keep with you on the day of your move. You’ll be grateful for them!

These should include:

• Your mobile phone
• Your handbag
• Keys to your new house
• Your task list
• A kettle, tea, milk and a couple of mugs
• Some snacks
• Toilet roll

And there you have our list of top moving mistakes to avoid.

Whether you’re a family moving house, a business owner moving offices, or a cosmetic therapist moving clinics, it’s important to plan ahead so you can make your move as smooth as possible.

For more information on our removalist services or to get a storage hire quote, please contact our friendly team today.