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10 Common Mistakes to Avoid on Move-in Day

It is no secret that moving from one apartment or house to another is often seen as a hassle for many people.

However, why make the same mistakes as others, when you can do research and prepare for your move in advance? Moving from one place to another after signing a lease or a closing contract should be an exciting and happy occasion, but it is sometimes clouded by unexpected curveballs that can ruin moving plans. By making a small effort to avoid some of the most common moving mistakes, you can save a lot of time and money, making your actual move-in day as easy as possible.

Why You Should Be Careful When Moving

Moving to a new place can be an exciting new step in your life, but it can also have plenty of downsides if you are unprepared for them. The biggest reason for caution when you decide to move is that without the right amount of preparation, moving can cause a lot of stress and unforeseen problems. These problems range in severity, but they can all cost you valuable time and money when you are trying to enter the next phase of your life after a big move.

While some common moving mistakes are easy to predict and avoid, others are less obvious. Therefore, learning about mistakes that others have made can be a tremendous benefit, especially to those who are moving for the first time. Even if you consider yourself to be a seasoned moving veteran, you might be surprised at what you can forget when the pressure is on and the moving has begun.

Top Five Common Move-in Day Mistakes

Among the many issues that could possibly hamper your move-in day experience, there are some that are particularly important to keep in mind. These involve:

  • Not planning ahead for moving help : As tempting as doing everything yourself may seem, it can often be impossible with furniture and heavy boxes to move. Getting your friends and family to help you out can be a great way to move, but do not be afraid to call a reliable moving company if you need the extra help and can afford it. Finding the right truck (and the right people to lift your dresser onto that truck) can be challenging, so trusting trained professionals to help out can be a wise decision.
  • Not planning ahead for your actual move-in day : While having help to move is key, those helping you cannot do much if they cannot get into your new home, and proper planning can help you save on moving costs. Try to pick a day that is clear of bad weather, and keep in mind what the roads might look like in terms of traffic and construction. You might also want to pack a separate bag containing the things that you or your family will need for a day, in case you do not feel like unpacking all of your boxes on the same day after moving them inside.
  • Taking on too much at once : Depending on how long your move is and how many people are helping you accomplish it, you may want to slow down and not do too much at one time. If necessary and possible, spread out your moving across multiple days to minimize overworking yourself with too many boxes. If you have particularly heavy items, it is crucial to practice safe lifting techniques and not go too quickly. Not only can dropping them hurt your furniture, but it can also hurt you.
  • Packing too late : If you can, try to start your packing process weeks before your actual moving day. By slowly and methodically packing up your things, you can make sure that you pack what you need, as well as not get too hectic when you are doing any last-minute preparations.

Other Mistakes to Avoid When Moving

The issues detailed above are not the only mistakes that can cause headaches on move-in day. Some other mistakes can include:

  • Not understanding the costs of moving : No matter how you do it, moving is never free. At the very least, you will need to pay for boxes (if you cannot scrounge up old ones or borrow from friends) and gasoline. However, if you go with a moving company, be sure to get an estimate of the final cost of your move before committing. The last thing you want is to finish moving in only to get a moving bill that is significantly over what you are willing or able to pay.
  • Not accounting for your children, animals and plants : Your children may be able to help with some of the lighter boxes in your move, but your dog and cactus certainly cannot. Be sure that everyone in your household (including pets and plants) has a good, safe way to get from your old home to your new home.
  • Forgetting to take proper measurements : Your favorite couch fits in and out of your old home’s front door just fine, but will it fit into your new home? Taking the measurements of your furniture and your new home’s doorways and rooms is critical if you want to make sure that you have enough space for the furniture you need.
  • Leaving your old place a mess : If you are leaving a house, do you think that the next owners of your house will want to clean up a huge mess? And if you are leaving an apartment or rental, are you aware of your security deposit, and how you may lose it without proper cleaning? Keeping these things in mind is not only considerate, but it can also save you money.
  • Not taking inventory of all of your boxes : Keeping a detailed list of all of your boxes and writing the contents on the side of each box are excellent ways to know what you should have and what you might need to start unpacking first. It can also help you keep track of your possessions even when they are all packed up.

What if I have already made some of these mistakes?

If you have already begun your move-in process, you may have accidentally fallen into one of these moving traps. That is perfectly fine. Although it may take some extra time or money, making many of these mistakes is not the end of the world. In fact, some of them can be fixed with enough effort and patience. Even if you have already begun your moving process, you can still accomplish quite a lot by making a moving schedule and budget for the remainder of your move and sticking to it. Then when you are all done, you can focus on the next part of moving: unpacking your boxes and decorating your space.

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