Top Mistakes To Avoid When Moving

So, you’re getting ready to move. There’s so much to consider, including timelines, logistics, cost and packing, so it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos and make a mistake that could lead to unnecessary stress. Here are our top moving mistakes to avoid as you prepare to make the transition.

Leaving too little time to pack

There’s nothing worse than leaving too little time to pack. Maybe you aren’t able to take time off work, or you are just really busy and don’t have a ton of space in your calendar. Whatever it is, leaving all your packing to the last minute can be really stressful, cause you to stay up late to get it done and lead to a lack of sleep. All of those things can drastically affect your stress levels. So make sure to plan ahead and prep with ample time before the big day. As a guide, Moving.com suggests that “a studio or one-bedroom apartment will take about two days, a two-bedroom home about three days, and a three-bedroom home about five days.” Use this as your baseline and schedule your packing time accordingly.

Not labeling your boxes correctly

When you’re packing, you might be so focused on getting it done that you forget exactly what you put where. This can be stressful when you get to your new home and are looking for a specific item. Make sure to label everything properly, including the destination, items included and if there’s anything fragile inside.

Not having enough padding

Another mistake you can make when moving is not to pack/pad your items properly. While a box may look like it’s safely packed, too often household items get broken as they transition from one location to another. Make sure to use sufficient padding, especially on those breakable or more delicate items. You don’t even have to use bubble wrap. If you want to be more environmentally and economically conscious, you can use household items such as towels and clothes as extra padding to ensure your items are protected properly.

Forgetting to change your address

Subscriptions, business information, banking information, credit cards… Officially changing your address with the post office and forwarding your mail can save you a ton of stress by ensuring that you don’t miss anything important in those first couple weeks.

Forgetting to pack a moving essentials bag

Don’t forget to pack the important moving essentials bag we outlined in last week’s blog! This is a bag that you would keep separate from the rest of your items and is designed to reduce the amount of stress you experience by keeping important items safe and easy to access during the chaos of your move. Check out what we would recommend packing here.

Moving doesn’t have to be overly stressful. The trick is to plan ahead, take the time you need to avoid mistakes and set yourself up for success. If you avoid these 5 things, you’ll be well on your way.