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Moving can be exciting yet stressful. Planning is very important to ensure a single mistake doesn't become a logistical disaster. Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, your planning is critical. Unfortunately, many people often get caught in avoidable traps that make moving day stressful. Here are the most common moving mistakes that will likely ruin your moving day, and what you want to do instead to avoid a disastrous move.

Selecting the wrong mover can perhaps be the most expensive mistake you can make and involves a lot of risk. Many movers that are dishonest simply give low-ball estimates, then hold your possessions hostage until you pay their inflated hidden charges. Others simply take off with your stuff.

Be certain that the mover has a license and insurance, and is not noted for bad service. Check with the Better Business Bureau, or your state consumer protection agency, to confirm that the mover does not have ambiguous contracts that request a larger payment up front. If you are moving long distance, make sure that you select the best long distance moving company to avoid being stuck with last minute problems, and protect your possessions.

When you’re busy with packing and getting everything arranged, it’s easy to forget the basics like utility services. If you forgot to transfer or cancel your electric, gas, water, or internet services, you could be charged for services at both your old home and your new home.

You could also arrive at a home that has no power or running water. Develop a checklist and contact each of your service providers to schedule their start and stop dates at least two weeks in advance so that when you get to your new home it is ready for you to enjoy.

3.   Forgetting to Review Your Insurance Policy

Accidents happen when moving. Things can be broken, boxes can be lost, and, occasionally, your stuff could suffer some type of damage in transit. Making the mistake of not looking into your insurance coverage beforehand could lead to hundreds or thousands of dollars in loss.

First, confirm if your homeowner’s or renter’s policy covers you while you move. Next, inquire as to what type of liability insurance your moving company provides. If you are concerned about protection for your valuable items, consider full-value protection.

Procrastination and moving don’t match. Delaying packing, booking movers, or changing addresses, until a week or day of the move will create chaos on the big day. You may forget important items, timelines will be thrown off, and your stress will be high.

You want to start preparing as much in advance as possible, ideally in the range of 30 days in advance. Create a project timeline with weekly goals to help keep all aspects of the move moving forward.

Moving is more than just throwing things into boxes randomly. If you randomly box things up, it will create an absolute nightmare when unpacking in your new home. Be organized with a clear labeling system (like color, number, or room name) and keep a master list of your contents for the boxes.

Try to label the boxes on non adjoining sides so you can easily see how they are labeled no matter how they are stacked. This simple task can save you many hours when you unpack and help you make sure you do not damage any delicate items.


Endnote

An effective move starts with responsible planning and minimizing mistakes. There are so many details that go into making sure you are organized, from identifying the right mover to getting your utilities and insurance squared away, details matter. Whether you are moving in state or cross country, using the right moving company will help you avoid a tragedy in the making.