5 Mistakes to avoid when moving
No matter how old you are and whether you’ve done this before or not, moving into a new home is never easy. That’s why making mistakes and doing things you weren’t planning on doing is easier than you may think, which is why you need to be concentrated, plan everything in advance, always think ahead, and avoid making wrong moves as much as you can. If you’re still unsure how to do that, here are five of the most common mistakes people make when moving, so keep them in mind and try to avoid them at all costs.
Not having a plan
Moving is stressful, regardless of where you’re going, how much experience you have, and how many things you actually own. That’s why making a solid plan is a must, and doing that in advance is even more important. You should probably start doing that about two months before the actual move and make a weekly schedule that includes everything from packing your things to hiring a van that will take them to your new home.
Without a proper plan, you’re going to be lost and probably end up doing everything at the very last minute, and without anybody’s help. But, if you make a list of things that need to be done, and write them all down, your life is going to be much less stressful and your move will end up being a success.
Not hiring help
Doing everything on your own a few days before you have to move out of your old home is probably the worst thing you can do. Even though most people think moving is easy, it’s actually a ton of work, and you have to take a million things into account, which is why you need some help. But who can you ask for help?
First, don’t be afraid to rely on your family. You’re all in this together and should work together towards achieving your common goal, so assign everyone their own duties. Also, talk to your friends who can give you a hand – just buy enough pizzas and drinks for everyone, and turn this day into a fun experience! Lastly, be sure to hire professional movers who will do all the heavy work instead of you, and you’re good to go.
Not protecting your appliances
When moving to a new home, most people take their kitchen appliances with them – bigger things like fridges, freezers, ovens, and stoves, as well as smaller items such as coffee makers and toasters, should go with you and help you build your new kitchen at your new place. Of course, you can always purchase a few new items, such as a helpful microwave oven or one of those amazing fire ducts that remove the smoke from your kitchen and take your cooking to a whole new level.
Before moving your appliances, though, make sure you’ve protected them properly. Everything from packing paper and bubble wrap to straps and packaging tape will protect your appliances and make sure they arrive at the new destination unharmed. Be careful when doing that because just one bad move can cost you quite a lot.
Not decluttering your home before the move
We all own too many things, and the truth is that we don’t use most of them because we don’t really need them, to begin with. So, moving to a new home is the perfect opportunity to declutter your possessions and minimize the number of items you’re actually taking with you.
Start by separating all your things into two piles – to stay and to go – and start packing just the first pile, taking the second to the trash. Alternatively, you can donate or even sell these things and earn some money in the process, but you should definitely not take them with you to your new home. Minimizing the amount of stuff that you own will also make your move faster, cheaper, and more effective, so take that into consideration as well.
Not labelling boxes
Different professionals use different methods when packing your possessions, but very few of them use anything other than boxes. If you’re moving on your own, you might use sports bags, suitcases, and everything else you may have, but professionals know that boxes are easier to load and unload, which is why they don’t use anything but them.
However, be sure to label your boxes clearly – use a system based on colours, numbers, and priority, and your move will become much easier. Also, try to group your possessions and boxes by the room they belong in – that way, you’ll unpack and organize everything quickly and efficiently.
Moving is always hard, so pinpointing potential problems you might be facing and avoiding them will make your life much easier and less stressful, and that’s something we all need in this situation.
