Moving Mistakes To Avoid

Kyle Hiscock

Kyle Hiscock | Greater Rochester NY Real Estate | Pittsford NY Realtor at RE/MAX Realty Group

Have questions about buying or selling a home?

Ask Now!
Moving Mistakes To Avoid
Moving Mistakes To Avoid

What Not to Do When Moving

With a lot to do in preparation when moving from one home to another, you can be forgiven for getting a few things wrong. And with so many different parts involved in the process, moving mistakes are almost inevitable.

If you know about some of the potential mistakes when moving, you can avoid going wrong where so many others have before. Let’s review some of the most common blunders so you don’t fall victim to these mistakes.

Hiring The Best Movers

If you do choose to get help from movers, you need to do your research. One of the most common moving mistakes is choosing the wrong mover.

Make sure the company is licensed and check their references as well as their customer feedback. It is important to get an estimate of the mover’s costs, and are they binding or nonbinding? You can get online quotes, but this could lead to a larger bill than expected when it’s time to pay.

If you are relocating out of state it will be vital to pick one of the best long-distance moving companies. Maximum Real Estate Exposure has an outstanding resource to help you make a wise decision.

Vetting a moving company is one of the most vital tasks you can do when buying or selling a home. It is also one of the most consequential moving mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Not Giving Yourself Enough Time

Packing your items can take longer than you might expect. If you’ve lived in your current home for many years, it is very easy to accumulate more stuff than you imagine. Packing in a hurry will lead to a greater chance that some of your things won’t make it to your new home undamaged.

Part of being prepared is knowing where to find all of the moving boxes you will need prior to your move. Maximum Real Estate has a great resource that shares twenty-seven different places where you can get your moving boxes. You will learn about both free and paid options.

Also, don’t forget to label your boxes when packing if you want an easier time.

Changing Address

One of the most significant moving mistakes is not getting your address change done soon enough or at all. Can you imagine not getting vital IRS documents or a doctor’s bill because you did not forward your mail properly?

You need to update your information with utility companies and make sure your mail gets forwarded. This should be done in good time before your move. Check with the utilities for how much notice they need to set you up in your new home.

You can often update this online as you can with the USPS for your address. It will be essential to know who should know about your address change. The article at RISMedia provides a wealth of knowledge on the organizations that should be notified.

Doing Everything Yourself

Doing To Much Yourself Is A Moving Mistake To Avoid
Doing To Much Yourself Is A Moving Mistake To Avoid

Even when you are only moving a short distance, moving home can be more complicated and difficult than you anticipate.

If you are trying to do everything yourself to save money, it could end up costing you more in the long run. If you aren’t used to it, moving heavy items of furniture can easily cause bodily injuries. There will be a higher chance of breaking furniture, and in the end, you may have wished you would have used professional movers.

Make sure you understand the pros and cons of using a mover vs doing it yourself. You may find it was a lot more trouble than it was worth.

Taking Care of Valuables

If your most valuable items get damaged in the move, could you have done something to prevent it from happening?

Generally, moving companies don’t take responsibility for and cover the cost of valuable items that get damaged in transit. Make sure you have enough insurance to cover the value of your items.

It may be better to pack and transport your most expensive possessions so you can make sure things don’t get broken.

Decluttering

Moving mistakes can be reduced if you have fewer things to transport to your new home. Take the opportunity to declutter your home, it will mean the costs of shipping your things will be less as well.

Not only will there be less to pack and unpack, but you can give away items you no longer need to good causes. You should create an inventory list of the items that remain so that you know nothing has gone missing during the move.

Keeping your home clean during a move is an essential task that will pay dividends in the long run.

Sizing Things Up

Will your furniture fit in your new home? If you haven’t taken any measurements, you may run into problems on the day of the move. Larger items might not fit through doorways or up staircases. Don’t leave this to chance.

One thing you may want to consider if you have furniture that no longer works in your new home is to donate it to charity. There are lots of organizations that will pick up furniture donations. Not only will you be removing a burden from your hands but also helping someone who is in need of help.

Considering Your Pets and Plants

It can be easy to overlook some of the other living things in your home when preparing to move.

If you are only moving a short distance, can your pet stay with someone else for the day? If you are moving to a new state, is your pet going to be comfortable during the journey? Do you have the papers for your pet if you need them when crossing state lines?

It may be difficult for moving plants to a new state as well. There can be restrictions on some types of plants, make sure to check beforehand. If your plants are in delicate pots, it is probably a good idea to transplant them into something more suitable for the move.

Survival Kit

Make sure everybody has a bag of items that they need for the day of the move and a few days after. This needs to stay with them so that things go smoothly.

The kit could contain; toiletries, medications, cash, important documents, and anything else that could be needed. When moving, having a survival kit can be a godsend, especially if you have children.

Final Thoughts on Moving Mistakes

Buying and selling a home can be a super exciting time. It is also very easy to make mistakes that can cause you time and money. Hopefully, you have found these moving tips valuable and they help you avoid some of the more common blunders lots of folks make.

Other Helpful Moving Resources


About the author: The above article on moving mistakes to avoid was written by Bill Gassett. Bill has been working in the real estate industry for the past thirty-three years. He works for RE/MAX Executive Realty in Hopkinton Massachusetts. Bill loves providing trustworthy information to buyers, sellers, and fellow real estate agents to make the best possible decisions. His writing has been featured on RIS Media, National Association of Realtors, Inman News, Placester, Today.com, Credit Sesame, and others.


About Rochester’s Real Estate Blog: Rochester’s Real Estate Blog is owned and operated by Kyle Hiscock of the Hiscock Sold Team at RE/MAX Realty Group.  With over 40 years combined experience, if you’re thinking of selling or buying, we’d love to share our knowledge and expertise.

We service the following Greater Rochester NY areas: Irondequoit, Webster, Penfield, Pittsford, Fairport, Brighton, Greece, Gates, Hilton, Brockport, Mendon, Henrietta, Perinton, Churchville, Scottsville, East Rochester, Rush, Honeoye Falls, Chili, and Victor NY.

Have questions about real estate? I'm here to help.

Get In Touch

Contact Me!

chat_bubble
close
Thinking About Making A Move In 2024?
Let's Chat!