How to Avoid These 7 Common Moving Mishaps
Preparing to move? You may be so focused on those moving to-dos that you forget about the all-important moving don’ts. After all, it’s easy to get caught up in the midst of moving madness. Fortunately, we’re here to help. Below are 7 common moving mishaps that occur during the moving process. We’ve provided you with easy strategies and ideas for avoiding these relocation mistakes next time you move. Best of luck and happy moving!
7 common moving mishaps to avoid
- Damaging furniture
Unfortunately, damaging furniture is one of the most common moving mishaps. During the moving process it’s easy for items such as sofas, chairs, desks and other heavy furnishings to become scratched or banged up. Even professional movers have been known to occasionally damage furniture on moving day. Between having to lift, move and transport heavy furnishings, you’re bound to accidentally drop or hit something on the way to the new home. Fortunately, there are number of things you can do to avoid damaging your furniture on moving day. For starters, disassemble as much as possible before the move. Second, prep and pack furniture appropriately. Use moving blankets and plastic wrap to protect individual items and furniture corners. Third, utilize moving tools and equipment such as dollies, loading ramps and tie-downs when moving furniture. For more tips on how to protect your furniture when you move, check here. - Getting caught up in a moving scam
Perhaps the worst moving mishap that can happen is being scammed by rogue movers. This “mishap” is a mistake you definitely do not want to make. Oftentimes, moving scams involve hiring unlicensed movers to transport belongings. These movers may hold your items hostage, steal your valuables or simply break your stuff. Fortunately, avoiding moving scams is fairly easy. For starters, be sure to check and make sure a mover is properly licensed and insured before hiring them. Read reviews and check their complaint history with the Better Business Bureau. Also, be sure to use common sense when evaluating a mover’s professionalism. For more tips on how to avoid moving scams, check here. - Forgetting to hire a babysitter
Moving with small children and pets isn’t always an easy experience. If you forget to hire childcare or a pet sitter, you could end up spending most of your time watching your little ones instead of actually moving. This will inevitably lead to a less productive (and longer!) moving day. Do yourself a favor by hiring someone to keep an eye on your babies throughout the moving process. If you need someone last minute, we recommend enlisting a trusted friend or family member to watch them, so you can concentrate on completing the move as quickly and efficiently as possible. - Scratching the floors
When moving heavy boxes, furniture and other items, you may accidentally scratch your floors. Floors made up wood (particularly soft wood) are much more likely to get scratched up during the moving process. While scratching tile and stone floors is more difficult to do, it can still be done. So no matter what type of floor you have, you’ll want to use certain precautions to avoid scratching them. To prevent this mishap, we strongly recommend asking movers to use moving blankets, towels and cardboard when sliding heavy items on the floor. If moving yourself, try using furniture sliders and gliders underneath items. For more tips on how to move items without scratching the floors, check here. - Ticking off neighbors
Be sure to keep nearby neighbors in mind when moving to a new home. If hiring professional movers, you can expect the company to show up with a large moving truck. Unfortunately, these moving trucks often block driveways and take up a lot of room in the road. While you might not be able to change the size of your movers’ truck, you can make the best of the situation by letting neighbors know about the move beforehand. Be sure to tell them when the movers will arrive. You’ll also need to speak with the movers prior to moving day to help them figure out where to park the truck. If you need to obtain parking permits or permission from an HOA, make sure to do this a week or so before the move. - Forgetting moving day essentials
In the midst of moving chaos it’s easy to forget the most basic necessities. So make sure you plan your moving day essentials bag at least a week before the actual move. This bag should contain your toiletries, medicines, important documents, wallet, toilet paper and paper towels, cleaning supplies, phone chargers, a tool kit, extra clothes and more. Many people who are moving also forget that they might not have a bed on moving day. If you’re moving long distance and waiting on movers to arrive (or worse – your movers are late!), you’re going to need to make necessary sleeping arrangements. Your new home likely won’t have a bed, so be sure to bring an air mattress with you in your carry-on or make plans to stay at a hotel until the household items arrive. For a list of other moving essentials to include in your bag, check here. - Moving into a home with no air conditioning, heat or electricity
Don’t forget to turn on the utilities in the new home before the move. Otherwise, you could end up spending the night in a new home without AC, heat or electricity. Talk about a miserable way to start out in a new place. These basic utilities are absolutely essential to keeping you happy, healthy and sane on moving day. To avoid this very uncomfortable scenario, be sure to arrange a turn off, turn on date for all utilities prior to the move. You should be able to schedule a turn on date for basic utilities several weeks in advance. Also, be sure to pay any overdue bills owed on utilities. For more information on how to transfer your utilities when you move, check here.
Moving soon?
Of course, one other moving mishap is simply underestimating the time and effort involved in a DIY move. To avoid making this mistake, we recommend hiring professional movers to get the job done. Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to find and book the best moving company for your specific type of move. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands.