Moving can be both exciting and incredibly stressful. Because of that, many how-to lists have been created that help you understand exactly what you need to do in order to move successfully. However, few of those lists include the things that you should not do – the mistakes that could derail your move and lead to increased costs, or even damage to your belongings. We think it’s time someone addressed the elephant in the room, and we’ll detail eight mistakes you need to avoid when moving across the country so you know exactly what you must avoid.
No, making this mistake might not lead to a catastrophe, but it will lead to lost time, frustration, headaches, and other issues. Every box that you pack should be labelled. This gives you important information and will help you streamline both the unloading and unpacking processes at your new home. How should you label them? There are a couple of options here.
One is to label the box by the room where the contents will go – dining room, kitchen, playroom, etc. That’s great if all the items in your box will go into the same room. However, that isn’t always going to be the case and you’ll have boxes that include mixed contents. For these, you might consider listing the contents of the box, or even going so far as to have a breakdown of the contents on your moving inventory/packing list. You do have one of those, right?
One of the most significant mistakes that people make when moving is choosing their moving company blindly. Sure, that might mean you spend far more than you should, but also be aware that there are rogue operators in the industry. Choosing without vetting your movers very carefully could mean that you’re entrusting all of your worldly belongings to a fly-by-night company that will damage them, or, worse yet, will disappear with them.
Working with a service like MoveIt.ca makes it simple to find and compare moving estimates, but also to ensure that you’re able to choose from only reputable, insured, established moving companies in Canada.
Another major mistake is to pack everything you own. Think of moving as your chance to pare down the stuff you have – an opportunity to get rid of those hand-me-downs, the clothing your kids have outgrown, and even that elliptical machine that you really, really wanted, but is now just gathering dust in the garage.
Remember, the more you can eliminate by selling, giving away, or donating, the less you’ll have to move and the lower your overall moving costs will be. Plus, who doesn’t feel better when they get rid of some of the clutter in their lives?
Your first instinct is likely going to be to pack everything in boxes so that the movers can load it all up on the truck and it will be delivered to your new home. That’s fine for things like your everyday clothes, or your Tupperware, but what about your heirloom jewellery? What about your grandfather’s gold watch, or your great Aunt Bessie’s brooch?
Sure, they can be packed up and moved, but should they? Not really. Ideally, you’ll keep your valuables with you. Of course, this really only applies to small, lightweight items that can be easily transported while being kept out of sight. Why keep them with you? It’s actually the safest place.
We all deal with dangerous and hazardous materials on a regular basis. Most of us think nothing of having insecticide in the garage for treating ants or killing wasps. We need gasoline to power our mowers and weed trimmers. However, you cannot afford to ignore those materials when it comes time to pack for your move.
Hazardous or dangerous materials cannot be shipped, nor should you transport them in your car. You also cannot leave them at your old home, and in most cases, they cannot simply be tossed out in your household trash. Make sure that any hazardous or dangerous materials are properly disposed well ahead of time.
Chances are good that if you’re hiring a moving company to get your belongings to your new home, you’ll most likely be driving yourself there. Make sure you pack for that trip. It’s not a good feeling to have all your possessions loaded up on the moving truck, only to realise that what you need for your own trip is now heading down the road without you. Determine what you’re going to need (clothes, personal items, hygiene items, etc.), and keep those out of the packing process so you’ll have it all handy when it comes time to make your road trip.
Today, most us keep our personal information on the computer. You’ve got hundreds of photos, documents, and more. You likely have passwords and other information all stored on your computer, as well. What happens if that computer is damaged and no longer accessible? Be smart and make sure that all of your digital information is backed up to the cloud. There’s really no excuse for not doing this, given the number of cloud storage providers and services out there today. Seriously, pick one and use it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Finally, don’t try to do everything yourself. Moving is hectic, stressful, and jam-packed with things that you need to take care of. Outsource what you can to the professionals, and that includes more than just the moving process itself. Hire professional painters, cleaners, repair or improvement companies, and more to help take the load off and ensure a smooth, easy, enjoyable move.
If you are able to avoid the eight mistakes we explored above, you’ll be on track to having an enjoyable, successful move.
