No matter if you’re moving across the street or across the country, the process of moving can be very stressful. With stress comes mistakes that are made. Listed below are the biggest (and unfortunately, most common) mistakes that are made by those who are moving.
- Waiting until the last minute: This is a classic, and even today, most people do this. And we get it; you’re busy with work or family, and things find themselves getting pushed further down on the to-do list. Most commonly, this happens because most don’t have a plan in mind for when they’re getting ready for a move. We help you out in this by offering a moving guide and checklist so you can keep track of every step leading up to your move.
- Not organizing your boxes: Perhaps you’ve experienced this before: putting your shoes, your kitchen utensils, and your magazines in one box. Or needing something as soon as you arrive at your new home and not knowing where important items are. Having disorganized boxes makes the end result of your move much worse and delays your ability to get settled into your new home. Instead, using your moving checklist, pack boxes that are organized by rooms and have them clearly labeled. The labeling will help you (and the movers) know where they go once you get to your new home. Make sure to wrap fragile items carefully. For those items you know you’ll need immediately, like medications, pack those items in one box and bring it with you.
- Forgetting to turn on your utilities: This has happened, and it is no fun at all. Your move takes place on a weekend, and when you get to your new home, you have no lights, no water, or anything else. And you can’t get it taken care of until Monday. If you’re moving within your city, there’s a chance you’ll be able to transfer your service from your old address to your new one. Regardless, you should set up your utilities at least a week in advance of your move so you know everything will be turned on when you get there.
- Not checking your insurance policy: Moving, when done smoothly, sees all of your belongings arriving at your new home in one piece. However, no one can predict what will happen on the road. But if you don’t check your insurance policy or learn more about your mover’s liability policy, you could end up paying for whatever gets broken. Make sure you know what is on your homeowners or rental policy and that liability is discussed with your moving company before the move. Knowing could save you lots of money in the long run if something does get broken. (But with the right moving company, this won’t be an issue.)
- Hiring a disreputable moving company: Moving companies come and go, and there are plenty of horror stories. Some will do things like take long lunch times to add to their hourly rate, or not care for your belongings, or (and this is the worst) hold your belongings hostage until you pay more than the quoted estimate. For 1st Class, our record speaks for itself. 97 percent of our clients come to us from referrals. It’s that kind of reputation that must be considered when hiring a moving company. We offer both hourly and flat rates to simplify things for you; we have packing and unpacking services; we take great care of your furniture and belongings; and we offer unparalleled service.