What You Should Absolutely Avoid When Moving to a New Home

Millions of people move homes every year; however, it’s considered one of the most stressful experiences in life. It is ranked just below job loss and divorce, according to psychologists. It comes with a unique set of challenges that need to be addressed in advance. Moving can easily become a nightmare if the right set of precautions is not taken. Whether you’re moving for the first time or the tenth, knowing what not to do is essential. The list below highlights common mistakes so you can avoid them and move with less stress.

Skipping the Decluttering Phase

If you skip sorting through your belongings, you’re basically moving clutter from one home to another. Those promotional mugs from work that you never used. Those pants that you’re planning to fit into in “x” years. The bread maker you never touched after using it once in 2019? These items cost money to move and take up valuable space in your new home.

What to do instead: Start the moving process with a good decluttering session at least 4 weeks ahead of the move day. Ask yourself questions like “Have I used this in the last year”, or “Would I buy this right now, does it give me joy” while evaluating each item. Letting go is great—so long as it helps you downsize your burden, both mentally and physically.

Using Poor Quality Packing Materials

It might seem easier to grab whatever boxes you can find, like old liquor boxes or newspapers. Starting from liquor store boxes to even newspapers. All of these store-bought, pre-used options are not only cheap but unreliable and can get ink everywhere.

What to do instead: Use high-quality packing materials, ideally from professional suppliers. Uniform-sized boxes with proper stacking increases reliability of shipments. Sturdy boxes paired with packing paper, cushioned wrap, bubble wrap and blankets offer excellent protection against damage, even if it means spending a few extra bucks.

Failing to Label Boxes Properly

It’s easy to assume you’ll remember what’s in each box, but that rarely works out. This in a way sounds tempting, but human memory combined with the chaos of packing easily gets disheveled and leads to an abundance of frantically digging through boxes.

What to do instead: A structured label formatting with accurate room placement, unpacking priority, special requirements, and accurate classifications are all extremely helpful, lining priority levels and color-coded labeling make everything easy to manage and reduces chaos with the insertion of images to guide systems.

Hiring a Moving Company Without Proper Research

One of the most catastrophic moving mistakes is choosing a moving company based solely on price without proper vetting. The moving industry unfortunately has its share of unscrupulous operators who might provide lowball estimates, hold belongings hostage for additional fees, or handle items carelessly.

The Value of Professional Residential Moving Services

When it comes to relocating, using specialized residential moving services will determine if the entire process is going to be stressful or smooth. Good moving companies have trained personnel that have specialized equipment to properly and safely manage your items, bringing valuable expertise to the job.

Professional movers understand how to navigate tight stairwells or deal with heavy and fragile furniture without problem. They are also equipped with furniture blankets, dollies, ramps, and customized trucks that secure your items. In addition, offer insurance to protect your belongings in case something goes wrong.

In addition to the physical difficulty of moving, working with professionals gives you valuable peace of mind during your stressful period. Rather than worrying about damage to your property or injuries caused by strenuous lifting, focus on setting up utilities, enrolling kids into new schools, or getting ready for your new job.

What to do instead: Research moving companies thoroughly by:

• Verifying licensing and insurance (check the USDOT number for interstate movers)
• Reading reviews across multiple platforms
• Getting in-home estimates from at least three companies
• Asking detailed questions about additional fees and policies
• Confirming exactly what services are included in your quote

Remember that unusually low estimates often come with hidden costs or subpar service.

DIY Moving Without Proper Equipment or Help

The “I can do it myself” approach to moving might seem cost-effective, but without proper equipment and adequate help, it’s a recipe for injured backs, damaged belongings, and broken friendships.

What to do instead: Be realistic about what you can handle personally. If you choose a DIY approach:

• Rent proper equipment (dollies, furniture sliders, moving blankets)
• Learn proper lifting techniques to prevent injury
• Recruit enough help for the size of your home
• Consider hiring professional movers for just the large items
• Show appreciation by providing food and drinks for your helpers

Packing an Essentials Box Last (or Not at All)

After a long day of moving, the last thing you want is to dig through dozens of boxes looking for your toothbrush, medications, or coffee maker. Yet many people fail to prepare for those crucial first 24 hours in their new home.

What to do instead: Pack a marked “First Night” box (or boxes) with everything you’ll need immediately, including:

• Toiletries and medications
• Change of clothes
• Basic kitchen necessities (coffee maker, one pot, basic utensils)
• Phone chargers
• Basic tools
• Cleaning supplies
• Toilet paper and paper towels
• Bed linens and pillows
• A few towels
• Shower curtain (often forgotten!)

Take this box with you in your own vehicle rather than on the moving truck to ensure it doesn’t get lost.

Not Measuring Furniture or Doorways

Moving comes with its set of overwhelming challenges. One challenge movers note is realizing that your furniture won’t fit through the new front door or up the stairwell. This oversight not only invites damage to the walls but also causes makeshift disassembly or, in some cases, having to leave items behind.

What to do instead: Take proper measurements of large pieces of furniture and check the doorways, stairs, and elevators at the new home. Figure out what goes where with a diagrammatic plan of the space before the moving date. For constricted areas, think about removing optional features (legs, doors, drawers) to facilitate easier movement in the new home.

Conclusion: Plan for Success

With the right planning, moving can be a smooth and even enjoyable experience. It is important to remember that relocation is not just about transporting your belongings but creating a stress-free environment in a new living space that is hassle-free to settle into.

With quality help, sensible timelines, effective materials, and appropriate arrangements, moving can become a positive life experience to look forward to. In the end, what makes relocation worth it is the joy that comes with a fresh start.