When you suddenly find out that you need to move a long way, or even if you’ve known for a while that a move is in your future, it can suddenly seem overwhelming. Between coordinating housing, transferring jobs, and getting the kids into new schools, there’s a lot to do while trying to coordinate the move itself.
There’s so much that goes into a move, and we understand that life can get more than a little hectic as the moving date draws near. Have you submitted a change of address to the post office? Did you change the billing address on your credit cards? Have you let friends and family know your new address? Again, there’s a lot more that goes into a move beyond the moving truck itself.
All of us at Swamp Rabbit Moving have seen a lot of moves. And we mean a lot. We’ve seen some great things and some not-so-great things in our time as a moving company, and we’ve put together a list of the biggest mistakes people make when coordinating a move, no matter if it’s across the country or just across town.
Not decluttering ahead of time.
Decluttering is vital, especially if you’re moving somewhere smaller than your current living situation. It helps your whole family stay organized and not take unnecessary or unwanted items to your new home.
We recommend starting the decluttering process early in your plans for moving, as it can be time-consuming to go through the entire house. We’re not saying you have to be Marie Kondo, but do at least sift through your items and decide what you want to keep, donate, or discard. You may find you have a lot more items than you originally thought.
Another mistake within this same category is packing the unwanted items and planning on getting rid of them at your new home. This can create unnecessary weight and take up more space than you actually need on the moving truck.
Not having enough packing materials.
We understand that it’s hard to calculate exactly how many boxes you’ll need for your belongings. If you know ahead of time that you’ll be moving, start collecting boxes early. Don’t be afraid to ask stores for spare boxes instead of paying for every box you need. (We love it when people take an economical approach to moving!) You can ask friends or neighbors or that guy down the street — whatever works! Just be sure to start collecting your packing materials early.
We’d also like to take a moment here to remind you that Swamp Rabbit Moving offers packing services. We’ll bring all the materials required to pack up your house!
Not packing early enough.
We know that having to pack up your entire life can be daunting — we’ve been there. It’s an incredibly time-consuming process, and it always seems like we can put it off until tomorrow. But put it off too many times, and you’re suddenly at a deadline and need to scramble to pack everything. This can result in messy and unorganized packing, which means you won’t know which box is which when you arrive at your new home.
Another thing we’d like to note is that if you wait until the very last minute, you may not have time to fix up any damage in your home or apartment (which means you could be forfeiting your security deposit).
Start packing early, and you’ll thank yourself later.
Packing too early.
One the flip side of the same coin is packing too early. While you may be excited about your move, it’s a good idea to not back months ahead of time. You may pack items that you’ll still need access to, no matter if it’s that dress shirt you didn’t think you’d have to wear or that mini waffle maker you haven’t used in months. And when you do need these items, you’ll have to dig through all those boxes just to find that one particular item.
If you want to pack early, pack the absolute non-essentials or out-of-season clothing. (You won’t be wearing that parka when you’re moving in mid-July.) And if your boxes are taking up a lot of room in your house (or if you need to get the boxes out of sight for home showings), we recommend investing in storage solutions. Swamp Rabbit Moving offers storage for all purposes!
Waiting too long to book the movers.
Even if you’re moving during the off-season, be sure to book your moving company well ahead of time to ensure you get the moving dates that you need. Give Swamp Rabbit Moving a call as soon as you know you’re going to be moving, no matter if it’s local or long-distance. Waiting too long to book a moving company may cost you more, and you may not get the dates that you need.
Not paying for moving insurance.
While all of our Rabbits do their absolute best to ensure no damage occurs to your items, there’s always a slim chance that something could break. Federal law requires a minimum insurance on all moves at no cost to the customer, and it’s called Released Value Coverage. It’s typically slated at $0.60 per pound of the item that is damaged. That means if your 50-inch TV that weighs 25 pounds gets damaged, you will only receive $15.
Other insurance options are available, and we recommend looking into them. Better to be safe than sorry!
Not making a moving checklist.
We love organization. It’s great to know what you have to do, what hasn’t been done, and what’s already completed. No matter if you like writing on a traditional notepad or enjoy using digital checklists, we recommend making a list of everything that needs to get done to make your move a hassle-free success. As we’ve already stated, there are a lot of things that go into making a successful move, from travel arrangements to change of address forms or even what you’re going to eat on the big day.
Not packing valuables correctly.
No matter what kind of item it is, nobody wants to lose any item of value, from antiques and hand-me-downs to that favorite set of dishes you got for your wedding. Make sure you have the packing supplies you need, whether it’s packing paper, bubble wrap, or air pillows. Take your time when you wrap and pack these items. (We recommend searching the internet or asking our Rabbits when they come to move you!)
Not checking for parking permits at your new home.
Moving to a new city can be challenging, and one that many people forget about is parking. No matter if you’re hiring a moving company or moving yourself with a rental truck, make sure to have the proper permits to park on the street near your destination. (Don’t forget to check for your current home, too. Many neighborhoods with HOAs have parking restrictions that some homeowners aren’t aware of.)
Not packing an essentials bag.
On the big day of your move, it’s probably going to seem like chaos. That’s why we recommend packing an essentials bag, whether that includes a change of clothes, toiletries, needed or over-the-counter medications. Don’t forget about some snacks and some creature comforts such as a book or your tablet. You’ll thank yourself later when your stomach starts rumbling or when you just need to unwind from all the stress of moving.
Not labeling boxes.
This is probably one of the biggest mistakes we see people make. You completely pack up your life in a hundred different boxes, and then when you arrive at your new home, you have no idea where to find anything. It can cause huge headaches and a lot of frustration.
We recommend at least labeling which room each box goes in. We’ve seen some people use color codes with a different color for each room. Not only does this help you, but it also helps the movers know exactly where to unload your boxes. Another thing we suggest is to make an inventory list as you pack to make sure all the boxes you had pre-move end up at the new house post-move. Go room by room, and remember to label anything delicate as “FRAGILE.”
All of us at Swamp Rabbit Moving understand that there’s a lot that goes into any move, no matter if you’re downsizing to the point of whatever can fit in your car or if you’re upgrading to a five-bedroom house. Whether you need storage solutions, long-distance movers, local moving services, or even packing and unpacking services, call Swamp Rabbit Moving. We’ll work with you to find the best moving services for your needs because we hop to it!