Common Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Moving is stressful; there’s no way around that fact. But, with careful planning and budgeting, you can make the chore much easier to manage, both physically and emotionally. Let’s look at four mistakes that people commonly make when moving and ways to avoid making them yourself. 

• Packing up everything without discrimination: Moving is a great time to purge what you no longer use or need, such as old clothing that you haven’t worn in over a year. Getting rid of stuff means less packing, less unpacking and less weight, which usually translates to a lower bill from the movers. Go through your things a few months before moving and donate all the stuff that you don’t want to bring with you.
• Skipping the planning process: It’s best to start planning a move at least a month in advance, if not two. Think of everything that must be done; you’ll need to book a moving company, make travel arrangements if you’re moving out of state, pack, plan to transport pets etc. It’s also a good idea to scope out your new neighborhood (you can do this online if it’s far away) to familiarize yourself with local restaurants, stores and more. Keep all records and receipts as you plan so you can ensure things go according to schedule and stay on budget.
• Selecting a subpar moving company: Rather than hiring a moving company based on a coupon you found online, talk to your friends and family for referrals. Better yet, read customer reviews on sites like Yelp and the Yellow Pages and choose a mover with glowing ratings. Once your stuff is the moving truck, there’s little you can do to control the situation, so it’s best to know that your belongings are in trustworthy hands.
• Moving at the wrong time: Summer is typically the busiest time of year for moving companies. While you can move during summer if you so choose, make sure to book a mover far in advance to ensure time in their busy schedule. If you wait too long, you may be stuck with no mover at all if they’re already booked. Similarly, book far in advance if you’re moving around a holiday. 

Your new home will need protection. Call Akin & Associates Insurance Group for more information on home insurance.