Most Americans move for better job opportunities. Some move because their job structures change. In 2020, about 23 million Americans moved to new cities because their jobs allowed remote working.
Whatever your reason for moving may be, you may make several local moving errors if not careful. These errors can prove expensive.
The good news is that these errors are avoidable. You don’t need to worry about losing your belongings when moving to a new home with proper guidance.
Read on to learn some of these errors and how to avoid them.
1. Planning To Move On Your Own
Moving on your own, regardless of how much stuff you have, can be stressful. So, you’ll need some help. Sure, hiring a local mover if you’re only moving a few blocks may not be necessary.
But, this doesn’t mean that you don’t need help. You can ask your friends and family to help you move. This way, you won’t feel overwhelmed with the sheer amount of work that goes into moving.
Ensure you ask your loved ones for help in time. Remember that everyone is busy. They have to schedule helping you into their busy lives.
2. Wrong Choice In Movers
There are many times when hiring a moving company is necessary. For instance, if you have a large number of possessions or are relocating to a new city. Their expertise and experience will help ensure a seamless moving process.
But, some homeowners make the mistake of thinking that all movers are alike. So, they end up with unreliable and downright careless movers.
It would help if you took hiring local movers as seriously as you take choosing your doctor. It’s essential to research your options to identify the most suitable movers.
If you can, ask your friends or colleagues to recommend a reliable moving company. If your friends are unable to help, google moving companies near you.
But, be careful when choosing these companies. Ensure that you read their testimonials before hiring them. Only hire a company if most of its former clients have good things to say about their services.
3. Failing To Read Documents Sent By Your Local Movers
It’s easy to get overwhelmed with moving and sign any document handed to you without reading. But, this shouldn’t happen. It’s essential to read the fine print of every document sent to you by your movers for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, it’ll tell you what services the movers plan to offer. Most movers offer different package options. Depending on your budget, you may or may not need to do some things yourself.
So, it’s essential to know what to do beforehand to avoid wasting time. Some movers will even guide you on how you’re supposed to pack and prepare yourself.
It’s also important to read all documents to avoid being a victim of foul play. Some unscrupulous movers have hidden charges. If not careful, you’ll end up paying more than you originally planned.
4. Failing To Declutter
It’s human to hold onto things that you barely use. But, would you like your new space to be filled with items you even forgot you have? No, right?
So, there’s no better time to get rid of these things than when moving. Getting rid of some of your belongings can even reduce moving costs. Hence, it’s something you should consider.
One of the best ways to declutter is through garage sales. Identify the things you’ve not used in more than a year and ask your loved ones to help you sell them. If you don’t have time to hold a garage sale, you can always sell them online.
Alternatively, you can donate them. Most charities or local churches will appreciate anything you give them.
But, this doesn’t mean that you should donate damaged items. Instead, throw them away.
5. Failing To Label Boxes
Failing to label boxes can cause a lot of damage. It can also make unpacking more hectic than necessary.
Putting labels on boxes will help your movers identify fragile items. This way, they’ll know how best to load them to avoid breakages.
Labels will also help make unpacking more bearable. This is because you’ll know the exact locations of all your belongings.
6. Failing To Make A Checklist
It’s essential to have a local move checklist regardless of your memory. There are too many things to do to memorize them all.
You’ll need packing and actual moving checklists. A packing checklist will help ensure that you put away all your belongings.
An actual moving checklist will help you ensure that you do everything you’re supposed to do. Your checklist should include things like:
- Calling your local moving company beforehand
- Signing all appropriate documents
- Donating whatever you don’t need
A checklist will help you take care of every detail, no matter how minute. Creating an online checklist is better than creating a handheld one. It’s easy to lose a paper checklist while packing.
7. Failing To Change Your Address
There’s nothing worse than doing everything right, only to realize you’re not receiving mail at your new address. Chances are, you forgot to change your mailing address.
It’s important to schedule this into your checklist. Ensure you change your address before your local moving company arrives.
Ensure you cancel your pending orders or, if possible, change addresses. It’s easy to forget the small things when moving. So, double-check whether everything is in order before you move to your new home.
Simplify Moving To Your New Home By Avoiding These Local Moving Errors
Moving has never been a fun experience. It entails a great deal of planning and manual labor. As a result, you must exercise extreme caution to avoid the aforementioned local moving errors.
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