Getting everything ready for a move takes a considerable amount of time. If preparation is delayed, moving may become very stressful on the lead-up and for the actual moving day.

 

First-time movers might make the assumption that a week or two is all the time needed to prepare for the move. However, what people often omit in the planning is the other steps needed for a successful move. It doesn’t just involve the packing of personal belongings. There will be paperwork to complete for the moving company, real estate agent and potentially conveyancer/lawyers if a property has been bought or sold. Utility companies i.e water and electricity will also need to be notified of the move so that power and water can be disconnected at your old residence and connected on time at the new residence. It is recommended, where possible, that people allow a month to prepare and get ready for a move. This helps ensure that all aspects of the move are covered in a timely manner and with minimal stress.

Listed below are some of the common mistakes that people often make when moving to a new house.

1. Procrastinating until the last minute
When it comes to preparing for a move, the biggest misconception is that there will be time to finish everything even if the packing was to be started last minute. Packing usually takes a lot of time; it isn’t a matter of just shoving all personal belongings in random boxes. It is important to plan how your goods will be arranged to maximise the space and effectively use the available packing materials to avoid damaging the goods in transit.

Aside from packing, there is also all the necessary paperwork that needs to be processed. This sometimes takes days to gather all the information. This is why it is important to check the requirements of the electoral offices/council of your new address. Aside from these requirements, it is important to inform utility companies and any subscriptions you may have of the address change. Delaying this to the last minute may lead to additional processing fees that could have been avoided otherwise.

2. Packing without an inventory
If personal belongings are just dumped in random boxes, this will lead to a very messy move. It will be hard to determine what went into each box and you might end up having to open all the boxes in your new home to find the items needed. Packing is not for the lazy. To avoid turning your new location into a jungle of boxes and containers after the move, it would be best to list down every item put inside specific boxes. Create an inventory as you pack and label all the boxes properly. This way, it’ll be easier to determine which items go together when you unpack in your new home. Use boxes with different sizes, so you don’t have to mix items from different rooms in the same box. You might think that this is a waste, but it can help you save time when you’re ready to unpack and arrange your belongings.

3. Thinking that DIY is always cheaper
Most of the time, people think that DIY moves are cheaper than hiring professionals to do the job. However, that is not always the case, especially when you have to disassemble and move delicate pieces of furniture by yourself. Sometimes, letting the professionals do the job is more cost-effective, efficient and not to mention a lot more convenient. Professional removalists are trained to use different packing methods to maximise available materials and make sure packed goods are less susceptible to damage during transport. Getting professional help also means that you can use your time to do more important things before the big day. Aside from giving some instruction from time to time, you can relax on your moving day.

4. Refusing to get insurance for your belongings
Whether you’re moving a few boxes or an entire household, it is best to get insurance for your belongings. Even if you hire the best removalists in the area, there is no guarantee that your belongings are 100% safe from damage. Getting insurance for your belongings will come in handy if any untoward incident occurs while your goods are in transit or during loading/unloading. The insurance will also cover damages due to natural causes such as fire, flood, lightning, etc.

5. Getting Removal services from shady companies
When choosing the Removal company for your move, just booking the cheapest is not enough. Keep in mind that your belongings will be handled by these people. Hence, it is recommended that you hire a team of removalists that you can trust. Before booking and paying for any services, do some research and review the profile and history of several different moving companies. Check for reviews written by customers who have used their services. Hire a moving company that is known for providing high-quality service, expertise and delivers an exceptional experience for their customers.

6. Leaving where you are moving from uncleaned
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is leaving the house you are moving out of uncleaned. While you may leave everything as is, if you have been renting, you may be surprised to find that a generous amount will be deducted from your bond to pay for the cleanup. This is why it is highly recommended that you find some time to clean the entire house once you’ve packed your belongings. It is important to leave the property in the same condition as when you moved in. If you have sold the home you were living in, it is still common courtesy to do a quick tidy up before leaving so that it is presentable for the new owners. If you don’t have time, you may book a cleaning service to tidy up the place after the uplift.

7. Forgetting to pack an overnight bag
Before you seal everything in boxes, be sure to pack some toiletries and other supplies that you can use for the first few nights in your new home. Moving and unpacking take a lot of time and energy to complete. Hence, you should pack a few days worth of supplies in a separate bag so you won’t have to unpack everything all at once. If you don’t prepare in advance, you might end up unpacking several boxes to find your things, leaving opened boxes lying around until you have time to put things in their respective rooms.