You’ve found a new home and the big closing is just around the corner. The days leading up to your move can be both exciting and nerve-wracking as you wait for the closing paperwork and inspections to be finalized. With your moving day on the horizon, it’s time to start planning for the move itself.
Moving day can be daunting, but if you can avoid these 6 common mistakes, you can also avoid headaches and stress. And most importantly, you’ll make the day go smoothly so you can start living life in your new home. Here’s what you should try to avoid as you move.
Inadequate planning
It’s important to plan your move well, so make sure you create a checklist of the major tasks you need to accomplish in the days before and after your move. Failing to plan well means you may overlook some of the incredibly important details, such as a change of address with the post office, turning on or off your utilities, and even remembering to budget payment for your movers.
You may want to keep a binder or notebook to house your receipts and inventory list, as well as print off a checklist that includes a list of everything that needs to be done so you can reference it regularly. Planning will keep you on track and aware of the last minute details you don’t want to lose sight of.
Waiting until the last minute to pack
Whether you’re moving from a one bedroom apartment or a 4 bedroom home, it’s never a wise choice to wait until the last minute to pack up your home before a move. If you wait, chances are, you won’t be nearly as organized or careful with your things as you would have been had you spaced the move out over a few weeks. Last minute packing should be reserved for only the things you need for daily use.
Start packing up the rooms or spaces that are the least used in your everyday life. Make sure you clearly note the room you’re packing and where each box will go in your new home. All boxes will start looking the same, so when you take the time to make clear notes, it will help you unpack with ease and you’ll get settled in much faster. Plus, stretching out packing into the weeks leading up to your move will help you stay rested and at ease for the first day in your new home.
Failing to declutter
One of the biggest mistakes a new homeowner can make is packing up absolutely everything that’s in their current home. After all, the longer you’re in a home, the more clutter that tends to build up. If you know you’re looking for a new home, start decluttering well before you move. The more you can sort, organize, or throw away, the fewer boxes you’ll need to pack, and the easier your move will be.
Start small to make decluttering easy. Pick a room or space where clutter tends to collect, like closets, garages, and kitchens. Then, sort your things into four groups: keep, throw away, donate, and sell. If there’s anything you want to keep, you can start packing up the things you won’t need before you move. Decluttering will make the move significantly easier.
Forgetting to carefully wrap fragile items
In a last-minute rush of packing, it can be easy to overlook those fragile items as you push toward the finish line. While many people remember to wrap their glasses and plates in bubble wrap or newspaper, it can often be things like electronics, furniture, and books that can be overlooked in a move. Make sure you’re prepared by knowing how to wrap your fragile items.
Get comfortable using bubble wrap, cardboard, old towels and blankets, and lots of masking tape to protect your things. Fill glasses with paper and fill any spaces in your boxes with paper or bubble wrap for added protection. Keep extremely fragile items in boxes that fit them, like flat boxes for mirrors and cell boxes with dividers for glasses. And make sure you reinforce your boxes with heavy tape to ensure they remain safe during the move.
Packing your essentials
When it’s time to move, don’t make the mistake of packing up the things you’ll need in the interim. Remember to leave your essentials out in a convenient location where you can easily access them. It helps to make a list of everything you’ll need once you get to your new home.
Keep any medications you may need out where you can find them. Make sure you have toiletries available, as well as enough changes of clothing to get you through the move. You’ll also want scissors or box cutters to start unpacking, as well as cleaning supplies and extension cords to begin settling in with ease. Those essentials will ensure you are ready to settle in more easily.
Not prepping for your new home
Once you’ve taken the time to pack your old home up, it’s always smart to know how you’re going to settle into your new one. It’s a mistake to unload your moving truck or have movers drop every box in one location. It’s incredibly important to be prepared for where your things need to go for an easier move.
Before you move in, you should do a final walk through. Make notes of the rooms as you walk through and take notes about which rooms will need to go where. Take a measuring tape in case you need to check furniture dimensions. You may even want to take notes on room layouts to make the move seamless. If you are hiring movers, communicate clearly with them to ensure the right items make it to the appropriate spaces. It will help your move go much more smoothly when you are fully prepared ahead of time.
Final recommendations
It takes advanced planning to ensure you have a successful move. And by avoiding these few pitfalls you can make sure your move is as stress-free as possible. Do you have advice on how to make your move easier? Comment below to share your thoughts.
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