Moving house can be costly, time-consuming, stressful and full of potential hazards just waiting to trip you up. Talk to as many people as you can before you start planning your move. Finding out what worked and didn’t work for them, could help you avoid some major inconveniences or ding dongs with your partner. We have tried to help you avoid some common moving mistakes including cheap moving boxes and costly removal companies.
Don’t leave packing for your house move until the last minute
Packing an entire home, in a logical organised way, is definitely not a last-minute job. To start with you’ll want to sort through your belongings. A good place to kick off is with the loft and the shed, get rid of all those broken, unloved and unwanted items. Only then can you properly start packing, firstly with belongings that you don’t need on a day to day basis. Give yourself plenty of time and start at least a month before your moving date. Eventually the bulk will be packed, leaving only the daily essentials to deal with at the last minute.
Not decluttering before moving house
Save yourself time, energy and money. Make sure you declutter before you start packing and don’t waste your time unpacking junk in your new home. This will save money on packing boxes too!
Don’t use cheap flimsy packing boxes
Big, big mistake! Get good quality moving boxes that are strong enough for the job in hand. It’s not worth risking split/crushed boxes and damaged possessions.
Overpacking your moving boxes
It’s easy to get carried away by packing boxes full to the brim. But be careful not to overfill your packing boxes, they could break, contents can get damaged or cause an injury when being lifted.
Not packing your belongs properly
It will be a laborious task at times, but wrapping and packing up items so they don’t get broken or smashed is a must. You don’t want the disappointment when you finally get around to unpacking them again. Bubble wrap is great for protecting china, irregular shaped items, TV’s, glasses and more. Wrap everything in enough bubble to protect it properly and if necessary, seal it up with tape!
Not researching your removals company
If you are using a removal company, recommendations from family or friends will be your safest bet, otherwise you’ll want to do some research first. Make sure you find a reputable removals company and check customer reviews and references. Accidents happen, so find out if the removal company‘s insurance covers damages, if not check on your own household insurance.
Not getting an accurate quote for moving house
Costs can rack up, unforeseen extras that you haven’t accounted for. Get your removal company to visit your property to accurately assess the size of the removal vehicle required. The last thing you want are packed boxes piling up on the pavement and a removals van turning up that’s not big enough for the job.
Most importantly, look over your contract carefully. Make sure
everything you need your removals company to do is in the contract and don’t forget to read the small print.
Forgetting Utility Bills & Change of address
It’s important to make sure you have recorded your utility bill meter readings and informed the relevant people of your change of address, including TV. You don’t want to get into a dispute over an unwanted bill.
Not measuring up your new house
Not measuring large furniture or doorways can lead to a struggle on moving day and you may find your existing furniture is too large for the new house or the access isn’t large enough to get it through the door, in the first place. Be prepared and dismantle anything that won’t fit, in advance.
Not dis-connecting your appliances
Removal people are not plumbers or electricians, it will be up to you to make sure that anything you are moving has been safely disconnected before your removals company turn up. If you are moving everything yourself, this could be time consuming, so be prepared to do this the day before you plan to move.
Not clearly marking your ‘essentials’ moving box
Don’t forget to pack an essentials box for moving house. Label it, so it’s found easily in the chaos of unpacking. You might want to pack things like a kettle & cups (or a wine glass!) and all the usual things for an overnight stay.
Not checking the inventory sheet
It’s easy for something to be left behind, so make sure you check the paperwork carefully. Ensure all your possessions are packed onto the truck and taken off at your new address. If you are sharing space with another house move, items could be left on the van or go to the wrong place. Don’t sign the inventory sheet until any missing items have been found.
Buy all your moving boxes, bubble wrap and more.