First Time Moving? Here Are Some Common Mistakes to Avoid

Moving into a new home or apartment for the first time can be very exciting and stressful. This is especially true if you have a lot of items to move. Between making sure you have enough boxes to finding the right moving company that fits your needs and budget, the entire process can seem endless and overwhelming.

If you’re moving for the first time, here are a few of the most common mistakes you need to avoid.

Underestimating How Much Time You’ll Need

If you’re never moved before, you might assume the entire process won’t take too long because you don’t have that much stuff or all you need to do is toss everything into a box and hop in your car. Unfortunately, if you wait until the last minute to begin packing, loading and moving, you’ll soon discover that procrastinating can wind up costing you precious time and money.

Depending on the size of your home or apartment, you should give yourself at least one to two months to go through the entire process of packing up and relocating. The more time you can give yourself, the more likely you will be prepared to leave when the moving trucks show up.

Waiting until the last minute puts you at risk of not being completely prepared to move on your scheduled day, which might result in the moving company charging you fees.

Skipping the Decluttering Stage

Another common first-time moving mistake is skipping the decluttering phase. During this portion of the moving process, you will go through each room in your home and divide all your belongings into three categories: keep, toss and donate or sell. In addition to getting rid of items you don’t need, any money you make from selling your possessions can be put toward your moving expenses.

This step might seem unnecessary if you don’t have a lot of items to move. However, skipping it will wind up costing you more time and money in the end. Packing up and moving everything you own means you’ll bring along all the outdated clothing, broken small appliances and other unwanted items with you.

Bringing along items you don’t need will cost you more money in moving costs, especially if you’re moving interstate since costs are based on weight and miles from origin to destination, and when you unpack these items in your new home, chances are you will spend unnecessary time getting rid of them. Instead, take a few extra hours on the front end to donate or toss any unwanted pieces throughout your home.

Underestimating How Much Packing Materials You Will Need

Once you’re done decluttering, it’s time to put all your belongings into boxes and totes. Unfortunately, if you’ve grossly underestimated how much packing material you need, you’ll have to make another trip to your local grocery store, hardware store, or moving company.

The best way to avoid miscalculation is to use a helpful formula for determining how many boxes you will need based on the size of your home. For example, if you have a two bedroom home, you will need at least 60 boxes. For each additional bedroom, add at least 20 boxes to this equation.

Forgetting to Check the Weather Forecast

The days before the big move can be stressful, and chances are you’re not paying too much attention to the outside world. Unfortunately, if you’re not paying attention to the weather forecast, you could wind up trying to run the boxes to the moving truck through a blizzard or rain storm.

If inclement weather is in the forecast, being prepared is critical. For example, wrap your cardboard boxes in plastic and secure any clothing you plan on keeping on hangers with garbage bags or in wardrobe boxes offered by your local mover to protect them from the snow and rain.

Also, cover larger items, such as your furniture and appliances, with moving blankets to protect them from the weather. Ensure your moving company protects your floors in your old and new home with runners. If you’re moving yourself, protecting the floors in your old home or apartment from moisture and mud is also important. The best way to protect your floors is to lay down cardboard or provide everyone with protective booties to cover their shoes.

Moving on Your Own

Finally, one of the most regrettable and common mistakes first-time movers make is attempting to get through this exhausting process on their own. Don’t do all the planning and heavy lifting on your own, and instead, hire a professional moving company.

In addition to helping you safely and effectively get all your belongings from your home to the moving truck, professionals can also provide you with friendly customer service and plenty of tips to help you ensure your relocation is as simple, efficient and cost-effective as possible.

From foregoing the decluttering phase and purchasing too few boxes to tackling the moving process on their own, first-time movers make several common mistakes. If you have any more questions, or need a moving quote, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Bekins Van Lines, Inc.

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