Moving to a new home has already been accepted as one of the most stressful events in a person’s life. Aside from packing your items and preparing your furniture for a move, there’s also loads of paperwork to be processed. Whilst the load can be lessened by hiring professional removalists to do the work, many people still opt for DIY move and packing. Visit the website of removalists near your area and get a quote for the services you need before making a final decision.
Many customers often assume that a DIY move will allow them to lessen their moving costs by saving on packing, labelling, and manpower. In some cases, it also helps avoid extra charges for loading, unloading, and truck rental. Whilst this is mostly true for short-distance moves, it often does not apply for interstate or long-distance moves as it involves more work, both in packing and preparing goods for moving and accomplishing other requirements.
If you’re planning to move to another state on your own, here are some of the most common mistakes that you must avoid at all costs
1. Procrastinating
Thinking that there will be enough time and waiting till the last minute to pack is the biggest and most common mistake you can make. Starting the preparations when you’re only days away from the move might result in forgotten items and messy packing. You might also end up needing to pay more for packing and bringing unwanted items.
No matter the size or distance of your move, it’s better to start with the preparations as soon as possible — ideally 2-4 weeks (or more for long-distance) before your scheduled moving day. Create a checklist for all the things you need to accomplish and add a deadline for every task. It may seem like it will only add to your workload, but it will do wonders in helping you keep track of the things you need to do and how much time you have left to complete certain tasks.
2. Not decluttering
With a long list of things to do as your moving day approaches, it may be tempting to just pack everything in boxes or containers. However, doing this will only lead to wasting packing materials on unnecessary items and making it more difficult to unpack and organise your belongings upon reaching your new home.
As soon as you have a date for your move, start checking the entire house for items that haven’t been used for more than six months. Chances are, if you haven’t used these items (except for seasonal items), you won’t be using them in your new home as well. Dispose of damaged or worn-out goods and sell/donate unused or old items that are still in good condition. This way, you can save on space and packing materials.
3. Skimping on packing materials
Compromising on the quality and quantity of packing materials may lead to damages as your belongings are transported to your new home. You must keep in mind that there are items in your household that must be packed in a certain way to keep them safe during the move. Before you start packing, you also need to make sure that you have enough packing boxes or containers for all your belongings.
To keep your belongings safe, especially during transit, use the right quantity and quality of packing materials. Get plenty of packing paper and bubble wrap for fragile items. It may cost more than the price you have in mind, but it’s cheaper than a repair job or having to replace the damaged item. Pack just the right amount of items in a box or container to avoid damages caused by items being pressed against each other.
4. Not using the right equipment and vehicle
Lifting heavy or bulky materials not only puts your belongings at risk, it also compromises your safety, especially when moving items between different parts of the home to or from the moving vehicle. Depending on the type of items you are moving, you may need specialised equipment to safely lift and move heavy and bulky items such as furniture, appliances, or other equipment. When possible, enlist the help of family or friends to assist you with the remaining tasks, especially on your moving day.
If you’re renting a moving vehicle, make sure you get the right size that can accommodate all the items you need to move to avoid having to make multiple trips to complete the move.
5. Forgetting to pack essential items
After a day of working on your move, you may be too exhausted to unpack and organise your belongings upon reaching your new home. For interstate or long-distance moves, there is no guarantee that your belongings will arrive at your destination on the same day or in a few days. Hence, it is important to pack an essential bag or box which contains items to cover your needs for a few days until your belongings arrive or until you have enough time or energy to unpack and organise your belongings.