Moving is a big task that can be tiring and stressful but oftentimes homeowners complicate the process by making some common moving mistakes. Lack of preparation can cause unnecessary headaches and is enough to send anyone into a frenzy. If you want to ensure a seamless and stress-free move, consider these common moving mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Packing EVERYTHING

If packrat is your middle name than you are in for a nightmare when it comes time to move. Over the years we all tend to collect gobs of books, gadgets, and clothing items but do you really use all of it? Packing is a time consuming job and the more items you have, the more time it will take to pack them.

How to avoid it: Moving is a great time to go through everything in your home and get rid of the items you no longer use. Before packing, spend a few days sorting through your belongings and donating or recycling any unwanted items. This will save you a lot of time when it comes to packing and unpacking and it will also help prevent your new home from being too cluttered.

    

2. Procrastinating

This is perhaps the biggest and most common moving mistake and it can lead to disaster. Moving requires tons of time and planning if you just assume everything will come together quickly and easily you will be in for an unpleasant surprise. Many people underestimate the amount of time it takes to pack and they are left scrambling around at the last minute trying to get everything done. This only makes the stress of moving even worse.

How to avoid it: Plan ahead and get started early. Give yourself plenty of time to pack and do a little bit at a time. When you pack ahead of time, you won’t have to exhaust yourself trying to do too much and you can also ensure that you are ready to go come moving day.

3. Trying to Do Everything Yourself

We all know that moving is expensive and there’s nothing wrong with trying to save a few bucks here and there, but oftentimes these do-it-yourselfers get in over their heads and completely overwhelm themselves.

How to avoid it: If you prefer a more affordable DIY method, consider renting a portable storage container. You have the flexibility to pack and unpack at your own pace but you will have a spacious unit to store all of your boxes and you also get the luxury of having them all transported in one trip.

4. Not Purchasing Enough Supplies

By the time you get deep into the heart of packing the last thing you will want to do is stop to make a trip to the store to buy more supplies.

How to avoid it: Before you begin packing, stock up on plenty of boxes, bubble wrap, tissue paper, packing peanuts, and packing tape. Items that you don’t open can always be returned to the store later but at least you won’t have to stop in the middle of packing to purchase more supplies.

5. Not Packing Properly

Whether you have waited to the last minute or you just don’t feel like spending a few extra minutes to pack properly, the people who just toss everything into boxes will end up regretting it. Not only will your boxes be in complete disarray by the time they arrive at your new home, but you risk damaging or breaking many of your items if you don’t pack them properly.

How to avoid it: Spend a little bit of extra time wrapping fragile items and making sure they are well padded to avoid damage. Don’t pack your boxes too heavy, as this will hurt your back and also risk the box breaking with your belongings inside. Pack heavy items on the bottom of boxes and lighter items on top. Following these simple packing rules will ensure your belongings arrive safely.

6. Not Labeling/ Keeping Inventory

When it comes to moving, never underestimate the power of organization. Failing to label boxes and keep an inventory of what has been packed can result in chaos, confusion, and unnecessary stress when it comes time to find certain items.

How to avoid it: Label every box with the contents inside as well as what room the box belongs in. Also, keep a running inventory of everything that has been packed so you can easily find what you are looking for and you can be sure everything got packed.

7. Forgetting an Essentials Box

There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at your new home, unpacking all day, and they endlessly searching for a few bath towels, toothbrushes, and toiletries when you are exhausted.

How to avoid it: Pack an essentials box to get you through the first few days in your new home. Include items like towels, toiletries, medications, a few sets of clothing, blankets, and a few food items. This can eliminate the need to search through tons of boxes looking for each of these items.