Every year, 40 million Americans pack up their home and move. If you’re planning on being one of them but have never moved before, you probably don’t have a clear idea of just how stressful the process can be. And if you’re moving hundreds or thousands of miles away, things can go south fast if you don’t know how to go about it.
Keep reading to discover common errors in long-distance moves that you should avoid to make the process as smooth as possible.
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1. Not Planning in Good Time
One of the most common mistakes people make when moving to another state is thinking that they can do everything last minute. This big of a move takes a lot of planning, and without it, it can become very chaotic very quickly.
You should start planning as early as possible, doing things like choosing a moving company, deciding what to pack and what to take in a suitcase, and making a checklist of everything that needs to be done.
You may also want to set a budget for your move. The cost of moving can be very expensive, and while you can find affordable moving services, the costs can add up quickly if you’re not careful.
2. Booking Movers Too Late
Since so many people have been moving since the COVID-19 pandemic, movers aren’t as available as they used to be. Because of this, you should book your movers as early as possible, or none may be available when you need them.
The further away you’re moving, the sooner you need to reach out to the company to ensure they can fit you into their schedule.
3. Not Realizing How Long Packing Can Take
If you’re only hiring movers and not packers, you’ll need to handle the packing yourself. Many people underestimate how long it will take to pack their entire house and have it ready for the movers to load up onto the truck.
However, the process will likely take longer than you think. Come up with a realistic timeline and add on a few hours or days as a buffer. You don’t want to have to be up all night packing before your move.
You can also set a timeline and pace out the packing. For example, a month before your movers come, you can start packing up things that you won’t need, like books or old dishes. This way, you minimize the amount you’ll need to pack in the weeks leading up to the move.
4. Hiring Bad Movers
Take your time to research different movers and ask for different quotes. Some bad movers will give you a lower quote, but if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Some of the movers will hold your belongings and demand that they pay you even more money before you can get them back.
Avoid These Errors in Long-Distance Moves
These are only a few errors in long-distance moves that you need to avoid, but there are many more that could disrupt the process.
Thankfully, we have more articles that can help ensure this process goes as smoothly as possible.
Check out our other articles to find even more that are just like this one!