Picture this. You’re ready to pack up your house before you move to your new home. You gathered all your boxes the night before the move, or even several days prior.
When the moving truck pulls up, it’s time to pack up your house and move on to greener pastures. Are you sure you protected your items while they were packed up on a moving day?
Common errors with packing for moves occur. Knowing what to watch out for can save you hours of trouble when you unpack your belongings.
Here are some common errors to watch out for to avoid when moving homes.
1. Not Planning Ahead
Failing to plan is one of the most common errors when packing for a move. Trying to get everything done in a rush can lead to a feeling of overwhelm, not to mention costly mistakes. To avoid making mistakes due to a lack of planning.
It’s important to begin packing well in advance of the move date. Begin gathering supplies like boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper so you’ll have plenty on hand when you’re about to start packing.
As you pack, keep an organized list of what’s going in each box and label boxes accordingly—by room and contents. If you’re working with a professional mover, be sure to have a detailed inventory ready before they arrive.
Planning will help ensure all important items are included and minimize potential problems.
2. Not Getting Enough Moving Supplies
It’s easy to underestimate how much you need and this can cause delays, breakage, and higher expense when you find yourself having to buy more boxes and packing supplies for moves. It’s best to create an inventory of everything you plan to move.
Use the appropriate-sized boxes. Also, be sure to get plenty of packing materials such as bubble wrap and packing peanuts to protect delicate items. Another mistake is not labeling boxes properly.
Taking the time to write out what is in each box and which room it should go in will save time in the long run. Being organized in the move process is essential in saving time, money, and frustration.
The best way to avoid these mistakes is to plan and give yourself ample time to purchase the necessary supplies and pack everything.
3. Not Labeling Your Boxes Properly
Not labeling your boxes properly is one of the most common errors made when packing for a move. Not labeling your boxes and containers properly can cause a lot of headaches during the unpacking process.
It can be difficult and time-consuming to try to remember what is inside each box. To avoid this common error, make sure to label each box with the items contained inside or the room it is being moved to.
When moving to a new home or office, it is also a good idea to mark labels on boxes as fragile. This way, movers will be careful with the box and know that the items should be handled with care. Even color-coding boxes can serve as a reminder as to where something should go.
To make the process even easier, try to use a marker, instead of a pen, to label each box and use large, visible labels. This will help ensure that your updates will go smoothly.
4. Packing Unnecessarily Heavy Items
When packing for a move, it can be easy to accidentally pack unnecessarily heavy items. Common errors with packing for a move involving heavy items are over-packing by bringing too many items or by packaging items the wrong way.
To avoid mistakes, individuals should take an inventory of their belongings ahead of time and consider what items are necessary for the move. Additionally, avoid using overly large boxes for items and if heavier items must be packed, use smaller boxes.
When packing heavier objects, such as books, use smaller boxes of the same size to evenly distribute the weight. Pack items that you know you will use during the move toward the front of the moving vehicle for easy access.
Be sure to properly protect fragile items with bubble wrap or other packing materials. Following these tips, individuals can avoid common packing mistakes when relocating.
5. Not Using the Right-Sized Boxes for Different Items
One of the most common errors with packing for moves is not using the right-sized boxes for different items. Instead of always opting for large boxes, it’s important to get boxes that are the correct size for the items.
This is to maximize space in the moving truck and greatly reduce the likelihood of anything getting damaged. Smaller boxes can be used for heavier items such as books or ceramics.
Larger boxes are great for bulky and lightweight items such as pillows, linens, and clothing. Make sure to avoid overloading the boxes, and always ensure that they are sealed with tape properly to keep the items secure.
If you are unsure what to do, it may be helpful to get advice from a local moving company that might be able to offer helpful tips and provide the correct-sized boxes for your items.
6. Overpacking a Single Box
One of the common errors people make when packing for a move is putting too many items into one box. This often leads to the box is too heavy to carry, or worse, it can rip apart. To avoid this issue, planning is key.
It is important to be realistic about how much can fit into a single box and not exceed this limit. Separately, packing too many fragile items into a single box can also increase the risk of damage.
It is suggested to place heavier items on the bottom of the box and items more susceptible to breakage on the top. Utilizing smaller boxes for lighter and smaller items is also recommended.
By carefully considering how much you are packing into one box and taking extra precautions with fragile items, common errors with packing can be avoided.
7. Incorrectly Placing Fragile Items in the Same Box
When packing for a move, incorrect placement of fragile items can quickly lead to damage during transport. This type of error can be avoided by packing heavier items on the bottom of the boxes while fragile items should be wrapped up and placed on the top.
Packing cubes and other specialized items help with this as they allow you to keep different types of items separated. You should label boxes that contain fragile items so movers know they need to be careful with them.
Finally, avoid overpacking boxes as this can lead to shifts in position that might damage the items inside. Following these steps, you should be able to ensure that your belongings arrive in one piece.
8. Not Getting Help from Professional Moving Companies
Not researching your moving company and requesting a reputable one is a mistake that can cost you a lot of time and money. Not packing your belongings properly can result in items being damaged and broken during the move.
Additionally, not taking measurements of larger items, such as furniture, can lead to problems fitting items during a move as well. To avoid these common errors, it is important to read reviews for stress free moving companies and hire a reputable one.
It is important to properly measure large items and label each box with the destination room so that it is easier to unpack and arrange quickly at the new location. Make sure to use extra padding for fragile items and use box dividers to keep boxes stable. By taking these important steps, the move can be more organized and efficient.
9. Not Decluttering Before Moving
When planning a move, it is important to declutter before packing as this is key to avoiding common packing errors. Many people tend to simply pack up everything they own without taking the time to sort and discard unnecessary items, often leading to over-packed boxes and a cluttered moving truck.
To avoid packing errors related to not decluttering, take time before the move to go through every room of the house and either throw away, donate, or sell any items that are not needed.
This helps to reduce the number of items needing to be moved and simplifies the task of packing up each room. By taking this simple step before the move, time, energy and even money can be saved during the packing process.
10. Improperly Securing Appliances
If you don’t secure major appliances properly, like washing machines, refrigerators, and microwaves, breakage or worse is likely to happen – which could result in an expensive repair or replacement cost.
To avoid this, make sure to securely fasten the doors of all of these appliances. If they need to be disconnected for the move, use caution and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for doing so.
Cushioning the sides of the appliances with packing materials or blankets will also help to protect them during transport, as well as wrapping the cords securely together and labeling them with the name of the appliance. These steps will ensure your major appliances make it to their new home safely.
Learn to Avoid Common Errors With Packing for Moves Today
Overall, moving is complicated and it’s easy to make errors with packing for moves. Planning and organizing items into boxes according to type and room can help you avoid common moving errors.
Don’t forget it’s always important to label boxes as well. Pack your items the right way to ensure fewer frustrations on a moving day – it’s worth the extra effort! For more tips on packing for your upcoming move, contact a professional moving company for personalized advice.
