You are relocating soon and you would like to know how to do the moving right: to save time, money, nerves, and efforts. While it is always a good idea to research the topic first, we can show you a shorter way to cut your expenses while moving and avoid an embarrassing number of mistakes as well as additional expenses!

Transportation is one of the elements of moving, which takes no more than 15-20% of the move. One of the biggest ones but still only one. The rest are:

• deciding on the type of move
• decluttering
• changing your postal address
• packing
• covering your bills
• cleaning after packing (might be extremely important if your deposit depends on it)
• unloading and settling after the move

And every step requires your full attention even if you have ordered a full-service moving pack. At every phase, there are some common mistakes that almost everybody does. Almost everybody doesn’t mean you have to make them in your move. Learn how to avoid those mistakes here.

Don’t know how to get yourself organized for a move?

The move can really be a great thing for you! It is the opportunity to finally get rid of everything you don’t need, safely pack the things you care about, and start the new page of life in a new place fresh and free of any unnecessary stuff that should just stay in the past. Decluttering is very important, but unfortunately, not the only step to organize your move in a proper, safe and secure way. As agreed, let’s learn how to get organized during a cross-country or overseas move! Planning is always the right thing to do!

Mistake #1 Count on a Last-Minute Move

If there is an option to choose the season and the time of the month, it is good to choose the least busy time for moving companies. There are seasons in this business! American Moving companies recommend people to avoid summer moves completely, if possible. Also, they advise against moving during the last week of the month because leases end at the end of the month. Learn more useful moving advice from a professional mover here.

Mistake #2 Ignoring Moving Research

It doesn’t mean reading the reviews on the internet for one evening, which is for sure, a must! Get written calculations from at least three movers before you choose. There is a possibility that it is better than a telephone survey or a customer typing inventory into an online form that people usually do. Get company representatives to come to look at what’s in your home. They will form an accurate idea of what you have. Your calculation will be clearer and you will have a list of all the services they can offer especially for your unique situation and you can choose your expenses wisely. Before you contact a moving company, try our online calculator to have a more clear picture of your moving costs.

Sometimes moves are calculated by the weight of the boxes. Some moving companies don’t charge for the moving packing materials, for example. And of course, if you value your time, it is going to be so much quicker when a professional packing crew takes care of the items. Plus they don’t apply a sentimental approach. That means they can pack the old photos of your children or the first present your husband gave you, much quicker. For some people, packing can become a very long and nostalgic thing!

Mistake #3 Neglecting Packing Time for Your Move

It is better to finish a minimum of 1 or 2 days before moving day! Consider using a professional packing service. It might seem too expensive at first sight, but it is worth every penny. If you calculate how much money you need to spend on all the boxes and wraps you will need and every trip back and forth to Target, Walmart, and Home Depot to buy storage totes — which, might appear not to be the best or most appropriate choice to store your stuff. In case you decide on a DIY move or packing, do not hesitate to learn our packing tips and the packing materials you will need.

If you decide to do the packing part on your own, plan in advance. Start with the approximate amount and type of packing materials you need and buy it wholesale. You will be surprised how it can save you money! Label each box clearly with its room of destination, which will help your movers unload more efficiently and save you the hassle of playing traffic cop. This is even more important if you are paying them an hourly wage.

One way to alleviate the pressure of time management is by hiring a company like threemovers.com shipping container movers that can help you pack up your stuff and ship it to wherever you need, no matter how many items you have to ship.

Mistake #4 Trying to Save Where You don’t Need to

It is very important to check your moving helper’s license and background to avoid fraud or lack of professionalism. If you are moving fragile or rare items, do not ignore good insurance. That is not the right point to save. Getting good steady packing materials and equipment is yet another position you should not better try to economize. Check out some really good advice that will help you to save money during your move.

Mistake #5 Underestimating Marking and Labeling

A careless attitude to labeling can create real chaos. You just won’t remember what’s where. You will search, open boxes, move them from place to place, get tired and nervous. The best option is to sign everything carefully. Don’t label the box only on the top or on one side, sign them on two adjacent sides (for example, on the side and on the top). The reason is obvious: the boxes will stand on top of each other in a limited space, and the labels will help you identify the right boxes without turning them over.

Mistake #6 Not Considering the Settling Time in a New Place

You will not be able to tell movers where and what to put in a new place, because there will be no time for this. It is better to immediately determine what will stand where, and, accordingly, tell and show it with the help of a plan. Believe me, you will not have enough time for this. You should have a plan for putting things in a new place. Label the boxes according to it.

Tip: draw a plan on a piece of cardboard. Mark the rooms with colors and numbers. Also label boxes and bags.

Mistake #7 Ordering a Wrong Size of a Van

Don’t try to transport your belongings in a smaller truck than you actually need. Because of this, you will not only have to make two trips, but everything else will take twice as much: time, worries, nerves, and money will be more expensive. Find out how the moving companies estimate the cost of your move. That way you will have a more clear idea of the size of the van or truck that you need.
Check moving companies’ reviews before hiring. By entrusting the transportation of things to specialists with extensive professional experience, you will save yourself from unnecessary worries.

Don’t know what to start with?

Make a strategy to organize a move.

It is all about how you are going to make the decisions that will save you time and give you fewer struggles while moving! A Downloadable Moving Checklist is a great help to picture your move and get going.

Write down tips for yourself

Use the backside of your Moving Checklist to write down short notes on the status of the things in your home. Once you’ve decided to throw your hiking boots, set them aside for the garage sale, donate or pack them with you, write down your decision so that you don’t have to decide again in a couple of weeks’ time. Whether to choose items you need, to pack for a new life or if it should just go to trash. How easy it is to replace an item, how often you use it, and how much it is worth to other people, for example. These notes will help you when the actual packing starts. Also, they are helpful so that you don’t forget anything important. You’d be surprised how many things are left behind and missed later on just because they were not organized well enough for moving. Learn some hacks here on how to avoid this, bring everything you need, and not forget important belongings.

Earn while you organize your move

Look at moving as an opportunity to earn some money with the stuff you don’t need anymore and that can be sold. Maybe it will just pay off all the expenses of the moving right away! Plan a yard sale or garage sale for everything you can sell. Another option is to sell your items online. Look at it like at the opportunity for charity. Donate the items that you don’t wish to sell. Coats, blankets, gently used clothing, furniture, office equipment, and kitchen appliances can often find a new home.

Create a team and work together!

Think about people who are willing to help you! Maybe your grandmother will be happy to talk to neighbors during the garage sale. Or your son can take great pictures on his phone of stuff for sale and post them on eBay or Facebook Marketplace. You can even motivate him to earn some money for himself with that. Of course, making the right decision for a moving company will add on the most professional people on your team!

With the right mindset, good planning, strategy, and the right people, you can do something as hard as moving! You are on the right path, now just move and enjoy the process! If you want us to organize your move – contact us today and our team of professionals will be happy to help you make your forthcoming move fulfilled! We respect your time and money. Quality service, dedication to the work we do, and expert care.

No matter how well you seem to be prepared for the move, mistakes still happen. If you get yourself prepared for at least the most common ones, you’ll make the chances of a successful move so much higher! So, let’s see what thing you can avoid while preparing your move.