7 Common Mistakes To Avoid Before Moving Into Your New Place

 

Moving houses can be one of the most stressful yet exciting things you ever do. If done correctly, it can turn out to be a fun-filled activity for your family. Sometimes, moving can even be refreshing (after all, you’re going to settle into a new place and a new life!).

 

But, if not properly planned — or if you try to rush it — moving can very quickly become the most dreadful of your nightmares. And because we don’t want that to happen to you, here are some common mistakes you can avoid to make moving smooth!

Is your new house really meant for you?

The idea of a new house is so attractive that it might stop you from thinking critically about whether the place you intend to move to will suit you and your family.

 

Before finalizing your new place, it’s important that you think hard about your lifestyle and what kind of place you’d like to settle in. For example, if you’ve got kids and they like to spend a lot of time outdoors, an apartment in a busy area might not be the best choice for a new place.

 

Similarly, if you’re a student living alone — or if your lifestyle means you spend most of your time indoors — a large, country-side house is not the best option for you.

Did you get the right insurance?

If you’re hiring professional movers, you need to research your moving insurance options and get the right one for yourself.

 

Moving companies offer different insurance plans, which include released-value and full value protection of your items. It’s your job to determine how much risk you’re willing to take and then choose a plan accordingly. Hopefully, you won’t need to use insurance but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.

 

Some home insurance companies also cover items in transit, so it’s also a good idea to check with yours and see what items they cover. If you aren’t aware of a reputable home insurance company, get an online quote here.

 

Did you pack correctly?

Packing is a crucial part of moving and there are certain best packing practices that can make your move a whole lot smoother. The number one rule of packing is to go room by room. The urge to move to another room before packing one room completely is real, but you’ll have to fight it.

 

Packing room by room will be useful when it’s time to unpack because you'll know which boxes belong to which room.

 

It’s also extremely important to label your boxes with a list of things that’s inside — you’ll thank us when it’s time to unpack! Also, don’t forget to make a grand list of all the items you’re taking along to make sure you haven’t left anything behind.

Did you declutter?

There’s no better time to let go of all the useless stuff you’ve accumulated over the years than when you’re planning to move houses.

 

There are two benefits to this — one, your new home will be far cleaner and organized than your old house. And two, you’ll have to move less stuff, which really means a cheaper and less stressful move.

 

So, awaken the zen inside you, and take an intensive decluttering exercise before you move.

Do you know about self-storage?

Self-storage companies offer extremely cheap storage spaces that you can rent and use for storing items. And self-storage can be a godsend when moving. That’s because you can use it to store items that you don’t want to take along with you right away but can’t discard altogether either.

 

Most self-storage plans are extremely flexible, which means you don’t have to go through a lot of hassle to use the service. If you want to know about the amazing benefits of self-storage, check out this article.

Did you get the utilities set up at your new place?

This is another classic mistake. Because it seems very trivial in the grand scheme of moving houses, there’s a high chance you’re going to make it and spend a day or two in your new house without electricity, water, and gas.

 

If you don’t want to go back to the stone age, make sure you contact your water and power providers to arrange for a transfer of your municipal services.

 

Where’s your essentials bag?

After you move into your new house, all you’ll be surrounded by are going to be stacks of boxes. If you don’t want to rummage through all the boxes to find your toothbrush, it’s better to prepare an essentials bag (that will contain your toothbrush along with other things that you’re going to need for the first night at your new place) before you move!

 

Some items to keep in the essentials bag include towels, toiletries, clothes, snacks, important paperwork, maybe a book or two, your gadgets, and a first-aid kit. Whatever you decide to keep in your essentials bag, just make sure the bag exists.