10 Things People Forget to Do When Moving

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Pixabay

Even under the best circumstances, moving is a complicated, nerve wracking endeavor that disrupts your family’s routine for months.  Everything from choosing a mover to packing, dealing with kids and pets, to unpacking in your new home can get to you.  What makes it even harder is the fact that since this is something that most families only do a few times in their lives, it is all too easy to forget to do something that could have made the move simpler.  With that in mind, I have taken the time to point out 10 things that many people forget to do when they are moving.

      1.      Poor Planning – Making a move is like a military operation.  That means you need to plan your move well in advance.  Especially if the move is going to be across the state or cross country, you need to book your hotel accommodations months before you hit the road.  Don’t assume you will be able to find lodging with a vacancy as you motor along.

      2.      Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute –  If you want the best deal with a moving company, you need to shop early.  The later you wait to call a mover, the more it will cost you.  The same goes for packing.  It needs to be carried out well in advance so you won’t wind up having to do it all at the last minute.  The secret to packing is to start with the items that are seldom used and leave the things you use every day until a day or two before the move. 

      3.      Lighten the Load –  One of the best things you can do a month before you move is to hold a yard sale to turn trash into cash.  Why kick useful items to the curb when you can sell them?  Make it a family affair that rewards your kids with a piece of the pie and they will not only comb through their closet and drawers for things you can sell, but they will volunteer to take a shift during the weekend event.  If you really want to make a killing, don’t forget to advertise the sale online, in the local newspaper and by purchasing a few yard signs that can direct traffic to your front door on the day of the sale.

Image courtesy of Pixabay

      4.      Know What Your Movers Won’t Move – While moving companies are more than happy to move your furnishings, there are a number of household items they will refuse to move.  This includes anything combustible such as gasoline, propane, kerosene or lamp oil.  It also includes anything corrosive or toxic, such as oven cleaner, drain cleaner, solvents, turpentine, paint, insecticide, liquid bleach, weed killer, aerosol cans, charcoal lighter fluid, batteries and nail polish remover.  This means you have to decide whether to move these items on your own, or you need to deep six them at the local hazardous waste facility.  Also, be sure you drain the fuel out of all of your gas-powered yard equipment as well.

      5.      Deal with Kids & Pets – Kids, pets and moving can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on how you handle it.  Both children and pets can become stressed out before during and after a move.  This means you need to elicit their cooperation.  When it comes to getting kids  and pets to do anything they don’t want to do, bribery works wonders.  Whether it is offering to take the kids out for ice cream or giving Fluffy a dog treat, turning packing into a party is far better than dealing with kids or pets hell bent on undermining an already stressful process.  (Don’t think your pets can’t fight back.  A stressed-out dog or cat is much more likely to soil the carpet.) 

      6.      Safety is Job #1 – Especially if you have kids and/or pets, it is vital that you find a way to keep them out of harm’s way.  Whether it’s nosing around towering stacks of boxes that exert a magnetic attraction, or keeping them out from underfoot come moving day, you need to shield kids and pets from danger.  When it comes to packing, your best bet is to find a room such as a guest bedroom, the garage or garden shed to stack boxes.  This way you can lock the door to keep both kids and pets away.  When it comes to moving day, your best bet is to have a friend or neighbor take care of kids and pets until the truck is loaded.  For the sake of you and your movers, always make sure you stack heavy items at the bottom of the pile and lighter items on top. This not only keeps your belongings from getting crushed, it also keeps you and your movers from having a stack come crashing down.

Image courtesy of Picserver

      7.      Have a Contingency Plan – You need to ask several “what ifs” before you hit the road.  What if your car breaks down?  Do you have roadside assistance?  Have you packed camping gear and food should you be stranded on the side of the road overnight?  Have you packed any prescriptions you or your family may need along the way?  What if the moving truck breaks down and it takes 24-hours or more for your furniture to arrives. The better prepared you are for unexpected calamities, the easier the going will be for you and yours.

      8.      Did You Pack an Essentials Box? – Even if your move is only across town, it could be days or even weeks before you unpack everything.  This means you need to pack an essentials box that contains what you will need to function for the first 72-hours in your new home.  The last thing you want to do the morning after a move is to have to excavate a half dozen boxes to find your dress shoes.  Also pack all your essential papers and valuables along with your essentials.

      9.      Have You Dealt with the Utility Companies? – Not only do you need to establish service at your new address for such things as water & power, gas, cable and Internet service, but you also need to make sure that service is switched off at your former residence as well.  Nothing will make the new tenants at your former home happier than to  have free utilities for a month until you get the bill and pull the plug.

     

Image courtesy of flickr

10.  Change of Address – Another thing many people forget to do is forward their mail.  This can make it hard to pay the bills.  Even worse, it can also give strangers access to vital financial information that can come to haunt you later.  Think of how many offers for credit cards you get in any given month.  Then think of the disaster that could unfold if some miscreant found one at your former residence and decided to submit the application.  What I always recommend is that you fill out the change of address form in advance and drop it at the post office on your way out of town,  This way your mail will be redirected the following day.  Also make a list of all your credit card companies, your bank and any other businesses that routinely ship you products, so they can be informed of your change of address.  Put this list in your essentials box and call them as soon as you arrive at your new address.  The longer you wait, the more likely someone other than you will get their hands on either the information or the products that are rightfully yours.

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.