7 Mistakes to Avoid on Your Next Move

Moving is a stressful time for everyone, and if you have never moved before, you may find it helpful to see the most common mistakes that new movers make. If you happen to make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up. Learn from it for the next time. Movin on Movers will give you some tips on how to make your next move successful.

Rookie Mistake #1: No Budget

You need to set a realistic budget to control your costs. Many new movers underestimate how much a move will cost. To put it into perspective, the average move costs $1,400, but it ranges from $800 to $2,500, depending on several factors. At Movin on Movers, we’ve seen how you can overspend.

To prevent overspending, draft a clear budget of your most essential costs. Request a minimum of three quotes, but understand that the cheapest quote won’t always give you the best value. In some cases, you pay more for a cheap mover than a regular-priced mover through hidden inflated costs.

Rookie Mistake #2: Not Researching Your Moving Company Well

Many new movers neglect to research the moving company that they hire. While reviews matter, keep in mind that some companies will post fake reviews. You need to research further than with a single review site. Check to see if they belong to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA).

This national trade association for the moving industry represents 4,100 members nationwide, and they work hard to protect consumers. If a company went through the trouble to become a member, you can trust that they aren’t a fly-by-night company that will leave you high and dry.

Check how many years they have operated as a moving company.

Along with that, check to see their rating with the Better Business Bureau. You want to see their legal status within the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Rookie Mistake #3: Withholding Information

At Movin on Movers, we have seen where some rookies withhold essential information about a move, which will throw off the accuracy of the quote.

When movers visit your home to conduct an inspection and give a quote, don’t hide items that they need to move. It won’t work. You will wind up with a much higher price tag than you thought after the move ends. They will increase your estimate to reflect the extra boxes moved.

Rookie Mistake #4: Verbal Estimates over the Phone

Never accept a verbal estimate over the phone. Every reputable moving company like Movin on Movers will conduct an on-site visual survey to give you the most accurate estimate. You may find yourself with a much-inflated price. No mover knows the true weight of your couch until they visit the home.

They may not realize the fragile nature of a large and priceless family heirloom unless they visit ahead of time. Doing an estimate over the phone will never give enough information. Most new movers who accept that type of estimate find themselves ripped off later.

Rookie Mistake #5: Never Sign Incomplete or Blank Documents

Scams exist in this industry, and without some knowledge ahead of time, you can become the victim of a scam. Always check the documents to see that they handed them to you completed. Don’t do business with a moving that tried this scam tactic. Review them carefully and do not let the moving company rush you through them. Signing a blank document allows them to put whatever they wish on it, which leaves you with no legal recourse. Once you sign your name on a document, it will bind you legally to that agreement.

Rookie Mistake #6: Keeping the Clutter

Many new movers don’t capitalize on the move as an opportunity to get rid of the clutter. Moving the excessive items with you will cost you more on your estimate with Movin on Movers. Especially if it will clutter up the new home, donate it, sell it or leave it behind. You need to plan this ahead of time because doing it right toward the end will add to your stress.

Think of moving into the new home as a chance to reinvent yourself and shed some of the extras that you find unnecessary. Some people struggle with this because they don’t want to get rid of anything due to emotional attachments, but it would be a huge mistake if you were to hang onto too much. Everything that you hang onto will need to be moved by Movin on Movers.

The one exception to this rule is if you will move into a bigger home where downsizing too much will make it feel empty. In those cases, hanging onto the extra can fill up the home and make it feel more welcoming.

Rookie Mistake #7: No Container Labels

You put the labels on the containers because it lets you know where to put everything. At the same time, you know what boxes to exercise caution with because of fragility. You can’t overdo labels. Movin on Movers recommends you put colored stickers on it to represent what room each box will go.

Conclusion

You can make a move more enjoyable when you avoid the common mistakes that rookie movers often make on their first move. Beware of giving your movers too little to move since many moving companies will charge a minimum. You want to give them enough work while still trying to save money on the cost of your next move. If you’d like to learn more about a move in Raleigh, North Carolina, check out Movin on Movers.