Nothing can ruin your relocation experience like making unnecessary moving mistakes and later learning that you could simply avoid them. Hopefully, you’re reading this text before your relocation, and you’ll learn how to prevent any potential complications on time. There are a few aspects of the process you should focus on, and everything about them is described in this short guide.
What Should You Not Do When Moving?
If you’re planning to move soon, you must be wondering, is there a checklist for moving? Just like there is a checklist for things you should do in order to have an efficient move, there is a list of things you should avoid. People often walk into the relocation process unprepared for many situations that might come up, and once they find themselves in unpleasant circumstances, they don’t know how to come out of them and avoid making even more moving problems.
Many problems can be solved by hiring the right professional mover and getting their convenient international moving services. Professionals will know how to handle many potentially risky situations properly, so this is your biggest shortcut to bypassing unnecessary issues and complications. Apart from their assistance, there are still some things you need to figure out on your own if you want to ensure everything goes smoothly, and this article will help you plan all the important steps and bypass potential relocation mistakes.
#1 Not Hiring a Trustworthy Professional International Moving Company
Unfortunately, a strong will to hire professionals simply won’t be enough in the modern era. When it comes to relocation companies, there is strong competition on the market, but still, many companies won’t offer trustworthy services. In order to be certain about the professionals you’re hiring, their origin, and the experience of their team, you need to do some research before making any final deals. Don’t just google what’s cheapest, what’s closest and seems cheap – there are many things that are more important if you want to ensure this is a legit company with the right intentions.
How to Avoid Relocation Scams? Check If Relocation Company Is Reliable
Learning how to recognize signs of relocation scams will actually help you learn how to make a difference between legit and scamming relocation companies. Legit relocation companies will always offer you a detailed contract – before signing this deal, ensure you check all the information on the paper, especially fine writing, where scammers can often hide additional fees.
Apart from this, you should also look for some reviews about the companies you plan to hire. Even if their official website seems legit, you should also look for additional reviews on other websites. If you know someone who moved recently, ask them for their advice as well. Also, don’t fall for the low-bid quote and compare the offered price with the other options on the market. If companies offer you an unrealistically low quote, this is one of the biggest red flags.
#2 Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Start Organizing Your Move
In order to have a successful relocation process, you have to be good at planning and organizing every step of your move. Time is another significant factor you should focus on – the sooner you usually start, the better. It is optimal that you have at least a month or two for all the necessary preparation. In case you are having a last-minute move, hiring professionals should be your priority because handling everything on your own can be very stressful and sometimes even impossible.
Ensure You Start Preparing on Time and Write a Strict Schedule to Follow
You should start packing as soon as you find enough reasons to move and decide where to live. The sooner you start, the better – you’ll have more time to separate stuff, and this is an essential part of the process. Begin by organizing your storage items and things you barely use and pack relocation essentials during the last few days at your home.
#3 Overpacking Is a Big No-No When Moving Internationally
No one needs to bring everything they own with them, especially when moving overseas. You probably own a bunch of stuff that is old or things you don’t use anymore, so the relocation is the perfect opportunity to declutter and get rid of all the unnecessary items. You can declutter your furniture, storage inventory, clothes, or old children’s toys. You should also decide if you’re going to ship your vehicle overseas or get rid of it before you move.
Conquer Overpacking – Donate or Sell Things You Don’t Need
Deciding what to do with the things you want to get rid of is also essential. Now that you have a pile of items you don’t want to move, you might want to simply throw everything away. Although it might feel like the most simple option, this often isn’t the smartest solution. This is precisely why it is important that you start decluttering on time – to have enough days ahead of you to sell or donate objects that are still in good condition.
This can be very convenient if you’re struggling with the relocation budget. Selling some furniture pieces that are in good condition online is one of the best ways to earn some money in times of need. Donating is also another great option – especially when it comes to toys and clothes that are still wearable.
#4 Buying Unnecessary Packing Materials
People often make mistakes when buying unnecessary packing materials and waste their money on stuff they don’t have to use. For example, there is no need to buy paper to wrap every single piece of inventory from your home – this can be useful for fragile pieces. Second of all, you don’t have to waste money on paper when you can simply use old newspapers instead.
There are many cool relocation hacks when it comes to protecting your inventory with common household materials. If you want to skip overspending and don’t know how to pack fragile items from your house, hiring professionals for packing service might be an ideal solution.
Never Forget About Labeling
One of the most important steps you mustn’t skip is labeling your boxes and packages. This can save you from many unnecessary complications, and it will take you just a few seconds per box to properly label it. While labeling:
- Ensure you use bright colors, and that labels are easily visible from all sides,
- Labeling is especially important when you close the box containing fragile objects – for example, glasses,
- For some objects, such as TVs, you should also point out which side of the box goes up and which goes down.
#5 Failing to Find Out What Are the Items Your Movers Won’t Move
Another important thing to acknowledge before the relocation is the items movers won’t move. There are some objects professionals avoid packing and transporting for a good reason – these are mostly flammable and potentially dangerous, so you should also skip bringing them with you if you want to bypass accidents.
Don’t Pack Any Flammables or Perishable Food
Learn how to safely get rid of potentially flammable chemicals and other objects from this category – and buy everything you need once you get to your new house instead of bringing opened bottles with you. The same thing applies to perishable food or guns and ammunition. Check out this video to learn more about these potentially flammable and hazardous materials.
#6 Not Keeping Things Related to Taxes and Utilities When Changing Your Address
One of the common relocation mistakes people make after they move is that they throw away the receipts and documents showing details about their move. Unfortunately, these documents are mandatory for tax season when it comes to the moment to deduct relocation expenses. Just ensure you save any significant papers, contracts, and receipts you get from hiring a relocation company – this will help you easily meet all the requirements when the tax season comes.
Remember to Notify Important Authorities and Friends That You’re Relocating
Apart from saving these documents as evidence, it is important to remember to notify people about the upcoming move and officially change your address. If you don’t want to pay for unnecessary utilities, remember to cancel your electricity or internet. Also, ensure you notify your friends or family using some fun ways to announce your move.
#7 Failing to Protect Your Floors and Doors
One more thing you should be aware of before you start carrying heavy furniture around your house is that your floors should be protected. You can use various coverage materials – carpets will usually do the work. If you fail to protect fragile floors from scratching, this could lead to additional expenses and cause you to lose your deposit if you’re currently renting your place.
#8 Forgetting to Clean Your Home Before Leaving
Another major mistake people make when leaving their home and relocating is that they forget to clean their home. This is problematic in every aspect, no matter if you’re selling a property or leaving the place you rented. In both ways, simply forgetting to clean it can eventually lead to material losses. In the first scenario, you will leave your home dirty, and potential buyers will probably have a bad first impression and offer lower prices.
In case you leave your home dirty, once the landlord comes back and sees the mess you made, they can decide to keep the deposit money in order to pay for cleaning services. If you don’t have enough energy to clean the place on your own, simply leave the work to the professional cleaners. This will usually cost you much less than the money you’d lose in the two previous scenarios.
Hiring Professionals Is the Best Way to Bypass Common Moving Mistakes
Nothing can make your relocation process go smoothly and easily, like hiring a trustworthy relocation company and letting professionals assist you with all of your relocation-related requirements. This can answer all of your questions and dilemmas, especially if you believe that the relocation date is approaching fast and you can’t handle the pressure of all the tasks on your own.
Getting professional relocation services will help you focus on other important aspects of your move – at least you won’t have to worry about protecting and transporting your inventory. If you can’t decide what to do with some stuff you don’t want to move, contact professional movers and get storage services.