Common Moving Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Let’s be honest, moving can be a lot. It’s exciting to start fresh in a new place, but the process of getting there? Not so much. The good news is that with a little planning (and a few insider tips), you can avoid the most common moving mistakes and make the whole experience way easier.

Not Planning Ahead

The Mistake: Waiting until the last minute is one of the biggest moving mistakes to avoid. A move involves tons of small tasks, from booking a moving truck to switching over your utilities. Putting things off can mean fewer options, higher prices, and a whole lot of unnecessary stress as moving day gets closer.

The Solution: Get ahead of the game by creating a moving timeline and checklist about two to three months before you plan to move. Breaking the process down into smaller weekly goals makes it feel much more manageable.

• 8 weeks out: Start researching moving companies and getting quotes.
• 6 weeks out: Begin the decluttering process (more on that below).
• 4 weeks out: Start packing items you don’t use every day.
• 1-2 weeks out: Confirm all the details with your movers and schedule your utility transfers.

To get started on the right track, snag our downloadable Moving Timeline Checklist.

Forgetting to Declutter

The Mistake: Packing up every single thing you own (including items you haven’t touched in years) is a very common mistake. It not only eats up space in the moving truck but also adds to your packing time and overall cost. Plus, unpacking clutter in your brand-new home is not the fresh start you’re looking for.

The Solution: Think of your move as the perfect opportunity to simplify. Go through each room and sort your belongings into three piles: keep, donate/sell, and toss. Being a little ruthless now means less to pack, move, and unpack later. It can also help lower your moving costs, since most moves are priced based on the weight and volume of your belongings.

Not Labeling Boxes Correctly

The Mistake: You’ve finally packed everything, but now you’re staring at a sea of identical brown boxes. Without clear labels, your movers won’t know which boxes are fragile or where they should go in your new place. This turns unloading into a guessing game and makes finding your coffee maker the next morning feel like a treasure hunt.

The Solution: Get specific with your labels. Use a quality marker and write on the top and at least two sides of every box. Make sure to include three key things:

• The room it belongs to (e.g., “Kitchen,” “Main Bedroom”).
• A quick list of the contents (e.g., “Pots and Pans,” “Sweaters”).
• Any special handling instructions (e.g., “FRAGILE,” “This Side Up”).

For an extra layer of organization, make a detailed list of everything in your boxes. Give each box a number and write it on the list. This makes it easy to check that all your items arrived safely.

Overpacking Boxes

The Mistake: It’s tempting to stuff large boxes to the brim just to have fewer boxes to move. However, overpacking makes them incredibly heavy and likely to break. This puts both your belongings and the people carrying them at risk. Super heavy boxes are also tough to stack safely in a moving truck, which increases the chance of things shifting and getting damaged.

The Solution: Pack smarter by distributing the weight.

• Use small boxes for heavy items like books, tools, and canned goods.
• Use large boxes for lighter, bulkier things like pillows, linens, and towels.
• As a general rule, try to keep each box under 50 pounds. When you’re done packing a box, you should be able to lift it without a major struggle.

Forgetting to Measure

The Mistake: You assume your large furniture, like your sofa or that antique armoire, will fit through the doorways and halls of your new home. On moving day, you discover it doesn’t. This can lead to damaged furniture, scraped walls, and a major logistical headache that could have been easily avoided.

The Solution: Grab a tape measure before you move a single thing. Measure your large furniture items and then measure the doorways, hallways, and stairwells of your new home. This simple step will tell you if you need to disassemble anything beforehand or find an alternate route. It’s a few minutes of work that can save you hours of frustration.

Not Having Insurance

The Mistake: Some assume nothing will get damaged during the move and skip moving insurance, also known as valuation coverage. While professional movers are careful, accidents can happen. Without proper coverage, you could be left with the full cost of repairing or replacing a valuable item if it gets broken or lost.

The Solution: Always talk to your moving company about their valuation options. Basic coverage is often included, but it may only cover a small fraction of an item’s value. For peace of mind, consider purchasing full-value protection, which ensures that if an item is damaged, the moving company will either repair it, replace it, or pay you for its current market value.

Not Researching Your Moving Company

The Mistake: Choosing a moving company based only on the cheapest price without looking into their reputation is one of the most common mistakes. Unlicensed or uninsured movers can open the door to scams, damaged goods, and no one to hold accountable when things go wrong.

The Solution: Do your homework. Find a reputable company with a solid track record. Check for proper licensing, read recent customer reviews, and always ask for a detailed, written estimate. A professional mover will offer transparent pricing and different service options to meet your needs, giving you confidence that your belongings are in good hands.

Let ADSI Make Your Move Stress-Free

Avoiding these common mistakes can make a world of difference on your moving day. But the best part is, you don’t have to handle it all alone. At ADSI Moving Systems, we have over 50 years of experience helping families and businesses move with ease.

From local and long-distance moves to secure storage and full-service packing, our team is here to manage all the details. We’ll help you create a moving plan, provide expert packing services, and make sure every item on your inventory list arrives safely.

Ready to get moving? Contact ADSI today for a free quote and let’s plan your move together.