Moving is a complicated, time-consuming process, which is why hiring a decent moving company sounds like a good idea. Yet, an alarming number of people in the US choose to go through the move all by themselves. Of course, there are times when this choice is justified. ‘The moving industry, on the whole, has a pretty poor public image,’ said Nancy Zafrani during a 2015 interview for The Moving Mom website. Zafrani has been the general manager of a prominent New York moving company for years now, so hearing her say that back then was quite disheartening. ‘We are the Pitbulls of the service industry; everyone has heard a mover horror story,’ she concluded.
Of course, going DIY with your move isn’t always the safest or the most cost-effective option. In fact, most people who choose to do it don’t really have a lot of experience when it comes to moves and they will undeniably make mistakes. This article will cover some of the most common DIY mistakes regarding moving. We hope to help you either go through a DIY move without a hitch or hire a decent moving company to do it for you.
List of the Most Common DIY Moving Mistakes
Procrastination
Postponing important tasks is never a good thing. However, it is especially harmful if you need to do something as time-consuming as moving. To put it simply, the more you delay your move-related work, the less time you will have to pack and move properly when you reach the deadline. Luckily, there are various methods you can use to reduce procrastination. Some of the most popular ones include planning, task rewards, and even having a friend keep track of your progress.
Lack of Proper Planning
Far too many people mess up their DIY move because they don’t plan ahead properly. After all, anything can go wrong during a move, so it’s important to plan everything out in advance. That will involve several key steps, such as:
- Researching the town you’re moving into
- Making detailed checklists of all of your things
- Calculating travel expenses
- Getting rid of unwanted items
- Buying the appropriate gear
We will cover some of these in detail in the paragraphs below.
Miscalculating the Expenses
Hiring a mover can be tricky for a number of reasons, one of them being the steep rates. And indeed, plenty of people prefer to do the move themselves in an attempt to save money. However, when comparing DIY moving and hiring a pro, it’s not always clear which option is less pricey.
Before deciding on either option, you should do your research. First and foremost, try to calculate the cost of everything you need for a DIY move. Then compare the result to the rates of professional movers in your area. If the expenses are roughly the same, you might want to consider hiring a pro instead, just to be sure.
Using the Wrong Packing Material
Packing seems simple enough until you actually try it. One of the worst things that can happen to you is to put your valuables in flimsy boxes that tear or break due to the weight. Furthermore, you might end up paying up to $100 for a pack of regular boxes. So, what’s the best solution? Well, you might want to split your expenses here and cut costs by accepting free boxes from your friends, neighbors, or even nearby businesses. Just make sure that these boxes are clean, dry, and sturdy. If you have to buy specific types of boxes, you can find some decent and affordable options online.
Not Taking Proper Inventory
Taking inventory isn’t particularly difficult. However, it does consume a lot of time, which is why homeowners tend to do a half-baked job.
Renting the Wrong-Sized Moving Truck
There are plenty of things you need to consider when trying to rent a decent truck for the move. By far, the most common mistake people make when renting is related to the size of the vehicle. If it’s too small, the boxes will not fit properly and they might weigh the vehicle down. On the other hand, the boxes might move around and tumble too much inside of a huge truck. So, the best option is to measure and weigh the things you aim to move. That way you can find the truck size that’s a perfect fit for you.
Not Preparing a Survival Bag
Every single move needs a proper survival bag. It will contain all of your essentials that can help you get through the move more easily, such as food, water, paper towels, tissues, medication, etc. Sadly, far too many homeowners forget to pack this bag, making the move a living hell that can last up to several hours, at least.
Lack of Proper Wrapping Skills
DIY wrapping and shockproofing are simple when you handle non-fragile items like books and clothing. However, if you need to pack your dishes, china, or home electronics, you definitely cannot do it alone. The same goes for old, valuable items like pianos or grandfather clocks. When it comes to shockproofing and wrapping these items, you will definitely need an expert.
Plants and Pets
If you own a pet or have houseplants, you will need to take extra steps to bring them with you. Mishandling this issue during the move can lead to extreme consequences. For instance, your plants might get damaged during the move, or your pet might get seriously sick.
Regarding plants, you will need to check with the USDA about bringing them into your new home state. After all, some plants might pose a risk to the new ecosystem. If you’re not allowed to take some of those plants, donate them to your friends and family or have them composted. Pet owners should make sure to get a portable kennel and some motion sickness medication, just in case. Also, don’t forget to take the pet’s papers with you.
Doing Everything Yourself
Never, under any circumstances, try to do everything by yourself. Always ask your friends and family in advance if they can help with the move. Also, if you can, make sure to discuss everything with moving experts, even if you don’t intend to hire them. Nobody can keep track of everything during a move by themselves, so it’s important to have a few extra voices around.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, even the best-prepared DIY moves don’t go off without a hitch. And while we understand that homeowners want to save money by not hiring a mover, we would still strongly advise that they do so. It will make the move go over smoothly and the risk of losing or breaking your things in the process will be minimal.
