Common Mistakes Families Make When Moving House (& How To Avoid Them)

Moving house with your family in tow can be an incredibly stressful time. Sadly, this means that many families make easily avoidable mistakes which make the whole process even more stressful for everyone involved. The good news is you can find out what these common moving house mistakes are and how to avoid them in the post below. 

Not properly labelling boxes

When you are in a big rush to move and to get into your new home, small tasks like labelling your boxes can seem like an annoying waste of time. However, it is those very tasks that can help save you a whole load of stress and time when you get to your new property. Indeed, when your boxes are correctly labelled they can be taken directly to the right room, which means you won’t need to move them again later. It also means you can unpack them in the right order, which can make settling in much faster and easier. 

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to label the room in which each box should be placed. You can also add a chart with a list of the items that are in the box along with where they came from, as this can be very useful as you unpack. 

Not decluttering before the moving date

There really is no point in putting all the effort and cost into moving items that you no longer want or need. That is why decluttering your current property well before you move is a very good idea. 

To do this effectively you will need to go room by room and decide on the items that you no longer want or need. You should then sell, donate, or throw away these items. Of course, things can be a little complicated when you are not 100% sure whether you want to keep an item or not. Fortunately, there is a solution, and it is to put such items in self-storage when you move. Then you get the opportunity to live without the item and see if you miss it. If you do all you need to do is go to your storage unit and get it, but if you don’t you can be safe in the knowledge that you can sell it with no regrets. 

Not taking measurements in advance

Another big mistake that is common for families moving house is not taking the measurements of the property they plan to move into. The issue here is that if you don’t know the exact size of the space you will be living in, you won’t have any idea whether your current or new soft furnishing can fit. 

With that in mind, insist on getting the full measurements for every room including how skirting boards affect the width, as well as the measurements for the height, width, and depth of your windows. Then you can go ahead and buy all the new fun stuff for your new place without the worry that it won’t fit and you’ll have to return it. 

Not packing heavy items in the correct way 

When moving it’s also very easy to pack your boxes wrong which can result in all sorts of problems from unexpected accidents to nasty injuries. Oh and if there is ever a time when you don’t want to put your back out it’s when you still have an entire home’s worth of boxes to unpack! 

To that end, it’s important to pack your boxes in the right manner. First of all, this means not overloading them. If you have one or two heavy items, surround them with lighter things like clothes and bedding. This will not only make your boxes easier to carry but will protect the items in transit as well. 

Be sure to space any heavy items like books evenly across the base of the box too. This will ensure that they are easier to lift and carry without injury or without dropping them. 

Not being well-prepared 

Shoving things into a bin liner as the moving van turns up is not the best way to approach moving house with your family. Instead, the more organised you can be the better and the easier it will be on your family. 

Where possible this means completing your packing the night before the day of the move. It also means keeping aside the boxes you’ll need first like the kitchen, and the bathroom so they can go on the truck last, and then you will be able to access them easily.  

It also makes sense to pack a day bag with all the items you and your family will need during the day of the move. Mugs, tea, and coffee are a good start, along with snacks to keep everyone well-fueled during the busy day. 

Infographic provided by Move Central, a top moving company in Los Angeles