Moving House? Make Sure To Avoid These Common Mistakes

In this article, White & Company looks at the most common mistakes people make when moving house and how you can easily avoid them.

Moving house is easy right? You choose a removals company from a list and select a date. Then they turn up and transport your belongings to your new home.

Sadly, this is where a lot of people are mistaken.

House removals take a lot of prior planning and preparation to run smoothly. It is often a failure to grasp this which leads to many difficulties on the day, not the process itself.

That’s why we’ve put together a list of the most common mistakes and how you can easily avoid them, save money and move house stress-free.

Not hiring a removals company

The most common mistake when moving house is underestimating the task at hand. Going it alone or using bogus ‘Man in a Van’ solutions to cut costs might seem a good idea at first but quickly lead to issues.

Removals companies can help with various aspects of your move. From packing items in the right way to moving difficult or heavy items and assembling/reassembling furniture.

Manual handling causes over a third of all workplace injuries. It should come as no surprise that attempting to lift heavy items yourself without the proper training can lead to serious injuries.

A knowledgeable removals company can also offer packaging advice and materials to minimise the risk of anything getting lost/broken in transit.

Failure to plan when Moving house

When you are moving house the old saying ‘failure to plan is planning to fail’ has never held truer.

Many removal companies are booked up weeks, even months in advance, particularly during the busy summer months. It’s important therefore to book in early to avoid disappointment.

When researching removal companies investigate thoroughly which services they provide and which they do not. Ask yourself:

• Do you require packaging materials?
• Do you need help with any awkward or difficult to move items?
• Should I make use of storage facilities while I downsize or declutter?

You should also check the removals company is accredited with the British Association of Removers and can deliver the services they promise.

If you need help planning your move, check out our useful Moving House Checklist.

Leaving packing to the last minute

The avrage family can accumulate quite a lot over the years. That’s why its important to start your packing well ahead of your move date, ideally at least two months prior.

Take each room at a time. Start with packing up the non-essentials, labelling the boxes accordingly and earmarking special items for attention.

This way as moving day approaches you should only have a few things to pack, thus decreasing the stress involved.

Many removals companies offer packing materials and packing services at a time convenient to you.

Not getting adequate insurance

Even with a professional removals company on side, things can go missing or get damaged. Its essential that you have adequate insurance cover in place to prepare for this situation.

Most removal companies typically offer standard removals insurance cover per item but its worth checking the extent of this when you receive your removals quote.

Its also worth checking your current home insurance plan to see what level of cover you have for breakages during a move. Check with your home insurance provider and if they don’t cover you consider changing to a policy that does.

Forgetting to change addresses/service providers

When you are moving house there are all sorts of little things to remember, from informing your bank and utility providers of your change of address to cancelling subscriptions and services.

Arrange a mail redirect well in advance with Royal Mail to ensure you receive your post and don’t miss any important information at your new home.

Likewise, make a checklist and inform other people and service providers of your change of address.

Not measuring furniture for your new home

Whether you’re bring your old beds and furniture with you or buying new items, it’s important that house movers have correctly measured and fitted your new home.

Failure to do so may mean items don’t fit, or worse still, your removals company might not even be able to fit them through the door!

Need help planning your move?

Moving house can be a stressful experience. With so much to plan and organise it can be difficult to know where to start.

Let White & Company take the weight off your shoulders. With BAR accreditation and over 145 years’ worth of experience we’re a trusted and professional removals company dedicated to providing our customers a stress-free and cost-efficient removals service.

We can help plan and pinpoint the finer details of your move and tailor a solution fit to your unique circumstances.

To find out more about the range of services we provide or to book in for a free home survey call us today or fill out a quick form above and we’ll be in touch as soon as possible.

Max Peterson

Max is a seasoned writer and blogger in the real estate and home moving sectors, as well as a knowledgeable source of information for expatriates living and working abroad. His detailed insights have helped thousands of people move and live abroad with greater simplicity and ease.