Moving is rarely easy. Things can go wrong and they often will, especially when you’re dealing with a lot of items and if your new home is far away. Thankfully, it’s possible to minimize and even eliminate the delays and hiccups that can happen during the move.
The key is to identify the most common challenges that come with moving and knowing the solutions for them well ahead of moving day. Of course, if you can give yourself some time before the move, all the better. Here are some of the most common moving challenges and a few tried-and-tested ways to solve them:
1. Moving large, bulky, or awkwardly-shaped items
Some large and bulky objects may be impossible or impractical to disassemble. You may want to hire movers with specific expertise in moving those items. For instance, if you have a nice vintage Steinway & Sons grand piano, you should consider hiring reliable piano movers or similar moving specialists.
On the other hand, if the items can be safely disassembled, make sure to do so and to pack each of the components securely. If you have trouble remembering how the parts go together, you can take pictures to document your disassembly to make reassembly at your new home easier.
2. Movers don’t pick up or drop off your stuff on time
Moving day is bound to get busy. And when movers arrive late to pick up or drop off your stuff, it can throw off all your well-laid plans for the day, and possibly the next.
Talking to your movers before the move is important to set expectations and to ensure no miscommunication happens. If you need them to come at specific times, make sure they know. Ask them to repeat the details to you so that you’re sure they don’t think they can just show up whenever. It also can’t hurt to ask for their confirmation in writing as well.
3. Stuff gets lost, mishandled, or broken
This is regrettably unavoidable if you hire amateur movers or neglect to give sufficient time for the move. Most of the time, however, this happens when you fail to take an inventory of the items you’re asking the movers to transport. Poorly organizing items or mislabeling the boxes they’re stored in may also lead to things getting misplaced during the move.
If you value your possessions, always hire the best professional movers you can. Whenever possible, you should take some time to organize items before the move, according to the rooms they will be occupying. That way, when it’s time to unpack, you will have fewer problems getting all your stuff where it needs to be.
4. Your furniture won’t fit your new house
The difference between just getting your buddies to help you move and hiring professional movers is that the movers will have spent countless hours solving this very problem for thousands of people. If there’s a way to make a piece of furniture fit, they can make it happen.
But while professional movers have techniques for getting your furniture in the places you want them, there is a limit to what they can do. When you’re checking out your new home, always take a tape measure with you to see if your furniture can fit in the rooms you need them to be in.
5. Needing a separate storage space separate from your home
If your new home cannot accommodate all of the stuff you don’t want to get rid of, hiring a storage unit that’s a comfortable distance from your new home can be a handy solution. Just make sure to find a storage unit well in advance so that there’s no need to temporarily store your belongings at your new house. Your movers could just take your items straight to your unit.
6.) Handling utility hook-ups and shut-offs
Talk with the utility providers servicing your previous home and your new home. You want to be sure that the lights, gas, water, and internet are cut off at your old house the day you leave. At the same time, you at least want your lights and water to be ready as soon as you arrive at your new home. If you have a job that requires an internet connection at your house, you’ll want to make sure that your ISP can hook you up the moment you’ve moved in, so that you won’t have to lose any productivity.
7. Car trouble
Make sure to do comprehensive maintenance on your car the month before you move. Not only do you want to avoid car trouble on the way to your new home, but you also may not have time to go to a mechanic in the first few weeks of your transition. Taking care of any potential issues with your car before they arise can prevent unnecessary delays and aggravation during your move.
8. You have more stuff than you want to move
Sell, donate, and otherwise safely dispose of everything that you’re not planning to take with you to your new home or a storage unit. Consume or throw away all perishable food items before the move and ask your local waste disposal services for advice on how to dispose of any old paint cans, petrochemicals, and other volatile or potentially toxic substances in your house.
9. Caring for pets
Make sure you have the appropriate carriers, supplies, and vehicle space available before you make the move. Book accommodations at pet hotels and similar facilities if needed.
10. Caring for family members with special needs
You’ll want to look up the facilities near your new home that could address the care of your special needs family member. If they will be requiring care or a check-up as soon as you move in, make the necessary arrangements before the trip.
11. Moving artwork and fragile items
If you have valuable artwork, you can consider contacting a service that specializes in transporting fine art. However, there are now plenty of excellent products for packing artwork and other fragile items that you can use. If you prepare your items properly ahead of time, there should be no issue using any highly-rated moving service.
12. Moving regulated equipment
If you own certain types of tools, firearms, and other equipment that may be regulated at the state level, you will need to inform the relevant offices of your move. This is especially important when you are moving to a different state which may have laws different from that of your home state.
We hope these tips will make your move smooth and stress-free. By knowing the common problems that often happen when moving, you can better prepare yourself for what might be one of the most important events in your life. Good luck and happy moving!
