Top Four Moving Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Moving to a new home can present a unique set of challenges, but you can learn quickly from others’ moving mistakes so you don’t make them yourself. Whether you’re moving up the street, across town or further, making these mistakes can definitely ruin your moving experience. Here’s what to watch out for:
1. Hiring a mover with no reputation
Most families’ moving nightmares usually begin with hiring the wrong company for the job. There are a number of moving companies in Atlanta and not all of them have a good reputation. As the customer, make sure you do your due diligence and engage only the reputable companies who will give you a good experience. Avoid the temptation to go for the cheap movers – as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for” – because you don’t want to compromise on such an important event. Take your time and check online reviews about the various Atlanta movers so that you avoid the ‘bad and the ugly’ and only look into the ones with lots of positive reviews.
2. Failing to get the right quote
Most people will simply contact the first moving company that comes to their mind and ask them for a quote. First, you need to ask the moving company to visit your home to get a better sense of the work involved, then give you a quote based on the amount of work they will do. Be very careful with companies who are not willing to pay you a pre-move visit. You should get quotes from several companies and see what the average rate is for a move of your size.
3. Forgetting to pack in advance
Packing and unpacking is one of the greatest moving hassles. Many people ignore the need to pack in advance and they often wait to start packing until the movers are already on site. This is not just a waste of time, but you may end up packing things in a hurry and risk breaking and damaging some items in the process. Pack in advance to save time and ensure nothing is left behind.
4. Packing unnecessary items
Though movers will move everything you present to them, it is prudent that you be selective in your packing and only move with the necessary items. This will save you time and space. Take stock of what you have to move and decide if you will really need them in your new home. For instance, are those items that you haven’t used for over a year in your garage worth taking up space in your new home? Use a company like 1-800-GOT-JUNK? to purge unnecessary items rather than pay movers to take them with you.