Removal expert warns of biggest mistakes when moving house

Moving house can be both exciting and stressful. As you prepare for what can be a big transition, it’s essential to avoid common pitfalls that can lead to unnecessary stress and complications. Experts in storage and removals, Extra Room Self Storage, have put together a detailed guide on what to steer clear of when moving to your new home:

The biggest mistakes to make when moving

1. Using the wrong storage boxes

Invest in strong, heavy-duty double-walled cardboard boxes designed specifically for moving. These sturdy boxes can withstand the weight of your belongings and protect them during transit. Avoid using single-walled boxes, as they are more prone to damage and collapsing when stacked.

2. Trying to move without help

Trying to move without support of several physically strong people and proper transport facilities for your stuff can mean a huge effort is required. You likely won’t regret enlisting the help of professional movers, who can make your move quicker and easier. Delegating this task to a professional will reduce some of your stress and mean one less thing on your list to worry about.

3. Not measuring your new property’s floorspace

Before moving you should measure doorways, hallways and room dimensions in your new home. This step ensures that your furniture fits through doorways and that you can arrange it comfortably in each room. You can get your room measurements and floorplans off estate agents listings to make this easier.

4. Avoiding decluttering before you move

Take the opportunity to declutter before packing. Sort through your belongings and decide what to keep, donate, sell or discard. A clutter-free move simplifies packing and unpacking, leading to less to pack and more space in your new home.

5. Not having enough storage space in your new home

Consider storage solutions for items you won’t immediately need in your new home. Self-storage units or attic space can prevent overcrowding and maintain organisation. If you don’t have enough storage space at home and need to keep items safe long term, you might consider self storage as a solution.

6. Forgetting to setup your internet until after you have moved

Arrange for internet installation before moving day. Having a functional internet connection upon arrival is crucial for work, communication and entertainment. You can see if your old provider can move with you and take the opportunity to shop around for a better deal.

7. Ordering new furniture too late

Plan ahead and order new furniture well in advance. Waiting until the last minute may result in delays or inconvenience. You should see if it is possible to get your furniture delivered as soon as you have your keys and before you move other items to give extra room to manoeuvre and place bulky items like sofas. Alternatively, if you have a self storage unit, you could have your new furniture delivered directly to the store so it’s ready for move day.

8. Forgetting to update your address and redirect post

You should inform relevant parties (postal service, banks, utilities) of your new address as soon as you can to avoid missed letters. Redirect mail to avoid missing important correspondence or speak to the new residents of your old property to make sure they can flag any post you get. Not doing this could lead to missed penalty notices or fines from driving and potentially invalidate your insurance if your insurance address doesn’t match your driving licence.

9. Not booking a removal company in advance

Removal companies may get booked up in advance and if you leave things too late you could be delayed in moving, potentially missing your move-in date of choice.

10. Not creating an inventory of your belongings

An inventory helps track items during the move and simplifies unpacking. Make a list of the items you’ve packed by box and stick the list onto each box, then take a photo of each list per box so you have this handy to find on your phone. This will mean you need only open the boxes you immediately need things from and don’t have to make a mess looking for things.

11. Pack your items in boxes categorised by room

You should label boxes clearly with the room they belong to and aim to keep items which will live in the same room in the same box. This speeds up unpacking and isolates the mess it can cause as you organise items in your new home.

12. Not testing utilities and electrics before you move

Ensure that utilities (water, gas, electricity) are functional in your new home. Test switches, sockets and appliances to avoid surprises on moving day. You can ask previous tenants when viewing a house to find out any useful information about issues you might want to get fixed before you more.

Mark Simpson, Director at Extra Room, shared the below advice for moving house efficiently:

“Moving house can be one of the most stressful things we do in our lives, meaning the more you can do to reduce the burden and make things more efficient, the better. Taking the time to plan in advance will mean you not only feel mentally prepared for the many tasks associated with moving, but you also have prepared in advance to mitigate risks of things going wrong. Up to four weeks before you move you should start to prepare, starting with booking removal companies, ordering boxes and beginning to sort through your items. Stagger your to-do list over this time to make it more manageable and give yourself enough time to book and arrange the more timely tasks.”