1. Forgetting to make a moving truck and\/or elevator reservation well in advance<\/b><\/h2>\n
Photo by\u00a0Brooke Cagle<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n This seems like an obvious mistake to avoid, but you\u2019d be surprised how many people wait until the last minute to book a moving truck or the elevator in their condo building. June, July and August are the most popular months to move, but the first and last day of any month is bound to fill up quickly. It\u2019s best to begin searching for a moving company two months before your moving date. If you need to book an elevator for the day of your move, remember that other residents in your building may also be moving in or out. In order to get the time slot you want, it\u2019s best to speak to a building manager or concierge as early as possible.<\/p>\n Photo by\u00a0Sharon McCutcheon<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s tempting to say yes to any moving company that\u2019s available on the first of the month, but it\u2019s important to compare estimates to make sure you\u2019re getting a fair price. While many moving companies will provide quotes online or over the phone, if you\u2019re planning a serious move (like packing up a four-bedroom home and relocating your family across the country), you may want to request that an employee of the moving company visit your home for an in-person inspection.<\/p>\n\n Photo by\u00a0Bynder<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Moving unnecessary clutter from one home to another will not only hurt your back, but your wallet. Prior to packing, sort through all of your belongings, dividing them into three piles: keep, donate and sell. You can earn some serious cash to offset your moving expenses by selling items you don\u2019t need on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Letgo or OfferUp.<\/p>\n Photo: Kelsey Pudloski<\/em><\/p>\n Every moving advice article on the internet will tell you to label the contents of your boxes and to list the rooms where they should ultimately end up. But here\u2019s another trick I picked up during my move from Toronto to Los Angeles last fall: number your boxes. This is absolutely crucial if you\u2019re using a non-traditional moving service (I shipped most of my belongings with Amtrak). When the boxes arrive at your destination, you\u2019ll want to make sure everything is accounted for \u2014 and numbering them is foolproof.<\/p>\n Photo by\u00a0Phillip Goldsberry<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The couch is often the last thing to get packed away. When you\u2019re up to your elbows in bubble wrap, you need a spot to crash and maybe cry to \u201cLeaving on a Jet Plane\u201d one more time. But just because the couch fit through the door frame of your current apartment, doesn\u2019t mean it will squeeze into your new pad with ease. Be sure to measure the dimensions of all the tight spaces the couch, or any other large furniture item, will have to pass through, including doorways, stairwells, hallways and elevators. This is also advisable if you\u2019re ordering new furniture that\u2019s being delivered. Don\u2019t end up like Ross Geller!<\/p>\n Photo by\u00a0Erda Estremera<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n You know how your dog starts acting weird as soon as you take your suitcase out of the closet to pack for vacation? Well, imagine how anxious they must feel when you begin packing up the entire house, including their favorite squeaky toy. Sometimes pets even run away on moving day \u2014 if someone leaves the door ajar and your cat escapes, moving day will become even more stress-inducing. Ask a friend to take care of your pet for the day or drop them off at a boarding facility.<\/p>\n Additionally, if you have young kids, it\u2019s best to leave them with a sitter or family member. Seeing the house they once called home completely empty can be upsetting to them. Parents may be easily distracted by moving tasks and leave their kids unsupervised, resulting in injury or damaged household goods.<\/p>\n Photo by\u00a0Erol Ahmed<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Don\u2019t make the mistake of packing away your medication or pajamas in an unlabeled box. Prepare an overnight bag \u2014 or, honestly, a weekender bag \u2014 with all the essentials: toothbrush, deodorant, a change of clothes, etc. Each family member (including pets) should have their own, making it easy to settle in once you arrive at your new home. You may also want to include cleaning supplies, snacks and drinks, important documents, toilet paper and a small toolkit.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t set yourself up for failure on moving day.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":194033,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2019-07-13T12:30:15Z","apple_news_api_id":"8c707565-8dab-496a-8383-d4952367475a","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2019-07-13T12:30:16Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AjHB1ZY2rSWqDg9SVI2dHWg","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"middle","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":["https:\/\/u48r14.digitalhub.com\/sections\/09b86915-7d2b-3acd-915b-b215002d01b7"],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11118],"tags":[11113,11152,11192],"coauthors":[8647],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/u-haul.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n2. Not comparing quotes from multiple moving companies<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n3. Failing to cut down on clutter before you begin packing<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Labeling your boxes incorrectly<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n5. Neglecting to measure doorways, stairwells, elevators and large furniture items<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n6. Forgetting to schedule a sitter for your kids and\/or pets<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Not packing an overnight bag with all the essentials<\/b><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n