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Proudly Serving Palm Beach, Broward, & Miami-Dade Counties
Moving can be a hectic process filled with packing lists, paperwork, and logistics. In the midst of the stress of planning and organizing, it’s easy to overlook a few important details that can cause delays or extra craziness on moving day.
To help your move go more smoothly, we’ve compiled the top seven things people often forget when they’re relocating and how you can avoid these common pitfalls.
Why People Forget:
When you’re planning a move, you’re probably thinking in terms of how everything fits into boxes or onto the moving truck. What many people forget is to measure furniture against the dimensions of doorways, staircases, and hallways in both your current and new homes. This can result in a stressful situation where your couch or dresser won’t fit through the door or around a tight corner.
How to Avoid It:
Before moving day, measure the height, width, and depth of your large furniture items. Then measure all access points in your new home, including doorways, hallways, elevator doors, and stairwells. If something won’t fit, make a plan to disassemble it, or consider selling or donating it ahead of time. If you’re hiring movers, notify them about any particularly tricky pieces or tight corners during your consultation or at some point ahead of moving day, as this can help you resolve any potential issues in advance.
Why People Forget:
Parking might not seem like a top priority when you’re planning a move, but forgetting to check local parking rules can lead to delays or even fines, especially in high-traffic areas. Many urban areas or apartment complexes have strict rules about where moving trucks can park and how long they can stay, which can present issues during loading and unloading.
How to Avoid It:
Check with your current and new landlord, property manager, or local municipality about parking regulations. In many cities, you can reserve a temporary parking permit for the moving truck. If you’re moving into a building with limited parking, make sure you notify the building management and coordinate times for the move-in. If necessary, use cones or temporary signs to save space for the moving truck.
Why People Forget:
With so many home-related tasks to juggle, it’s easy to forget about vehicle maintenance. However, if you’re driving a long distance to your new home, this is an important part of the preparations. Having car trouble while on the road with a vehicle full of belongings presents major challenges for your move.
How to Avoid It:
Schedule a maintenance check-up at least a week before your move. Ask your mechanic to inspect the tires, brakes, fluids, battery, and air conditioning. If you’re renting a moving trailer, make sure you understand its towing capacity and whether your vehicle is equipped to handle it. Don’t wait until the last minute, as repair shops may be busy or require extra time for parts.
Why People Forget:
People often focus on turning off utilities at their current home and forget to set up services at the new place. This oversight can result in arriving at a new home with no electricity, water, internet, or gas, which can cause hiccups in the moving process.
How to Avoid It:
Set up your utility transfers or new service installations at least two weeks in advance. This includes electricity, water, gas, and internet. Be sure to confirm installation or activation dates and take note of whether someone needs to be present for service appointments. During this process, keep a list of contact numbers for your utility providers in case of any issues on moving day.
Why People Forget:
In the rush to pack everything into boxes, it’s easy to forget that certain documents shouldn’t go with the moving truck. If something gets lost or delayed, you could find yourself without access to critical records such as passports, financial documents, or medical records.
How to Avoid It:
Create a separate folder for important documents or a box that includes items like IDs, birth certificates, Social Security cards, insurance policies, and moving contracts. You should keep this folder with you in your vehicle or carry-on if you’re flying. It’s also a good idea to store digital copies in a secure cloud-based service, just in case of loss or damage.
Why People Forget:
With so much focus on packing up items around the house, the refrigerator often becomes an afterthought. This can lead to spoiled food, leaking liquids, and unpleasant smells, plus wasted groceries.
How to Avoid It:
Start using up your frozen and perishable foods at least a week before the move. The night before or morning of the move, clean out the fridge and freezer completely. Defrost the freezer if needed, and wipe everything down to prevent mold or odor. If you’re bringing the fridge with you, make sure it’s completely dry before loading.
Why People Forget:
Tipping your movers is a thoughtful way to show appreciation for their hard work. Many people forget to get cash in advance and may find themselves without a convenient way to show gratitude for the movers’ services.
How to Avoid It:
Plan ahead by stopping at the bank or ATM a few days before your move. It’s helpful to have small bills on hand for tipping each mover individually. While tipping is not mandatory, it’s customary, and a little appreciation can go a long way toward a smooth and professional moving experience. The standard tip is usually $4 or $5 per mover per hour, but adjust based on the complexity and quality of service.
By avoiding these common missteps, you can increase your chances of having a successful move without any issues.
Looking for a trusted moving company to help you along the way? Count on Coral Springs Moving & Storage, South Florida’s trusted movers since 1974. Our comprehensive services include moving, packing, and storage, allowing our customers to experience successful residential and commercial moves.
Request a free quote online or call us today to learn more about our services!
