Often, the logistics involved in a working family completing an out-of-state move prove overwhelming. Enrolling children in a new school system, transferring vehicle registrations, and staying on top of mail deliveries rank among the seemingly endless minutia you have to juggle.
While some of those things falling through the cracks for a few days won’t upend the move, others can set off a domino effect of mounting frustration. That’s why it may prove fruitful to consider missteps that can disrupt an otherwise smooth transition. The following are common setbacks people experience when moving out of state and ways to avoid them.
1: Forgetting to Measure Your New Space
New living space may not accommodate your furniture in a fully functional fashion. Dining room tables, couches, and bedroom sets rank among the large items that sometimes don’t fit. Even when rooms appear to possess adequate square footage, the layout of the living space may not be conducive to free movement. That’s why it’s essential to measure the furniture and the room dimensions and get a sense of placement.
2: Placing Heavy Items in Large Boxes
People who don’t work as professional movers sometimes operate under the misconception that heavy items should go in big boxes. In a conceptional way, that seems to make logical sense. But the reality is that large boxes have wide bottoms and are more likely to fail. So, you should pack heavy items like books in small boxes and lighter items like pillows and blankets you should pack in larger containers.
Imagine moving day arrives, and the bottoms start falling out. Having to repack your belongings not only disrupts your timeline. It can also prove a little embarrassing. Heavy items require sturdy boxes and packaging that can handle the weight. If you are unsure about the strength of boxes or how to pack them securely, you should leave this task to the professionals.
3: Forgetting to Label Boxes
It’s not unusual for people to focus on wrapping fragile items and neatly packing them in boxes. While that aspect may help ensure successful transport without damage, labels matter. Unlabeled boxes don’t allow moving professionals to separate fragile items from others. This means that glassware might be placed at the bottom and the weight of other cartons could damage otherwise securely packed things.
In addition, proper labels allow the movers to place the boxes in the appropriate rooms at your new home.
When packing belongings yourself, remember to label each side of every box with a permanent marker before sealing it. Include the box contents and the room location. Also, indicate if the contents are “fragile.” This strategy could save hours of delays and an unnecessary headache.
4: Getting Over-Extended With Moving Tasks
One of the more common things that happen to busy families is that they simply have too much on their plate. Regular work weeks, family commitments, and socializing already fill up busy schedules. Planning a move and all the small tasks that come with it is challenging. Without a to-do list, the unfortunate result is people rushing to get packed, tossing things randomly in bags and boxes as the moving trucks pull up.
The fact of the matter is that out-of-state moves require families to handle so many additional issues that basic moving tasks take a backseat. That’s why enlisting the help of a full-service moving company is essential. Vehicle transportation, proper packaging techniques, and setting a detailed moving itinerary can take the worry out of moving. If you are planning an out-of-state move, contact us for a quote and avoid setbacks.