Common Moving Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

This post was created by Imperial Movers

Moving to a new home is exciting until you find yourself knee-deep in cardboard boxes, wondering why you own 37 mismatched coffee mugs and zero packing tape.

It can be messy. But don’t worry! You can dodge the most common moving mistakes with a little planning, a dash of patience, and maybe some extra snacks.

If you’re moving NYC-style, where elevators, parking restrictions, and tight staircases add extra challenges, careful preparation becomes even more important.

Let’s break down the top 10 moving missteps and how to avoid them.

1. Waiting Until the Last Minute

Procrastination might work for binge-watching your favorite show, but it’s a disaster when it comes to moving.

Leaving everything to the final week means rushed packing, forgotten essentials, and a whole lot of stress.

What to do: Start packing early, ideally a month before the move. Begin with the rooms you use the least, like the guest room or attic, and work your way to the kitchen and living areas.

2. Not Decluttering Before Packing

Moving is the perfect opportunity to let go of things you don’t need. Yet, so many people end up hauling junk from one home to another as if it’s some kind of sentimental tradition they can’t shake.

What to do: Before packing, sort through your belongings and donate, sell, or toss anything you haven’t used in the past year. If you forgot you owned it, you probably don’t need it.

3. Forgetting to Label Boxes

Unpacking shouldn’t feel like a game of ‘guess where the toothbrush is.’ You don’t want to be digging through boxes only to find your toothbrush among your underwear.

What to do: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. For extra efficiency, write a short description of the most important items inside (e.g., “Kitchen – pots, pans, knives”). Bonus points for color-coding with stickers or tape for each room.

It’ll save you hours of unpacking later when you’re not sifting through every box looking for that one important item.

4. Not Packing an Essentials Box

You arrive at your new place, exhausted, only to realize your pajamas, phone charger, and toilet paper are buried under a mountain of boxes.

What to do: Pack and label a box with first-night essentials with all the things you’ll need right away: toiletries, chargers, a change of clothes, snacks, and toilet paper.

5. Underestimating Packing Supplies

There’s nothing worse than running out of boxes when you’re halfway through packing the kitchen. Suddenly, you’re forced to stop everything.

No more packing until you run out to buy more boxes, tape, or bubble wrap. It disrupts your momentum and drags out the whole process.

What to do: Stock up on more boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, as you’re bound to need more than you think. It’s better to have a few extra rolls of tape than to waste time running out for more.

6. Not Hiring Movers

Trying to move your heavy furniture or fragile items all by yourself might sound like a good idea in theory, but the risk of damage (or injury) can make it all worth reconsidering.

What to do: If you have a lot of heavy or valuable items, consider hiring professionals. If you’re set on a DIY move, at least bribe friends with pizza and drinks.

7. Ignoring Utility Setup

There’s nothing worse than arriving at your new home only to realize you’re stuck in the dark without power or Wi-Fi.

What to do: Contact your utility providers at least a week before your move to make sure everything is scheduled to be up and running by the time you arrive.

8. Forgetting to Change Your Address

If you don’t update your address, your mail (and possibly your Amazon packages) will continue to arrive at your old place.

What to do: Change your address with USPS, banks, insurance providers, and subscriptions at least two weeks before the move.

9. Overpacking Boxes

Just because you can fit all your books in one giant box doesn’t mean you should.

What to do: Keep boxes under 50 pounds to avoid strain and breakage. Pack heavy items like books in small boxes and use larger boxes for lighter items like linens and pillows. Your back will thank you.

10. Not Taking Photos of Electronics Before Unplugging

Hooking up your entertainment system without a visual guide is like untangling a plate of spaghetti. You have no idea where one cable starts and another ends.

What to do: Take pictures of your TV, router, and other electronics before unplugging anything. Your future self will thank you when it’s time to set them up again.

Final Thoughts

Moving doesn’t have to be a disaster. With a little planning and some smart strategies, you can make the transition smooth, stress-free, and, dare I say it, maybe even a little fun.

So, grab that packing tape, get labeling, and remember: the sooner you start, the sooner you can kick back in your new home with a well-earned slice of pizza.

This content was produced independently from the Worldcrunch editorial team.