Moving homes is exciting, but let’s be honest, it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t plan properly. You will be staring at a mountain of boxes, wondering how you accumulated so much stuff and how you are going to move it all.
Many have learned this the hard way after thinking they could pack up an entire apartment in a weekend and it rarely works out that way.
To save you from making the same mistakes, here’s a practical guide to the most common moving pitfalls and how to sidestep them.
1. Waiting Until the Last Minute
Most people underestimate how long packing takes. When rushing, you end up throwing things haphazardly into boxes, forgetting to label them, and creating even more work for yourself at your new place.
Instead, give yourself at least a month to prepare. Start with items you rarely use, like seasonal decorations or those fancy dishes saved for special occasions. Work through one room at a time, and you’ll find the whole process much less overwhelming.
2. Trying to Do Everything on Your Own
Hiring movers costs money, that’s a fact. But after someone throws out their back trying to move a dresser during a “budget-friendly” self-move, the realization hits that some things are worth paying for.
Moving yourself might seem cheaper initially, but consider the hidden costs: potential injuries, damaged belongings, rental equipment, begging friends for help, and the sheer exhaustion of it all.
If your budget allows, hiring a professional moving company like Allied Thailand is worth it because we have movers who are professionally trained to help with house moving without damaging or losing your belongings. Moving companies also have more experience, proper equipment, and insurance, allowing you to focus on the multitude of other details of your move.
3. Keeping Everything You Own
Many people fall into the trap of thinking, “This might be needed someday!” about everything from old birthday cards to clothes that haven’t fit in years. But moving those items from home to home just means carrying around extra baggage.
When you skip decluttering, you’re paying (in time, energy, and possibly money) to move things you don’t even want or use. Plus, you’re starting life in your new home surrounded by clutter.
Before packing a single box, sort through your belongings. If you haven’t used something in a year or it doesn’t bring you joy, consider donating, selling, or recycling it. Letting go feels good—and makes unpacking much more pleasant.
4. Creating Back-Breaking Boxes
Everyone’s done it—stuffed a box so full that it requires two people and a prayer to lift. Overpacking doesn’t just risk injury; those overloaded boxes are more likely to break open during the move, potentially damaging your belongings. Thus, it’s best to have professionals such as Allied handle this for you.
5. Playing “Mystery Box” with Unlabeled Containers
After moving day, many people spend a week opening random boxes trying to find the coffee maker while living out of a suitcase because they can’t find their clothes. All because nothing was labeled properly.
Without labels, unpacking becomes a frustrating treasure hunt. You’ll waste precious time and energy digging through boxes when you should be settling in.
Take an extra minute to jot down the contents and destination room on each box. You don’t need long descriptions—just “Kitchen – Cookware” or “Bedroom – Winter Clothes” will save hours of searching later. When using a professional moving company, all of these issues are taken care of for you, and exactly how you want it.
6. The “It’ll Fit” Assumption
There’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling of realizing your beloved sofa won’t fit through your new doorway. People have been known to resort to sawing furniture apart in desperation, and trust me, it’s not how anyone wants to spend a moving day.
Take measurements before moving day—of your furniture and all doorways, hallways, and stairwells it needs to pass through. If something won’t fit, you can plan to disassemble it or make other arrangements before you’re stuck with a couch in your front yard.
7. Forgetting to Transfer your Utilities
You don’t want to walk into a dark house with no running water because you forgot to transfer your utilities or miss important mail because you didn’t update your address.
Make a checklist of all the services and organizations that need your new address. Contact utility companies at least two weeks before moving to schedule service transfers. Set up mail forwarding with the post office, and don’t forget to update your address with your bank, employer, subscription services, and anywhere else important.
8. Forgetting About Furry Family Members
Cats have been known to spend entire moving days hiding under beds, refusing to come out while strangers carry furniture around. By the time families reach their new homes, pets are often completely stressed out.
Pets can feel extremely anxious during moves. The noise, strangers, and disruption to their routine can be frightening. Without proper planning, they might become stressed, run away, or even get injured in the chaos.
Arrange a quiet, secure place for your pet on moving day, whether that’s with a friend or in a closed room with food, water, and familiar items. Then give them plenty of time to adjust to their new surroundings at their own pace.
9. Leaving Behind a Mess
After the exhaustion of moving out, the last thing anyone wants to do is clean their old place. But skipping this step can come back to haunt you.
If you’re renting, a dirty home could cost you your security deposit. If you’re selling, it leaves a poor impression on the new owners and might even cause issues with the final closing.
Schedule time for a thorough cleaning after everything is packed and loaded or better yet, hire professional cleaners if your budget allows. Your future self (and your bank account) will appreciate it.
10. Running Yourself into the Ground
During moves, people often become so focused on getting everything done that they barely sleep, skip meals, and end up catching colds just as they’re trying to settle into their new homes.
Moving is both physically and emotionally draining. If you’re not taking care of your basic needs, you’ll burn out fast, making the whole experience much harder than it needs to be.
Remember to take breaks and get adequate sleep throughout the moving process. Ask for help when you need it, and be realistic about what you can accomplish each day.
The Bottom Line
Moving doesn’t have to be a nightmare. With some advance planning and awareness of these common moving mistakes, you can make your next move smoother and less stressful.
Here’s to new beginnings and the exciting adventure waiting for you in your new home!