Moving your family from one location to another is undeniably exciting when it means enjoying a fresh start, but it can also be stressful. You have to pack up your entire life, and there are so many tasks that need your urgent attention! 

If you haven’t moved before, you likely don’t understand best practices or how to ensure a straightforward relocation. Here are some of the most common mistakes and how to avoid them for a more stress-free move: 

Not Using Professionals

As much as you might like to move all by yourself without the help of professionals, it’s not always the best decision to make. Without assistance in the form of extra hands and purpose-built transport, the process can take much longer than you anticipated and cause far more stress.

Storage and moving companies that offer storage units strive to ensure a stress-free moving experience by delivering a storage container to your property, where you can pack it yourself or receive help with the packing. Once full of your possessions, the company can pick it up and take it to your next location or store it until you’re ready to have it delivered. Without such convenient service, you’d be left to rely on your own transport to make multiple trips to and from your new home, which takes considerably more time. 

Not Using Adequate Packing Materials

When you’re in a hurry to move to your new home and are under a great deal of stress, you don’t necessarily feel as though you have the time to make a special trip to purchase adequate packing materials for your big move. Instead, you might use whatever you have lying around the house and leftover boxes from other recent movers. 

While not every household possession requires high-end moving materials, some items do benefit from multi-layered cardboard boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper. Failure to pack your household items appropriately may result in some possessions being unnecessarily damaged upon arrival. 

Not Labeling Boxes

When organization isn’t your strong suit, taking the time to label your boxes doesn’t seem necessary. However, it’s not until they’re piled high in your new home that you realize that it is.  Labeling boxes with the room and a brief description of the contents helps you place them in designated areas and rooms so you can unpack them strategically. Unpacking takes far more time when you have to wander from room to room, taking household goods to where they need to go. 

Not Forwarding Your Mail

While you might do your best to change your address on as many pieces of mail as possible, you’re bound to miss a few. This can be frustrating when that mail ends up being important. 

In the weeks leading up to your move, write down the names of the companies and businesses you’ll need to update your address with, as mail from them arrives. This reduces the risk of forgetting any of them. You may also wish to set up mail forwarding for a set period, which redirects mail from your old address to your new one. 

Not Making Arrangements for Pets and Kids

It’s not just moving your possessions and setting up mail forwarding that you need to worry about when relocating. You also have to make arrangements for your pets and kids. 

Depending on how far you’re moving and how long the process takes, consider alternative care while you manage the logistics. Your kids may like a sleepover with a relative or friend, and your pets may enjoy a boarding facility so they can come to your new home when it’s all set up for them. When everyone is settled in, don’t forget to update addresses or find new providers for vets, grooming, and schooling. 

It’s only natural to make mistakes when you’re undertaking a big move. However, by bringing in experts for help, staying organized with your belongings, and making arrangements for pets and kids, you may be surprised by how stress-free your upcoming relocation can be.