While the phrase sounds a little pessimistic, it often turns out to be true during a move. A variety of events can interrupt your move or ruin your day.
Fortunately, you can avoid the most common moving problems with a little extra planning and preparation. Take a look at the guide below for tips and tricks to make moving a breeze, even in the worst scenarios.
1. Bad Weather Conditions
Mother Nature has a way of throwing her worst weather your way, often when you least expect it. Heavy rains, blizzards, intense heat, fog, and hurricanes all wreak havoc on your valuables, your moving crew, and your moving trucks.
So check the weather in the days and weeks leading up to your move and plan accordingly. If storms linger on the horizon, wrap your delicate items in waterproof plastic and place non-slip rugs and towels on the floor. If the reports predict scorching temperatures, stock up on sunscreen and cold drinks for everyone.
Not sure what’s on the way? Weather apps, such as Accuweather, can give you hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute forecasts so you can stay out of the worst conditions.
2. Property Damage
When you move house, you can usually expect a few bumps, bruises, bangs, and knocks. But while some of your items can take a hit, most of your electronics, glassware, and wooden furniture wouldn’t hold up under pressure.
If your friends happened to drop that heavy table, your flooring might sport a deep dent. Or if your child tucked a bathroom mirror next to your book boxes, you can bet that only a few glass shards will arrive at your new home.
To keep your property safe, pack your more delicate items in plenty of foam padding, packing peanuts, and blankets. Lay lots of protective plastic coverings on your flooring, both in your new home and your old home. And hire professionals to move your more awkward, bulky, or heavy items.
3. Furniture Doesn’t Fit
That big, comfy couch looks handsome in your old home. But maneuvering it out the hallway, through the doors, and down the stairs may be more hassle than it’s worth. And even if you manage to load it into the truck and to your new home, you might not have a guarantee that it will fit through the doors and into the hallway all over again.
To avoid unnecessary grunt work and moving costs, carefully measure your bigger pieces of furniture as well as the entryways in your new home. If the table measures too wide, you may have to disassemble it to pack it into the truck. If the armoire stands too tall to fit down the stairs, you may have to hire a hoisting service to remove it for you.
4. Traffic Problems
Heavy traffic, accidents, and breakdowns can keep your personal car or your moving truck from arriving at your new home on time. And even if you both arrive at your destination in sync, you may still struggle to find a parking space big enough to accommodate the moving van and allow you easy access to unload your furniture.
So do a little maintenance and research a few days before your move. Check the fluid levels in your vehicle, and schedule a quick tune-up at the mechanic. Plan multiple travel routes, so if one road proves particularly hazardous then you can quickly find an alternative highway or back road. And install traffic apps, such as Waze or Beat the Traffic, to alert you to any accidents along the way.
To help your movers, check the parking availability at your home. If your driveway seems too narrow for the moving van, look for safe, close spaces on your street and direct the driver to those areas.
5. Injuries
Though you can pack and pad your personal items so they stay snug the entire trip, you can’t wrap and shield your family, friends, or moving team. As people quickly grab boxes, appliances, and furniture, they put themselves at risk for twisted ankles, pulled hamstrings, and strained backs.
However, you can take some extra precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. To minimize slip and fall accidents, keep the pathways clear of toys, bunched-up rugs, and other debris. To prevent sprains and pulled muscles, teach everyone to lift correctly (with their back straight and knees bent). And of course, leave the heaviest items to the professionals who have the proper equipment and training to stay safe.
Plan for the Worst by Hiring the Best
Countless things can go wrong during a move, far more than you’ll ever find in a guide or checklist. However, when you hire a professional, experienced moving team, you can avoid most problems associated with moving house. And with a little extra research, you can prepare for even the worst moving situations and scenarios with confidence.
