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8 Costly Moving Mistakes

If you speak to ten different people who have moved, you’ll likely hear at least six different stories of moving mistakes that resulted in additional expenses and headaches during the moving process. But these stories shouldn’t discourage you – they should encourage you to become the most educated consumer possible so that you’ll be able to avoid the moving mistakes that have afflicted your friends and relatives. Below you will find 8 costly moving mistakes that can mean the difference between a smooth move and an utter disaster.

1. Booking last minute. When you book last minute travel plans you can likely get great deals, but when you book your movers last minute you’ll face steep penalties, lack of availability and the possibility that your moving company will hire day laborers to do your move instead of skilled movers. Although there are plenty of people who have moved successfully at the last minute, the risks are great and the stress level is elevated (even in successful circumstances). If you know about your move in advance, don’t wait until the last moment to confirm your mover.

2. Automatically accepting the lowest price. When it comes to moving, it is often true that you get what you pay for. While it may seem appealing to accept the lowest bid, try to determine why exactly the quote might be lower and what hidden costs you can expect to find lurking when you reach your destination. Consider if the staff is less experienced, if the truck is less secure or if the cheapest movers seem any less responsible than their competitors. If not, it may be okay to accept the lowest bid. But if you have any reason to be concerned, don’t ignore it.
3. Neglecting to mention to your mover about your new home’s special considerations. Many people who are moving erroneously think that if they don’t disclose the narrowness of their driveway or the fact that their apartment is on a third floor walk up, the moving company won’t charge them for having to negotiate these difficult territories. Be forewarned – a binding estimate is probably not binding when the facts upon which the contract is based are incorrect. You will be charged for surprise changes along the way, so it pays to disclose them in advance, lest you wind up with a moving fee that is not at all what you anticipated.
4. Getting quotes entirely over the phone. How can any respectable mover tell you exactly how much the move will cost without seeing your belongings and judging the access to your property? Many movers have mastered the art of convincing unsuspecting consumers to accept estimates by phone, but most of these consumers end up facing stiff cost increases or other unfortunate scams. Even if you live on a remote mountaintop you have the right (and the obligation) to invite at least three movers for an in-person estimate. Make time for these meetings – they’re definitely worth it.
5. Not requiring a written moving quote. You may be getting a binding estimate, but how can it be truly binding if you don’t have a copy of the estimate? Don’t agree to hire any movers that say they’ll send you an estimate (which may never come).
6. Not reading the fine print. Moving contracts aren’t particularly complicated, but they have a lot of details that are worth reviewing. Don’t sign any contracts unless you’re entirely comfortable with the contract you’ve read. Take a step back to consider if anything was omitted or is unclear in the contract, and make sure to clarify any points that aren’t to your liking. This bit of negotiation now will save you a lot of headache later.
7. Ignoring the important of moving insurance. The price of maximum moving insurance won’t dramatically impact the cost of your move, but the price of having to replace lost, stolen or broken items can be substantial. Don’t take the risk that the minimal insurance will cover your needs – it’s simply not worth the risk.
8. Not packing your hand luggage appropriately. Your hand luggage should include things that you’ll need within the first 24 hours of arrival, so that in case your mover is delayed you won’t need to go out and purchase new things. You should have a spare change of clothing (and underwear) in your hand luggage as well as extra money in case of emergency, toiletries and your cell phone charger. If you’re moving with children you should also bring extra toys or games that you can use to occupy them before their boxes are unpacked.