“I hate when that happens.” I laughed out loud at those late-night skits where two friends recounted their moments of self-inflicted pain. Funny! But there’s nothing to laugh about if you make costly mistakes when moving. Here are three common pitfalls . . . and some tips for avoiding them.

Avoid Moving Mistakes Get In Home Estimate

Not giving yourself enough time. Unless you’re simply carting a few pieces across town, you need to allow several weeks to plan and prepare for your move. Movers must schedule their people and equipment several weeks in advance. (The lead time is longer during the summer when most people want to move.) If you scramble to secure services at the last minute, you’ll be lucky to find a reputable provider. And it will cost a lot more. Once you arrive at a move date, allow yourself four weeks to cross all the i’s and dot all the t’s.

Tip: Follow this easy-to-use checklist that shows what you need to do—and when to do it—to prepare for your move: Moving Checklist

Moving things you really don’t need. The cost to move your goods is based on weight and distance. So, if you can shed the items you won’t need, do it. (Like those old school books you keep telling yourself you’ll someday want to consult.)

Tip: Hold a moving sale. Or give things away. Many local charities will come to your home and pick things up. You may want to do the same with shelf-stable food. Weleski participates in a program called Move For Hunger. If you wish to donate unopened, non-perishable foods to feed others in need, let us know. We’ll take the items to a local food bank for you.

Failing to Get a Visual Estimate. Some companies may shoot you a price over the phone for your move. But don’t bet on the accuracy. As I mentioned earlier, weight is an important consideration in the cost of your move. Reputable movers will insist on walking through your house and looking at everything to give you an accurate estimate of cost.

Tip: Be sure to show everything. Let your move estimator see every attic space, garage, and cubby so there are no surprises. And be aware that anything you decide to add at the last minute may or may not make it onto the truck—and will increase the cost of your move.

These are just a few of the expensive mistakes people make. To avoid them all, talk to your moving professional when you first decide you will move. The sooner you start your planning, the more likely you are to save money—and less likely to say, “I hate when that happens.”

When you’re ready to start planning your move, call us at 888-224-3330 or send us a message!