According to the real estate website domain.com.au, the average Aussie moves home 13 times in their life. Therefore, as the average life expectancy is around 83.20 years that works out to a relocation pretty much every six years.
Given that they move so regularly, you’d think they had the process down pat by now. But unfortunately, that is not the case.
Despite having done it more than once, many people see moving home as one of the most stressful activities they can undertake. Primarily because they tend to make the same mistakes along the way.
These errors can be categorised as what is outlined below. So, if you don’t want to fall into the same trap as the others, you should take steps to avoid them.
Poor or No Planning
You’ve probably heard of the five ‘Ps’. In other words, ‘perfect planning prevents poor performance’. Well, this is particularly true when it comes to moving home.
Relocating to new premises is a massive undertaking, and if you don’t plan it properly, you will find yourself majorly on the back foot.
A lack of reasoned planning makes the whole process disorganised and confusing. At the same time, it can also seem very overwhelming because it can be difficult to keep track of what has been done and what tasks are still remaining.
Therefore, before you do anything, you should take the time to draw up what needs to be done and assign a timeline for completing it.
Improper Budgeting
Moving homes is not a cheap exercise. Indeed, various companies within the real estate marketplace suggest that it will cost you between $3000 and $5000 to do so – maybe more – depending on where you are moving to and from.
When moving home, there are lots of costs to account for, including, but not limited to, packing materials, hiring trucks or removalists, cleaning and repairing your old and new home, storage, transportation and even temporary accommodation.
For this reason, it is worth putting together as detailed a budget as possible, with a contingency fund thrown in for good measure, that will help you to keep abreast of all your expenditures and avoid having to fork out more than you bargained for.
Not Calling in the Professionals
One of the biggest mistakes people make when they move is not calling in the help of the professionals. While this does come at a cost, which will vary depending on the company and how far you are moving, experts will help you make the process of moving much smoother.
Specialist companies such as Melbourne removalists from Muval can help you with all aspects of the moving, including packing, rubbish removal, transportation to your new home and the unpacking of your boxes.
Allowing these professionals or similar companies to assist you can save you a lot of time, stress and even irritability.
Start the Packing Too Late
Many people have busy lives which are consumed by work, family commitments or other responsibilities. Often, this can result in them not starting the packing as early as they should, which quickly catches up on them by the time moving day comes around.
As a general rule of thumb, it is advisable to begin the process as soon as you know you are moving home. This should start with a thorough decluttering of all of the possessions you no longer need or want, which should involve you selling, donating to charity or recycling as many items as you can. If you do this, you’ll find you have less to pack overall.
Once you start packing, it is a good idea to do it on a room-by-room basis, and rather than waiting until you have a big block of time to devote to doing it, try to do a little every day. Even 15 minutes (or the completion of one job) can make a difference.
The more you procrastinate, the more you will have to do in the last few nights before moving day, which can be extremely stressful and increase the risk of you damaging your most prized possessions in the haste of trying to pack them (especially if you are co-ordinating the move without enlisting the help of professionals).
Not Getting Insurance
We all have possessions that are valuable to us, whether that be in terms of monetary or sentimental value. However, not everyone chooses to protect these assets when they move home.
Many moving companies offer insurance, which makes them liable if they break anything that you choose to cover during the transit.
Therefore, if the worst does happen, they will either have to repair or replace the item (for something of at least the same value) or provide you with financial compensation.
Not Putting Together a Moving Day Kit
It is amazing how many people pack all of their possessions onto the removal truck, only to realise once it’s gone that they forgot to pack a moving day kit.
This kit should have clothes, food and other essentials with them, such as toiletries and medicine to tide them over until such time as they have unpacked some of their boxes.
Without it, they are faced with either a frantic search to try and locate what they need amongst what has yet to be unopened or a frustrating trip to the local supermarket or shops to get them.
Final Note
Moving can be overwhelming, but avoiding common mistakes makes it much easier. Proper planning, budgeting, packing early, and hiring professionals can save time and stress. Don’t forget essentials like insurance and a moving day kit for smoother transitions. A bit of foresight ensures a more organized and less stressful move.
