Hopefully, these situations are minor mistakes and can easily work themselves out in the end. It (generally) always does. Making common mistakes can hinder your moving process. The best thing you can do is be prepared and avoid common mistakes like these:

1. Hiring Movers Without Vetting Them Finding the cheapest movers won’t help much if they’re not insured. There are hundreds if not thousands of local movers but to find the professionals, you need to research and vet them first. Proper due diligence is necessary when you’re entrusting a team of apartment movers with your belongings. Check referrals, review websites, and shop around for moving quotes. If you go with the first moving company you see with a Google ad or hire the cheapest company without fully researching them, you could be taking a big risk with your most valuable possessions. An insured and certified mover (long distance if it applies to you) with a reputable reputation is a must.
2. Neglecting to Purge Before Packing Boxes, packing supplies, and a moving truck all cost some serious dough. Before you pack up your life, purge any unused, unwanted, and unnecessary items you’ve been keeping around. Rule of thumb: If you haven’t used something within the past year, just toss it. Only keep what you use, unless it has sentimental value. If not, you’ll be shelling out a lot of money on your move for more boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and a larger truck. If you don’t want it, purge it. You don’t necessarily have to throw it out – donate it if it still has some years left to make someone else happy!
3. Procrastinating on Packing Moving requires weeks of planning. It doesn’t just happen overnight. Start early with your packing plan and begin with those items you don’t need right now (i.e., trinkets, holiday décor, fancy dishes, stemware, etc.). You’re basically starting with the items you won’t miss. Then, as you approach moving day, pack up the rest of your home. Don’t procrastinate! If you do, you may be in for a rude awakening of long nights and numerous trips to and from the store for packing supplies.
4. No Moving Checklist Oops. A moving checklist was never made. How are you going to survive? A moving checklist is designed to help renters keep tabs on what you’ve accomplished and what you need to do next in the moving process. The unmarked boxes are your action items. Prepare a moving checklist now so you don’t fall behind and lose your head. When moving day comes, you’ll be happy to have made and completed your moving checklist.
5. Forgetting to Purchase Renter’s Insurance You don’t have renter’s insurance? You should get on that like right now. Many apartment communities require their residents to have renter’s insurance by the day they move in. Don’t delay your move because you forgot to purchase a policy for your apartment. It’s quite affordable and covers the cost of your personal property, liability coverage, and temporary housing when/if you file a claim.
6. Not Putting Together a First-Night Box Unpacking your moving boxes takes time. You could be spending upwards of a couple of weeks, even with consistent unpacking. Your first-night box should contain the essentials that’ll get you through the first night at your new apartment. Forgetting to pack a first night box might entail an unnecessary run to the store for supplies that you already have (hidden in boxes somewhere), such as toilet paper, paper towels, toothbrush, toothpaste, and hand soap.
7. Incorrectly Packing Your Boxes Uh-oh. Say it isn’t so. You didn’t just place your dinnerware at the bottom of the box, and your prized book collection on top, did you? Packing a box takes practice and skill, especially when trying to maximize space within the box. Breakables, such as glassware and ceramics, should be placed comfortably within a box and wrapped in bubble wrap. Never force anything into a box as it could break during transport. You don’t want to place items from different rooms into a box. Keep things consistent and organize your boxes by room.
8. Not Cleaning Prior to Moving Out Cleaning the old apartment is an essential part of the move-out process. If you don’t, money may be deducted from your security deposit to cover the expenses of a cleaning service. Make sure you clean the appliances, bathrooms, floors, ceiling fans, and sweep the balcony. Better yet, create a cleaning checklist! When you move out, you’re expected to leave the apartment in the same condition as you found it. Clean the apartment before turning over your keys for good!
9. Forgetting About Utilities It’s important to remember to schedule your utilities to turn off on the day you move out. In addition, you’ll also need to turn on your new home’s electricity and gas. Not doing so may mean living by candlelight at night and running a cold shower. That, my friend, would not be fun!
10. Not Taking Measurements of the New Place Instead of winging it and praying your sectional will fit in the new living room, use a tape measure to see if it will actually fit inside the apartment. If it doesn’t, you may need time to sell or donate the furniture. When you do a walk-through, bring a tape measure with you and take pictures. It’ll help you determine what you can keep and what to say “buh-bye” to.

The stress of moving day can overwhelm a person. It’s completely understandable. Don’t let these easily avoidable moving mistakes delay your move. Follow the tips so you can load up and hit the road ASAP.

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1. Take some time to plan

It can be enticing to get out there and immediately start buying cool items. However, you may find that they don’t go together, or you end up with more clutter than a designed looking area. Before going out, take into account the room design itself. Natural Lighting, room shape, and a color scheme. Color schemes can really help keep the area looking more put together (even if you aren’t great at decoration choices).

2. If you have a limited budget, focus on the important things!

Not everyone has a lot of money to spend on a ton of decorations, so spending it where it counts is important. The items that make the most difference is Area rugs, Bed linens, and Lighting. A good variety of these will go a long way in the space. It also helps to have a headboard on your bed. A mattress in the middle of the floor usually doesn’t help with a cozy feeling.

3. Storage Storage Storage!

Look isn’t the only important thing, storage is very important. If you don’t want a ton of random items laying around, it helps to have somewhere to put it all. It can also add a great look to the area if you find the right ones. Such as an ottoman storage system, or a bookshelf. It’s the little things that make such a large difference.

4. Mirrors are Magic

Mirrors aren’t just for checking how you look. They can really take a space to a new level! They reflect lighting as well as the space, making it look so much larger! They really have a great effect on an area, and can help replace wall art if you don’t want to waste energy on them.

I use these tips to really make my space feel more like my own, and I hope that you can use them yourself! Let me know how they worked for you. I’d love to hear about it.

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