The Biggest Mistakes People Make During Long Distance Moves

New City, New Home, and New Opportunities – that’s the exciting part of long distance moves, right? But between making travel plans, packing belongings, coordinating calls, and organizing things, the entire moving process can feel overwhelming. And that’s where people start making mistakes without realizing them until the last minute. These mistakes can cause stress, delays, and even lead to extra costs.

If you’re preparing for a long distance move, it’s necessary for you to understand these mistakes ahead of time to prevent issues later and ensure a smooth, stress-free moving experience.

Here are ten common and biggest moving mistakes that happen in long-distance moves.

Booking Too Late With the Long Distance Moving Company

Many people think that booking movers a few weeks before the moving day is fine. But long-distance moves actually require much more advance planning. That’s because moving companies also need time to plan, organize schedules, and arrange the right fleet and crew for your move. Additionally, last minute moves leave you with limited options, which means you may not get the level of service you’re hoping for. And if you’re booking during busy seasons, you may end up paying higher rates due to peak demand.

Therefore, it’s necessary to secure your booking as early as possible (at least 7-8 weeks in advance) to avoid issues later.

Not Checking How Much Stuff They Have

Another mistake some people make is not checking how much stuff they have and how much they actually need to move. At first glance, your home might look manageable, but once you start opening drawers, closets, and storage shelves, you realize how much stuff you have collected over the years. If you don’t properly sort and assess these items, you risk delays, extra costs, or multiple trips. Therefore, it’s worth taking time to declutter the things you don’t need and pack only what matters.

Not Preparing a Proper Inventory List

Having a proper inventory list helps ensure you don’t miss anything on moving day. And you can easily track what’s packed, what’s fragile, and what needs extra care. Unfortunately, many people skip this step and end up scrambling to find items at the last minute. That’s why it’s always a good idea to list everything room by room in order to keep your packing organized and unpacking easily at your new home.

Not Taking Care of Good Packaging

Packaging plays a crucial role in long distance moves. But many people take it for granted. They use low-quality, weak boxes for packing items. And they don’t take special care to protect delicate items like furniture, glassware, electronics, or decor pieces. The result? Items usually get damaged, scratched, or even completely broken during relocation as they go through long hours of travel, bumps, and constant movements.

Note: It’s always better to seek help from professional packers who always ensure high-quality, durable packaging of all items.

Not Putting Labels on the Items After Packing

A lot of people forget to label their boxes after packing, and this creates problems during unpacking. They end up opening all the boxes to find basic items, and it becomes difficult to tell which box contains kitchen essentials and which contains electronic items. This also creates a big mess when it comes to placing the boxes in the right room in your home.

If you want to avoid this issue, make sure to always label your boxes once you’re done packing. The labels should include information like room name, what’s inside, and whether the items are fragile or not.

Choosing Movers Based Only on the Lowest Price Factor

Saving money is a good thing, but that does not mean you should choose the cheapest moving company without checking its quality of service. Not all companies, but some offer very low prices because they cut corners, allocate inexperienced staff, or don’t provide proper equipment. In most cases, they also don’t offer any insurance coverage plans, which is a major risk when you’re moving valuable or fragile items long distances. Remember, paying a little extra for reliable long distance moving services is better than settling for poor quality service.

Forgetting to Pack a Separate Essentials Box

Don’t forget to pack a separate essentials box, as it will keep the things you need immediately accessible on moving day and the first day in your new home. Essentials like toiletries, medications, chargers, bedding, one or two cooking items, a few outfits, kids’ or pets’ essentials. all are necessary for helping you settle at your new home without having to unpack everything at once.

Final Thoughts

It feels exciting to start a new chapter in a new city, but the moving process really gets stressful if you don’t do things the right way. By learning from these mistakes and avoiding them, you can ensure a smooth, organized, and stress-free moving experience, from start to finish.

And if you’re looking for a long distance moving company that actually takes care of your belongings and lets you experience a seamless moving process. Bronte Movers & Cartage Ltd. stands out as a trusted partner. Since 1975, we have been providing reliable moving services to homeowners and businesses across Canada. We have handled all types of moves, ensuring our customers get the best service. No matter the size of your move or location, we’re here to make the process hassle-free. Call us today and let us take the chaos out of your move.