Have you ever packed up an entire house and just moved? I have. Three times in the last three years. Every single time I think packing is one of those things that seems simple until I'm actually doing it.
A lot of people start off thinking they'll knock it out in a weekend, but before they know it, it has been two weeks and all they have to show for it is dozens of half packed boxes, random piles of stuff, and rooms that somehow look even messier than when they started.
What can go wrong?
The good news is that a lot of the moving day stress can be avoided by just planning ahead. With that, here are my eight common packing mistakes that make moving day harder than it needs to be.
Waiting Until the Last Minute
This is probably the biggest mistake I see people make. I can’t stress enough that packing always takes longer than you think it will. You think it's going to take only a few hours, but then it quickly turns into several days once you start going through your closets, cabinets, and even storage areas. It’s safe to say that the earlier you start, the less stressful the entire process will be.
Not Labeling Boxes
Trust me, I’ve been in your shoes. You think you'll remember what's in every box; you won't. When you move in and you’re looking for your phone charger and stumble across a box labeled “Stuff" that’s not going to help you very much. I suggest you take a few extra seconds to label the boxes with a brief description of what’s actually in them. Doing this can save you a lot of frustration later.
Making Boxes Too Heavy
It’s safe to say I learned this the hard way. Just because something fits in a box doesn't mean it has to go in one. I found out that items like books, tools, and other heavy stuff can quickly turn a normal box into something that's difficult to carry and more likely to break. If I learned anything, it is to spread bigger and heavier items across multiple boxes instead of loading everything into one.
Forgetting an Essentials Box
I honestly think this is one of the best things you can do before moving. Instead of digging through a bunch of boxes on your first night, pack one box with all the things you know you're going to need right away.
I am talking about things like phone chargers, toiletries, meds, clothes, or even important documents like social security cards and birth certificates. If you know where these items are, it can make your first night much easier.
Using the Wrong Size Boxes
One mistake I see a lot is people packing all of their heavy stuff in the bigger boxes. And honestly, I used to make this mistake too. To me it just made the most sense, but I found out that it actually makes those boxes super hard to lift and a lot more likely to break.
I found out that you should actually be putting the heavy items in smaller boxes and use the bigger boxes for lighter stuff like decorations, toys, and other lightweight household items you have sitting around. It will make everything way easier to carry, and it will also help make sure nothing breaks during the move.
Not Protecting Fragile Items
I know wrapping fragile items might take some extra time, and I also know buying packing paper might cost a little more money. But if you've got things, you really don't want to break, I honestly think it's worth spending the time and money to make sure they don't.
I'm talking about things like plates, glasses, or even smaller electronics. I would use packing paper instead of newspaper. I say that because newspaper can leave ink stains behind, and that's probably the last thing you want on your stuff.
This is just personal preference, but I'd rather spend a little extra time wrapping everything the right way than trying to take some shortcut, because there's a good chance something could break that way. I also think spending a few extra dollars on packing supplies is a whole lot cheaper than having to replace an item that meant something to you.
Packing Things You Don't Actually Want
I think before you put anything in a box, you really have to ask yourself if it is really worth bringing to your new home. I know I have said this before in other blogs, but it is true.
Thing is, I know it can be hard to get rid of stuff sometimes, but with moving, it is honestly a chance to start over. If you already know you are going to throw something away after you move, why even waste your time packing it up? I just feel like all that is doing is creating more stress for you to move it.
Not Having a Plan
I would say the one thing that can make packing way easier is having at least some type of plan. I know when you first look around, everything can become a little overwhelming. In your mind, stuff is everywhere. So instead of just grabbing random things and throwing them in any box you see, I would go through and pack one room at a time. Trust me, I know how it feels. But I think by doing this, everything will be a lot more organized.
My Final Thoughts
I know whenever anyone moves, it is never going to not be stressful. There is always going to be some type of issue that comes up, but the truth is, that is just part of moving. The thing is, a lot of these issues that come up could be avoided by avoiding these common packing mistakes. If you were to take what I told you, it could make your whole move a lot easier on yourself.
I think the biggest piece of advice I would give, if you could only walk away with one thing from this blog, is to give yourself enough time. Also, stay somewhat organized. Please do not wait until the last minute to pack everything. It might not seem like a big deal now, but trust me, your future self will thank you when moving day finally gets here.
Written By: DaShawn Williams
