Common moving mistakes and unwanted charges—and how to skip them entirely.
1. Starting to Pack Way Too Late
This is the #1 culprit. Most people vastly underestimate how long packing actually takes and wait until the last minute, forcing frantic decisions and sloppy work. When movers arrive with unpacked items, they'll have to box things up for you—adding significant time and money to your actual moving costs.
The fix: Start packing 2-3 weeks before (4 weeks for larger homes). Break it into manageable chunks instead of all-night marathons. You'll make better choices, protect your stuff better, and avoid panic-buying supplies at inflated prices.
2. Choosing Movers Based Only on Price
The cheapest quote often comes with the worst service—misleading costs, false promises, damaged belongings, missed appointments, surprise fees, and unprofessional crews. Here's the reality: estimates are just estimates. Every house is different, and every job is different. You want a company that can efficiently finish the job within a good timeframe and your budget—not one that cuts corners to hit a rock-bottom price.
3. Not Planning Out Your Timeline
Movers are dispatched by scheduled date and time and work in a queue system—not all jobs finish perfectly within the estimate. Some may complete sooner, others take longer. While all moving companies try their best to arrive on time, traffic and real-life scenarios always play a role. It's best to plan your entire day for a full move experience so you don't feel rushed or rush your movers. Pressure and rushed decisions can lead to frustrated parties and accidental damage. Give yourself adequate notice with utilities (usually 30 days), schedule mail forwarding, and handle address changes with important organizations well in advance.
4. Underestimating How Much Stuff You Have
People routinely guess at their inventory and end up with inaccurate quotes, insufficient truck capacity, and moving day chaos. Walk through every room and actually count what you own. This isn't just for getting item counts during estimates—it's to understand how long each piece might take to wrap and transport (typically 10-20 minutes per item depending on wrapping and handling methods). This assessment is necessary for both individual items and the home as a whole. Accurate inventory gives you realistic moving quotes and reveals opportunities to declutter before paying to move items you don't actually want.
5. Skimping on Packing Materials
Weak boxes, inadequate wrapping, and overstuffing lead to broken dishes, scratched furniture, and destroyed belongings that could've been protected. Invest in sturdy boxes, bubble wrap, and packing paper. Wrap fragile items individually, don't overload boxes, and leave gaps for cushioning. Your stuff's worth it.
6. Moving Everything (Including the Junk)
Paying movers to transport items you don't use, don't want, or won't have room for is pure waste. Use this move as a decluttering trigger. Have I used this in the past year? Would I buy it again? Does it spark joy or serve a purpose? Reducing inventory by 20-30% significantly cuts moving costs.
The Bottom Line
Most moving problems are preventable with early planning, realistic expectations, and thoughtful decisions. Your move will be smoother—and cheaper—because of it.
