Moving for the first time is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming when you don’t know what to expect.
First-time movers often make preventable moving mistakes that cost them time, money, and unnecessary stress. The good news? You can avoid most of these problems with a little planning and the right information.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the ten common moving mistakes and show you exactly how to sidestep them. By the end, you’ll know how to plan your move like someone who’s done it before.
1. Starting Your Packing the Week Before Moving Day
Most first-time movers think a week gives them plenty of time to pack. Some even wait until the day before (it’s never a good idea).
Here’s why that doesn’t work: you don’t realize how much stuff you own until you start packing. Rush through it, and you’ll throw things in boxes without protection. This can result in broken dishes, scratched furniture, and missing items you can’t find for weeks.
To avoid this mess, start at least three weeks early and pack room by room. Begin with items you rarely use, such as winter coats, kitchen gadgets that are collecting dust, or books you’ve already read. And save your everyday essentials for last.
You’ll thank yourself later when you’re not pulling an all-nighter the day before your move.
2. Packing Everything Without Decluttering First
Packing everything to save time is a one-way ticket to a migraine (and a bigger moving bill).
You’re basically paying movers to haul that broken lamp you forgot about, clothes you haven’t worn since 2019, and kitchen gadgets still in their boxes. Plus, movers charge by the hour, so why pay them to carry things you’ll donate anyway?
Instead, go through each room before you pack a single box. Sort everything into three piles: keep what you actually use, donate what’s still good, and trash what’s broken. You’ll be shocked at how much junk you’ve been holding onto (we all do it).
This way, you save time, cut costs, and avoid hauling things you don’t actually want.
3. Accepting the First Moving Quote You Receive
Here’s a rookie mistake we see too often: accepting the first moving quote because it sounds good enough.
The truth is, other companies might charge hundreds less for the same services, but those cheap quotes often hide unexpected fees, such as for stairs or long carries. And the data backs that up. The Better Business Bureau receives 13,000 complaints about movers annually, with hidden fees being one of the top issues.
Take this for example: one quote might be $800, but it doesn’t include packing materials or travel time. Another may be $950, but it covers everything. Suddenly, that “cheaper” option costs $1,100 after hidden fees pile up.
So what should you do instead? Get quotes from at least three companies before you commit. Look for written estimates that break down every charge, not just a single number.
A little research now saves you hundreds later (and a lot of moving day stress).
4. Not Labeling Your Boxes Properly
Imagine arriving at your new home with dozens of unlabeled boxes stacked everywhere. You need your coffee maker for morning sanity, but it could be in any of those 40 identical boxes. To avoid wasting time searching for items, make sure each box is clearly labeled.
We recommend writing the room name and key contents on all four sides of each box using a thick marker. For example: “Kitchen – Pots, Pans, Utensils” or “Master Bedroom – Winter Clothes, Shoes.” This way movers will know exactly where to put each box, and you’ll know what’s inside without opening everything.
5. Loading Books and Heavy Items in Large Boxes
Stuffing books and heavy items into large boxes might seem like a good idea until you try to lift all of them at once.
Suddenly that box weighs 60 pounds, and you can’t get it off the floor without help. Even worse? The bottom gives out halfway to the truck, and you’re left picking up books off your driveway while your moving schedule falls apart.
You can avoid all this trouble (and the back pain). In our experience, putting heavy items like books and dishes in small boxes prevents injuries and box failures better. It’s because they’re easier to carry and the cardboard can actually handle the weight.
Bottom line: Save the big boxes for light stuff like pillows, blankets, and clothes.
6. Forgetting to Pack an Essentials Box
On moving day, the worst feeling is realizing your toothbrush, phone charger, and clean clothes are packed at the bottom of a random box. And when you’re already exhausted from the trip, digging through sealed boxes just to brush your teeth can feel like the last straw.
That’s why you need an essentials box. Pack one clearly labeled box with everything you’ll need for the first few days: toiletries, medications, phone chargers, a change of clothes, and important documents.
Keep it in your car, not on the moving truck, so it’s the first thing you grab when you arrive.
7. Skipping Moving Insurance to Save Money
Saving money is usually a good move, but skipping moving insurance can cost you way more in the long run.
Basic liability from most moving companies only covers pennies per pound. So when your $1,200 TV breaks during the move, you might get $30 based on its weight. That’s not going to replace anything. And with even one damaged item, your out-of-pocket cost can easily outweigh whatever you saved by skipping insurance.
The best move here is to get full coverage that protects your belongings at their actual replacement value.
8. Ignoring the Address Change Until After You Move
It sounds simple, but many first-time movers forget to update their address before moving, which can send important mail to their old place. This includes bank statements, insurance documents, prescription refills, and bills that need your attention.
Don’t make this mistake. Update your address with the post office, banks, insurance companies, and utility services at least two weeks before moving day. Also, set up mail forwarding as a backup, but make sure to notify each company directly so your mail doesn’t get lost.
9. Moving Furniture Without Measuring Doorways First
Just because your sofa fits in your old home doesn’t mean it will fit through the doorways at your new place.
So before moving in, measure your big furniture pieces and every doorway, hallway, and staircase. Bring a tape measure to the new house visit, so you’ll know if anything needs special planning.
10. Forgetting to Transfer Utilities Before Moving Day
Many first-time movers assume utilities will just work at the new place. They don’t.
You show up exhausted, ready to unpack, and there’s no electricity to turn on the lights. The water isn’t running, so no shower either. You can’t order food online because there’s no internet, and you’re too tired to cook. And guess what? Utility companies typically require 2-3 weeks’ notice to transfer services
To avoid this moving day nightmare, call the electric, water, gas, and internet companies at least two weeks ahead. Schedule everything to start the day before you arrive so you’re not dealing with setup issues while trying to move in.
Make Your First Move Stress-Free
These mistakes trip up almost every first-time mover, but now you know how to avoid all of them. And according to our guide, planning ahead and staying organized makes your move so much smoother than winging it and hoping for the best. Once you focus on these basics, the rest of the move becomes easier to manage.
So start packing early, declutter before you fill boxes, get multiple quotes from moving companies, and don’t skip the essentials box. Label everything, measure your furniture, and schedule those utilities ahead of time.
Still feeling overwhelmed? Get in touch with us and we’ll help you through your moving journey.