How to Get Ready to Move: Common Problems and Solutions

1. Illness & Injury

All set for your move, you suddenly start to sneeze, your temperature goes up, and you realize that you are sick. You may not be able to help with the move because you are so sick. You might get sick from all the chaos in your home and make a mistake or lift a wrongly-sized box. Now you are unable to carry any items because your back hurts or you have broken a bone. You can be stuck in a cast or have a simple cold. This could seriously disrupt your plans for moving.

What can you do to help?

You may wonder what your options are if you are unable to work due to illness or injury. First, Take care of yourself. Don’t make large decisions or exacerbate injuries. Don’t attempt to force through serious conditions like pneumonia and broken feet. If it’s an emergency, go to the hospital. If you make your symptoms worse, it doesn’t help. It’s okay to let someone else do the planning or reschedule if necessary. It’s not only acceptable to have someone else look at the paperwork and sign off on the move when you aren’t feeling your best, is it?

It is best to ask or assign someone to care for your children if they get sick. Asking for help from grandparents, close friends, and neighbors is a great idea. If no one is available, create a safe place where they can access everything they need. You can also check on them easily from there.

It is best to avoid getting sick or injured. You should immediately act if you feel tired or depressed in the weeks and days preceding your move.

  • Get plenty of fluids and rest.
  • Make sure you have enough tissues and throat lozenges.
  • If necessary, take a trip to your doctor for a diagnosis or prescription.
  • To prevent others from getting sick, keep everything clean and sterilized.
  • Get the help of others.
  • Do not tax your system. Start packing early so that you don’t overpack.

Have you got a mild case of the sniffles? You can go ahead and continue your day if you feel up to it. Keep hydrated and take frequent breaks. Don’t be afraid to let others do the heavy lifting.

However, injuries can be avoided if you are patient and don’t rush.

  • Clear walkways and avoid tripping hazards
  • Pets should be kept in a secure place so they aren’t underfoot or at risk for injury.
  • Wear comfortable clothing that doesn’t slip and work gloves with protection and traction.

It’s a smart idea to have a bag or a small box of items with you in case you need them within 24 hours. This will allow you to quickly access the necessary items even if you are unable to move. If in doubt, don’t bother and leave it up to the professionals.

2. Inclement and Inconvenient Weather

Bad weather can make it difficult to plan a move. We all know how unpredictable it is! Even if the weather forecast is perfect, an unexpected storm could easily strike on the day of the move. You’ll want to move anyway unless it’s an extreme weather condition like a tornado and hurricane.

Unexpected weather can be dealt with by having a plan and being aware of the policies of your moving company for bad weather. These are our top tips for dealing with common weather conditions:

Extreme Temperatures

Although cold temperatures might seem to be the main problem, it’s not. After all, who wants frostbite every step outside? Temperature can also be dangerous in summer. Although it might seem ideal to move on a sunny and bright day, this is not always the case. It can quickly become unbearably hot, and even dangerous, once the summer sun begins shining.

You might consider rescheduling if it’s extremely hot or very cold. It’s crucial to ensure everyone is doing what they can to protect themselves and their belongings. After all, extreme temperatures can damage sensitive items, too.

Intense heat may cause heatstroke, sunburns, dehydration, and exhaustion. You can always reschedule if it isn’t so hot.

  • Keep hydrated
  • Wear sunscreen
  • Layers and light-colored clothing are best.
  • Regular breaks are important
  • When possible, stay out of the sun
  • Before the temperature rises and the sun rises, move large and heavy items quickly.
  • Keep temperature-sensitive items inside of vehicles with environmental controls

Frostbite and hypothermia can occur when temperatures drop below freezing point. Reschedule your move if the temperature drops below freezing within minutes. You can also:

  • Make sure your car’s battery is fully charged.
  • You should always keep an emergency kit with you in your car.
  • Layer your clothes
  • Keep your feet, hands, and ears warm.
  • Warm drinks are always handy
  • Keep temperature-sensitive items inside of vehicles with environmental controls

Ice & Snow

 

An accident waiting to happen can occur when snow and ice are mixed on a moving day. You can slip on walkways and roads, making it difficult to navigate and unsafe. Although you can plow and salt your driveway yourself, it is not recommended for use in severe weather conditions. You can continue moving if you feel confident or have no choice.

  • Salt all driveways and walkways.
  • Layer up.
  • Keep your feet, hands, and ears warm.
  • Keep warm beverages on hand
  • Keep temperature-sensitive items well-wrapped or place them inside vehicles with environmental controls.
  • You should always keep an emergency kit with you in your car.
  • You should always check the weather and traffic reports before you leave so that you avoid any accidents or dangerous areas.
  • Take your time and drive slowly.
  • Allow space between you and the vehicle in front.

You can use your emergency kit to double as an emergency kit for your new home, as you won’t have time to unpack and settle in immediately. It should contain:

  • Sleeping bag or blanket
  • Supplies for first aid
  • Bottled water, high-energy nonperishable food
  • Windshield scraper
  • Shovel
  • Candles and matches
  • Winter clothing including boots
  • Road salt, sand, or kitty litter
  • Jumper cables
  • Charger for cell phones
  • Flashlight

Fog

Fog can make it difficult to move. It reduces visibility to less than one foot in front of you. This makes driving difficult and makes moving dangerous. The fog that isn’t visible in the morning will usually be cleared by the sun, so you can move on as planned.

If you need to move, contact your moving company and arrange an alternative date. If you are still determined to move, please:

  • Wrap items to protect them from moisture damage.
  • Be patient.
  • Take your time and drive slowly.
  • Make sure you use all safety features your vehicle has, including low beams or fog lights, windshield wipers, and environmental controls.
  • Avoid low-lying areas, where fog is denser.
  • Pay attention to animals and other vehicles and be ready to slow down.
  • Allow extra space between you and the car in front.

Rain

Although it is difficult to move in the rain, it is possible. These are some tips to keep in mind.

  • You might want to check the weather report. Some showers can pass very quickly so you may be better off waiting 20 minutes.
  • Wear shoes that are grippy to avoid slips and falls.
  • To prevent water damage, cover cardboard boxes and loose items with tarps or bags.

Thunderstorms

While some storms are swift, others can take a while to pass. If you have a limited window of time and it seems like it will not let up soon, it might be worth rescheduling your move. Waiting until the storm passes is the best option. Strong winds, torrential rains, hail, lightning, and strong winds can make moving dangerous and cause damage to your belongings. These rules are important to follow when moving in the rain.

  • Use shoes that have a good grip, and place carpets or towels on the floors of your home (old or new).
  • Protect cardboard boxes and loose items with plastic bags to stop water damage.

3. Terrible traffic

Many movers have extensive experience driving and can use GPS data to help them find the fastest route to your new residence and avoid traffic jams. You might consider investing in a GPS if you are responsible for your move. This will allow you to plan multiple routes to your new home in case of traffic jams or accidents. Keep in mind that you will likely encounter traffic on your way. It is important to not stress about this. Although it’s annoying, the traffic will eventually clear and your move can continue as planned.

PROTIP: Despite how tempting it may seem, you shouldn’t move on Fridays. People prefer to move on Fridays because they have a few days to pack and unpack, which is especially true in summer.

Accidents and Breakdowns

If your moving truck is damaged or breaks down, you will need to wait until a replacement truck arrives. Your items will then have to be moved to another vehicle. While you cannot avoid these situations when moving, there are steps you can take to minimize the damage.

  • Choose a reliable moving company with a protocol for handling these situations.
  • Get familiar with the protocol and what happens to your stuff.

4. Your New House: What are the Issues?

You might encounter unexpected issues once you move into your new home. They will most likely have simple solutions that are easy to prepare.

  • Keep the contact information for your utility providers handy in case you have an issue with electricity or gas or forgot to connect it. Although they will make your situation known, it may not always be possible to connect your utilities.
  • Keep an emergency kit in case you are without power or water for a few days. It should contain candles, flashlights, and water.
  • In case of an emergency, keep the contact information for your landlord or local handyman on hand.
  • You should always have essential supplies on hand in case of an emergency or you need to get into a hotel. Below is a printable version of our Essential Moving Day Items and Emergency Moving Kit checklists.

 

Others may require more work. You might have furniture that won’t fit through the doors. Here are some suggestions:

  • You should check if the furniture can be taken apart. If your furniture can be dismantled, you will need to take it apart and then rebuild it in your home. You’ll have to find another way into the house if it isn’t possible to disassemble.
  • When you begin planning a move you should measure all windows and entryways. If you haven’t already, this step might require professional movers. The graphic on the left will show you how to measure your furniture so it fits through your door.
  • You can store it in your garage, or at a nearby storage facility until you decide what to do.

Parking is another problem when moving into an apartment building or house without a driveway. It can be difficult to park in the worst of circumstances, but professional movers may make it more costly. Long haul fees can be charged for items being moved from difficult locations. Here are some ways to avoid it

  • Before you move, make sure to check the parking situation and plan accordingly.
  • Reserve a space in a nearby lot if your new apartment or home doesn’t have a driveway.
  • Talk to neighbors about parking issues and try to work things out with them. People who have been through a move will understand and be supportive.

5. Bad Movers

Bad movers can be caused by inconsiderate or incompetent movers, inexperienced movers, or worse, scammers. Bad movers can cause delays, damage to property, and emotional stress. In the case of scammers, your belongings may be held hostage until the additional fee is paid.

Avoiding this situation is the best way to get out of it. These tips will help you make sure that you removalist sutherland shire.

  • Before making your decision, ensure that you thoroughly research moving companies
  • See reviews It’s easy for customers to gauge the company’s performance. But, remember to visit more than one website and to read everything with a critical eye. Fake positive reviews are paid by some disreputable moving companies.
  • Avoid extremely low bids. Also, avoid bidding based on cubic footage and not weight. This is illegal and often indicates that the company is not reliable.
  • Get insurance even after doing the research. It never hurts to have an emergency plan.

There are some things you can do if you have been the victim of a scam involving moving.

  • Local law enforcement can assist you if the company violates any laws.

6. Items that are damaged or missing

What should you do if you start unpacking but discover damaged items? Or if you just finished packing and feel that something is missing? This is especially true if you have moved to another state or city. To resolve the problem of damaged or lost items, there are many steps you can take before, during, and afterward your move.

Before

  • While you are packing, take an inventory. Although a moving company may do this for you, it is a good idea to make your own.
  • To reduce the load, it is a good idea to keep an inventory. In the chaos of moving, it is easy to forget that you gave something away and not misplaced it.
  • Take photos of fragile or important items to take note of any damage.
  • Wrap, package, seal and label fragile items with care
  • One room at a given time should be packed. Label the boxes with the location and contents.
  • After everything is packed up, do a few sweeps around the house to make sure nothing is left behind.

During

  • During the move, be sure to keep your most valuable documents and possessions.
  • To ensure that all boxes are unloaded, inspect the truck.
  • After you verify delivery, number your boxes.

After

Depending on the circumstances, you can decide which course of action to take. Any reputable moving company will help you to recover your item if it was damaged or lost by them.

You will need to contact the insurance company separately if you have purchased insurance on your own.

Items damaged should be photographed and documented. If possible, identify the source of the damage.

These steps will help you find missing items:

  1. Double-check that the item isn’t in its original packaging and that you haven’t misplaced it.
  2. Provide a description and photos (wherever possible) of the item.
  3. File a claim if you used a professional moving company, describing the item and the images. You can share the image and description with your family and friends to allow them to search their homes and vehicles for the item.