The moving process can be a challenging one even on the best of days. As if selling and buying a home isn’t stressful enough, now you are faced with having to move all of your belongings from one place to another. It’s exhausting to say the least. Between the packing and the logistics of moving, you are bound to encounter a problem at some point. This could easily send you into meltdown mode if you aren’t properly prepared.

That’s why it’s helpful to be aware of some of the most common problems people face when moving and how to handle them. Understanding what lies ahead can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure a smoother and less stressful moving experience. Keep reading to find out more about your toughest moving problems and how to solve them.

You Are Running Out of Time

Moving from one place to another is no easy task and it takes a great deal of time. This is definitely not the time for procrastination. If you think you are going to wait until the last minute to start packing, you better be prepared for some seriously stressful and incredible exhausting days. The truth is, the packing process should begin well in advance so you can take it one piece at a time. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a situation where you have to be out of your home in a couple of days and you still have hours and hours of packing ahead of you.

When you’re scrambling to pack, you are more likely to toss things into boxes without properly caring for the items. You could end up with lots of broken or misplaced items. Make plans well in advance and begin the process several weeks before moving day. You never know when something unexpected might come your way so it’s best to have a little extra time on your hands.

You Don’t Take the Time to Pack Properly

Packing requires more than just throwing items into boxes. Rather, it takes a great deal of planning and organization. First, you want to make sure that you have the proper packing materials such as various sized boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, packing peanuts, and packing tape. Next, you want to be sure you take the time to properly wrap and pack delicate or fragile items. Although this might seem like a tedious task, failure to do so could mean broken or damaged belongings. Furthermore, you want to be sure like items are packed together and your boxes are clearly labeled. Otherwise, the unpacking process will be much more difficult and confusing.

You Have Too Much Stuff

You definitely don’t want to find at the last minute that your belongings won’t fit on your moving truck or in your portable storage container. It is essential that you downsize your belongings prior to packing. If you skip the decluttering and purging step, you risk complicating your entire move. Not only will you end up wasting money on moving things you plan to throw away anyway, but you will waste a great deal of time packing and moving unnecessary items.

Your Movers are Unreliable

Moving day has finally arrived and you find yourself stuck with terrible movers. There is nothing more frustrating and stressful than dealing with unreliable movers. Perhaps they are late to the job, they work too slow, or they are sloppy and careless. Whatever the reason, dealing with bad movers is a nightmare and can ruin the moving process. Save yourself this trouble by researching and reviewing moving companies before you choose one. You can also avoid bad movers by choosing to move your belongings yourself. There are plenty of great options that can simplify the DIY moving process such as renting a portable storage unit.

Need help moving? Check out our list of moving services.

Your Furniture or Belongings Won’t Fit Through the Door

One of the most common unforeseen obstacles that people face on moving day is having furniture or large items that won’t fit through doorways. Whether you are moving a large sofa, a pool table, or a dining room table, you need to consider the size of your furniture before trying to carry it through a doorway. This problem can be solved by measuring all hallways and doorways ahead of time. This way, you will be able to determine which items won’t fit and you will have time to disassemble them prior to moving day.

Your Furniture or Belongings are Too Heavy

Whether you are hiring professionals or planning to move yourself, you have to be prepared for those large and heavy items. Even with a team of movers, there are certain items that can be quite difficult to move. For example, things like pool tables, exercise equipment, and pianos oftentimes require specialized movers. These items are not only heavy, but might require special tools and equipment to prevent them from being damaged during the moving process.

You Lost Important Papers or Documents

One aspect of moving that is often overlooked is the security of important personal documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, financial documents, passports, school or medical records, etc. Unfortunately, it’s easy for these items to get lost or misplaced among the piles and piles of boxes. To prevent this from happening, you should secure any important papers or documents in a special box that you transport yourself. Instead of sticking it on a moving truck or in a storage container, keep this box with you at all times for safekeeping.

You are Moving with Pets

You have been so focused on the logistics of moving that you have forgotten all about your furry friend. Moving day is busy and chaotic and all of the frantic movement can be stressful for your pet. If possible, arrange for your pet to spend the day at a friend or family member’s house or board your pet at a vet or boarding facility for a couple of days until you are settled.

Your Utilities Aren’t Set Up

If you are moving directly into a new home, you definitely need to make sure your utilities will be turned on prior to your move. You are going to be in for trouble if you have no lights, water, HVAC, or gas at your new place. This could be especially frustrating after a long day of moving. Always transfer your utilities ahead of time so you can be sure everything is in working order when you arrive at your new home.

Your Forgot an Essentials Box

There is no doubt that you are going to be exhausted after a long day of moving. This will not be the time for sifting through box after box looking for your toothbrush and toothpaste. Nor do you want to be searching endlessly for your bedsheets and pillows. Packing an essentials box is imperative and it will save you a tremendous amount of time and hassle during your first few days in your new home. Pack an overnight bag with a few sets of clothing and any toiletries you need. You should also pack a separate box with a few linens, towels, toilet paper, trash bags, and other must have items. Also, don’t forget things like chargers, laptops, reading glasses, medications, pet food, etc.