5 Common Moving Mistakes You Want to Avoid When Relocating Across the World

What Should You Not Do When Moving Internationally?

Moving overseas is a process that consists of many tasks and obligations. And especially when you are packing to move in a hurry, it becomes so easy to miscalculate how you’ll deal with the things you have to do before you move. If you want to avoid all that relocation stress that might arise with a last-minute move, you’ll have to think in advance and plan thoroughly.

What you don’t want to do is forget or neglect important tasks, procrastinate or underestimate the importance of your duties, or get into a whirlwind of anxiety and its side effects. And while all of this sounds commonsensical, once you start reading our relocation tips, you might realize that, actually, you would’ve made them otherwise. To help you out, we’ve highlighted and underlined the five most common relocation mistakes.

#1 You’re Going to Run Into a Lot of Moving Problems If You Underestimate the Importance of a Relocation Checklist

The first thing anyone attempting to move efficiently should do is create a thorough to-do list. This is the best way to keep track of all your duties and assure you won’t find yourself stressing out after you’ve moved. But how does one make a perfect checklist?

Well, a checklist should compile all your obligations, as already mentioned, but also serve as a timeline of how you’ll approach them. It should be in such a format so that you can update the packing list part, the organization of important documents, as well as keep track of important numbers, like that of your professional movers, as well as your real estate agent, lawyer, and others.

Is There a Checklist for Moving Abroad?

We know that no one wants to deal with a to-do list on top of everything else that has to be done when relocating to some of the best countries in the world. However, we strongly recommend creating a list yourself, as that is the best way to tailor your checklist to your specific move. That being said, there are many pre-made relocation checklist templates you can use that are readily available online for free.

If You’re Tech-Savvy, You Should Consider Digitizing Your Checklist

Many people find that having a checklist on their phone rather than in a notebook or a planner is a more effective and convenient way to keep themselves organized. You may use your Note app to write and update your tasks or download a specialized one. Either way, the most important thing is to find what works for you. Remember, a checklist is about enhancing your relocation experiences, and as such, it should be adjusted to your preferences.

#2 Low-Quality Packaging Might Be Inexpensive, But That Doesn’t Mean It’ll Do the Job

A relocation is, without a doubt, a costly project. And with that in mind, many people decide to buy cheap packing supplies in order to save some cash. Well, if we’ve ever seen a miscalculation – this is it. When you move internationally, you have to pack your fragile items, as well as your furniture.

Some of these items are expensive (like jewelry), others very easily damaged, and the rest are just heavy large items. None of these things can be moved with cheap packaging because a lot of things could go wrong. The boxes may tear open, their bottom might fall through, and tape will stop holding things together. While you don’t need to spend hundreds on the packaging, you should still get some that will make it to your new home.

Free Alternatives Can Sometimes Work Even Better Than Cheap Materials

In a world that conditions us to think of expensive things as high-quality and cheap or free items as low-grade, many don’t even consider the free stuff they have lying around their home. And trust us when we tell you that sometimes, these can save your move, and work better than something you have to spend money on.

So, we recommend looking around your home for free boxes, scissors and tape, and even DIY-ing your wrapping materials. How so, you may ask? Well, cotton items like old shirts, socks, and towels can be great for wrapping objects and filling up boxes. They will work wonders and can even save you space. So, if you don’t want your international movers to provide you with packing services, and you don’t care about spending a bunch on the packaging – this might be the way to go.

#3 Improvising a Relocation Budget Is Never a Good Idea

We’ve talked about a to-do list, but now it’s time to think about your budget. And yes, you do have to think about a relocation expenses checklist because winging it just won’t do the trick. Trust us, there are so many ways you’ll be spending your cash, and things can so easily get out of hand. And unfortunately, unforeseen expenses will always arise. So, if you don’t want to spend more than is required, a thorough budget will have to be created.

Conquer a Financial Plan, and You’ll Master Relocation

Your financial plan should be made long before you start house-hunting since the first thing it should include in the plan is the limit for the rent on the new home, as well as a utility budget. Afterward, you can move on to the price of hiring professionals or renting a truck if you opt for a DIY move.

You’ll also want to determine how much you can (and have to) spend on packaging supplies. Other than that, consider the relocation insurance, tips for your helpers, as well as how much you’ll need to furnish the place. And finally, you have to determine a budget for unforeseen costs – since they always arise. Once all of these are accounted for, you can go ahead and start your relocation process with a clear conscience.

#4 Forgetting to Pack Kitchen Appliances Is Among the More Common Moving Mistakes

You wouldn’t believe all the things people forget to do when they move overseas – that is until it happens to you. The fact that people forget to pack kitchen appliances, such as the microwave, the coffee maker, or even the kettle, seems funny. But it is a common problem.

Almost no one forgets to pack their shoes or to box up pots and pans. However, electrical appliances somehow fall in the same category as objects like the fridge or oven. The thing is, these start looking so much like an integral part of the kitchen that you don’t even remember you were the one who paid for them!

Kitchen Appliances Are Not the Only Things People Commonly Forget to Move to Their New Home

Speaking of things people forget to pack when they move abroad, dry cleaning is a big one. If you are relocating down the street, this is not going to be a problem. However, if you don’t plan on staying in the same neighborhood, forgetting to pick up your dry cleaning might cause you a headache.

And the same goes for returning books to the library, giving your neighbor their USB back, or picking up the photographs the next-door photoshop just developed. So before you move, make sure you gave back, as well as took back everything which was loaned or misplaced.

#5 We Don’t Recommend Calling Up Overseas Shipping Company Last Minute

Trust us, you don’t want to postpone calling up affordable and experienced movers. Leaving this task for the last minute will strip you of your ability to choose the relocation date and maybe even the company you wanted. We know it can be difficult to decide whether you want to hire professionals in the first place and that this is a common reason people avoid making the call.

However, the longer you procrastinate, the higher the chances are you’ll end up relocating without any professional help on the side (and that is almost impossible when relocating across the world). And if you’ve ever moved before, you’ll know that a DIY move can’t compare to a professionally assisted one. After all, people don’t tip movers just because it’s common courtesy – they tip them because they are truly grateful their biggest relocation problem was how many bottles of wine to get for the moving away party.

If You Didn’t Call Up Multiple International Moving Companies to Get Free Quotes, You’re Making a Mistake

Another thing to keep in mind if you plan on hiring the best movers is that you should never hire the first company you call. There is a process to this task, and it’s important to go through it entirely before you hire someone. Here is what you should do:

• Do the initial research – There are two ways to go about this. The first one is to search for companies that provide relocation services in your area and then read their reviews to find the best one. The second is to ask your loved ones who’ve recently moved about their experience with the company. That way, you’ll weed out any mover that employs relocation scams.
• Contact companies to obtain free quotes – Once you’ve narrowed down your choices, it’s time to compare fees. You’ll do this by calling up multiple support centers to get relocation quotes. After they present to you the price for the international moving service, ask for other additional options such as car shipping, and then proceed to the final step.
• Book the ones you like the most – It might take you a few days to get the quotes back, but once you do, it won’t take you long to make a choice. The final variable that will determine who you book is the date availability. Rank your choices and call the first one to book them, and if they aren’t available, move to the next one. It’s as easy as that!

Contact the Best Overseas Moving Company and Start Your Relocation ASAP

Now that you know what the most usual miscalculations are when it comes to relocation, you can go ahead and start your move. And what better way to do so than with the help of a relocation company with abundant experience and expertise in the matter?

Not only will professionals take a lot from your plate, but they will also ensure your belongings come to the desired location in one piece. Don’t hesitate to start your new adventure of living overseas. Now you know the most common mistakes you shouldn’t make, so the whole process will be that much easier. Pick up the phone, call movers and embark on an unforgettable journey.