Last summer, between the months of June and August, nearly 50 million people logged on to Homes.com searching for a new home. Summer is a busy moving season for many reasons – the weather is nice, kids are out of school and the real estate market is prime!
If you are one of the millions of Americans who plan to pack up your home and make the move across town, state or even the country, Homes.com and Mattress Firm want to help you avoid moving fails this summer. Plenty of mishaps can occur when moving, so here are four moving fails and our tips on how to avoid them.
Fail: Dragging your old, heavy mattress down flights of stairs, through the street and into a dirty moving truck, or worse, on top of your car.
How to avoid it: Did you know that your mattress accumulates sweat, dust mites and dead skin cells over the years? If you’ve been sleeping on your mattress for more than eight years, moving to a new house is an optimal time to invest in a good night’s sleep. Before the move, check your mattress tags and replace any mattresses that are more than eight years old. If your bed hasn’t quite reached the eight-year mark, be sure to use a mattress cover during your move to protect it from damage during transport.
Fail: You’re still taping up boxes and mapping out your route on moving day.
How to avoid it: Plan your move well ahead of time – poor planning can be inconvenient and frustrating. For a successful relocation, thorough preparation and organization are key.
Create a room-by-room checklist – note items that need to be packed room by room and don’t forget little things like small appliances and plants. Purchase boxes ahead of time (or get them from friends who have recently moved) to ensure that you have plenty to pack up your entire house. While you’re at it, purchase bubble wrap for fragile items, tape, scissors, labels and any other special packaging like mattress and TV covers or rug storage bags. Research and schedule movers in advance, or if you are going the DIY route, be sure to rent a truck with plenty of time before the big day. Summer is especially busy for moving and you don’t want to get stuck paying premium prices for waiting too long. Check out more moving tips on our Pinterest page.
Fail: Jamming as much as you can into one box, only to result in the bottom breaking open and your valuable belongings scattering down the street.
How to avoid it: Moving can be expensive, but skimping on supplies can result in damage to your property and a headache for you. Look for boxes that are made of sturdy materials and packing tape that will keep your belongings tightly enclosed. Avoid over-packing boxes and look for special packing materials that will make moving your larger items easier.
Fail: Being the person on the highway with a mattress strapped to the top of your car and boxes piled high into your car.
How to avoid it: If you are not using a moving company, be sure that you are safely moving your items to avoid putting others in danger. Make sure your boxes are stacked appropriately, enabling you to see through your rear window, and items are securely fastened using items like bungee cords and ropes to keep items in place on the drive.
Even with plenty of planning, moving inevitably produces a few moving fail moments. Head over to the Mattress Firm Facebook page and share your #MovingFail moment for a chance to win!
