Moving to a new city, state, or country can be an exciting journey. You get a chance to start your life from a new perspective at a different location and explore new avenues. However, the notion of packing up your entire life and moving to a completely unfamiliar place can be rather daunting. This sentiment is particularly strong when you’re parting ways with the vibrant city of Tampa. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that a whopping 7.3% increase in inflation and a significant 46% surge in housing costs have compelled many individuals to bid farewell to Tampa and explore new opportunities elsewhere.
Whatever your reasons for leaving Tampa and moving long distance, it’s essential to properly plan your entire relocation from the minute you make this big decision. Even some minor slip-ups and lack of planning can end up in chaos. However, avoiding some common mistakes in your long-distance move can save valuable time and money and help you ease the entire moving process. Here are some crucial mistakes you should always steer clear of when embarking on a long-distance journey:
Failing to Plan Ahead of Time
A long-distance move out of Tampa is not an easy feat, but comprehensive planning can make this significant life event easy and hassle-free. This lack of planning eventually leads to disarray and confusion. Therefore, it’s best to start preparing for your move as early as possible.
First things first, you need to find a credible Tampa long distance moving company to book your moving dates well in advance. Many moving companies experience periods of high demand, often tied to specific seasons. To avoid these complications, take the time to research moving companies and familiarize yourself with their peak seasons. In this way, you can schedule your move on a date feasible for both you and the moving company.
Also, bear in mind that most moving companies tend to raise their prices during peak seasons. If you happen to hire a moving company at the last minute, you might encounter delays in scheduling, higher costs, or even unavailability when you need their services. When you plan ahead of time, you can choose a less busy date to avoid higher prices, making it easier to handle your finances.
Lack of Research
Lack of research is a common mistake for long-distance movers. While there are many moving companies available, they are not all the same. Simply clicking on the first website the search engine puts before you is not sufficient. It’s important to gather references, review credentials, and read customer feedback. More importantly, be sure to verify licensing and assess their track record. Selecting the wrong moving company can turn down your entire long-distance move, as you might end up damaging your belongings or going way over your budget.
Underestimating Costs
A long-distance move is typically a costly endeavor. Underestimating the expenses or lacking a proper budget is a common mistake most of us make, which usually leads to overspending. A successful long-distance move requires you to create a comprehensive budget which entails the following major expenses:
- Moving company charges
- Packing supplies cost
- Traveling expenses
- Temporary accommodation expenses
- Bills and insurance costs
- Cleaning costs
- Any permit fees
- Extra food expenses during the transition
- Moving taxes and fees
Besides these planned expenditures, be sure to spare some extra cash for any unexpected expenses that may arise along the way. This way, you can prepare yourself financially for the move and avoid running out of cash once you need it the most. Moreover, keep in mind that the actual costs of your long-distance move can vary based on the distance of your move, the amount of belongings you’re moving, fleet options, and other specific circumstances.
Ignoring Insurance
It’s important to keep your precious belongings protected during the entire long-distance move. However, many individuals skimp on insurance expenses to cut down their moving budget. When you neglect insurance coverage, you lose the right to claim for any damage during transportation or temporary storage, and your long-distance move ends up costing you way more than the insurance costs itself.
Although many long-distance moving companies offer standard insurance coverage, be sure to purchase additional insurance if your belongings contain fragile items or antiques. This way, you can rest assured that the moving company will be liable for compensating for any damages that occurred during the transition, and you won’t have to pay for the damages out of your pocket.
Packing Everything Yourself
Professional movers take a lump sum for their full-service option, which includes everything from disassembling furniture to packing, storing, moving, and assembling your items at the destination. Although these services may cost you some extra bucks, they’re usually always worthwhile.
Long-distance move is a complex process that involves loads of planning and paperwork besides packing and moving. A DIY move may be a suitable alternative if you don’t have a lot of goods that need to come with you.
Not Packing the Essentials Separately
On a typical first day of moving into a new home, you may find yourself rummaging through packing boxes to gather the most important items. This is another huge mistake we usually make when moving long distances. To avoid this scenario, it’s essential to make a moving kit and label all your packing boxes according to the room they belong to, the items inside each box, and their level of importance or urgency.
Overpacking or Underpacking Items
Balancing the right amount of packing can be challenging during a long-distance move. It’s tempting to stuff all we can into a box and use the minimum number of packing boxes. However, when you overpack a box, it can tear open during transportation, and the items may come out of the box and get damaged. At the same time, underpacking your items with inadequate padding can make the item toss inside the packing box and cause significant loss. Take the time to pack systematically using appropriate packing materials and avoid stuffing items into boxes.
Final Thoughts
Without a well-thought-out plan, moving long distances can be a challenging task. However, if you avoid the above common pitfalls and ensure careful planning and precise execution, you can make your long-distance move smoother and less stressful. In addition to the above tips, remember to reduce your baggage as much as you can to reduce your moving costs.