7 Biggest Moving Mistakes To Avoid

Moving house soon?  Here are 7 biggest moving mistakes to avoid if you want to minimise moving stress as much as possible. 

There is a lot to do when it comes to moving house and it's very easy to make a mistake if you don't know what to expect.

Here are some of the biggest moving mistakes you want to avoid, as they can seriously cost you time and money ! We'll also go through exactly how you can avoid these mistakes.

1.) Miscommunication
2.) Not doing your research
3.) Not keeping a paper trail
4.) Not factoring in enough time
5.) Losing track of finances
6.) Not nipping issues in the bud
7.) Not knowing who to contact when things go wrong
 
This post is all about the biggest moving mistakes to avoid.

1.) Moving Mistakes: Miscommunication

Miscommunication is a moving mistake you seriously want to avoid when moving house. Since moving requires a lot of co-ordination and planning with different people, you need to be super clear with instructions and make sure everyone is on the same page.

Some top tips on how you can avoid miscommunication are:

• Call services (removals company/solicitor/locksmith etc) well in advance to ensure they have plenty of notice
  
  
• Be very specific with exactly what you need
  
  
• Check you're stating the correct address, date and times
  
  
• Follow up with an email so the conversation is documented in writing, especially the cost of services. This way nobody can try and charge you a higher price later
  
  
• A couple days before a service is due (i.e. removals company showing up to your house), call them again as a reminder to re-confirm that they're definitely showing up at the correct time and address. If there has been no communication for a while, don't expect them to just turn up on the day
  
  
• Keep everyone updated if there are any changes to your plans. i.e. if the time you're showing up to your new house changes, don't forget to tell the locksmith person to show up at the correct time
  
  
• If somebody is becoming unresponsive, don't wait it out until the last minute. Follow up to see if there is any more news
  
  
• Never make any assumptions

Making assumptions is always a slippery slope. Something that is obvious to you may not be obvious to somebody else, so even if you think something is clear, it may not be ! It's always better to be on the safe side and spell things out. 

2.) Moving Mistakes: Not doing your research

It can be very tempting to just go with the quickest and cheapest option. However, this is never a good idea! Whilst you may think you're saving time and money, it may just end up costing you more in the long-run if lots of issues pop up along the way. 

Ask the right house viewing questions

When going for a house viewing, make sure you go prepared to ask all the right house viewing questions. Don't be tempted to get a property just because you like the way it looks. There could be a whole bunch of issues and you need to get to the bottom of what these are !

Picking the right companies

When using services (i.e solicitors, surveyor, removals companies etc), it's always best to look at a few before picking one. Make sure you're using a reputable company with good reviews.

• Find a lawyer through the Law Society
• Find a surveyor through The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
• Find a removals company through British Association of Removers Removals 

When choosing a removals company, it is best to get at least 3 different quotations from 3 different companies. Don't always rely on reviews and what social media says. Follow up on references and speak to people directly to find out how their experience was.

Ask about insurance

Do not be afraid to ask for a copy of the company's insurance policy too. Any reputable company will be more than happy to send you this.  If they're not, that should be a red flag.

One of the most important aspects of moving is that the removals company turns up on the day, so you can move out on time and meet your contractual obligations. Check the removals company’s insurance policy and see what their terms are. If there was an emergency and they did not turn up on the day,  how would this be dealt with? Does their insurance cover for it?

Also check your house insurance policy beforehand and see what this covers you for on moving day if something goes wrong, such as a medical emergency, removal van not turning up, damaged furniture, lost or stolen items etc.

Reading documentation thoroughly

There will be various documentation you'll receive when moving house. These include invoices, contracts and so on.  Don't assume that everything will be in order. Make sure you have thoroughly checked what's in your documents and contract, as once you've signed, you've locked yourself in. 

Some key things to check are:

• The contract states the full address of the property, purchase price, date of exchange and completion, and other information you have agreed to. Make sure you are buying the correct property for the correct amount ! 
  
  
• If you're buying a property, you will also receive a TA10 form (also knows as fixtures and fittings form), which is part of the contract. This form outlines what is being left at the property
  
  
• If you're renting, an inventory will be completed before you move in of the items left in the rented property and what condition they're in

3.) Moving Mistakes: Not keeping a paper trail

Keep a paper trail in a safe place

Keeping a paper trail is so important! Not only in terms of avoiding miscommunication but also to cover yourself.  

It is really important to have 'evidence’ in case a problem escalates into a much bigger problem and you need to refer back to past events, information, telephone calls etc. Print out copies to keep filed in a safe place.

Keep a diary of events

You should also keep a diary of the events as they happen. This is really useful as it can be very difficult to remember events that happened at a particular time on a particular date, especially when you are so busy dealing with other things at the same time.   

In the diary, note down times, names of people you spoke to, how many people came to your property that day etc.

Take photos for your record

Photograph or video your belongings before they're moved by a removals company or before putting them into storage. It's always helpful to have before and after photos with a time and date stamp in case there is any damage.

4.) Moving Mistakes: Not factoring in enough time

Being over-optimistic and underestimating how long everything is going to take is one of the very common moving mistakes. If you want to minimise your stress, it's never a good idea to leave everything to the last minute, as this will more than likely cause problems.

Things you can do to stay on track are:

• View our ultimate moving house checklist to get a rough timeline and checklist of when you need to start doing things for moving house. Whilst everything may appear overwhelming, once you start working through the list methodically and checking things off as you go, you will quickly see progress
  
  
• Check removals companies/services availability early even if you don't have a firm date to book in yet. You can just pencil in a rough date and confirm later
  
  
• Set aside a few minutes at the beginning of each day to run through what should be happening that day and the week ahead.  This way you are constantly reminding yourself of what needs to be done and you will feel more in control
  
  
• Delegate out tasks where you can. If you have other family members or friends helping you, see if you can give them a small job to do. Just make sure it's clear who is doing what!

5.) Moving Mistakes: Losing Track Of Finances

Make sure you understand how much everything is going to cost you upfront. Don't just assume the average cost of buying or moving house is how much it's going to cost you! You can view our costs of buying a house post to know what costs to factor into your budget.

When using other companies always....

• Check the company's payment terms
  
  
• Get invoices and quotations in writing  
  
  
• Be wary of requests for large deposits up front. This can be a warning the company is not financially stable or a scam !  Most good and reputable companies do not need large deposits to start a job or supply a service
  
  
• Beware of rogue traders if you're getting building work done before you move in. Search the company online. You can use Checkatrade/Trustatrader, but do not always rely on their information only. These organisations are just a first step. Always check with Companies House about its directors, financial history etc. This will help you build up a picture of the companies viability and reliability
  
  
• Make payments on time.  Do not give others an excuse to say they are not providing the service because payment was late/delayed

6.) Moving Mistakes: Not nipping issues in the bud

Trust your instincts

If you see a potential problem that could occur and something doesn't sit right with you, check it out immediately. Trust your instincts and do not leave it. Examples of this include the removals team not handling your belongings properly, solicitor's being unresponsive etc.

Even if it turns out to be not a problem, you at least then have peace of mind knowing that there isn't an issue. Remember, if things go wrong it will ultimately be you who will have the hassle of trying to resolve it on top of everything else. 

People often make the mistake of identifying a problem early on and not acting on it. You really need to think how it will play out if it's not resolved quickly.  Hoping the problem will resolve itself or go away by waiting is not the best solution.

Inform the relevant person

Make the relevant party aware that there is a problem and try and sort it out. You should not assume that the other party knows about the problem. 

Remember to put everything in writing so that you are creating a paper trail. Even if the other party will not put things in writing, you should still write an email confirming what the conversation included. Keep a log of all calls made/received, emails, dates, time, name of person you spoke to etc.

7.) Moving Mistakes: Not knowing who to contact when things to wrong

If something does go wrong, first try and be understanding to see if an alternative solution can be found. Sometimes things happen that are out of people’s control and getting annoyed with the company/person will not resolve the problem.  Try and stay calm to see if they can help you find a solution.

If that fails, then knowing who to contact when things go wrong will come in very handy...

General advice and ownership of property

• Citizens Advice Bureau -  You can contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for general advice and they can also take your details and get Trading Standards (see below) to contact you
  
  
• HM Land Registry  -  You can use this website to check who is the current legal owner of a property in the UK, how much they paid for their property and the area of the property/land

Local authority and services

• Trading standards  - local authority department that protects consumers from unfair trading issues, such as bad practices, sub-standard workmanship, safety issues etc
  
  
• National Trading Standards Estate Agency Team (NTSEAT) (part of Trading Standards UK). If you have a problem or complaint about an estate agent contact this organisation.
  
  
• Local Authority Planning Department. Contact them if there are any issues to do with planning permission for a new build property, refurbishment, extension etc. Most information is public record so you can check your own planning permission application/approval, any neighbours permission that has been granted or current planning applications going through
  
  
• Local Authority Highways Department. This deals with any issues to do with roads/streets in your area. This includes lights not working, road signs, permission for crossover out of and into your drive etc
  
  
• Local Library – some libraries have advice centres for the local area. If you have any type of problem, sometimes libraries may have the names of local organisations or companies that can help you with a particular issue
  
  
• Local university law department sometimes operate free legal advice clinics if you have any type of civil dispute
  
  

Private Companies

• To help find a suitable solicitor contact the Law Society. They can give you some advice if you have a dispute about a solicitor and the procedure to follow.
  
  
• Contact The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors for help finding a chartered surveyor and to get advice on the complaints procedure if you have a dispute about a surveyor
  
  
• British Association of Removers Removals company. You can find a professional removal company and get advice on the complaints procedure if you have a dispute

Utilities

•  Gas Safe Register UK for gas information, to find a gas registered installer or complaints procedure
  
  
• National Inspection Council for Electric Installation Contracting for electrical information and to find a NICEIC registered electrician or the complaints procedure
  
  
• Your local service providers: Gas, Electric, Water etc can be contacted if you have a problem with a gas leak,  electrical power cut or burst water main

Insurance

• Your house building/contents insurance company

Under your insurance policy you might have purchased ‘Legal Protection’, which can sometimes help if you have a particular issue.  You will be able to speak to a lawyer free of charge, who can guide you regarding the law, your rights and, if necessary, take on your case for you.  

The Legal Protection can be limited to a certain amount e.g £ 100,000.00 of legal cover, so you need to check your policy to see how much cover you have. This insurance can come in very handy in case anything goes wrong and you need a solicitor.

And that's it! You've reached the end :).

This post was all about 7 biggest moving mistakes to avoid.

If you found this helpful, you can view our upcoming content on our coming soon page to see what's next !