Are you planning to move into a new home in the near future? Well, you aren't alone. Statistics show that roughly 40 million Americans move each year. While moving is exciting, it can also be stressful. And while there's no way to completely avoid the stress of moving, there are ways to have a smoother move. However, you should avoid the following mistakes when moving into a new home.
Trying to Move Everything Yourself
Don't try to move everything yourself. Some people assume they'll do it themselves to save money, only to discover that this isn't possible. There are certain items, such as furniture and appliances, that require two or more people to safely move -- the keyword being "safely." Attempting to move everything yourself could result in serious injury, in which case you may have to push back your relocation date.
Turning Refrigerator on Side
Another mistake to avoid when moving is turning your refrigerator on its side. Why is this a problem exactly? Turning a refrigerator on its side -- or even tilting it -- may cause oil to leak from the compressor. When this occurs, the motor may burn out, thereby causing your refrigerator to stop working. Unless you're willing to take this risk, which you shouldn't, it's recommended that you keep your refrigerator upright at all times when moving it into your new home.
Not Forwarding Mail
Immediately after moving into your new home, you should contact the local post office to request a mail forwarding service. Otherwise, people and companies will send your mail to your previous address. Post offices typically allow forwarding services for free. You supply them with your previous and current address, and they'll forward any mail sent to your previous address to your new, current address.
Overlooking Door Measurements
Before moving your furniture into your new home, use a measuring tape to get measurements of door frames. You want to make sure that your furniture can fit through the doorways. If a couch, dresser, recliner or other piece of furniture is too big, you may need to remove the door from its hinges.
Forgetting to Label Boxes
Finally, don't forget to label your boxes. You don't have to use any complex or fancy labeling system. Rather, write the room in which the contents belong on the outside of the box. If you have people helping you move, this will ensure that the right boxes end up the right rooms.