Whether you’re buying your first Southern Maryland home or relocating to a new property, there are some important things all homebuyers should prepare for when it comes to the moving process. While it can feel like finding the home and closing on the mortgage are the biggest tasks, moving is no small feat. For many homebuyers, a few common mistakes can make their move countless times more stressful than it needs to be. If you’re planning an upcoming move, here are the mistakes you’ll want to avoid.

Underestimating the Time You’ll Need

Too many homebuyers underestimate the amount of time needed to move. This can lead to a frantic, disorganized moving process that leaves you exhausted upon arrival at your new home. The earlier you can start planning for your move the better. A great strategy is to break down everything that will need to get done by room, this way you’re less likely to leave anything off the list. From there, create a calendar for yourself to break down the work over a longer period of time. When you’re able to do a little bit each day to prepare, the actual moving day tends to go much more smoothly.

Passing Up the Opportunity to Declutter

Again, many homebuyers miss this opportunity because they don’t give themselves adequate time to prepare. When you’re rushing to pack, decluttering is probably the last thing on your list. This often means that everything ends up going in boxes and you arrive at your new home with more than you need. Moving is a great chance to go through your belongings and get rid of the things you don’t need. Why waste time packing and unpacking them, only to add clutter to your new space? By working methodically through your belongings in the process of packing, you can clear out so that you arrive at your new home ready to settle in, clutter free.

Failing to Read Up on Movers

Going with just any moving company can cause some serious stress and frustration for homebuyers. Invest a bit of time seeking our recommendations from friends and family or at least reading some reviews online. Especially if you have some valuable possessions you’re concerned about, taking out insurance for your move may be worth looking into as well. Do your research in advance so that you feel confident in your movers to handle your things with care.

Forgetting Your Go-To Bag

It might seem like a small tip, but packing yourself a bag with everything you’ll need for your first night or two at your new home can make the move-in process feel a lot less hectic. Rather than arriving at your new place needing to sort through boxes to find your pajamas and toothbrush, having everything ready to go in one bag can let you unpack strategically and at your own pace. Other great things to include in this bag are some basic cleaning supplies, an extra blanket, and one or two small touches that will make you feel instantly at home.

 

Are you moving in Southern Maryland? Do you have any plans in place to help your move go off without a hitch? How will you avoid these common mistakes? I’d love to hear your thoughts!