19 Common Moving Mistakes

Recently, Flatbush Moving was featured in a Redfin Real Estate Blog, published by Julia Weaver called: 19 Common Mistakes: What Movers Wish You Knew Before Moving Day

New Home

It’s no surprise that moving is one the most stressful life events. Moving to a new place requires careful planning, organization, and stamina. No matter how many times you do it, it never seems to get any easier.

There are many things in life that are best learned through trial and error. Moving, however, is not one of those things. Whether you’re moving to a new home in your local housing market, or from Sacramento, CA to New York, NY, there’s plenty of room for error. Redfin asked me, along with other moving experts, to share a common moving mistake we see and advice on how to avoid it. Check out what I had to say to help your move go seamlessly!

Many customers prefer to pack the more fragile and delicate items themselves; and then have the movers pack non-breakable items such as books and clothing. We encourage our customers to do the complete opposite. We are professional packers. By letting us pack, it will ensure your fragile items are safely prepared for transport and also covered by the movers liability insurance. – Flatbush Moving Van Co.

19 Common Mistakes: What Movers Wish You Knew Before Moving Day

Moving Appliances

Moving to a new home can be an exciting experience. With this process, there are some major decisions that must be made.

New Home Appliances

With every move, you have the “Who? What? When? Where? Why?” questions.

The most important question of all is “What am I going to move?”

As you go through the list of items you want to bring, many people moving forget a major detail: Appliances.

When buying a new house, it is important to find out if the sellers are going to include their appliances in the sale.

Types of Appliances:

  • RefrigeratorRefrigerator Moving Appliances
  • Dishwasher
  • Oven
  • Built in Microwave
  • Washing MachineWashing Machine and Dryer Appliances Moving
  • Dryer

Then there are the more exotic or extra appliances:

  • Garage Freezer
  • Wine Fridge
  • Outdoor Fridge
  • Garage Fridge

Decision Making & Appliances

In this section, we discuss how to decide which appliances to move (if any).

When negotiating for the purchase of a new home, keep in mind that new appliances cost thousands of dollars!

The seller may bring any and all appliances with them when they move.

Now you must decide if you will move your old appliances or purchase new ones.

If you have any favorite appliances that you want to move, then you have to properly plan and alert your mover that these items are coming.

Tips for Preparing Your Appliances for Moving:

In this section, we give tips on how to prepare your appliances for moving.

There are proper steps to be taken in order to have these appliances prepared for moving day.Do not assume that they can just be unplugged and go as is.

  • Refrigerators must be unplugged and defrosted with the doors open at least one day in advance.
  • Dishwashers must be unhooked from the water line and dried out and drained at least one day in advance.
  • Washing Machines must be unhooked from the water lines and dried out and drained at least one day in advance.
  • Dryers must be unhooked from any gas or power line in advance of the move. There may also be a vent involved and that must be properly dismantled.
  • Ovens must be disconnected from the gas lines in advance of the move.
  • Microwaves are easily unplugged, so no real worry there.Woman Setting Dryer Moving Appliances

When planning on moving any appliance, be sure to let your professionals at Flatbush Moving Van Company know in advance so they can be prepared.

With the proper equipment and handling, these items can easily be moved from any room in the house to any other room in your new home.

Whether these items are in the basement, in the kitchen or in the attic, Flatbush Moving has the tools and wherewithal to successfully move all of your appliances.

Call Flatbush Moving today for a free quote and with all questions on how to move appliances.

Moving with The Weather

The weather is a very important factor during the moving process. Living in New York is a humbling experience. Thus, one of the most humbling factors is dealing with the weather.

This isn’t Los Angeles. This isn’t Florida. We get Four Distinct Seasons.

Preparing for the weather is KEY and every season has it’s own guidelines when it comes to moving.

  1. Moving In Winter

Winter in New York & New Jersey can be amazing and magical (said no one ever).

Winter Home - Moving with the WeatherSure, the Christmas season is super awesome for tourists and holiday enthusiasts; but, for the rest of us, it can be too cold to function.

Getting out of bed on a cold morning only to walk to the subway and get into work with a bit of frost bite is not fun.

Well, moving in the winter is not fun either. BUT, it can be.

With proper planning, moving in the winter can be easy.

A couple of key tips for moving in winter:

  • Don’t disconnect utilities/heat until move is complete.
  • If you see snow in forecast for your move date, consider an alternate date (discuss with move coordinator).
  • If you have no choice but to move in the snow, expect longer move time and longer drive time.

There is nothing you can do about the snow, but you can certainly prepare for it properly.

 

  1. Moving in Spring

Congrats on choosing to move in the spring.

Spring Home - Moving with the Weather

Whether it was your choice or not, this is a great time to move.

The winter chill is gone, the summer heat is still a little ways away and odds are you’re going to get an unbelievable day for your move.

However, as the old adage goes: “April Showers Bring May Flowers”. So, rain in the spring is completely normal.

A couple of key tips for moving in spring:

  • Keep an eye on the forecast! See if it’s going to rain on the day of your move – check out the hour by hour. Discuss with your move coordinator!
  • Weather proof as many things as you can. For items you are specifically worried about, wrap in plastic to avoid getting wet.
  • If the rain looks bad, talk to your moving coordinator and change your date.

Moving in the spring is usually okay; but rain can happen. Only real thing to worry about here

 

  1. Moving in Summer

Moving in the summer?

You and everyone else.Summer Home - Moving with the Weather

Summertime is the busiest time for moving.

Kids are out of school, people take their summer vacations and real estate deals are closed on (following the spring show season).

It’s busy. It’s hot. It’s light outside all day long.

A couple of key tips for moving in summer:

  • Book your mover as early as possible. So many people move this time of year and moving companies book up FAST. Don’t get stuck last minute searching for a mover only to end up with an unlicensed, untrained crew in a small van.
  • Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. You should stay hydrated throughout the moving process and you should help the crew stay hydrated as well. To make sure of this, I recommend getting a case of water or a couple of gallon jugs in advance to serve to the crew throughout the move process.
  • Let your air conditioner be the last thing moved. Keep it going during the move to ensure everyone is comfortable. Also, the last thing moved out is the first thing moved in. Know in advance where the AC is going in your new place so that it can be set up and turned on before the rest of your items are moved in.
  • Avoid FRIDAYS. If you’ve lived in New York or New Jersey for at least one summer season you know that Fridays are chaos. Everyone is trying to get to their summer weekend destinations (see: The Hamptons; Jersey Shore). This affects traffic patterns and could extend your moving day.

Moving in the summer can be unavoidable, the best way to do it is to be prepared (like every other season!)

 

  1. Moving in Autumn

Autumn Home - Moving with the Weather

Congrats on choosing to move in the Autumn.

The weather is mild, the traffic is light and the leaves are starting to change (this doesn’t affect the move).

Only thing to keep an eye on is the forecast. Rain? Inclement weather? Early snow? Reschedule or discuss options with your move consultant.

A couple of key tips for moving in Autumn:

  • Just keep an eye on the forecast
  • Be sure to have a sweater handy; it may be warm in the day but cold in the night.
  • Be prepared just like every other season

Moving in the autumn is ideal for everyone.

 

Moving, no matter the season, is a challenge. But, with proper planning it can be easy as 1, 2, 3!

Contact Flatbush Moving today for more information on what to expect when moving with the weather!

 

Do It Yourself (D.I.Y.) Move

The Do It Yourself Move is a popular option for young professionals in New York City as well as people with a small amount of furniture, light furniture and mostly boxes.

New York City DIY Moving

Maybe a Do It Yourself move makes sense for people with easy access to pick up trucks or vans.

People who have a lot of friends or family near their home are also big fans of the Do It Yourself move.

Although a professional moving company will always encourage their potential customers to use professionals, if you decide to take on the task of moving on your own here are some tips to make this experience as easy as possible.

5 Tips for a Do It Yourself Move

  1. Who.You are going to need some help.Start asking at least one week in advance so you can get as many people as possible.

    Lunch With Friends DIY Move

    Bribe your friends with beer and pizza; and if they have an SUV, pick up truck or van, offer gas money.

    Even offer to pay for a car wash when the move is done!

  2. When.Naturally, you won’t want to take time off from work to do your move.If you are moving from a private home to a private home, then you can make this happen easily by moving on the weekend.

    But, if you live in an apartment building and are moving to another building, confirm that you can move in on a weekend.

    Not all buildings allow this, so it’s best to check in advance

  3. How.
    Rental Truck for DIY Move
    Figuring out how to move your items is key.If your friends don’t have cars or you need more than a couple of sedans, consider renting a truck.Daily rates for small box trucks are very reasonable. Check out U-Haul for cheap rentals; but make sure you read the fine print!

    Although if you’re in a city like Manhattan, finding a truck rental place may take you into the outer boroughs.

  4. Where.Street Parking in New York  can be rough.Finding a place to leave a rental truck can be even tougher.

    Depending on which street you’re moving from and to, as well as where your building is, you may need to double park (potential traffic hazard) or park by a fire hydrant (potential BIG parking ticket).

    If you have friends and family helping, designate one person to be on truck/car duty.

    They will help load but also be on the look out for traffic cops looking to issue tickets.

    Be sure that person knows how to drive in the event they have to move the vehicle.

  5. Why.

    A DIY move can be a great, bonding experience with you and your friends and family; but keep in mind that the reason for the DIY move is to save money.Try not to splurge on a bunch of expensive meals for everyone and stick to domestic beer (if that’s part of the plan).

Happy People DIY Move

Flatbush Moving can help you if you bit off more than you can chew.

A Do It Yourself move on paper looks much more attractive than when you are carrying furniture down four flights of stairs.

Call Flatbush Moving today to discuss your options. We provide free consultations to figure out the BEST way to do your move.

Parking on Moving Day

Moving Trucks - Fleet

Parking the moving truck on moving day can be a challenging detail that many people overlook.

People who are moving have enough on their plate, like packing, finding a new place and changing your address on all subscriptions and billing.

Whether you choose to hire a professional mover or decide to Do It Yourself, parking is something to be considered by all parties involved.

Here are some tips for the four major regions of the New York and New Jersey area.

Those four regions are:

  1. Manhattan
  2. The Outer Boroughs; includes Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx
  3. Hoboken
  4. The Suburbs; includes Long Island and New Jersey

For a smooth move, truck placement is a key detail that should be discussed in advance.

  1. Manhattan

Let’s be real for a second and recognize that parking in New York City is essentially non-existent. Parking the moving truck on the day of your move can be a challenge.

However, that does not mean it is impossible!

Manhattan Skyline

A helpful tip is to check the parking rules and regulations outside of your apartment building.

Some important things to look at and ask yourself is:

    • Is there alternate side parking?
    • Is there commercial only parking?
    • No standing zone?
    • Bus stop?
    • Fire Hydrant?

All of these possibilities are important for different reasons.

If it’s alternate side parking rules, maybe choose the day on the sign as your moving day. That’ll ensure an empty side of your street and the truck can easily park right outside.

Is it a Commercial Only parking area during the day? If so, that’s a huge benefit to you! Now, the truck will not have to compete with passenger vehicles for parking.

The movers will simply be prepared to pay the meter to prevent parking tickets.

If there’s a Bus Stop, Fire Hydrant or a No Standing Zone; the truck may have to take a chance to make it a smooth moving experience.

However, a parking ticket is possible and that could potentially increase the cost of the move.

Naturally, we want to give all of our customers the best possible move. But, in New York City, sometimes that means parking tickets.

If the truck has to park more than half a block away, you can expect a longer, more expensive and more unpredictable move.

Sometimes, we should consider putting an extra mover on the job to expedite the process. The driver always stays with the truck to ensure no parking violations and safe passage for other vehicles.

It is best to be prepared in advance with the information for the parking rules near your home so that your mover knows how to plan and price your move.

  1. Outer Boroughs

Brooklyn can be difficult in many places, very similar to the Manhattan world. Same rules would apply as in the Manhattan portion.

Brooklyn Bridge

Queens can be better suited for moving, but in certain areas the streets are extremely tight and difficult to maneuver.

Long Island City and Astoria are neighborhoods that have favorable alternate sides and many commercial areas for a smooth move.

Staten Island is an outer borough but can be considered as “The Suburbs”.

There is a lot of space to perform a move here.

The Bronx is a hybrid of all the other boroughs.

Some parts can be tough with parking the moving truck, especially near Yankee Stadium. But others are beneficial to the move process.

As always, be prepared in advance with the parking rules and normal operating procedure for the movers information to create a moving plan for you.

  1. Hoboken

Hoboken is one of the best places to move in the metropolitan area.

Tunnels to Jersey Street Signs - Parking Moving Truck

A Parking Permit can be acquired by the city of Hoboken to reserve space right outside your apartment for parking the moving truck.

This parking permit can be put out in advance of the move so that people know they cannot park in that space on your move day and time.

Yes, it costs money; but at least it will prevent parking violations and fines.

You have two options: acquire the parking permit yourself or have the moving company do it for you.

Keep in mind, this service is not free from most moving companies; but for Flatbush Moving it is!

This will help ensure a smooth move experience since the truck has a reserved spot right in front of the building.

  1. The Suburbs

Not much to worry about when parking in The Suburbs.

Most residential areas on Long Island and New Jersey will have a lot of space for parking the moving truck.

Suburban Home - Parking Moving Truck is Easy

Only a couple of things to look out for, which are not very serious.

The first thing is to try and minimize interruption for your neighbors Perhaps let them know in advance that you will be moving on a certain day and so they won’t be surprised or put out from a moving truck being in front of your house.

The second thing is to alert your township or neighborhood. Sometimes, they’ll send out a police escort or just have officials on call to ensure a smooth process.

All in all, suburban life is great because there is usually ample parking.

Maybe park your cars on the street to make sure your neighbors do not take up valuable spots that would be helpful for the move.

Either way, the truck should be able to pull right up to the resident and make the move as easy as 123.

When moving in New York or New Jersey, Flatbush Moving Van Company can help you make a detail-oriented move plan.

From the city to the suburbs, Flatbush Moving has your back.

Call today for a free consultation for your upcoming move.