Biggest Mistakes Homeowners Make When Moving

Avoid the costly, stressful missteps that trip up movers.

Moving to a new area, especially across the country, comes with a hundred little decisions, and it's easy for one of them to slip. This guide is for homeowners getting ready to sell and relocate who'd rather hear about the common snags now than discover them halfway through moving week.

It covers five mistakes that trip up a lot of movers, and every one of them can be avoided with a little planning.

Listing before you're ready

The first mistake is putting your home on the market too soon. That can mean listing before the house is ready to be shown, or before you're emotionally ready to let it go. A home that goes live half-prepared doesn't make its best first impression, and a seller who isn't ready can find showings, feedback and offers a lot harder to handle.

So give yourself time to get the house show-ready, and be realistic about your own timeline before the sign goes in the yard.

The time and money mistakes nobody plans for

Two of the mistakes come down to underestimating what the in-between costs:

• Leaving things in storage for months. Storage can be a smart short-term bridge, but when it drags on, the monthly fees keep adding up, sometimes for things you didn't even need.
• Expecting new things to arrive overnight. New appliances, furniture and decor can take longer to deliver than you'd expect, so don't plan your first weeks around a delivery date you haven't confirmed.

The fix for both is the same: plan the in-between before it happens. Decide what really needs to be stored and for how long, and order anything new early enough that a delay doesn't leave you without a fridge or a bed.

Measure before you move

Mistake number four is misunderstanding the layout of your new home. It's easy to assume your sectional or dining table will work, then find out on moving day that it doesn't fit the room or the way the space flows. A tape measure is your best friend here. Measure your biggest pieces and compare them to the new rooms before you decide what to bring, what to sell and what to replace.

Don't underestimate packing

The last one is the mistake the guide warns you not to underestimate: packing too late. On average, it takes three to five full days to pack up a three-bedroom house. If you're only packing in the evenings, plan on triple or quadruple that.

So start earlier than feels necessary. Pack the rooms and things you use least first, and save the everyday items for the final days.

The free guide lays out all five in a quick read you can share with everyone in your household before the boxes come out.

Common questions about moving

How long does it take to pack up a house?

On average, three to five full days for a three-bedroom home. If you can only pack in the evenings, expect it to take three to four times as long.

Should I put my things in storage when I move?

Storage can help for a short stretch, but leaving things there for months is one of the most common moving mistakes, since the fees keep adding up. Decide ahead of time what needs storing and for how long.