Cities
Table of Contents
- 1. Booking Without a Survey
- 2. Leaving Packing to the Last 48 Hours
- 3. Under-Labelling Boxes
- 4. Not Doing a Final Walkthrough
- 5. Skipping the Inventory List
- 6. Ignoring Building Access Requirements
- 7. Packing Valuables and Documents With the Rest of the Shipment
- 8. Assuming Insurance Isn't Necessary
- 9. Choosing a Mover on Price Alone
Most moving-day disasters aren't caused by bad luck — they're caused by the same handful of avoidable mistakes, repeated across thousands of households every moving season. Here are the nine we see most often, and the specific habit that prevents each one.
1. Booking Without a Survey
A phone-only quote is a guess, and guesses get "revised" on moving day when the crew actually sees your home. Insist on an in-person or video survey before accepting any price — it's the single biggest predictor of whether your final bill matches your quote.
2. Leaving Packing to the Last 48 Hours
Packing always takes longer than expected, especially for kitchens and wardrobes. Start with off-season and rarely-used items at least two weeks out, and reserve the final two days for daily essentials only.
3. Under-Labelling Boxes
"Misc" or just a room name tells the crew nothing about how to handle a box. Label with destination room plus a short contents note, and mark fragile boxes clearly on more than one side.
4. Not Doing a Final Walkthrough
The most commonly forgotten items are in places people don't think to check twice: the top of a wardrobe, balcony storage, under-bed drawers, and bathroom cabinets. A slow final walkthrough of every room before the truck leaves catches nearly all of this.
5. Skipping the Inventory List
Without a signed inventory at pickup, a damage or missing-item claim becomes a word-against-word situation. Insist on one, and check items against it as they're unloaded — not after the crew has left.
6. Ignoring Building Access Requirements
A lift booking slot, security clearance, or truck parking permission arranged the day before saves hours on moving day. Confirm these at both ends at least a week in advance, especially in gated societies.
7. Packing Valuables and Documents With the Rest of the Shipment
Jewellery, cash, and important documents should travel with you, not on the truck — not because movers are untrustworthy, but because it's simply safer and faster to have them on hand if you need them mid-journey.
8. Assuming Insurance Isn't Necessary
Skipping transit insurance to save a small percentage exposes you to the full cost of anything damaged, especially on longer interstate routes. It's inexpensive relative to what it protects.
9. Choosing a Mover on Price Alone
The cheapest quote is sometimes cheap because something important — insurance, a written contract, an actual survey — has been left out. Compare quotes on what's included, not just the number at the bottom.