Things That Could Go Wrong on Moving Day and How to Avoid Them

With military precision, you have planned and prepared your upcoming home move…….

• Moving Home Timeline and Checklist – Populated and each item ticked off.
• Home decluttered – Everything to be moved is essential, useful, or wanted.
• Moving Budget – Budget set and all costs accounted for.
• Removal Company selected – Reviews scrutinised and Removal Company interviewed.
• Packing Materials – Appropriate supplies sourced.
• Packing completed – With extra special care taken of the fragile items.
• Boxes labelled – Well-labelled, including a designated room in the new home.
• Open First Box – Prepared and in a safe place.

But of course, no matter how well everything has gone with your home move so far, come moving day, it will be time for Finagle’s Law of Dynamic Negatives – If something can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible moment.

Some things that can go wrong with your home move will be totally out of your control, but some things we can still anticipate and plan for.

And of course, you can prepare yourself mentally for anything that comes your way.

What we need to do is eliminate any unexpected moving day problems that may ruin your home move.

If we consider every eventuality now, we will be better prepared to handle problems on moving day.

So let us look at any potential moving day problems and how to solve them.

But first, it would be prudent to take these extra few precautions before moving day.

• Have sufficient levels of insurance to cover your items whilst in transit.
• Consider having Late Key Waiver Insurance
• If you have a large chain of movers in your home move, a Removal Company cancellation waiver may be wise to have.
• Measure all your furniture to ensure it will safely get through doorways and hallways in your old and new home.
• Make a floor plan to ensure your old furniture fits in the floor space available in your new home.

So, we have planned meticulously and have appropriate levels of home moving insurance coverage.

Let’s take a look at what Murphy’s Law can now throw at us, and how we might prepare for things that might go wrong on moving day.

What Can Go Wrong on Moving Day?

Weather

Just like the day you plan for a picnic in the park, you can guarantee it is going to rain on moving day!

Be prepared with appropriate clothing – sturdy boots and waterproofs at least.

Have something like plastic sheeting available to lay on the floors to protect them from the mud that will inevitably be trodden through your home, and ensure that all your items being moved are well packed against the elements.

Check traffic and weather reports for not only local roads but also where you are moving to.

It is also a good idea to have a backup route in case any roads are impassable but be sure that if you are driving your own van that there are no height or weight restrictions on any route you plan.

Of course, you could have the opposite scenario and there may be a mini heatwave come moving day.

Again dress appropriately with lightweight clothing and have lots of fluids available to keep you and your removal team hydrated.

You may also like to read: Tips for Moving in Bad Weather. In this guide, we share with you tips on how to prepare for moving home in bad weather. From how to protect your floors to how to prepare your car, these are invaluable tips if moving in wet or snowy conditions.

Traffic

#Traffic Jams – Traffic Jams are almost inevitable and your home removal company will have factored in enough time to accommodate most traffic jam delays.

Whilst it may be frustrating and a little taxing on your nerves, it is unlikely that a traffic jam will bring your moving day to a grinding halt.

#Parking – As part of your moving day preparations ensure that if parking space is required for the removal lorry, then it is available.

This should have been arranged in the run-up to moving day but Murphy’s law may raise his head again and some inconsiderate driver may park in a reserved bay.

There is no point in stressing unduly about this, yes it may cause a bit of extra work for the removal team with a bit further for them to walk, or delay the loading of your van for a while, but it is not the end of the world.

#Road Traffic Accidents – If you are moving within the UK, although arrival at your new home may be delayed a few hours, it is unlikely to be a show-stopper if there are road delays due to a traffic accident.

If you are having an international home move and you miss the ferry, yes it will have more of an impact, but there will always be another ferry to catch (from personal experience I know that it is possible to arrive at the docks well outside your sail times and be loaded onto to the next available ferry).

If however, your removal van was involved in an RTA then with the best will in the world you cannot prevent that from happening if that is your karma.

What you can do though is ensure that you choose a reputable home removal company.

By doing so, it is far more likely that the vehicles will be well maintained and the driver will be experienced in maneuvering such a large vehicle.

Crucially the company will have the appropriate levels of insurance in place in case of an accident resulting in damage to your household goods.

#Road Works – As part of your pre-move preparations keep an eye on the local news for announcements of road works that may affect your home move.

Equally, look on the Internet for local news from the area you are moving to.

If there is anything that you think may have an impact on your moving day schedule, then let the removal company know as soon as possible so that they can plan around the problem.

Remember that the removal vehicle may well take a route that is different from the one that you expect, they may be avoiding low bridges or weight restrictions, so widen your net to take this into consideration.

If in doubt ask the removal company which route they intend to drive.

You may also like to read: Self-Drive Removal Vans – All You Need to Know. If you are undertaking a self-move you will find lots of useful information in this guide about hiring, loading, and driving a removal vehicle.

Delays in Moving Out or Into Your New Home

#Key Release Delayed – It is possible to take out insurance to cover additional costs that you may incur on moving day, should the release of the keys to your new home be delayed.

The removal company will charge you waiting time at an hourly rate for any delays whilst gaining access to your new home.

This can run into hundreds of pounds so it is worth taking out the extra insurance cover.

#Legal Paperwork – Solicitors not having the paperwork ready to release funds from bank accounts, for example, can delay the exchange of keys.

Check that this scenario is covered by your home removal insurance policy.

 #No parking – Ensure that there is adequate parking at the delivery end of your home move, it would be all too easy to organize the loading of the removal van and forget that it requires space at the other end to unload.

#Your new home is not empty – The Removal Company of the people for the house you are moving into is delayed.

If you are in a chain then the more households in the chain, the more likely there is for something to go wrong on moving day.

There is not too much you can do about this, other than ensure you have sufficient home removal insurance in place to cover the delay.

You may also like to read: Home Removal Insurance – Do I Need It? Insuring your home move against every eventuality is money well spent. Here we explain the various policies available, the average costs, and why it makes sense to fully insure your home move.

Removal Company Incompetence and Scams

#You are the victim of a moving company scam – This is probably the worst thing that can happen moving home and can manifest in a couple of ways: you may be charged for unexpected extras on moving day or, worse case, the van will be loaded and will drive off into the sunset.

You may like to read: How to Avoid Moving Company Scams. Whilst not common, it is also not unheard of for people to fall victim to Removal Company Scams. Here we share tips on how to avoid becoming their next victim.

#Incompetent Removal Company – The wrong size van may turn up on moving day, the van be badly loaded and the removal team run out of space for all your things, or they may lack the proper equipment and experience to execute your home move satisfactorily.

If you have invested time and effort in recruiting your removal company, then you have done all you can to minimize the risk of any problems with your chosen removal company.

Note that if your removal company is a member of a removal company industry regulatory body such as the British Association of Removers (BAR) or National Guild of Removers and Storers (NGRS), they are bound by a code of ethics and additionally, you have recourse through those associations if you have a dispute with your removal company.

You may also like to read Removal Industry Associations in which we highlight the benefits of choosing a moving company who are either members of a trade association or are accredited by recognised quality institutions.

Risk of Personal Injury

Above all else, safety should be at the top of your priorities on moving day. An accident can not only ruin moving day but beyond.

#Keep Children and Pets out of harm’s way ­– If possible arrange for children and pets to be looked after away from the melee of moving day. This will be safer for them and the removal team.

# Keep entry and exit ways clear – Ensure there are no trip hazards on any ingress or egress routes.

#Don’t rush – Yes, you want to get the moving process over with as soon as possible, but rushing around is the easiest way to cause an accident.

#Know your limits – If doing a self-move enlist the help of others. There is no point in damaging your back just to prove you can lift two boxes at once.

You may also like to read: 14 Things You Should Know About Moving Home Safely. In this guide, we highlight 14 hazards that you should be aware of when moving home and how to ensure that you have a safe home move.

How to Handle Problems when Moving Home – Be Mentally Prepared

Remaining calm on moving day is essential for not only your own well-being but for those around you.

The more prepared you are physically and mentally for moving day, the easier it will be.

• Ensure that there is nothing left to pack on moving day except the absolute bare essentials you need moving day morning. The last thing you want to be doing is rushing around packing on moving day.

• Get plenty of rest the day before you move and ensure a good night’s sleep before moving day.

• Set an alarm on moving day so that you do not oversleep and are ready and waiting for the removal team to arrive. There is nothing worse than starting the day off in a panic.

• Consider having children and pets looked after away from the dangers of moving home. It is one less thing to have to worry about and is also better for their well-being.

• Set aside a place of sanctuary on moving day. Somewhere you can just escape for 5 minutes to collect your thoughts and regroup yourself. It could be sitting in the garden or even in the car, but having that place to escape can be essential.

• It is important to establish a good working relationship with your removal team and a cup of tea and a biscuit together will get the day off to a good start.

Treat others as you would wish them to treat you, as they say, and it is one of the key tricks for solving home move problems become they become moving day nightmares.

Your relocation is likely to go far smoother with a happy removal team.

Remember that they are the professionals, they move houses day in, and day out, but you should still be around if they have any questions for you during the day.

And one saying that has got me through many events in life is particularly useful to remember on moving day:

If you can do something about a situation why stress about it?

If you cannot do something about a situation why stress about it?

You may also like to read: How to Survive Moving Day in which we offer some tips that will not only make moving day easier but also some tips on how to relax physically and mentally after the home move.

More Tips on Unexpected Moving Day Problems

Always try to have a plan B for when things go wrong on moving day.

• If you cannot get the removal van unloaded, or access to your new home on moving day, is there a storage facility where your goods can be taken?

• Are there sufficient supplies in your open first box to last until tomorrow if the kitchen boxes go missing?

• Is there another elevator if the one you planned on using is out of service?

• Have you packed candles or torches for if the electricity has not been reconnected at your new home? 

• Is there an alternate van hire company locally that at the last minute could supply a van if your vehicle hire company let you down?

These are just a few examples, but the more robust your planning, the less chance that a problem will become a catastrophe.

Be realistic in your expectations of moving day.

If everything goes exceptionally well, then that is great.

If things go wrong, and there are problems when you are moving house, it is not the end of the world, this is only one day out of your life and you will eventually get into your new home.

Sometimes life doesn’t stick to your plan or clock, but usually, life’s alternate plan works out better than your original plan.

You may also like to read: How to De-Stress After the Stress of Moving Home. This guide is full of tips to help you relax and unwind after a hectic home move. From how to spot the signs that you are stressed to how to relieve stress, this is an invaluable guide for anybody who has moved home recently.

Why not let others know, in the comment box below, what extraordinary events happened to you on your moving day, and the ingenious way you overcame them?