8 Moving Home Myths You Shouldn't Believe

Some of the Most Misleading Moving Home Myths Debunked

If you’re planning on moving house, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to think about and organise before the big day. However, making the process even more stressful are the endless house moving myths that threaten to ruin all your plans.

Unsurprisingly, a lot of people have negative preconceptions about the moving house process – yet, these are almost always out of date or completely false. These myths about moving house can make it very difficult for home buyers to know how to best go about planning their move, and could even end up costing them extra money in the long run.

To make sure your house move doesn’t get derailed by any home moving myths you might have heard, we have put together this useful guide that sorts the facts from the fiction for good.

Myth #1: Is Friday the Best Day to Move House?

People often think that Friday is the best day to move house because the weekend leaves you a couple of ‘free’ days to unpack all your belongings and settle into your new home. However, this is a misinformed myth about moving house and can bring its own problems. In fact, more often than not, Friday is the worst day to move home.

Banks close on weekends – if funds are held up during the completion process you could end up waiting until Monday to get the keys to your new pad.
Fridays are the busiest days for removal companies so you may get a better deal by avoiding this day.
The road traffic is heavier on Fridays with many people heading home or away for the weekend.
It may be difficult to buy all your new-home essentials as many businesses close over the weekend.

Myth #2: Can I Start Speaking to Removals Companies Before I Have a Moving Date?

Another common house moving myth is that you shouldn’t contact removals companies until you have agreed a set date for your move. This is a myth about moving that you certainly shouldn’t believe as it could cause you to be unprepared as moving day draws closer.

Ideally, you should start getting removals quotes around 6-8 weeks prior to your proposed move date. You don’t have to book a moving date with the company at this point, but it would be good to have decided on which firm you want to use and have fully briefed them well in advance.

Myth #3: Is it Cheaper to Move Myself?

Although it may be cheaper to hire a van and move yourself than hiring a removals company, the final costs are likely to be the same or more. Unfortunately, this is another myth as the van rental won’t be your only expense when moving on your own. You will also need to pay for:

Fuel, vehicle insurance and parking permits
Additional moving equipment
Packing materials
Moving insurance for your items

All these small expenses quickly add up and when you do the calculations, you will likely realise that the myth of moving on your own isn’t any cheaper than moving with professionals. One thing is for sure – moving home with the help of professionals will be much easier than doing it all by yourself. Do you think you can move all those fragile items safely? It only takes the damage of one pricey item to make a ‘cheap’ move a whole lot more expensive.

Myth #4: Should I Pack My Essentials on Moving Day?

Another common myth about moving house is that it’s best to leave packing your essentials until the very last minute. However, you might be shocked at how long it can take to pack all the ‘essentials’ and how significantly this can hold up the moving process.

We would advise you to finish all your packing the day before your house move. If you think you’ll struggle without some of your more important possessions, then it might be a good idea to pack a separate bag full of clothing, bedding, bin bags, a kettle, some mugs and a few snacks to keep you going.

Myth #5: Am I Automatically Covered By Insurance?

One home moving myth that could prove dangerous to believe is that your household contents insurance will cover damaged or lost items. Usually, this isn’t the case so it is a good idea to double check, as well as asking what your remover’s insurance covers, especially if your belongings are having to be stored overnight.

If your insurance doesn’t cover your possessions, then we would suggest getting full value protection to guarantee peace of mind. Although this comes at an extra cost, your movers will be liable for the full cost of repairs or the replacement value of any damaged or missing items.

Myth #6: Will Moving House Be the Most Stressful Thing I Ever Do?

Don’t worry – moving house doesn’t have to be that stressful, and it most certainly shouldn’t be one of the most stressful things you ever do. Most of the people who believe this moving home myth become stressed because they don’t properly prepare for the task ahead.

While there seems like an endless list of things to do and organise when moving house, if you plan well in advance and do your research, your move shouldn’t be stressful at all. In fact, to make the process even more smooth-sailing and get one step ahead in preparing for your house move, you can use our all-in-one online change of address service.

Myth #7: Will Any Boxes Do For Moving House?

You’ll just buy some boxes on the day, right? Surely some ordinary cardboard boxes will do the job? This is a popular myth about moving house and has surely landed many house movers in a heap of trouble.

Skimping on what you pack your beloved items in is not a good idea. Boxes that are not especially designed for moving are unable to hold much weight or withstand much impact. They can fall apart easily and can’t be securely arranged in the moving van, increasing the risk of damage to your items. We would advise investing in brand new moving boxes to ensure the best possible protection for your belongings and would even consider speciality boxes for your more delicate and valuable possessions.

Myth #8: Is Labelling My Boxes a Waste of Time?

When you’ve been packing for hours and can’t see an end to folding clothes and wrapping up ornaments, it might be easy to believe this house moving myth. However, on arrival at your new home, you will almost certainly regret not labelling your boxes. A moving inventory is the best way to organise your belongings in a practical and systematic way and keep track of your items throughout the entire relocation process. Labelling your boxes will prove worth it when your movers know where to put each box and you can quickly and easily find what you need when unpacking.

So, make sure you don’t allow common home moving myths to impact your stress-free relocation. Do your research, know the facts and make informed decisions when planning the move to your new home. Take a look at our moving house advice to ensure you know everything you need to know.