Moving to NYC can be an exciting task and unforgettable time in your life. But, also can be very difficult. Most people feel the stress from the moment they make a decision, pack the first box and hire movers. In fact, moving is one of the top stressors in life. Maybe you know how hard can be if you ever made a mistake during the move. So, how can you make moving a little less stressful? To avoid all the biggest NYC moving mistakes you should read our guide and learn how to prevent them.
To help your move go easier and without stress and mistakes, we offer these 10 common NYC moving mistakes to avoid and have a successful NYC move.
Hiring a shady mover in New York City

First, you should hire a mover who knows everything about moving in New York City. And specifically, if you’re living in Manhattan, the company needs to have completed a fair amount of moves within the borough. So, hire moving experts in Manhattan.
Stories of moving scams are sharing among friends, family and Internet commenters. So, do your research if you want to avoid poor-quality moving services. If you want to avoid the biggest NYC moving mistakes when hiring a moving company – you should check references and ask all the questions you need to ask, also carefully read the contract.
Check the References
Call as many moving companies as you can. Then do thorough reference checks.
Moves are tricky. Missing and broken things is usually a big problem during moving, but it is not always the fault of the mover. However, before moving company come over for an estimate, you should do background checks to limit the moving stress. Check references and hire an affordable moving company in NY.
And when checking paperwork, another mistake a lot of people make is not re-checking the inventory sheet to ensure that all the items packed on the truck, arrive at their destination. This is especially important if your household goods are sharing space on a truck. It’s an easy way that your stuff can be left behind. If something of your things is missing, do not sign the inventory sheet until the household is found.
Before you hire, you should know about things that reliable NYC movers never do. Make sure you ask your movers all the questions you want to know.
One of the biggest NYC moving mistakes – Thinking you have more time than you do
If you’ve never moved before, or if it’s been a while, we often forget just how long it takes to get things organized, especially, when you are moving to New York. It’s all about organizing and timing your move in order to avoid last-minute panic.
Try not to move to New York City during winter months
Winter in NYC can be brutal, so if there’s any way to stay put during January, February, and the early part of March, you’ll thank yourself later. Understandably, there’s no way to predict and control the timing of your move, but schlepping through the snow and ice makes for not only a taxing move but a miserable one. So, moving in winter is one of the biggest NYC moving mistakes.
If moving day is sunny that’s the best weather for your moving. But your move can’t delay if rain begins. So, have some plastic sheets and tarps on hand. This will help you cover and protect your stuff.
Usually, problems can appear if you move in last minute move. That’s why this is one of the most common among the biggest NYC moving mistakes. The stuff you really don’t need ever gets unpacked and it just sits in our garage until the next time we move.

Make sure you get rid of unneeded items
Getting rid of unnecessary items like extra clothes, shoes or sports equipment can save your time and money. Most things you can donate. It is a better option than a box in your garage. So, sort through your things first and save yourself time and money.
Before you pack, spend a few days going through your home, identifying items that you haven’t used in the last year or two. Make a ‘how to pack for a move’ checklist to know what to pack first when moving house. Take photos of sentimental items that you no longer need, and donate or sell anything that you no longer want.
Cheap Supplies
If you want to get boxes from the supermarket, it is a bad idea. They’re weak and sometimes really dirty. Buy new, clean moving boxes NYC with size for your household. Also buy bubble wrap, moving blankets, lots of packing tape, packing supplies for dishes and delicate items, and plastic bags for furniture.
- It’s an easy tip to understand. Keep your heaviest boxes and items on the ground. It’s the best way to protect your things. It can’t be broken.
- Also, packing heavy items in large boxes is a big mistake! Heaviest items always go in the smallest boxes. Think about your back, shoulders, and legs.
- Don’t forget, you should have “‘how to pack for a move’ checklist”.
We forget easy ways to packing for moving. So, we could have many problems during NYC moving.
It’s a common mistake that we don’t actually know how many time we need to pack. Because, when you’re packing for a move you often forget to find packing supplies and carefully pack your fragile stuff. So, take time for packing and don’t forget your checklist for packing. Make a list of the household that you need to pack last. In this way, you won’t need to unpack boxes to find the stuff you need.
- Label your boxes thoroughly. Labels include box contents, handling instructions, and room name. It will be very helpful during unpacking.
Avoid mistakes during packing and Label your boxes thoroughly.
Disrespecting your NY movers
Make sure to introduce yourself to everyone on your New York moving crew and have refreshments at the ready. A good impression is the first step in protecting your belongings.
Lifting and Carrying Everything
Big mistake. Put your machismo aside; use hand trucks, dollies, and carpet glides whenever possible to save your back.
Forgetting to take measurements
Measure the space in your new home before moving day. You don’t want to arrive at your new home in NYC only to find that your furniture won’t fit through the front door.
Guide for avoiding moving mistakes are not just long distance moving advice. Even a move to the Big Apple can be very complicated and hard task for you. So, you need a guide and plan. You can have many problems like fuels costs, damages of household, etc. You should know – a DIY move may not be as “cheap” or as fun as you thought. So, read again our number 1. of the list “The Biggest NYC Moving Mistakes” and find reliable moving company. Just follow our tips and you will have to move without stress.
The bill of lading is the contract between you and your movers. You should treat it with care. If you have any problems during an NYC move, it will help you to reference it.