Even a well-planned move can go sideways on the actual day. After enough moves, certain mistakes show up again and again – and almost all of them are avoidable with a little awareness. Here are the most common moving day mistakes people make in Chicago, and how to sidestep each one.
1. Not Being Fully Packed When the Crew Arrives
This is the number one cause of moving day stress and inflated costs. If you’re paying by the hour, having the crew wait while you finish packing is money down the drain. Everything should be boxed, sealed, and ready before the movers show up. Last-minute packing always takes longer than you think.
2. Ignoring Parking Logistics
In Chicago, you can’t assume a moving truck will find a spot at your door. Failing to arrange parking – whether through a city moving permit or coordination with your building – means the crew may have to carry everything an extra distance, which slows the move and can add to the cost. Sort this out days in advance.
3. Skipping the Building Requirements
Many Chicago buildings require elevator reservations, certificates of insurance, or specific move windows. Discovering these requirements on moving day – when the elevator isn’t booked or the building won’t let the crew start – is a serious problem. Confirm building rules at both locations well ahead of time.
4. Poor or Nonexistent Labeling
Boxes labeled vaguely or not at all create chaos at the new place. When the crew doesn’t know where things go, everything ends up in one pile for you to sort later. Label every box with its destination room. It takes seconds and saves hours.
5. Underestimating How Long It Takes
People consistently assume the move will go faster than it does. Stairs, tight spaces, traffic, and the sheer volume of stuff all add time. Build in a buffer, and don’t schedule something important for an hour after you expect to finish.
6. Not Being Present or Reachable
The crew will have questions throughout the day – where does this go, is this coming, how do you want this handled. If you’re absent or unreachable, those questions become delays or guesses. Be there, be reachable, and keep your phone charged.
7. Forgetting the Essentials Bag
Arriving at the new place and realizing your toiletries, phone charger, medications, and bedding are buried in unlabeled boxes is a miserable end to a long day. Pack a clearly separated first-night bag and keep it in your car.
8. Not Protecting Floors and Walls
Especially in winter, or in buildings with nice finishes, failing to protect floors and walls leads to scuffs, scratches, and salt damage. Confirm your movers bring floor runners, and protect tight corners and doorways in advance.
9. Loading Valuables onto the Truck
Jewelry, documents, cash, and irreplaceable items should never go on the moving truck. Keep them with you. This single habit eliminates the worst-case scenarios entirely.
10. Skipping the Final Walkthrough
Before the truck leaves the old place, walk through every room, closet, cabinet, and storage area. Things get left behind constantly – in the back of closets, in the basement storage unit, in the bathroom cabinet. A five-minute walkthrough prevents the frustration of realizing you left something once you’ve already handed back the keys.
Getting It Right
None of these mistakes are complicated to avoid – they just require awareness and a bit of preparation. The smoothest moves come down to being ready before the crew arrives, communicating clearly, and handling the logistics in advance.
H2H Movers helps make moving day go right across Chicago and the suburbs, with a 4.9 Google rating across nearly 4,610 reviews. For a free quote, call +1 773 236 8797 or email info@h2hmovers.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the most common moving day mistake?
A: Underestimating time. People consistently assume packing and the move itself will go faster than they do. Building in buffer time and being fully packed before the crew arrives prevents most moving day stress.
Q: How do I avoid parking problems on moving day in Chicago?
A: Apply for a City of Chicago moving permit in advance to reserve curb space for the truck. Confirm parking arrangements at both locations and communicate them to your moving crew before the day.
Q: Should I be present on moving day?
A: Yes. Being present and reachable lets you answer the crew’s questions, direct where items go, and handle decisions quickly. Being absent or unreachable causes delays and mistakes.
Q: What should I check before the movers leave?
A: Do a full walkthrough of every room, closet, cabinet, and storage area at the old place to ensure nothing is left behind. At the new place, check that all items arrived and note any damage in writing before the crew departs.