Halloween is right around the corner, but spooky scary skeletons have nothing on these moving mishaps. Whether you’re moving to Transylvania or just across town, you want to be sure you’re taking the proper precautions to keep your furniture and other belongings safe and secure. That said, here are three common moving problems that may pop up during your own move so you can avoid them at all costs.

1. Falling Victim to a Scam

One of the absolute worst things that can happen to you when you’re moving is to get scammed. Someone may recommend a moving company you’ve never heard of or maybe you were recommended rogue movers on Facebook Marketplace. A moving scam is when unlicensed or unauthorized movers transport your furniture and other belongings. This can lead to broken or damaged furniture that those movers aren’t insured to fix. In some cases, they may not even move your belongings at all but will run away with your money.

The good news is that avoiding a moving scam is relatively easy. All you need to do is make sure that the movers you hire for the job are licensed and insured. Our moving professionals Craig Van Lines will be more than happy to show you our licensing. Another way to avoid a moving scam is by reading reviews and looking into their history of complaints. Finally, go with your gut. Movers are professional, so if you don’t have a good interaction with your movers, you may have a scam on your hands.

2. Forgetting to Turn On Utilities

In a perfect world, your power company, cable person, and HVAC company would all be able to immediately turn on your power, Internet, and heating the instant that you need it. Unfortunately, this isn’t a perfect world, and many movers forget to cancel their accounts or transfer power to their new homes. Moving into a new space that doesn’t have electricity or heating can be a nightmare, especially now that colder weather is almost here.

To keep yourself from having to use a portable charger to keep your phone powered in your new home, be sure to call your utility companies ahead of time. Schedule a turn-off date for your old home and a turn-on date for your new one several weeks in advance. This will not only help to make sure that you have the necessary utilities at your new space but it’ll also keep you from paying additional fees because your old home’s electricity is still in your name.

3. Forgetting to Protect Your Floors

The last thing you want when you move into a new space is to immediately damage it. This is especially true if you’re moving into a new apartment. (There goes your security deposit). Heavy furniture, boxes, table legs, and couch legs can all accidentally scratch your floors. This is true for both wood floors and tile, although soft wood floors are especially prone to scratching. The good news is that there are a few ways you can prevent this moving mishap from haunting you.

First, make sure that you’re hiring movers that have years of experience and know how to properly move your furniture around and put down heavy boxes. Second, be sure to apply furniture sliders to the bottom of your furniture legs. This will make items like tables, desks, stools, and legged couches move easily across your floor without leaving scratches behind. Third, wrap sharp corners or the legs of your furniture with padding such as cardboard, towels, or blankets to keep them from doing harm not only to your floors but also to your other furniture pieces. Finally, applying those same boxes to your floors or laying down a floor protector can help to keep your floors safe and protected.

Ready to Get Moving?

If you’re getting ready to move this fall, you’re not alone. Approximately 33% of renters move every year, and the average person moves at least 12 times in their lifetime. Our professional movers in Reston VA can provide quality moving services whether you’re relocating to a new place in Virginia or you’re going cross-country. We have the knowledge and skill to make sure your furniture and belongings stay protected going from Point A to Point B. Contact us to get an estimate for your next move today.

Fred Craig

Fred C. Craig III is the owner of Craig Van Lines, a Northern Virginia moving company his family has run for more than a century. The business began in 1918 when J.H. Craig hauled cattle, feed, and hay from Virginia’s rural farms to the markets of the DC area. As the region shifted from farmland to residential communities in the 1940s, the family started moving households after hours and on weekends, eventually building the full-service moving company Craig Van Lines is today. Fred carries on that tradition, providing the same quality and care his family has brought to this community for over 100 years.

3 Scary Moving Mishaps That Could Haunt You This Halloween