Top 15 Worst Things That Could Happen To You During A Move

Whether you enjoy horror movies and psychological thrillers or not, you probably know that they skillfully combine elements of mystery, drama, action and terror to engender sophisticated plot twists, increased suspense and emotional upheaval. However, even if you are a true fan of the genre and find it very exciting and enjoyable, you will certainly prefer to avoid similar situations in real life.

And while there is little chance that you will ever come across mythical monsters walking the city streets or will be haunted by malicious ghosts, you can easily find yourself in troublesome circumstances, so stressful and nerve-wracking that you may feel as if you were an unfortunate character in a horror story. Even some rather common events in life can encompass enough tension, uncertainty and anxiety to rank as quality thrillers, and moving house tops the list of stressful experiences that can meet every single feature of a thriller unless adequate precautionary measures have been taken.

Here are several moving horror stories that will surely remind you to put more efforts into organizing your own forthcoming relocation the right way.

1. Movers Are Late Or Don’t Show Up At All

So, you have received a binding estimate, have negotiated all the conditions, have agreed on a convenient pick-up date and time, and have paid a deposit to book your move. Everything seems fine – you have confirmed all the details a couple of days earlier and have adequately prepared for the movers. On the morning of Moving day, you find yourself sitting among your packed household items in wait for the moving crew, all enthusiastic and ready for your big adventure. However, the agreed time comes and then an hour passes, and then another, and still you can see no sign of the approaching moving truck.

Your only logical option is to call the moving company and demand an explanation. This is when the nightmare begins – you will hear a number of excuses which may be reasonable (there was a traffic jam or the truck broke down halfway to your house or the moving crew was delayed during their previous job, etc.) or absurd (you are mistaken about the date and no movers are heading your way any time soon), but it all will definitely result in lots of wasted time and severe headaches. Worst of all, you may not be able to reach the moving company at all. If you have fallen victim to a moving scam, the alleged movers may have taken your deposit money and just disappeared off the face of the earth.

So, what to do if your movers are late? In the best case scenario, you will lose several valuable hours waiting for the movers to reach your home. In the worst case scenario, you will have lost the deposit and will have to start the process all over again, looking for last-minute movers and possibly unpacking some of your belongings and canceling some other important commitments.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ******** (8)

Key takeaway: Finding trustworthy movers is one of the major problems when moving house. Research the moving companies well, be on your guard and learn to avoid moving scam or incompetent movers in order to secure a smooth and trouble-free relocation.

2. Parking Issues

If you have done your homework properly, you are aware that you will have to pay extra and to waste additional time if the movers need to carry your household items at a great distance between the residence and the moving truck. Logic dictates that you should spare some bucks to reserve appropriate parking spaces directly in front of the entrances to your old home and your new one in order to avoid such inconveniences. However, it is quite possible to find a nuisance vehicle parked at your reserved parking lot despite the warning sign. Here is what follows:

• a couple of hours lost searching for the insolent vehicle owner or waiting for a tow truck to come and move away the improperly parked car;
• an extra fee charged by the moving company for the time they were delayed while the moving truck had to circle around until its parking place was finally vacated.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: **** (4)

Key takeaway: You need a SWAT team to secure a parking lot in most big cities!

3. Last-Minute Overpacking

If nothing goes wrong with your pre-move organization and every aspect of the moving process is going according to schedule, you are very likely to contribute to Murphy’s Law yourself and make sure that something goes wrong, after all. There is a long list of moving mistakes you can make, especially on Moving day, but overpacking is probably the most common one. When you see the movers coming and fully realize that your previous life is about to come to an end, you may get oversentimental and refuse to let certain household items behind, despite any previous arrangements and common sense. If you start frantically packing in the last minute, you are sure to experience the following problems:

• lack of adequate packing materials – you will have probably already run out of packing supplies, so you will either need to use whatever inappropriate materials you can find (such as garbage bags) or buy additional supplies from the movers at a higher price;
• additional expenses – needless to say, you will be charged for the time lost while the movers wait for you to finish packing. You can have them pack for you, but this accessorial service also comes at an additional price. Most importantly – remember that the final moving cost is determined by the total weight of your goods, so if you ship more items than previously stated, the previously agreed price will also go up, of course;
• lost time – a couple of hours will inevitably be lost in the process;
• disorganization – you will be in a hurry, so you won’t be able to pack your items carefully and systematically, provide adequate protection and label the boxes. Chaotic packing will not only waste your time when unpacking later on but also poses a great threat to the safety of your belongings;
• damages – hastily packed items are prone to damage as they are not properly wrapped and shifting inside the boxes is not adequately prevented.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: *** (3)

Key takeaway: Plan ahead and avoid last minute decisions.

4. Furniture Doesn’t Fit Through The Doors

If you fail to measure the available space in your future home and to create a floor plan in advance, you may be faced with a very common moving problem – your old furniture may not fit through the doors, hallways, stairs and sharp turns of your new home. The same problem may occur even in your old property while trying to take the piece out but then you have the option to leave it behind, especially if it is not very valuable. However, if you have already paid for the transportation of a heavy piece only to find out that it will not get inside your new home, the surprise will be a really bad one. There are several options, none of which is very simple or satisfactory:

• 

  remove the door from its hinges to gain some extra free inches – if this works, your moving story does not rank in the horror list;

• disassemble the furniture – if you can just remove the detachable parts and get the piece through the door, the problem is not so horrible. Of course, you will need proper tools and experienced skills to reassemble the furniture and some time will be lost in the process, but you will have your happy end. If you need to saw a part of the furniture, however, this may totally ruin the piece and the story gets more terrifying;
• use a rigging system to get your furniture through a window – this is a valid option but it requires very special equipment and careful handling. You are lucky if your movers offer such an accessorial service, but it will cost you extra.

If none of these alternatives works for you, you will have no choice but to discard your furniture.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ******* (7)

Key takeaway: Measure your furniture and the available space and plan a safe route out of your old property and into your new one. If this is not possible, just sell your bulky pieces or donate them and buy new suitable ones for your new place.

5. Property Damage

Regardless of whether you are moving out of a rental or out of your own home, you need to prevent property damage. You will definitely want your old place to be in flawless condition either to get your security deposit back or to sell it under favorable conditions. If the movers drop a heavy item and damage the flooring, or scratch and dent the walls, or chip the corners and break the banisters while taking your goods out, you will have to deal with expensive and time-consuming repair works. So, do your best to provide sufficient protective coverage for floors and carpets, walls and stairs, to install corner guards and foam paddings, to wrap banisters and to remove mirrors and paintings from the walls, etc. Use moving pads and blankets to protect both your furniture and your surroundings. Don’t forget to take the same measures in your new property, as well.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ***** (5)

Key takeaway: Provide maximum protection both for your old property and your new one.

6. Moving Truck Issues

The moving truck provides the actual means to move your household goods, so your trouble-free relocation greatly depends on its condition and on its driver. Here are some of the worst things that can happen to your belongings inside the moving truck:

• Insufficient space – if you haven’t rented the right size of moving truck or if your movers appear with a smaller vehicle than you need, your items will be literally stuffed inside and may be severely damaged. You may also be forced to make several trips or to use shuttle services in order to get all your items to your final destination. (Horror rating: **** 4);
• Traffic jam – you will simply have to wait longer for your delivery. (Horror rating: ** 2);
• Breakdown – if the moving truck breaks down on the road, your shipment will most probably have to be transferred into another vehicle and may easily get damaged or lost in the process, not to mention the time lost. (Horror rating: ***** 5);
• Accidents – it is possible to lose all your possessions or to receive them badly damaged if:

–          your truck gets into a traffic accident;

–          the truck catches fire;

–          thieves manage to steal some of your goods from the moving truck;

–          the truck is trapped somewhere because of adverse weather conditions – heavy snow, torrential rains, etc.

Have in mind that if your items stay too long in the truck they may get damaged because of extreme temperature fluctuations, high level of humidity, etc.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ********* (9)

Key takeaway: Opt for a reliable moving company that has experienced drivers and a large number of available moving trucks in perfect condition. Book your move early and schedule it for a time when the weather is typically milder.

7. Damaged Items

If you open a moving box upon delivery to find your grandmother’s crystal vase broken, your boutique shoes deformed or your luxurious encyclopedia torn apart, you may as well have a nervous breakdown. Besides accidents, there are two main reasons for damaged items during a move: improper packing or improper loading. You are in control of both processes, so take appropriate measures:

• Pack your cherished possessions with extreme care (use bubble wrap and sturdy boxes, reinforce their bottoms and provide sufficient padding) and, if possible, move your valuables yourself;
• Label the boxes and provide specific handling instructions (“This side up”, “Fragile”, etc.);
• If you have hired professional packers, oversee their work;
• Wrap all the edges and the protruding parts of your furniture to protect them and your old property while they are taken out of your home. Secure cabinet doors and glass cases;
• Make sure all your larger items are loaded in the moving truck first. They should be well secured, as well as all your other possessions. Boxes full of clothes and fragile items should be placed above heavier boxes, shifting should be prevented, etc.

Take pictures and note down the current condition of each of your items in the inventory list. Check them carefully upon delivery and if you detect a problem, inform your movers immediately.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ******** (8)

Key takeaway: Research which moving companies are competent enough to handle your items with care and only hire quality services. Choose full value protection and buy additional insurance for your valuable possessions.

8. Lost Or Stolen Items

As already mentioned, some moving accidents can result in lost household goods. This is terrifying, as no insurance can ever compensate for lost family heirlooms, important or valuable items. If it has been an unfortunate concurrence of circumstances, however, no one is to blame.

On the other hand, if your movers say that there has been an accident to avoid liability while they have simply stolen your belongings, this is a different story. Scandalous as it sounds, some rogue movers will take your more expensive items and will just discard the rest. They will disappear with the money from your deposit and your valuables. Or they may deliver most of your stuff and explain that your pricey possessions have disappeared during a robbery on the way. You have every right to be horror-stricken by such unscrupulous moving scams.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ********** (10)

Key takeaway: Avoid moving scams at all costs!

9. Late Delivery

Having to survive for a couple of days in your new place without the comfort provided by your worldly possessions is quite troublesome, indeed, but if the delivery is late, you may as well suffer from a panic attack. Late delivery is always a bad sign but to rate the reasons:

• bad – there has been a mistake. The driver got your address wrong or delivered somebody else’s belongings first. Anyway you will get your stuff in a day or two. (Horror rating: ** 2);
• worse – a problem occurred. The moving truck was delayed for one of the above-described reasons and you may receive your belongings badly damaged. (Horror rating: 6 ******);
• worst – you are victim to the most common type of moving fraud. The movers are holding your goods hostage and won’t deliver them before you pay extra or they have just stolen your items (Horror rating: ********* 9).

Key takeaway: Be extremely careful when negotiating the conditions of your move, provide an exact address and phone number and stay away from bad movers.

10. No Elevator

Taking your belongings up a few flights of stairs is another moving nightmare story. Lifting and carrying heavy items is very risky both for your health and safety, and for the integrity of the items in question. If there is no available elevator to use when taking your possessions to the upper floor of a residential building, the workout will be somewhat too much for you. Be very careful not to hurt yourself, as ending up in a hospital is one of the most horrible things that can happen to you when moving house.

If you pay the movers to do the job for you, you will save your back and your legs but you will pay extra. If possible, secure the help of reliable friends to give you a hand at this final stage of your relocation. If there is a working elevator in the building, reserve it at all costs!

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ***** (5)

Key takeaway: Plan in advance and ask for help!

11. Spending More Money Than You Budgeted For

If you have not set your moving budget right, you may end up spending more money than you have planned and this is never good for your sanity. Get a clear idea of the overall moving expenses beforehand to ensure your peace of mind. Mind all the hidden and forgotten costs, as well.

However, even if you planned your finances well, you may be really surprised when you receive the final bill for your move. This happens when the final amount differs considerably from the binding estimate you received beforehand. There is a simple explanation – your moving company charged you for a variety of accessorial services, you just overlooked when signing the contract. Keep in mind that extra services are not automatically included in the estimate and it is your responsibility to specify your needs and double-check not only the respective charges but also the conditions under which they will be performed. Otherwise, some adept moving scam artists may successfully come up with deceitful ways to rip you off.

Horror ranking at a scale from 1 to 10: 8 ********

Key takeaway: Read the fine print carefully and make sure you understand and agree with all the provisions in the Bill of lading before signing it.

12. New Home Not Ready

If you cannot receive your items at the agreed time, the movers will take your shipment to storage at your expense. This may happen if:

• you haven’t found a suitable property to buy or to rent or the previous residents haven’t moved out yet and you need to move into temporary housing for a while;
• there are undergoing repair works or incomplete renovation projects in your new property and you can’t move in yet;
• there has been an emergency situation due to a natural disaster (flood, fire, etc.), a crime (burglary, homicide, etc.), pest infestation or some other unforeseen problem that prevents you from settling in your new home;
• you haven’t transferred your utility services, so that there is no electricity, gas or water in your new place. You can still unload your belongings but you will experience great difficulties unpacking and arranging them in the dark and not being able to clean afterwards, not to mention how “nice” it will feel to be deprived of a shower and warm food after the exhausting moving day. In one of the worst scenarios reported, there was a severe thunderstorm the night the new residents moved in a house without utilities running. The sump pump couldn’t work without electricity, so the house was flooded and all the household items were severely damaged. The insurance didn’t cover such unique circumstances, so the family remained empty-handed.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ******** 8 (11 for the last-described event!)

Key takeaway: Prepare your new home in advance.

13. Identity Theft

Being overwhelmed by the laborious moving process, you will hardly think about protecting your identity. But if you fail to prevent identity theft when moving, this mistake could cost you dearly in terms of money, time and nerves. Never allow access to your personal information or you may have all your life tampered with by ill-intentioned strangers.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ******* (7)

Key takeaway: Learn how identity theft happens and what the involved risks are in order to successfully prevent it.

14. Relocation Depression

Moving is hard. Once you find yourself in completely new surroundings, exhausted after the strenuous moving process and downhearted after leaving beloved people and favorite places behind, there will be little to cheer you up and help you find a fresh sense of purpose. You may be overwhelmed by relocation depression and find it very difficult to adjust to your new life and fit in the new society.

Horror rating on a scale from 1 to 10: ********** (10)

Key takeaway:You need to take advantage of the unique opportunities this radical change offers and to move on with your life.

15. DIY move

Arguably, the worst thing that may happen to you when moving house is to decide that you can do it all by yourself and to completely ruin your fresh start in life with a number of simple moving mistakes.The horror rating in this scenario may go way beyond the scale.

So, what can go wrong when moving house? Share your worries, past experiences and insights with us!

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