We’ve all heard the moving horror stories. The moving van that headed to Abilene, Texas while the new house was in Austin. The rented apartment that suddenly isn’t available, despite deposits and signed lease agreements. Movers who took off with the valuables and left someone else’s boxes in their place. Not everyone will have a perfect moving experience, but fortunately the true horror stories are few and far between. And most of the more serious problems can be avoided with a little bit of research and planning. Here are five moving mistakes you want to avoid:

Mistake #1: Thinking you can swing the move yourself

Ah, big mistake. Even a move across town can be very complicated, and takes extensive advance planning. There are a huge number of potential pitfalls, from the wear and tear on your poor body and damage to your household goods, to unexpected fuel costs. In the end, a do-it-yourself move may not be as “cheap” or as fun as you thought (that would be about the time you drop the TV on your foot or discover the truck is fully loaded but a third of your house is still on the sidewalk). Give yourself plenty of time to research how you want to move and discover everything that’s involved. Talk to friends who’ve moved themselves and to movers to get the full picture before you decide.

Mistake #2: You forget Fido has to move too

With all of the other things you’re worrying about, it’s easy to forget that the family pet needs to move too — and that’s one thing you can’t have the movers throw in a box! Visit your vet before moving day to make sure your pet has current shots, tags, certificates, and proper identification. If your pet will be traveling by air or in a car a long distance, ask about travel recommendations, portable kennels, and motion sickness medication. Make sure you carry the animal’s papers with you, especially if you cross state lines. When you get to your final destination, reinstate your dog’s routine and reward him with a special treat.

Mistake #3: You forget plants have special needs

Obviously, the inside of a van isn’t conducive to plant life. Lots of movers won’t handle plants, especially if you’re moving more than 150 miles or crossing state lines. If plant moving gets put on your to-do list, first check with the USDA to make sure there aren’t rules about bringing plants by car into your destination state (those that have big citrus crops, for instance, may be picky about incoming plant and potential insect life). A few weeks before the move, transplant plants from your breakable pots (the movers can pack and transport those) into lighter-weight unbreakable ones that will be easier to for you to move. If it turns out you can’t move your plants, donate them to friends, a botany class, or local retirement home.

Mistake #4: Forgetting to pack an overnight bag

Even if your move should not last more than a day, you will want to make sure you have an overnight bag with an extra set of clothes and some toiletries on hand for when you get to your new place. Chances are you will be tired and just want to rest when you arrive, instead of unpacking 32 boxes in search of your contact lens solution and pajamas. Having something ready to use will mean you will not have to scramble around the boxes and try to dig out what you need when you can barely stand up anymore.

Mistake #5: You didn’t clean house

Face it, there are tons of things in your home that you haven’t used in years. But you’ll be paying to pack them up and move them, and then you’ll be faced with unpacking them and finding a place where you can store them, unused, for another 10 years. Bad idea! Instead, plan a reuse, recycle, regift weekend where everyone in the family gets rid of the things you really don’t need or use. Donate items to charity, hold a garage sale, or give furniture to the kid next door who is getting his own apartment. It’ll save you time and trouble in the long run — and will prevent extra charges when your moving men stumble upon Grandma’s old dining room set hidden in the back of the garage!

Find out what moving services are provided by Apache Moving & Storage so you can avoid making these mistakes.

1. Plan ahead. It’s a simple fact of life: The more rushed you are, the more you will have to pay. If you have the luxury of planning out your move, you can choose the time of year and even day of week that you will move – avoid the dog days of summer or the rainy, cold season. At Apache Moving & Storage, we keep our prices the same year-round for your convenience!

Planning will also keep you from making costly mistakes, such as forgetting to find a sitter for your pet or giving 30 days’ notice on your gym membership to avoid paying for an additional month. These small fees and expenses add up — and most can be avoided with proper notice.

2. Negotiate or barter. Just because your new landlord quotes you $100 for an extra parking space doesn’t mean you have to pay $100. Always, always, ALWAYS ask for a better deal. You won’t lose anything by asking, and you could just score a lower price. The same goes for the furniture store, landscaper, and your new gym.

Think about bartering for services, too. If you have skills in a certain profession, such as graphic design or carpentry, maybe you can swap your talents for other services in your neighborhood. Swap personal training services for a haircut. Whatever your skills and talents, someone else wants them!

3. Look for discounts. Many communities welcome newcomers with open arms — and plenty of discounts. Check in with the post office, your real estate or rental agent, the city’s newcomers club, or the Chamber of Commerce for a welcome packet. A typical haul might include coupons to local restaurants, a discount at the housewares store, and more. Ask for discounts when approaching membership-type organizations such as gyms and kids’ after-school programs. They may be dying for members and be willing to cut you a deal.

The key here is to ask. Ask to barter, ask for a discount, ask for a better price. You won’t always get one, but it’ll work enough to make it worth the effort.

Want to see more tips for moving on a budget and getting settled into your new home? Follow Apache Moving & Storage on Twitter.

Before moving any of your belongings into your new home, it’s important to make sure that everything is as it should be.  You may have had a list of repairs you expected – or this may be the first time you’ve seen the house empty.  Take some time to go around with a notepad and check all of the sockets for obvious signs of wear and tear and look for damage that you might be otherwise liable for. Here are some tips for moving into your first house.

Ensure that any cupboards are empty, free of damp, mold or bad smells, and keep a close note of what where the electricity, water and gas stopcocks are.  While doing this, you’ll also be getting a feel for where you can place any furniture, how to get it up any stairs or even just into the house.  Note down any damage or concerns to discuss later with the appropriate person – it;s important to have these notes before moving anything in so that you can get the problems remedied as soon as possible.

If you’re renting from a landlord, he or she will give you a list of any fittings, fixtures and furniture being left behind – it’s very common these days for landlords to leave kitchen appliances such as the fridge, freezer, washing machine and stove.  If you’re renting, your landlord should also give you contact details, emergency repair numbers and any paperwork pertaining to these emergency repairs that you may need.

You should also ensure that the central heating and furnace are working correctly and collect any manuals for these from the previous occupant – these manuals will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.

Part of preparing for your move into a new home also includes finding the right mover, and that will depend on your needs. Read more about our moving services throughout Texas.