Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Skylar Korby at MakeSpace.com.
Movies and TV shows aren’t always the most realistic representation of everyday life. In fact, they rarely are. We’re all about a willing suspension of disbelief, but we’ve got to draw the line when it comes to your favorite characters suggesting truly heinous moving and storage ideas.
We adore the characters but could do without these eight worst moving fails from your favorite TV shows and movies. From Friends to When Harry Met Sally and beyond, we cringe at their snafus but, luckily, fill you in on how to prevent similar mistakes.
Mermaids
After another failed relationship, Mrs. Flax (Cher) picks the next place she will be moving her two daughters to by closing her eyes and basing the decision on wherever her finger lands on the map.
While we admire her spontaneity (even if daughter Charlotte, played by Winona Ryder, doesn’t), this isn’t exactly a foolproof plan.
If there are no major contributing factors to your move — like a new job, or the next step in a relationship — at least do a little bit of research on the places you’re considering relocating to. Then, head to Padmapper to help you find the perfect new home.
Friends
You’ve undoubtedly seen this iconic episode: Ross purchases a new couch, but refuses to pay the expensive delivery fee. He, Rachel, and Chandler try to get the couch up the stairs of his elevator-less apartment building, but it gets stuck.
Delivery fees may seem excessive, but in the case of safely transporting a large piece of furniture from the store to your door, they’re definitely worth it.
Committed to being frugal? Respect. Just thoroughly measure all stairways, hallways, and doorways that the furniture will be pivoting through to make sure it’ll fit.
The Money Pit
In this 1986 comedy, Walter (Tom Hanks) and Anna (Shelley Long) move into a completely dilapidated mansion sold to them by a con artist. The home was a great price, but after countless repairs and remodeling shenanigans, they’re not sure if it was really worth it.
First things first: Don’t trust a crook to be your real estate agent.
Second, be realistic about how much money, time, and effort you’re willing to put into a fixer-upper. Biting off more than you can chew can take it from Dream Home to House of Horrors real quick.
Gilmore Girls
Luke lends Lorelai his truck to move Rory into her freshman dorm at Yale. Instead of just having it for a few hours, she insists on making multiple trips back and forth to transport an old mattress and buy Rory dorm essentials.
Don’t get us wrong. You should be a generous friend and help others out if they need it, but be aware that your kindness might be taken advantage of. Likewise, if you’re the friend that’s accepting the help, keep in mind that your buddy is doing you a favor, and return all trucks and other odds and ends in a timely manner.
Toy Story
Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) saves Woody (Tom Hanks) from the dangerous kid next door and must get them both back to the moving truck with the rest of their owner Andy’s toys. If they don’t make it, they’ll be left behind forever.
Spoiler alert: The toys easily open the door of the moving truck to let them in. Too easily. If toys could do it, what was stopping a random gust of wind or bump in the highway from doing the same?
Always double check the safety precautions your moving company takes with your belongings. Ask questions about their trucks, their standards, and their commitment to customer satisfaction. No need to risk Mr. Potato Head or anyone else losing your stuff.
New Girl
Cece (Hannah Simone) is moving out of her apartment to move into the loft with Schmidt (Max Greenfield). Of course, nothing is packed when Jess (Zooey Deschanel) shows up to help her move.
On top of that, Cece starts to experience moving anxiety and all kinds of mixed feelings about her relationship. She realizes this move signifies the official end of her single life. Her belongings conjure up a ton of memories as they pack them away.
While we can’t help with the relationship panic, we do have two pointers on how to pack more efficiently:
- Pack in small doses so you’re not doing it all the day before moving day. Determine what you can do without for a few weeks/days and box those things up first. Leave the daily necessities to pack the day before. You’ll save time and sanity, which are always good things to have extra of when you’re moving.
- Get rid of clutter as you pack so you’re not just moving junk from one home to another. If you don’t use the portable ice cream maker now, you don’t need to schlep it to the new place to not use it there, either.
When Harry Met Sally
Harry’s (Billy Crystal) couple friends disagree over whether or not to keep a wagon-wheel coffee table after they move in together. Recently-divorced Harry sourly advises, “Someday, believe it or not, you’ll go fifteen rounds over who’s gonna get this coffee table. This stupid, wagon wheel, Roy Rogers, garage sale coffee table!”
Don’t get discouraged by a grouchy friend. You and your significant other can agree on an all-new aesthetic for a space that belongs to both of you.
Shop together and pick out pieces that you both enjoy. Otherwise, prepare to compromise on your partner’s belongings when you move in with each other. If an unattractive coffee table is something they love, you’ll learn to love it, too.
Moving
Honestly, what doesn’t go wrong in this movie?
Arlo (Richard Pryor) must move his family from New Jersey to Boise, Idaho for a new job. There are just a few problems:
The movers are cons, the guy hired to drive his car from the old house to the new one is eccentric at best, and numerous belongings get broken courtesy of King Kong Bundy.
Always research your movers and any additional labor you plan to hire to ensure you’ll get quality service. Pay special attention to the moving company’s protection plan that outlines reimbursement for any damages. Accidents happen, but you don’t want to be left in the dust with a broken armoire!
Moving Day is hardly full of glitz and glamour. We know finding the right apartment, packing up your stuff, and moving to a new place can be tough. But as long as you’ve got a plan and a good sense of humor, moving will suck a whole lot less.
This article is written by MakeSpace. They offer full-service storage in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC — so you never have to visit a self-storage unit and have more time to decorate your new pad like they do in TV shows and movies.