Once you decide to move across the country, you will undoubtedly be excited about this new chapter of your life. Still, before you can start enjoying the benefits of your new city, you have to go through a complex move – but how? Luckily, our long-distance moving tips are here to help you organize and pack all your belongings effortlessly – check them out, and you won’t have any issues with your cross-country relocation experience.
How Do I Make Long-Distance Move Easier? Efficient Long-Distance Moving Tips Are the Solution to All Your Problems
Everybody knows that relocations aren’t easy, and organizing an efficient move can be an absolute nightmare. Naturally, you have a great reason to move, which will keep you motivated, but that just won’t be enough to make your move simple. You still have to learn a few relocation hacks if you want to be relaxed on your relocation day and let go of the usual moving stress most Americans experience before relocating to another city. Don’t worry – if you know what you’re doing, organizing a move can be a walk in the park. We’ll explain what to do – with our relocation tips, you’ll be toasting your success in the new home pretty soon.
How Many Miles Is Considered a Long-Distance Move?
If you’re relocating more than 400 miles, your move is considered a long-distance one, or interstate one, if you’re crossing state lines. This is a rule of thumb that most companies use when you hire them for cross-country moving services. If the move is shorter, it is considered a local move.
Start Planning Your Relocation as Soon as You Know You’re Moving – There Can Never Be Too Much Time for Preparations
The first rule of relocating is that you can never start preparations too early. Trust us, no matter how organized you are, there won’t be enough time for everything you want to do before you head to another state – or at least it will seem like that. If you want to spare yourself anxiety about the move, we suggest you begin as soon as you decide where you’ll live and set the relocation date. Start simple – for example, research where to get free boxes.
Usually, people start preparation about two or three months before the move – that’s the approximate time you’ll need to pack everything and get your affairs in order before you leave. Keep in mind that doing things in a hurry often leads to common relocation mistakes – you want to avoid that, don’t you? Plus, the chances are that you will forget some of the most commonly forgotten things to pack. Of course, if you’re about to have a last-minute move, you can’t help but rush things a bit – still, if you do your best to stay calm, we’re sure everything will turn out just fine.
Relocation To-Do List Is Your New Best Friend – Write Tasks Down and Stay Organized
There will be many tasks to finish before you leave the old home forever. If you’re prone to panicking, you could use a few ideas on how to manage anxiety, and we’re about to share one you’ll definitely like. To keep everything under control, use a relocation to-do list where you’ll write down things you have to do. Additionally, you might also like a relocation expenses checklist – spending can easily get out of control when you’re about to move, and writing down your expenses can help you keep track of your budget (this is especially important for those who are looking for the cheapest way to move out of state).
Hire a Reputable Cross-Country Moving Company on Time, So You Can Be Sure You Have the Best Cross-Country Movers
What is the best way to make your move effortless and ensure you don’t lose a single box during shipping? Naturally, the answer is hiring a reputable relocation company that will take care of your items and get them to the destination intact. We’re all familiar with many stories of relocation scams, which is why you need to be smart when choosing your cross-country movers and an auto shipping company. It’s best to do thorough research before choosing a relocation company and booking any services – you should even get free quotes from a few different companies. Better safe than sorry, right?
Be Sure to Buy a Moving Insurance Policy to Protect Your Belongings
No matter how great your movers are, you still need to be careful – it’s always a good idea to buy relocation insurance, so you don’t have to stress out about your belongings being damaged or boxes being lost. Naturally, if you have a great team of movers, they will do their best work, but mistakes on the way to your new home can happen anyway. If everything turns out fine, and you’re satisfied with the work your movers did, don’t forget to thank them and tip generously – learn how to tip movers before your relocation day.
One of the Essential Tips for a Long-Distance Move – Decluttering Is a Must-Do If You Want to Move Effortlessly
Before you start filling boxes with your household belongings, remember to get rid of things you no longer use. Packing literally everything you keep in the home is never a good idea – it will take ages to do that, plus you will require countless boxes for all items. Instead of putting yourself through hell, why not simply declutter? Sell items in good condition, donate clothes, recycle what can be recycled, and throw away items you can’t find a new purpose for. Another thing to keep in mind when preparing for the move is that you have to leave the space in decent condition – check out the video below for ideas on that topic.
Make Sure You Buy Supplies Only After You’re Done Decluttering
Buying boxes and other relocation supplies should be done only after you finish decluttering. Why is that important to remember? Well, it’s logical – you won’t know how many boxes and packing paper to purchase before you throw out the excess stuff. Follow this simple rule, and you won’t have to worry about a single excess box after you wrap everything you’ll move.
Don’t Forget to Update Important Documents Before the Big Cross-Country Move
One of the most commonly forgotten tasks to do when relocating is changing your address. Don’t skip this – it’s a simple thing to do, and it will only take you a few minutes on the USPS website. It costs $1,10, so it won’t affect your relocation budget. Also, remember to transfer utilities as well. When relocating to another state, you will have to update your driver’s license and registration, plus you are required to change your medical insurance (in most cases).
How Should I Pack for a Long-Distance Move – Tips and Tricks That Can Help You Get Through Packing Process Smoothly
To tell the truth, the best way to handle packing is not to handle it at all. Letting professional packers and movers take care of this massive part of your to-do list will transform your move from a difficult to an effortless one. So, getting wrapping services is our number one tip, but if you don’t want them for some reason, you can still pull this off – with a bit more effort, though.
Make an Inventory List of Everything You Will Move to the New Home
If you want to organize packing properly, you will have to write an inventory list – this is the easiest way to keep track of what you’ve packed. It will also be useful after the move because it will allow you to check if there’s a box or two missing from your house. Whether you write on the phone or in the notebook, having this list is essential.
What Should You Not Move Long-Distance?
There are some items movers won’t move for safety reasons, and these rules apply for both interstate and local relocations. Before you start wrapping, check the list of stuff that can’t be moved by professionals, so you don’t waste your time with that. These objects can be donated, sold, thrown out, or you can ship them across the country on your own. Here’s what movers can’t move for you:
- Gasoline,
- Propane tanks,
- Scuba gear,
- Pool chemicals,
- Food,
- Ammunition and weapons,
- Plants,
- Nail polish and nail polish remover,
- Paint,
- Fertilizers and pesticides,
- Motor oil,
- Batteries and acids.
Pay Close Attention to the Way You Pack Fragile Items
Everybody dreads wrapping fragile objects, such as dishes or electronics. Worry not, these aren’t impossible tasks. All you require is patience and dedication – plus a lot of paper and bubble wrap. It will take a while to wrap plates and glasses, but if you cover them with enough supplies and don’t leave any residual space in the package, you can move stress-free.
All Boxes Must Be Labeled Properly
The job is almost done after you fill out and seal the package with high-quality tape. Still, there’s one thing you’ll forget to do when you move – many people forget this task. Labeling packages is the last item to check out on the list, and after that, you can proceed to load stuff on the relocation truck (if you don’t have movers who will do that for you). We suggest getting a waterproof marker and writing down the names of rooms that correspond to the objects in the package. This way, you will be able to quickly find what you’re looking for when you decide to begin the unpacking process.
If You Have a Quality Cross-Country Moving Services, You’ll Have a Perfect Move – The Importance of a Good Relocation Company
There’s only so much you can do on your own – if you don’t have a trustworthy relocation crew to assist you every step of the way, your relocation experience won’t be so joyful. That’s why it is important to start researching companies a few months before the move and avoid making a rash decision. So, why not start today? With a reputable relocation company and our brilliant advice, you will have the easiest move of your life.