Moving to the next town is a vastly different experience from moving cross-country. Long-distance moving entails more careful preparation and coordination. After all, you can’t just drive your cars and belongings using a moving truck with a car tow-hitch.
Instead, you must hire long-distance movers to ship belongings and iron out details on shipping your car. It’s a big hassle to drive, especially with multiple vehicles. You’ll spend much on gas, toll fees, accommodation, and meals, not to mention the vehicle wear and tear.
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Uprooting your life thousands of miles away from your original address is essentially rebuilding your life in a new community. Moving long distances can be very stressful and overwhelming, especially if you wait until the last minute to get things done.
Fortunately, you can make your move much more manageable and streamline the execution through sufficient planning. Here are a few hacks that could help minimize the stress of your move across the country or several states away.
Plan As Soon As You Can
Start planning when you find out you’re making a long-distance move. This is not something you can wing and do on the fly. Careful preparation is critical so you can check threemovers.com long distance moving calculator because you will have many things to do, such as getting personal records, informing the kids’ school, suspending utilities, scheduling car shipment, etc.
It would help to have a moving calendar and a checklist. They will guide you on what to do during a specific time frame, like a month before the big move or a week before the move.
Having a master plan keeps you organized. A schedule you can visualize assures you don’t forget to do anything. Sometimes, waiting for things at the last minute could be more expensive. For instance, hiring the movers late into the game means you could pay more for rush services fees.
Research Different Professional Movers
When you’re making a long-distance move, you can’t rely on your family and friends to help carry stuff and get you settled. Instead, you’ll be hiring professional long distance movers to help you traverse the miles. Do your due diligence when it comes to vetting the right service company. It would help to do the following:
- Ask for licenses, accreditation, and insurance coverage
- Check online reviews and testimonials
- Ask for word-of-mouth referrals if possible
- Compare shipping rates
- Read the fine print of each proposal
Keep Packing Boxes Organized and Labeled
When you’re making a long-distance move, it helps to organize your packing boxes. You can’t pack at random. Instead, it would help to start with the least used items, such as those in the garage, attic, and basement. Then you can pack the other rooms and designate boxes for each room. Mark every box with the following:
- Your name
- Address
- The room the box will go to
- Brief description of items inside
- Number of the box
Each box must have a number because it will help you see if something is missing. Create a master list of the box numbers and what’s inside. This can help you cross-check and track all your possessions.
Do a Big Purge As You Pack
You’ll likely have to ship most of your stuff when moving far away. The amount you pay usually hinges on how much weight you’ll transport. Thus, it would help to do a big purge before your move.
While packing, pay attention to items you haven’t used within the last six months. Chances are you won’t use them at all. Sort your things into the following piles:
- Keep
- Donate
- Sell
- Recycle
- Throw
If you have multiples of the same item, keep only one. Let go of things you barely use, usually found in the attic or basement. Those items that look worse for wear are better off in the recycle bin. It would make more sense to buy a new one than have it shipped.
When you declutter before packing, this also means you have less stuff to unpack and organize in your new home.
Prepare an Overnight Bag of Essentials
When making a cross-country move, you need a dedicated bag for essentials. Pack two to three sets of clothes, toiletries, and medicines.
Having this on hand will prevent you from having to scour through your boxes looking for essentials you need immediately once you get to your destination. With this on hand, you can take your time unloading your boxes.
It’s not easy to move your life thousands of miles away. The entire long-distance move is an extensive process that entails careful prep work. Bear in mind that although it would be nice if things went smoothly, unexpected things often happen.
The best response during moments like this is to just take it in stride. Remember that at the end of it all, all your belongings will get packed and shipped to your new home no matter what. Going with the flow instead of stressing over the minute details can make a world of difference.