TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR LONG-DISTANCE MOVE
Any move has its share of challenges, but a long-distance one can feel especially grueling. In addition to the regular chores of packing up and cleaning out your current place, you may be facing added pressure to find a new neighborhood in an unfamiliar city, starting a new career, or getting your family on board to move hundreds of miles from home. At times, the process may feel overwhelming – especially if you don’t have a game plan. Here are some helpful tips to ensure that your relocation doesn’t get derailed:
START PLANNING EARLY
Scrambling to get everything done at the last minute only leads to frustration and anxiety. The best way to keep stress at bay during this major transition is to start preparing for your move well in advance. Even if you aren’t moving for several months, you can start planning now. Sit down and create a list of everything you need to accomplish over the next 2-3 months in order to have a smooth move. Making this checklist now will help you stay organized and give you the satisfaction of checking items off as you make progress.
GET MOVING QUOTES
One of the first things that should be on your list is finding a long distance mover. While booking same day might work for an in-town move, the schedules of interstate moving companies often fill up weeks or even months in advance. When shopping for a moving company, keep in mind that at a minimum, you should be looking for one that carries the appropriate licensing and insurance, has glowing reviews, and that will provide a free in-home estimate. DR Moving & Storage checks all these boxes and then some! Let us put our years of long-distance moving experience to work for you.
DECLUTTER
Before you start assembling moving boxes, throw open those drawers and cabinets and get to work decluttering. Experts suggest sorting items into piles to keep, toss, sell, and donate. Clearing out your unused and unwanted items makes the packing process more straightforward and is one of the best ways to reduce moving costs. Long distance movers charge for according to the distance of the move and weight of the shipment. You probably have at least a few hundred pounds of clutter lurking in your closets and overflowing from your drawers. Think what a relief it would be to move without this extra baggage!
PACK METHODICALLY
You can feasibly start packing for your move a month or two in advance. Start with out-of-season or infrequently items, like holiday décor, fancy serving dishes, and off-season clothing. You likely won’t miss these things if they are packed away a little early. A few additional packing tips:
- Fill each box completely: Open space in a box makes your items more susceptible to shifting around and breaking. Crumple up extra packing paper or use bubble wrap to fill in crevices.
- Don’t overfill: While you don’t want open space in your boxes, you also don’t want them to be too heavy to lift. Pack light items in large boxes, but keep heavier items (like books, dishes, etc.) to more compact boxes.
- Label: As you seal each box, make sure you label it with the room and the contents (for example, “Kitchen: Nana’s china set”). Also, if the box contains fragile items, like glassware, make sure to label it as “FRAGILE.”
- Make use of what you have: You don’t have to spend a fortune on packing materials. Fill up your suitcases with clothing and use dish towels and other linens to pad items.
SCOUT OUT YOUR NEW LOCATION
If you’re moving to an unfamiliar place, you might want to fly out there for an extended weekend. This trip can help you get a feel for the city and hone-in on the most desirable neighborhoods. You can also take this time to meet with a real estate agent or tour apartments.
NOTIFY PERTINENT PARTIES
A couple of weeks prior to the move, file a change of address form with the Postal Service. This simple step (that you can tackle quickly online) will save you the headache of your future mailings ending up in the wrong hands. Though the USPS will forward your mail for a while, you’ll still need to let people know about your move. Make sure your address is updated with the following:
- Banking/financial institutions and credit card companies
- Insurance companies
- Utility providers
- Subscription services
- Family & friends
CREATE A HOME INVENTORY
In the days or weeks that it takes for your belongings to ship across the country, you may forget what items you relinquished to the moving company. Before the movers show up to load the truck, create a home inventory. List major items of furniture along with a list of boxes and their contents. You can use this inventory as a checklist to ensure everything arrives at your new home. It’s helpful to assign each box a number, so you can easily identify any missing boxes. Not only is this home inventory helpful for filing a mover claim, if needed, but it’s also a great record to keep for home insurance purposes.
MAP YOUR ROUTE
Whether you’re driving to your new destination or taking another form of transportation, you need to plan your trip. A cross-country road trip is the perfect excuse for a mini vacation – you can seize the opportunity to see national landmarks and places you’ve never been, while someone else deals with driving a truck full of your stuff. Make sure to plan stops and book lodging along the way.
EAT UP!
To prevent food waste, stop grocery shopping at least a week (if not longer) before your move. Plan meals around the ingredients already in your fridge or pantry. If you have lots of canned goods and other non-perishables you won’t get to before the move, consider donating them to your local food bank.
ARRANGE FOR KIDS AND PETS
Moving day is no time for children and pets to be underfoot. With a rush of movers in and out lugging heavy furniture and boxes, your home is sure to be chaos. Arrange offsite care for kids and pups on moving day. Not only, will this keep everyone safe, but it will help ease their anxiety about relocating.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to being prepared for your upcoming move. For all your long distance moving needs, be sure to give DR Moving & Storage a call! We’re here to serve you throughout your relocation.