Moving cross country or a few hundred miles is no easy task. If you walk out in the street and randomly poll a few people about it, you’ll probably hear a couple of horror stories.
While it can appear exotic, improper planning can make it a nightmare that may have you racing back to your initial location.
However, as overwhelming as the moving task is, it doesn’t have to be a complete nightmare. It can also be an adventure. All you need is a reliable plan ahead.
If you prepare well, you can minimize stress and set the stage for a smooth and seamless relocation.
Here are nine moving tips to lessen the burden of relocating hundreds or thousands of miles away from your current location.
1. Research Your New Location Before the Long Distance Move
Once you’ve identified the new city or state to relocate to, research your new intended home location. Visiting the location in-person to explore the neighborhood and the towns is ideal, but you can leverage technology such as the internet and video streaming can help you collect the information easily and quickly.
Researching the new location will get you critical information about what’s sensible to take with you and what isn’t during your move.
You need to know several things about your new residence, such as:
- The available floor space
- The new city lifestyle
- Weather
- Walkability
- Transport options
- Distance to support network
- Culture and entertainment
Why Should You Assess Your New Location Before The Move Day
Knowing your intended location gives clues about what you’ll take and what to leave during your move. Gather important details about schools, vehicle laws, the vagaries of insurance, and bylaws for your housing complex.
Do the additional step of going to your new place and figuring out the logistics. Check the following:
- • Streets the long-distance movers will take
- • Where will the movers pack when they get there
- • Traffic conditions in the area that can affect the move
- • The availability of service elevators that professional movers can take in case you’re moving to an apartment or condominium that’s several stories high
- • Moving requirements in your new place
If you have a pet, find out about the new state and city ordinances regarding vaccination, the number of pets you can keep, and leash laws.
Long distance move is a big deal in your life as it uproots your life to somewhere new. It’s best to ascertain everything will meet your expectations.
2. Get Multiple Long Distance Move Estimates
Moving across country requires you to do everything possible to find the right moving company. Part of the process is getting estimates from at least three of them.
Examine which of the three offers services within your budget and suit your needs. Ensure that the price estimates are as accurate as possible to save money.
Researching Moving Companies
Before choosing your mover, consider if the company:
- • Offers full-service to help you with the packing and unpacking processes
- • Is licensed and insured
- • Can offer long-distance moving tips
After comparing the prices, hire a reputable and trustworthy company. Even though affordability will drive your decision, remember that the cheapest way isn’t always the best deal. You don’t want to be caught up in moving issues while trying to relocate thousands of miles away.
Finding the right help is one of the most important steps when planning a move. Do your research to find a reputable one.
If you’re planning on doing the move yourself, research how much it’ll cost to rent a moving truck and other related expenses.
Set aside a budget as soon as possible. Money on hand will eliminate worry about when it’s finally time to relocate. The earlier, the better.
If you’re moving for work, ask your company if it’ll cover part or all of your moving expenses.
3. Prepare Early for a Successful Long-Distance Move
You’re about to move all valuable items you own hundreds or thousands of miles away. That’s an enormous task that requires a plan. The earlier you start, the less stressful it will be.
You can start the moving preparation as early as eight weeks before the move day.
What to Do 8 Weeks Before The Move-Out Day
A long-haul move calls for the execution of many tasks before the moving day. To avoid getting overwhelmed, start eight weeks earlier. Eight weeks before the day, you can:
- • File a request for time off for the day of the move if you’re doing it on a weekday.
- • Identify a suitable school for the kids.
- • Get rid of stuff you won’t bring with you.
- • Separate items cross-country movers won’t handle.
- • Talk with your landlord (if you’re renting) and settle any debt you may have to get it out of your way.
4. Six Weeks Before the Moving Day: Get Packing Supplies and Tell Friends and Family Know Your Plan
Six weeks before a move, you can get packing supplies and let your family and friends know your moving plan. You can prepare as follow:
- • Talk to family and friends about the move to keep them in the loop.
- • If you’re asking for anyone’s help during the move, you should inform them six weeks in advance so that they can block the dates in their calendar.
- • Book a moving truck. Research the rental option and settle on a service that meets your budget and distant relocation move needs.
- • Collect free moving boxes. Start buying boxes to store your belonging. Restaurants, supply stores, office supply stores, liquor stores, and other local businesses can get you the packing materials to pack your things. If you can’t find any, head to online stores to get slightly used cardboard boxes.
- • Label boxes. The surest way to keep yourself organized is to label all your boxes by the room they belong. The last thing you want is to fill a box with items that don’t belong together.
For instance, you want to pack all kitchen appliances together for an easy unpacking job.
- • Create an inventory list. Listing down the items you’ll bring along might seem tedious, but it’ll save you worries. If an item is missing, you can confirm whether you packed it or not using your inventory.
- • Measure your other furniture. If you’re worried about your furniture not going through the door, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to find out. Measure the furniture to ascertain it’ll fit. Figure out how you’ll move the furniture out of the house.
- • Start packing items every day. You can start packing items you don’t need access to every day as the moving day approaches. These items can include wine glasses, jewelry, books, and other non-essentials.
- • Make minor home repairs. You want to get your security deposit back. Assess your home and identify areas that require attention.
- • Research packing tips. Carelessly shoving items in cardboard boxes can jeopardize your moving process. Do a quick search online to identify better ways to pack your belonging to maximize the process.
5. Four Weeks Before a Long Distance Move: Update Important Documents
You’d expect to do more tasks since you’re only a month away from the moving day. The most important task you can execute is taking care of all the documents you’ll need,
Important Documents that Call for Update
Changing your address requires updating information in several documents and places. Some of the essential documents you should update include:
- • Driver’s license: Ensure you update it with your new address so that you can drive legally in your new town or state. The law requires you to update your DMV address within 30 days of moving, even if you’re moving within city limits.
- • Vehicle registration: If you’re moving out of state lines with a licensed vehicle, you’ll need a vehicle registration update. Your vehicle registration should reflect your new address, allowing you to drive in the new state.
- • Banking information: Update your address on any bank account to protect yourself from identity theft and ensure you track your banking activity correctly. Most banks allow instant address updates online using their secure network to simplify your work.
- • Insurance policies: Some insurance holders you’ll need to notify about your move-in situation include homeowner/renters insurance, car insurance, life insurance, and medical insurance. Failure to update your address with the insurance company can result in a voided policy and, in extreme cases, insurance fraud charges.
- • Tax documents: The government can’t send a tax return or stimulus check if your current address isn’t on file. Update your address using Form 8822 online. Take this time to do the updates if you haven’t done so.
- • Social Security Card: If you receive any Social Security benefits from the government, you should update your address as soon as you move to continue receiving the payment. The social security administration has a free online form to update your contact information. Update your address if you receive retirement, disability, medicare, survivor, or supplemental security benefits.
Apart from updating critical documents, there are other activities you can carry out four weeks before the move day. You can:
- • Buy moving insurance to cover all your belonging if something gets lost or damaged along the way. Purchasing insurance is not a must, but it’ll give you peace of mind during the move.
- • Eliminate all perishable items. Now that it’s only a month to the moving day, you should plan to get rid of perishable items since you won’t bring them with you. Plan your meals to get rid of food that would go stale. If you can’t eat all the food that’s challenging to carry around, donate them to a charity.
- • Notify your insurance company of your pending move. That way, your agent will update your records.
- • Find an internet provider for your new location. Lack of an internet connection can be a pain in the paper. Reach out to an internet provider in the area you’re moving to and schedule an installation on the date you move.
- • Identify a new doctor, dentist, and vet. Moving to a new city or town calls for a new doctor, dentist, or vet. You should look for one or at least narrow down to several candidates.
6. Two Weeks Before The Moving Day: Update Accounts and Records and Finalize the Details
Two weeks might still appear like a lot of time, but the big day is now almost there. You can use this time to finalize the details of your upcoming move and update your records and accounts. You can:
- • Dispose of or recycle flammable, corrosive, and poisonous items. This step is one of the most critical moving tips because transporting these items can be challenging.
- • Return borrowed items to friends, family, and neighbors. While packing and cleaning the old house, you’ll notice items that don’t belong to you. Return these items to their owner before moving out.
- • Transfer your prescription to a new pharmacy. If you have active prescriptions, you can transfer them to a pharmacy near your new home if necessary.
- • Notify service providers you’re relocating. Inform your housekeeping, gardener, and other service providers that you’re moving. If you’re moving thousands of miles away and you’ll no longer need their services, you need to inform them in advance so that they can find new employers.
7. During the Moving Week: Organize All Your Belongings and Finalize Packing
Now it’s almost time. Use this week to organize all your belonging, get proper packing supplies, finish packing with packing paper, and clean your old home.
Some of the activities to execute during the moving week include:
- • Get rid of leftover food
- • Clean your old home. You shouldn’t leave the old home dirty just because you’re relocating.
- • Unplug your fridge before the move to give it time to defrost if you’re using an older model.
- • Redirect or cancel pending delivery. If you have products whose delivery window won’t fit your schedule, you can forward them to your new address or cancel them.
- • Prepare for a final walkthrough with your landlord before you leave. Your landlord will want to examine your old home before you go. Ensure the place is in good condition before your landlord comes. For example, ensure the wall has no holes.
- • Check the weather for the moving day and make any needed adjustments.
- • Clean your new place. Get someone to clean your new place before hitting the road.
8. During the Moving Day: Streamline Your Plan With Your Movers and Execute the Cross Country Move
You have been preparing for eight weeks, and finally, the moving day has come. If you deploy every step correctly, everything should move smoothly.
During the move day:
- • Protect your floors and carpets when moving things around. Avoid damaging the floor when moving things around by covering it to prevent unnecessary damage.
- • Work with movers to help you relocate to the new place. Let your mover know where furniture and boxes should go as soon as they arrive at your new home.
- • Figure out where every item will go in your new home. Measure your new home’s open floor space and figure out where movers will fit everything you move. That way, you won’t be frustrated when you move larger items to your new home.
9. Unpack After A Successful Move
After a successful move, you can execute the following steps:
- • Double-check your belonging before the movers leave. If you have an inventory list, you can ensure that your movers bring everything to your new home. Confirm with your list before the movers leave to determine what happened to a missing item.
- • Unpack the essential items. Once you’ve moved everything to your home, you can start unpacking essentials such as toiletries and bed.
- • Say hello to the new neighbors shortly after you arrive. Introduce yourself to your new neighbors.
- • Go grocery shopping to stock up on food and other necessities.
- • Put up curtains or shades.
The 9 Things that Really Matter For a Successful Long-Distance Move
We’ve covered a lot of details in this post, and it would be helpful to conclude with a quick checklist to help you move cross-country. Here are the nine most important things to remember:
1. Whether you’re shifting cities or moving cross-country, your first step for a successful move is to know your new location better. Researching your new place will allow you to better plan the long-distance move with moving companies.
2. Get multiple in-home moving estimates eight weeks before the moving date to give you time to score the best.
3. Moving your valuable items hundred or thousands of miles is an enormous task and requires your to prepare as early as possible before you hit the road. Start planning early to set the stage for a smooth and seamless relocation.
4. Tell your friends about your moving plan six weeks before the moving day so they can block the day in their calendar if you need help.
5. Update critical documents you’ll need, such as your driver’s license to allow smooth operation in your new location.
6. Two weeks to the moving day, finalize your details and updates your accounts and records.
7. In the moving week, start packing your items in boxes and label them. Get rid of all perishable items during this week.
8. On a moving day, everything should be in order. Your main task is to streamline your moving plan with your moving company. Work with the movers to align them to your plan.
9. After a successful move, confirm that you’ve brought every item before your moving company leaves. Then, unpack, starting with the essentials such as bed and toiletry.
Following these recommendations can save you tons of time, money, and headaches.