Use the following tips to help mitigate some of your apprehension and make your long distance trip go more smoothly.
1. Advance planning
There are more steps involved in planning for and completing long-distance moves than if you were just moving across town.
To compensate for this fact, give yourself anywhere from twelve to sixteen weeks to plan your move if possible.
2. What is your budget?
Begin planning your move by figuring out how much you can easily afford to spend on it.
This will help you decide whether you can use a moving company or you’ll have to do it yourself.
3. Research moving companies
Research review sites such as Yelp, Angie’s List and/or the BBB to research prospective moving companies.
For long-distance moves, your best bet is to go with a well-known mover such as Mayflower Transit or United Van Lines as they have moved hundreds of thousands of individuals from coast to coast.
4. Get in-home quotes
Since the costs will be greater with a long distance move, if you’re going with a moving company don’t get a quote over the phone.
Set up an in-home quote with different moving companies to get the most accurate idea of how much your move will cost.
5. Downsize your belongings
If you plan to use a moving company, your costs will be based on the total weight of your items. That’s why it just makes good sense to downsize before moving.
And even if you plan to move things yourself you can reduce the fuel and other transportation costs (e.g. hotels, food, etc.) by eliminating things you no longer use or won’t need where you’re moving to.
Consider your square footage – will it be more or less? A good rule of thumb when downsizing is to consider how much square footage you have now compared to what you’ll have when you move.
Bottom line, take only those things you will need and use and you’ll greatly reduce the time, labor and cost of a long distance move.
6. Label boxes
As you pack each box, label the contents on the outside of each box and write the name of the room it should be placed in (e.g. dining room, bathroom, etc.)
If you’re using a mover, add your first and last name to the boxes as well to reduce any confusion.
7. Move during the offseason
Finally, if your moving date is optional, consider moving during the fall, winter, and spring as most moving companies are extremely busy during the summer.
Use this moving checklist to get you organized when packing up your home.
