10 Essential Cross Country Moving Tips

If you’re planning to move to a new country or a thousand miles across state lines, knowing some of the essential cross country moving tips can help to ensure your move happens without any major issues. From the minute you decide you are moving to the day you sign for receipt of your belongings at your new home, moving tips from the experts can ensure you don’t miss any key details.

For short-distance moves, it is often possible to rent a small van and make several small trips between two properties. That is not possible with a long distance move. A cross country move requires extensive planning and preparations and can also cost a lot more money. So here are some top tips:

 

  1. Start planning your move as soon as possible

When you’re about to relocate to a property hundreds of miles away, a solid plan is essential. While in other areas of your life, you might prefer to go with the flow, that approach is not a good idea for the enormous task of moving to a different state or country. You need to write down a detailed moving-related checklist of all the tasks you need to accomplish before the moving day. Fortunately, there are lots of printable ready-made moving checklist available on the web, so you don’t have to start with a blank sheet of paper.

2. Stick to a schedule

Once you have a plan for moving preparations, you must stick to a schedule. Tasks like school enrollments, medical center registrations, and utility installations are time-sensitive, and you don’t want to find yourself rushing to complete them at the last minute. Try scheduling tasks from your moving checklist onto a daily or weekly calendar. Sticking to a schedule will massively reduce your stress levels leading up to moving day.

  1. Obtain moving estimates from multiple companies

When you are moving a across the country, the amount of money you can save by comparing prices from multiple cross country moving companies can be quite considerable. You should obtain price quotes from a minimum of three cross country moving companies. However, it’s important to make sure you that you obtain accurate estimates and not rough guide costs which could spiral at a later date.

  1. Hire moving services from a reputable firm

Price is not the only factor to take into consideration when comparing different moving companies. You want to make sure that you hire a company that has a good reputation from past customers and that has a lot of experience in the field. Cross country moving can be a complex logistical task, so you can’t afford to hire inexperienced moving firms that have only ever done short distance local moves. Remember, the cheapest option isn’t always the best. You don’t want to find yourself entwined in a moving scam.

  1. Make sure your documents are up to date

Moving to another country will undoubtedly require you to provide lots of paperwork and ID documents at different points. It’s essential to make sure your driver’s license, car registration papers, and passport are up to date. You should plan to change your address on key documents to your new home.

  1. Buy moving insurance

When it comes to buying moving insurance, you need to make sure you understand exactly what is and is not covered. This is especially important if you have lots of valuable items. Some basic policies provide coverage for loss, theft, or damage during the move, but have high deductibles and limit claim amounts. For maximum protection for your belongings, look for comprehensive insurance plans.

  1. Get rid of everything you don’t need

Before you start packing your belongings for a long distance move, you should consider selling or donating to charity any items that you don’t need. The more stuff you have to move, the more expensive your moving expenses. It’s especially advisable to get rid of cheap, bulky furniture, which can cost more to transport than it is worth. When it comes to things like appliances, wardrobes, and mattresses, consider whether it would be worth selling your existing items and buying new items when you arrive in your new property to avoid costly moving fees.

  1. Buy high quality moving boxes

While used cardboard boxes can often withstand short distance local moves, for long distance moves, your belongings need to be packed in high quality moving boxes. Look for boxes that are strong, sturdy, and water-resistant. You should also invest in high-quality packaging material to ensure the contents of each box are well cushioned and secured. Assume that boxes will be thrown around and loaded onto multiple trucks in all different orientations.

  1. Labels all your boxes

During a cross country move, there is a high chance that your boxes will share a truck with boxes from multiple other customers from a moving company. This means you need to ensure that all of your boxes are labeled with a highly visible unique identifier. You might also want to write the destination room on each box to make the unloading and unpacking stage on arrival at your new home easier.

  1. Schedule your move off-season

Most people want to move during the summer months, which means prices can be a lot higher during that season. If you have the option of moving off-season, you could potentially save hundreds of dollars on the cost of your long distance move.

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