How to Best Prepare for a Long-Distance Move

Let’s face it, managing moving stress is hard, no matter where you’re planning on moving. Packing up your whole life and moving to a new home is made even more complicated when you’re moving long-distance. The very thought of it is enough to overwhelm even the most cool-headed person.

If you want to get through a long-distance move with minimal trauma, then you’re going to want to take the time to do it right. Accomplishing that is not as easy as it sounds, though. Read on for some killer tips that’ll help you prepare for a move.

Start Getting Moving Company Estimates

It’s no secret that COVID-19 set off a pattern of movement from big cities to suburbs and smaller cities. Because of this, moving companies are getting booked up months in advance, especially during the prime summer moving months. That means, if you want to make sure that you have a moving crew, then you need to hire a moving company as soon as you know that you’re moving.

The first step toward booking a moving company for your move is to call up a few long-distance moving companies. During the call, you’ll need to get a quote for the amount of stuff in your home, but they may ask to do a walk-through of your home. You can speed up the process by having a list of major furniture and estimating the number of boxes you’ll have.

Another thing to note is that peak moving season means peak moving prices. If you want to save a significant amount of money, then it helps to move during the slower winter months. 

Destash Your Stuff

Want to reduce the cost of your move even further? The best thing you can do is to destash your home.

Before you start packing, spend a good amount of time going through all of the stuff in your home and seeing if you can widdle down your belongings. Use the Marie Kondo method and be aggressive about getting rid of the stuff that doesn’t have any value to you. The less you have when you move, the easier (and cheaper) your move will be.

Can’t stomach throwing stuff out? Donate it to a local charity or sell it off in a garage or yard sale. 

Develop a Packing Plan

When it comes time to start packing, you can make it easier on yourself by developing a plan of attack. A good rule of thumb to follow is that you should pack up the items you use the least first, and save the stuff you use the most for the last few days before the move.

Create your packing plan in a way that makes the most sense for your needs. Some people choose to pack up the entirety of one large room first and then store all of their boxes in there. Others pack up room-by-room. 

Create a List of Your Items

There are a lot of moving parts that come with a long-distance move. It’s easy for things to slip through the cracks in the process. Moving companies typically have a strategy to help protect against this, but it’s important for you to have one, too.

Create a list of all of the furniture that you’re moving. Then, number your boxes as you’re packing and mark them down on an inventory sheeting with descriptions of what they contain. Once you get to your new location, confirm that everything on your inventory list arrived safely.

Bed Decisions

Believe it or not, moving a bed across the country is pretty expensive. Why would you pay to move a mattress that only has a couple of years of life in it? Depending on the age of your bed, it might be less expensive for you to buy a new mattress instead of paying to have yours shipped. 

Be sure to read more on your moving company’s website about their policies for moving larger furniture like beds, sofas, and appliances. That information can help you decide whether you want to take your old mattress with you or buy a new one in your new location.

Decide What to Take in the Car

Planning a long-distance move means that you have to decide how you’re going to get there. Some people opt to have their car shipped and fly to their new home. Unless you have extra cash floating around, that might not be the most financially savvy option.

Driving your car is a perfectly acceptable way to travel to your new home. One thing to consider when you’re packing, however, is what you want the movers to take and what you want to take in the car. For example, many people pack items in their car that they worry the movers might damage or items they need on a daily basis. 

Once you know what you’re taking in your car, set those items aside so the movers don’t take them when they load up their truck. Even better, have your car packed up before the movers even get there.

Prep Your Car for Travel

A week or two before you’re ready to make a long trip, it’s important for you to ensure that your car is up for the task. Have the tires checked to make sure they have enough air and tread to handle the distance. If it’s time for an oil change, do that sooner rather than later.

Finally, spring for a safety inspection to ensure that you arrive safely to your new home without any delays.

Are You Ready for Your Long-Distance Move?

There are so many things that you need to do in order to make your long-distance move go as smoothly as possible. Remember to always plan far in advance to make sure that you’re not stressing out at the last minute and trying to get things done. Between that and staying organized, your move will feel like nothing more than a minor inconvenience!

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