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How to Prepare for Long Distance Moves

February 22, 2020 12:45pm

Whether you are moving down the street or to another neighborhood, local moving is no walk in the park — it takes a lot of planning, coordination, and streamlined execution. Long-distance moving is a completely different beast. Whether you’re moving a state away or across the country, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Therefore, you must know how to prepare for a long-distance move if you want the whole experience to go smoothly, free of stress, and easy!

If you are organized from the beginning, you won’t get as overwhelmed with all of the tasks you have to take care of before the moving date. Packing even one or two boxes a day will make a huge difference.

If you are having a tough time figuring out where to start, don’t worry; our professional movers are here to help! Below we have compiled a few long-distance moving tips to help you plan and get organized for your upcoming relocation expedition!

COME UP WITH A GAMEPLAN

What’s the first step in preparing for your long-distance move? Coming up with a thought-out strategy and moving schedule is a good start. Your schedule needs to include everything that needs to be done from the day that you decide that you are moving until the day that you arrive at your new place. Some things you’ll want to consider adding to your long-distance moving game plan include the route to get to your destination — whether you are flying or driving — as well as what accommodations will need to be made before your moving date. Some tasks that can be added to your schedule and game plan include:

Being searching for, and comparing, long-distance moving companies at least four to eight weeks before moving. Need help finding the best moving company? Check out our tips.
Contact banks, insurance companies, and other financial institutions that need to be notified of relocation plans six to seven weeks before moving.
If you have children, make sure to call their school six to seven weeks before moving.
Start decluttering your home and organizing items in proper categories four to five weeks before moving.
Inform family doctors, dentists, and lawyers four weeks before moving.
Call to disconnect any utilities, including water, electricity, and the internet four weeks before moving.
Begin packing your belongings at least two to four weeks before moving.

COMPARE LONG-DISTANCE MOVING COMPANIES

As mentioned, searching for moving companies is one of the first tasks that should be on your moving gameplan. Especially if you plan on moving in the summer — one of the busiest moving seasons of the year — you’ll want to ensure you find and hire a reputable long-distance moving company to assist you in your move. When comparing different moving companies, keep an eye out for those that specialize in long-distance moving services. You’ll feel more at ease working with experienced movers that have dealt with these types of lengthy moves. Once you have a few long-distance movers to compare, reach out to each for an estimate. This will give you an opportunity to get a first impression of each company, and compare what they charge, any offered promotions, and any extra fees that may be included in the price.

TAKE INVENTORY OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE PACKED

Moving is a great time to declutter your home and get rid of things that you no longer have use for. While you certainly won’t want to leave behind any of your favorite furniture, heirlooms, and kitchen essentials, there is no need to keep dragging around old clothes or those items that have been stowed away in the attic for the past few years. Take a moment to decide what you want to take with you to your new house and what needs to be sold, donated, or thrown away. If you’re not sure, use the one-year rule. If you haven’t used, worn, or received joy from something in the last year, it’s time to let it go. Any items that you don’t want to bring along can be sold as a way to supplement your travel income or it can be donated.

For a stress-free, long-distance move, choose Friendly Movers. Get Your Free Moving Quote Today!

PACK YOUR THINGS CAREFULLY

When you are moving down the street or even across town, it is easier to get away with haphazardly tossing your belongings into a few boxes and throwing loose items in the trunk of your vehicle at the last minute. However, when it comes to long-distance moving, it is important to pay attention to how you pack everything up. Be sure to stock up on blankets, packing paper, bubble wrap, styrofoam peanuts, newspapers and any other packing materials that can help protect your fragile possessions. Ensuring that everything is properly packed and secure will reduce the chances that something breaks or is damaged during transport. Fragile items especially will require extra time and careful handling to pack them properly. If you aren’t sure how to pack fragile items for moving, check out our recent blog post!

FINALIZE YOUR TRAVEL PLANS

Long-distance moves often involve multiple days of traveling. By this time, you should already have decided whether you’ll be flying or driving to your new home. If you choose to drive, figure out if you’ll need multiple vehicles and who will be getting behind the wheel. You’ll also need to determine what needs to be packed in each vehicle. Also, map out directions and plan stops — and sleeping arrangements, if necessary — along the way. If flying, you should purchase your tickets well in advance of your moving day. You’ll need to plan how many bags you are bringing what items will be going into them. It’s also great to have rides to and from the airport prior to your move.

CONTACT OUR LONG-DISTANCE MOVERS IN WASHINGTON DC

Being well-prepared and giving yourself plenty of time to do each task is the best way to reduce the stress involved in your long-distance move. If you are in need of a long-distance moving company, contact Friendly Movers to start planning your move!