Whether you’re moving to a new city like Kirkland or a new country, planning for a long-distance move is a daunting task. The mere thought of prepping and packing can create a cloud of anxiety over you for the weeks and months leading up to your move-out date.
Luckily, with a proper strategy in place and a well-thought-out plan, you can replace that anxiety with a sense of calm and contentment. Follow these steps, and we can (almost) promise a smooth long-distance move.
Table of Contents
How to Expertly Plan Your Long-distance Move
Give Yourself a Timeline
The first step in planning a long-distance move is to put a timeline in place. Moving experts suggest starting your moving process about six weeks before your moving date. Setting tasks to complete and keeping to a schedule will eliminate so much potential headache. You’ll feel confident you haven’t forgotten anything, and you’ll avoid getting overwhelmed the week of your move.
As a general timeline, this is how you should schedule your moving process:
- 6 weeks: notify schools, USPS, and other organizations that need to know about your new address; book a moving company
- 4 weeks–week of: start packing non-essentials and rooms that go unused (spare bedrooms, offices, etc.); start switching over utilities; schedule time with friends and family to say goodbye
- Week of: strategize your food situation; finalize the rest of your packing; confirm plans with the moving company; schedule plans for pets or children so that they aren’t in the way during the move; clean
- Moving day: wake up early; help with moving or manage your movers; enjoy the day!
Downsize, Declutter & Donate
Stated by long distance movers in Dallas, if you’re moving into a bigger space, downsizing might not make sense for you.But in most cases, it’s a great idea to declutter before your move.
The popular organizational shows on Netflix, like The Home Edit or Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, give expert advice on decluttering. A popular rule in the industry they follow when decluttering is the “one year” rule. The one year rule is if you haven’t used it, worn it, or even thought about it in the last year, it’s time to rip the bandage off and get rid of it.
Another tidbit of decluttering advice to follow: consider the environment of your new home. If you’re moving from Boston to South Florida, there may not be a need to keep those heavy-duty coats and snow boots in the Sunshine State.
By donating your unused items, you’ll be helping out others in need—you can also use it as a tax write-off. Another option is to have a garage sale before you move. Get rid of your discarded items, and make a few extra bucks while you’re at it.
Tossing some of your unused or unwanted items will also help with moving costs! When you hire a moving company, the fewer boxes and items you have to move, the less expensive your moving costs will be.
Label Boxes
While packing, it is extremely beneficial to label your boxes. One of the best ways to do this is by labeling them by room. This will make packing up easier, but it will also help you unpack when you arrive. Each box will have a corresponding room—now you can avoid any frantic searches for the silverware.
Move During the Off-season
If the option is available, try to schedule your move during the off-season.
Peak moving season generally starts in April and ends in September. If you move during this timeframe, you risk paying more in moving fees and apartment fees. You could also run into trouble scheduling a move, as the weekends in these months book up early.
Of course, you won’t always have this option—but if you have some flexibility with your move-out and move-in dates, scheduling a winter move during a weekday will cut down on costs.
Hire a Moving Company
Hiring a moving company doesn’t always come cheap, but depending on how much stuff you have, and how many heavy items you have (like couches and desks), it might be worth your while.
Reliable long distance movers can do as much or a little as you need them to do. You can hire them on moving day to transport items, or move the heavy stuff into your Uhaul. That way, you can save money and lower the chances of hurting your back with heavy lifting.
Most moving companies also offer a full-service or “white glove” move, which means they will do everything for you, including packing and bringing their own supplies, moving and transporting your belongings, and unpacking in your new home.
If money is a concern during your cross-country move, a hybrid of DIY and hiring a moving company will be your best bet!
Plan Your Move Like the Pros
The tips listed above are from industry leaders and experts who have implemented long-distance moves a time or two themselves—so we’re confident they work!
Whatever the reason, moving to a new place should be an enjoyable experience, not a dreadful one. With a packing and planning plan under your belt, you’re sure to have a calm and smooth move to your new home.
