Moving to a new home takes a lot of energy and planning, especially if you are relocating across the country. For many, moving is an incredibly stressful affair. Fortunately, however, there are many ways to make your move less stressfully and presented below are a few tips and tricks for long distance move you might wish to follow.
1. Know your budget
Before you start planning your move, you need to know exactly how much money you have to spend. You should always include a contingency fund in your moving budget to cover any unforeseen future costs.
As a good start, create a list of possible expenses and a budget plan. For instance, take note of the packing and cleaning supplies you’ll need. While these items seem cheap, you might need plenty of boxes, tape, bubble wrap, and special cleaning tools for a successful move. If you’re planning to hire a moving company, you’ll also need to note their rate when finalizing your budget.
2. Draw up a moving checklist
You will find many free downloadable moving checklists online, which can be very convenient and give you a good place to start, but it’s essential to make sure you customize generic lists to your circumstances. Your list should include time deadlines for each task to prevent you from leaving everything till the last minute. For some people, the moving process may span up to two months, while for others, the timeline could be as short as one week.
Essentially, a moving checklist consists of a scheduled plan of tasks and activities, such as when you should start packing the least and most essential items and when to notify your creditors and utility companies about your change of address and services. This checklist is likely to change, especially as you move closer to the moving date and due to some unforeseen circumstances. So, having one can help you keep track of everything you need to do to prevent stress associated with moving, especially for a long-distance move.
3. Research moving companies
While renting a truck or relying on friends or family with large vehicles to help you transport all your belongings to your new home can be cheaper, however, to save yourself from all the hassle hiring a professional moving service is highly advisable, especially if you are completing a long distance move. Get to know more tips about long distance moving and hiring movers to make your move stress free. However, not all moving companies are great, so it’s essential to research different providers and create a shortlist of three to five to contact a quote.
4. Compare quotes
When comparing moving quotes from different professional movers, it’s essential to compare like-for-like services. For example, while one moving company might give you a higher quote than another, their quote could cover lots of extras, such as packaging materials, storage Spring TX , and insurance.
5. Update your records
There are likely to be many different companies you need to notify of your upcoming change of address, including banks, the post office, utility providers, insurance companies, and more. To ensure you don’t miss any, be sure to make a list.
6. Declutter
The last thing you want to be doing is paying to transport clutter to your new home, so before the moving day arrives, be sure to have a big declutter. It’s best to start decluttering as early as possible to leave yourself time to sell and donate unwanted items and dispose of broken items responsibly. If you are moving long distance, decluttering is even more important as every extra item will increase your move’s cost, especially if the items are big and bulky or very heavy.
7. Obtain strong moving boxes
Cardboard moving boxes are typically used to store and keep your belongings safe while in transit. They’re often the go-to packing materials people use, as they’re easy to find, recyclable, and affordable. That said, as you prepare to pack your things, check out a reputable cardboard box supplier to determine how much budget you need to allocate for this packing material.
To protect your belongings, you must use high-quality moving boxes. The good news is that many green moving companies provide customers with reusable moving boxes. If you are on a tight budget, you might want to start sourcing free strong cardboard boxes from family, friends, and local businesses.
8. Securely wrap fragile items
Most moving companies will not compensate you for fragile items that break during transportation if you have not packed them securely. So, make sure your breakables are surrounded by scrunched up paper, foam, and bubble wrap. Blankets, towels, and bedding can also be used to protect breakables.
9. Keep hazardous items separate
Many items are too hazardous to be transported in a moving truck, so you need to either dispose of them or arrange special delivery services to get them to your new home. Examples of such items include medications, painting equipment, pesticides, cleaning chemicals, auto batteries, fire extinguishers, chorine granules, varnishes, and more. Your moving company should provide you with a list of prohibited items. For permitted cleaning supplies, medications, and liquid products, be sure to pack them separated in plastic totes in clearly marked boxes.
Outlined above was a small selection of moving tips and ideas you might find useful. Remember, while moving is a lot of work, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By planning for your move well in advance, you can start to look forward to moving day and the prospect of starting your life in a new home.
