Advice from our moving experts to make your next move smoother, safer, and less stressful.
We'll give you an exact quote in minutes. No pressure. No surprises.
Published on Aug 28, 2021
•6 min read
By Mike Stackable,Founder
Did you know that Americans move around 11.7 times in their lifetimes?
Whether you’re going to make your first move or your 5th or even 11th, it can always be stressful. This is especially true if you’re making a long-distance move, since there’s so much more involved.
However, your moves don’t always have to be a stressful and anxious time. Instead, you should be focused on starting this exciting new chapter in your life!
How can you lessen the stress and be happier about your move? By using our 7 tips for moving long-distance! Read on for these helpful bits of information.
We know this seems like a very obvious tip, but you’d be surprised at just how many people don’t plan early and instead, procrastinate. Even if you’ve laid out a plan, the move can creep up on you before you know it! Plus, some unexpected situations might occur, which might delay your plans.
So as soon as you know you’re making a long-distance move, you should be proactive and start outlining what you want to do. Even if it’s a rough idea of things, it’s still better than waiting until the last minute to arrange everything, especially if you’re moving to other states.
With all moves, you’ll have to change your address for things like bills, bank accounts, credit cards, driver’s licenses, subscriptions, and government organizations. If you’re moving to another state, the last item on that list is particularly important.
Again, start early. List every account off the top of your head and write them down on a sheet of paper. As time goes by, another account might suddenly pop into your head; add it to the list immediately.
Do some research on how to change addresses and if you already know your new one, update your accounts. Also, if you already know you need to cancel subscriptions (such as internet connections), make sure you call early to let them know. That way, you can avoid paying for extra months if possible.
This is another important list you need to make. Chances are, your new place isn’t exactly the same as your old one. So you need to take inventory to get a general picture of everything you own.
While you’re doing this, you might come across things that you completely forgot about or thought were lost/thrown away. This is a great way to really get a feel for your belongings and consider which items need to be shipped and which can be transported with you (such as on a road trip).
The average American home has 300,000 items, and most likely, you don’t need it all. Once you’ve taken inventory of everything and have an overview, you can start sorting through them. Make 3 piles: keep, donate/sell, trash.
The “keep” pile can be relatively messy for now, as you’ll have to box them up in the future anyway. But for the “donate” and “trash” piles, you should either box or bag them so they’re easy to transport after you’re done.
Take another look at the donate/sell pile and determine if you want to go through the trouble of listing items for sale. While that might get you some extra money for the money, it can be time-consuming as well. Donating might be an easier way to get rid of these things, as all you have to do is drop them off at a thrift store.
It’s practically impossible to get ready for your move in one day. Even a few days is out of the question for the majority of people.
So what you want to do is take that inventory list, sit down, and break down your move prep into chunks. What needs to be wrapped up (such as furniture)? What do you need immediately (such as seasonal clothes) and what can come as last priority?
Setting a clear schedule for your move can make you realize that it’ll be tough to prep all on your own. In that case, you’ll want to put our next tip to good use.
If you’re currently working full-time and will work up until the day you move, don’t forget to ask for some time off so you can pack and prepare.
Don’t be afraid to ask your loved ones for help! They’ll probably want to spend as much time with you before you leave, so they’ll be more than happy to lend a helping hand.
Show them your schedule and assign different tasks to everyone. With all the work divided up, you’ll be ahead of schedule before you know it.
Last, but not least, you’ll want to hire professional long-distance movers. They’ll provide everything for the move so you don’t have to worry about added financial stress or extra shopping to do.
In fact, if you don’t have time to pack and/or don’t have available loved ones to help, professional movers can even pack and unpack your boxes for you! This ensures that all your treasured belongings are properly packed for maximum safety during the move. You won’t have to worry about packing for moves.
Some pros (like us at Muscleman Elite) can even craft custom crates for your items. And if you need it, we also offer full-service storage.
Now that you have a great list of tips for a long-distance move, we hope this has helped take a huge load of stress off your shoulders.
Remember to start early, enlist the help of loved ones, and even professional movers if you need it. By having extra hands for assistance, your move will be a lot more efficient and less anxiety-inducing. Plus, it gives you some more time to spend with loved ones, so it’s a win-win situation.
Want to get a lending hand with some professional movers? Then get a free instant quote from us now! We’re here to exceed your expectations.