Are you about to make a long distance move?
Moving home, in general, is a stressful process. But when you add in the fact you’re moving long distance it gets even scarier. There’s so much more to think about and arrange, it can all start to feel a bit overwhelming.
Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Read on for these 7 long distance moving tips to help your move go off without a hitch.
1. Start to Prepare as Soon as You Decide to Move Long Distance
There are fewer movers who offer long distance moving services, meaning demand is high. It’s important that once you’ve committed to your long distance move, you start planning for it.
To start this process, make a list of all the things you’ll need to get done before moving day. This should include things like:
- Changing your address
- Working out your new job logistics
- Shipping all your items to where you need them
- Changing your utilities to the new home
Anything you can think of that needs taking care of needs to go on this list. Give yourself a schedule and timescale to get these items sorted. It’s most helpful to break them down into weekly tasks.
This will help you stay on track, meet all deadlines and avoid any extra expenses. With any move, it always pays to stay organized, but it’s a necessity for long distance moves.
2. Choose a Long Distance Moving Company You Can Trust
Once you’ve made your moving checklist, it’s time to choose movers. To find the best movers, you want to do a Google search for what companies local to you offer this service.
Bear in mind the costs are going to be higher than if you were moving down the road or across the city. Give these companies’ websites a look, and read online reviews from past clients.
Narrow down the ones you want to contact, give them a call to discuss your needs. Once they know your situation they can tell you if they’ll be able to help, and what an estimate would be for costs.
Even if you call them up, you’re not obligated to choose them. Shopping around and getting estimates is the smart thing to do. It ensures you’ll get the best service for a price you’re most comfortable with.
When you’re moving long distance, it’s vital you choose the right movers for your needs. Trusted, safe professional movers can save you stress, heartache, and money in the long run.
3. Declutter and Remove or Donate the Items You Don’t Want
When it comes to how to move long distance you only want to take the items you need. It’s essential to reduce the amount of clutter and possessions you own.
Go through each room and have 3 boxes ready to declutter, labeled:
- Keep
- Donate
- Throw Out
As you take each item, think hard about if you need it, or if it brings you real joy. If not, can someone else use it? If that’s a yes, then put it in the donate box, if it’s a no then throw it out.
Never put items aside to decide on later, you’re only putting the job off. Make the decision as soon as you pick the item up, and stick to it.
The smaller your moving inventory, the faster your packing will be. You’ll need fewer packing supplies, saving you money, and it’ll be faster to load and unload at either end.
4. Make an Inventory
Once you know what items you’re taking to your new home, make sure you write them down. A detailed inventory makes it easier to have a [packing plan], and to budget for the packing materials.
Go through and make a list for each room and leave nothing out. You want to write every item and its rough monetary value. If anything goes wrong on the move, it’ll help your insurance claim.
Have a master copy of all those inventories in a moving folder. Also, provide copies for the movers so they know what they’re transporting. This is going to be one of the biggest time savers.
5. Organize Your Items as You Pack
While you’re packing up your boxes, it’ll be useful to organize your items as you go along. For smaller items, you can place them into storage containers, drawers, or dividers as you pack.
This will save you time at the other end when it’s time to unpack everything. But it’ll also save space for your move. Every little container will help when you’re finding places to store items. Especially small objects that could get lost.
6. Have an Efficient Box Labelling System
This is a vital organizational tip if you want to save money and have a smooth long distance move. You need to label your boxes and spare no details. Include things like:
- Your last name
- An exact item inventory of what’s inside
- What room the box needs to go into
This helps movers know which rooms to place the boxes into when they unpack. It’ll also make it faster and easier to unpack yourself when you arrive.
Also, pack one box that has overnight supplies in it. This should have:
- A spare set of clothes for each person
- Cooking pans and utensils for the night
- A set of crockery and cutlery for each person
- Shower supplies and a towel for each person
- Tea making items or a glass for each person
- Bedding to make up the beds
Anything that you’re going to need that first night, put into separate boxes and label. This will ensure you have everything you need right away and don’t have to rip open box after box in a panic.
7. Plan to Arrive With Your Movers
Another stress to remove is the chance you might arrive too late to your new home and miss your movers. Exact time estimates are tricky but coordinate with your movers.
When they leave, be ready to leave and drive behind them if you’re driving. If an overnight stay is in the plan, discuss when you’ll arrive and leave with the movers too.
Have an arrival time that you can use as a rough guide but agree on what the plan will be if there’s traffic. Or anything else that might delay you, or your movers.
Long Distance Moving Made Easy
So, there you have it! Now you know these top long distance moving tips, your move is sure to go off without a hitch.
Organization is the key, and it’ll pay off not only in time savings but money too. Plan your move, declutter and make detailed inventories of what you’re taking. And only choose a long distance mover who you trust and makes you feel comfortable.
If you’re looking to move across Illinois, contact us today. At Moovers Chicago Inc, we have the experience and skills for all your Illinois moving needs.