How to Move Long Distance – 12 Tips to Help You

Find a Way of Organizing You Prefer

Since you are the one moving across the country, it is essential that you tailor the process according to your preferences. For example, if you are someone who always makes lists and plans way ahead of time, consider creating checklists for packing, time-schedules for the whole process, and so on. If you are more of a visual type, you might find color-coding useful. Whatever the case is, it is crucial to find a system that works for you.

Start Preparing to Move to Your New Home on Time

It is never too early to start preparing for your relocation. This doesn’t mean that you need to pack all the household goods five months in advance, but you should definitely start planning as soon as you schedule the moving date. You never know what could happen to set you back.

Ask Around for Tips on How to Move Long Distance

If you know anyone who has moved long-distance recently, you might want to consider asking them for some tips and tricks. They might have some good advice to offer. However, keep in mind that they are not moving experts, and what worked for them might not end up working for you. You could also ask them to give you any spare boxes or other supplies if they haven’t gotten rid of those.

Pack and Label Your Belongings Properly

The most important thing to ensuring a safe and stress-free relocation is to pack your belongings properly. A move where nothing gets damaged or broken is a successful one. For this reason, you must learn how to tackle different items properly. Here are some tips.

Get All the Supplies You’ll Need in Order to Pack

Before you begin packing, create a list of all the supplies and materials you will need. This includes items such as moving boxes, paper, bubble wrap, duct tape, and so on. Without the right supplies, tackling this task is practically impossible.

Supply Alternatives

If you are moving on a tight budget, you might be interested in learning about the alternatives to supplies you could use. For example, instead of buying unused boxes, you could ask your local grocery store if they have any to give you. Old newspapers and kitchen towels are a good alternative to paper, bubble wrap, and foam peanuts, although there is a risk of newspaper print smudging off on your items.

Take Special Care of Fragile Items

Handling things such as books or clothes is a no-brainer. However, when it comes to more fragile objects such as glasses, mirrors, or artwork, you will need to be extra careful. These require special attention, as they can get damaged or broken easily if not packed the right way. Some of them will even require specialized boxes and extra wrapping.

Keep Track of Your Belongings

As you pack, don’t forget to keep track of what you’ve already gone through. You can easily get lost in the process, especially if you have a large number of items to handle. Dividing the list room-by-room might help you keep things organized. For example, some of the items on this list could be “kids’ room – books,” or “bathroom – cleaning supplies,” and so on.

Wrap Everything in Protective Layers

Pretty much every item, regardless of how fragile or sturdy it is, should be wrapped in paper before it is placed in a box. This not only protects the object itself, but it also prevents it from moving around or rubbing against other contents of the box.

Keep the Long Distance in Mind

While packing, keep in mind that each box will have to survive quite a journey. So make sure they are sturdy enough, properly sealed, and don’t have any free space inside that would allow the contents to fly around.

Label Your Boxes

Once you’re done with a box, seal it and write down all of its contents right away. You should also mark which room the box should go to, as this will make unpacking easier. If the contents are fragile, make sure you mark that clearly on all sides. This will let the cross-country movers know that they should take special care handling that package.

Prepare Your New Home Before the Moving Day

Before all your belongings arrive at your new home, you should make sure it is ready for the unpacking process. This means, for the most part, that you should clean all floors and protect your doorways and walls, so they don’t get damaged while you bring in your furniture.