So, you have decided to move across the country this year! And you finally found a perfect spot where you will continue your life. Congratulations! Whether you are moving for new career opportunities, education, or just to start a new life, it doesn’t matter. What you need to focus on right now is moving cross country and all the issues that come with it. There are steps you need to make in order to prepare well for it and have a a smooth and stressless relocation! In the following article, you will find a perfect guide for cross country relocation!
Start planning ahead of moving cross country
Long-distance relocations are never easy to accomplish. There are simply a lot of tasks you need to do before you move to another country, which is why it is very important to start planning ahead. If you plan your cross country move months before, you will have enough time to deal with any issues that may happen! During this period, you should do the following things:
- – Find a proper moving company that will help you with moving cross country.
- – Gather all the necessary packing supplies.
- – Inform all the necessary government institutions about your address change. That includes utility companies, your children’s schools, your workplace, etc.
- – Start packing items.
- – Move.
Create a moving checklist and you won’t forget any steps!
How to recognize scammers
Moving cross country will require time and patience, so do research on how to find the best movers. Knowing how to spot reliable movers is important, as there are many fraudulent companies lurking. Avoiding scammers, in fact, should be your number one priority. It is easy to fall victim to their scams if you do not know the signs of fraudulent movers. This is exactly why taking the time to search for cross country movers is the best thing you can do for yourself and your moving budget. Now, there are several ways you can notice you are dealing with scammers, and they are:
- – Their websites and other social media pages are done sloppily.
- – The comments and reviews sound too generic and fake.
- – They avoid signing any contracts.
- – They don’t possess necessary licenses for running a relocation business.
- – There are always small fees and costs they avoid telling you.
This type of “movers” are always an issue for both potential customers and honest and professional movers. And since they will always exist, it doesn’t hurt to be aware of more ways to recognize and avoid fraudulent movers!
Gathering packing supplies and moving boxes
Although you will have enough time to find all the packing supplies you will need, you should still start early just to be sure. The worst thing that can happen is to not have enough moving boxes and packing supplies days before the move! There are several ways you can find free moving boxes.
Before moving, collect supplies and equipment for packing.
One of the simplest ways is to visit your local grocery store and ask if you can take their used boxes. They will surely help you and give them away for free. Shoe stores can provide you with small boxes that are useful when you need to pack small items such as jewelry, electronics, cables, appliances, cutlery, plates and many other items that need a good and sturdy box for protection. Also, always have in mind that used boxes are not that sturdy and may lose their durability. So, one of the best choices, in that case, is to either buy them from movers directly or from your local Home Depot.
If, by any chance, you end up having extra boxes you do not need then you should find a way to get rid of them. If you can, you can recycle them into various other things you can use. There are practically a ton of ways to reuse moving boxes you can find on the internet!
Declutter your home
Did you know that one of the factors that influence the price of the move is the quantity of the items you are transporting? Yes, it is true! The more items you are bringing with you, the higher the moving estimate. Especially when it comes to moving cross country! In this case, you should declutter your home and try to get rid of some of those items, furniture, etc. that you don’t need or won’t use anymore. Certainly, you already know about all the ways to get rid of them that do not require that much time and money. You can do it, for example, by organizing a yard or garage sale, where you can sell them and get some money. You can also throw them away or donate them! Either way, you should lower the number of items you are transporting if you do not wish to overpay for your relocation!
Also, during this period you should find out what kind of items your movers do not want to transport. Actually, it is more that they are not allowed to transport them by law, because of the safety issues. These items include highly valuable items that require a special kind of transport that the movers can’t provide, and highly flammable items as well.
Start packing
Now that you have done most of the tasks we’ve mentioned, it is time to pack your items for your relocation! Be thorough and careful when packing items that need extra protection. We are, of course, speaking about fragile items like glassware, electronics or any other items that are easily breakable. The thing is, you are up for a long-distance relocation, and you shouldn’t risk them getting damaged or scratched during the transportation.
Declutter before you move to another state.
If you do not know how to properly prepare, then moving cross country can be very difficult! This article should provide you with enough information on how to prepare for your long-distance relocation the best way possible, and on how to avoid any issues and mishaps that can happen. If you think that you have something to add, then you can do it by leaving a comment in our comments section!