Long-distance Residential Move Made Easy

It’s a fact that a residential move itself may pose a great deal of challenges and difficulties. But, if your new home happens to be located across the country, stressful and unexpected situations may significantly multiply.

As we all know, there is no such thing as a completely smooth and stress-free move. Only those who have gone through a household move know that everything comes down to an impeccable organization. The overall success of your residential move also depends on how wisely you choose your assistance.

Long-distance relocation is easier when you have help

Transitions are hard and without proper help, it can easily turn into a nightmare. Sometimes people don’t realize how important it is to have someone reliable by their side when moving to make it actually happen. While some kind of moves are pretty straight-forward, a long-distance relocation requires thorough planning and organization. Here are some pointers about how to approach your long-distance move without major troubles and headaches.

When moving long-distance you don’t have the luxury of just going with the flow. As it turns out, there’s much to plan ahead, and if you fail to do so, you are likely to encounter some issues down the road. Moving house is all about multitasking, so, ideally, you will start with a detailed checklist. That way you will have specific guidelines through each phase of the move.

Additional services to consider when moving long-distance

A timely plan in place can go a long way towards completing your move in an efficient manner. As overwhelming as a residential move can be, take the time to plan it properly. No one said that the entire organization is up to you. By involving the right moving company that has been around for a while you can just sit back and relax.

Hire reputable professionals

However, in order to make the most of the upcoming moving adventure make sure to know exactly what your responsibilities and duties during the move are. As it turns out, one of the most important tasks is to find someone reliable who can give you a helping hand.
Thankfully there are professionals out there who specialize in providing moving services necessary for a successful residential move. When facing such an important undertaking, you never know how everything will turn out. So, ensuring reliable assistance is of paramount importance.

Specialty boxes and custom crating

We cannot stress enough how important quality packing supplies are for the well-being of your belongings. If your expensive and fragile items are traveling from one coast to another, you may want to go the extra mile to keep them safe all along. Items like paintings, collectibles, heirlooms, or antiques usually need extra attention.

Having chosen the right service provider, a relocation consultant will pay you a visit to check your belongings and determine your custom crating needs. As your main goal is to transport your bulky, fragile, and valuable items without breaking them, it’s always a good idea to consider some of the custom crating solutions.

Quality packing supplies

As it turns out, cardboard boxes alone don’t provide sufficient protection during the long-distance relocation. Quality moving containers along with a generous amount of packing supplies can go a long way towards protecting your items while in transit.
Stock up on moving padding, furniture blankets, cushioning material, and packing paper. Although there are many free moving boxes resources out there, make sure to get more durable moving containers. It’s no secret that plastic bins are a sturdier alternative to cardboard boxes.

Although there are pros and cons to each option, make sure to get special instructions from the professionals if you decide to pack everything on your own.

High-quality is a must when relocating your belongings

Bonus tip: keep in mind this rule of thumb – don’t try to save money on it. Your items’ safety is at stake, so do what it takes to avoid risky situations and unpleasant surprises down the road. Also, have the professionals handle delicate items. Leave that tricky task to the experts who have done it hundreds of times before and know exactly how to provide maximum protection and security.

Storage services

There is a good reason why people choose storage services during their residential move. Storage in transit service may come in handy when your move-out and move-in dates don’t coincide.

It’s not uncommon to use temporary storage services if your new house is not ready yet for you to move in. If you are moving to temporary housing while having your new house renovated, it could be convenient to place your belongings in a storage unit for a while.

Find a cost-effective storage unit…

Knowing that your items are out of harm’s way is a huge relief during the stressful moving process. Many moving companies offer cost-effective storage solutions, just make sure to request several moving quotes in advance so as to be able to choose the most budget-friendly option. No two moving companies are the same, so do thorough background research before committing to one.

…or rent a climate-controlled storage unit

When moving long-distance, people usually need to rent a storage unit. Depending on the amount of time that you need to store your items, you should choose the perfect storage unit. If you don`t have enough space in your new home, you should consider renting a climate-controlled storage unit. If your items will be stored for a year or a couple of months, it is really worth the extra money. Your belongings will be protected from moisture, damp, insects, and will not change at all. Fragile items, musical instruments, clothes, books, all of these items are in dire need of climate-controlled storage units, so go for it.

Beware of the additional fees

There are different additional fees you may incur, given the number of moving companies operating out there. Unfortunately, some of them are only looking to take advantage of their customers, so learn how to spot fraudulent activities during your quest.
Here are some of the most common situations for which additional fees are charged:

• No elevator – When you live on the fifth floor of a building that has no elevator, you may be charged additional fees. This is only because the movers need to take all the items down the stairs.
• No parking space – Remember to reserve a parking space as near to your house as possible. If the movers need to park several blocks away, and to carry all the items to the moving truck, you will be charged additionally.
• Hoisting services – Sometimes your piano just cannot fit through the door. In this case, the movers need to use additional equipment and send more people to relocate the item in question. Reputable movers can make anything happen, but it will cost you more.
• Tipping movers – You will not find this in any contract, nor you have any obligation to tip your movers. However, after a successful relocation, if you feel that the crew deserves a tip, you will not hesitate for a bit. So, you should count on this as an additional fee as it can affect your finances.

Insure your residential move

When facing an imminent move everyone’s hoping for the best. But, no matter how experienced your movers are, accidents do happen due to various reasons beyond anyone’s control. A homeowner’s insurance offers only partial coverage, but you should ask your home insurance company about what they will cover during the residential move.

While most moving companies offer limited liability protection, it’s a good idea to get a full replacement value protection for your long-distance move.

When moving to another state you may want to purchase more comprehensive coverage in case something goes wrong. Furthermore, it will ensure your peace of mind while having your items shipped or in storage.

Types of moving insurance

We mentioned that you can have limited liability protection and full replacement value protection, so let us see what this actually means.

• Limited liability protection – This type of moving insurance is quite convenient because it is completely free. In case of any damage or loss, you will be compensated 0.60 cents per pound. Note that you should only use this type of insurance if your items do not cost a fortune.
• Full-replacement value protection – This kind of protection offers you the compensation that is equal to the current marketplace value of the item. In this case, however, you will need to pay a premium upfront. Although the premium amount depends on the moving company, and you should definitely call them to check what it is, the premium is usually 1% of the total household items value.

We have seen plenty of ways in which you can make your long-distance relocation easier. Remember that the organization is the key to success, and the better you are prepared, the better the move will be. Dumbo NYC wishes you good luck!