Exhaustive Guidelines to Moving Cross Country
As you gear up for the upcoming relocation adventure you are probably wondering how your big leap into the unknown will turn out. Whether you do it for new job opportunities, love, or family, moving cross country may be an exciting yet overwhelming prospect.
If you want everything to go smoothly from start to end, you should stick to arguably the most important factor – meticulous upfront planning. It goes without saying that unless you have a master plan for your long-distance move, it can easily turn into a nightmare. Furthermore, thorough preparation is the key to keeping your sanity during the relocation process.
Choosing a suitable cross-country moving approach
While you are looking forward to starting afresh in the new environment, chances are you are dreading the long and exhausting moving process. And guess what? Moving can be a very demanding process and there’s no getting around it. Luckily, reputable movers can take away a great deal of moving stress. So, let their expertise guide you through the challenging moving process. And, take care of each tiny detail that you would normally miss. Reliable assistance is a solid foundation of every efficient moving strategy that will eventually provide reassurance that the entire process is under control.
When you’re moving locally it’s easy to just do it on your own, gather a couple of strong friends, rent a moving truck and complete the move before you know it. On the other hand, cross-country moves will present you with different challenges down the road. Just think about it – you have to rent a moving truck and drive for thousands of miles, which is already challenging enough but you must also deal with all sorts of issues during your travel. If bad weather conditions are added to this mix, things get even more challenging and you may easily regret your decision before you know it. For these and other reasons, moving far away is often left to professional movers who have the experience and tools necessary to take care of such a complex job.
In order to get you started, we are sharing some important considerations on how to simplify moving cross-country. As we all know, it cannot be completely stress-free, but professional movers can make it at least more bearable.
Initial steps of a cross-country move
It’s highly advisable to get down to the nitty-gritty and start a timely preparation so as to avoid major hiccups later on. Here are some of the ways you can approach your big household move.
Explore
Learn as much as possible about your destination. If possible, visit in person and see for yourself how the new place is but if not, you can also explore your new city from the comfort of your old home. There are plenty of ways to get to know your new city online –use Google, social media platforms, the city’s official website, etc. Once you get a general idea about the new city, go ahead and pick the most convenient neighborhood in terms of amenities you would like to have access to. Does your future neighborhood support your interests, hobbies, and day-to-day needs? Will your family be safe there? Consider factors that are important to you and pick the best neighborhood accordingly.
Plan a budget
Working out your budget beforehand is crucial for successful long-distance relocation so do check your account before splurging on the services you don’t actually need or can afford. To plan a budget, you don’t have to have the exact amount in mind but you should be aware of your limit and work your schedule around that amount. Know your financial resources and limitations and make sure you understand all costs involved in a long-distance relocation. These are some of the things you should take into account when planning a budget:
- moving and packing costs
- real-estate agent’s fee
- moving insurance
- renting a storage facility
- shipping costs
- airplane tickets
- rental or purchasing costs
Compare quotes
Compare all moving costs that you can think of with your monthly income and savings so as to establish which services you can afford. Due to potential risks, many people decide to entrust the logistics of the move to the professionals. But, choosing a reliable moving company is not a straightforward process either. There are so many factors to take into account when soliciting professional movers’ assistance. Not only will you need to make sure they are running a legitimate business, but also their quote should fit your budget.
You should always get at least three quotes from different moving companies so that you get an idea about moving rates, average costs, and be able to see which mover is best for you. You must understand also what’s included in each estimate because you should compare prices for similar services in order to accurately determine what’s most affordable.
Watch out for low-ball estimates
That being said, don’t trust the lowest moving estimate, no matter how appealing it is. Even if you’re on a tight budget, always be cautious about choosing an estimate that’s surprisingly low compared to all the others. If a quote seems too good to be true, you may be in for several unpleasant scenarios, including fraudulent movers, poor customer service, hidden fees, etc. Unfortunately, many businesses out there use low prices to lure you into hiring them but luckily, there are ways you can identify frauds and avoid them in a big circle. The truth is that the moving process is always pricey and can be a nuisance, therefore you should expect a good mover to make it easier for you. Therefore, before settling for a particular company, make sure to check their credentials, their license, and insurance number, and seek recommendations from family members and friends.
What else should you know when moving cross country?
No matter how far away you are moving you need to make sure that you and your earthly possessions reach the new destination safe and sound despite all potential logistical oddities and difficulties.
Are all your household possessions worth moving? Chances are your move will become a lot easier once you realize that not everything you own should be a part of your new home’s inventory. Be ruthless with your household items when sorting through. A pre-move garage sale may help you get rid of the clutter you no longer need and make some much-needed extra cash for moving.
Also, when giving away and donating keep in mind that moving some items long distance is more expensive than replacing them with new ones. Moving costs are calculated based on several factors such as the distance and size of your household – the overall weight or size of your shipment affects the moving bill. While there’s nothing you can do about distance, you can affect how many items you’re bringing and reduce the cost by moving fewer things. That can be easier said than done, though because as we all know, people may have trouble letting go of certain household items they are emotionally attached to. But, once they realize there are so many people in need who may put those items to good use, it will be much easier to move on without them. So consider donating unnecessary items to one of your local charities before moving.
Arrangements for moving cross country smoothly
And finally, let’s repeat this powerful mantra – the more you cut the weight of your load, the less you will pay for moving services.
Once you’ve picked a suitable moving date, start making your travel plans.
- Have you already arranged for a job and a place to live immediately after your arrival?
- Have you made travel arrangements for your pet as well?
- Do you need to find an over-night accommodation for your family before you reach your final destination?
- Have you booked airplane tickets for moving cross country?
- If you are traveling by car, are you completely sure it can withstand such a long and exhausting trip?
Moving cross country on your own
If you are looking to pare down your moving costs or just cannot afford to hire professional movers you may be interested in some cost-efficient solutions. As it turns out, renting portable moving containers allows you flexibility and full control over the move. Just take a moment to review offers and schedule delivery and pick-up dates with the provider of your choosing.
However, if you are moving cross country you should plan for additional costs for fuel, driver, moving insurance, and renting several containers.
Furthermore, if you are fond of road trip adventures, consider renting and driving a moving truck. Request quotes for each option in advance so as to determine whether going for these solutions really pays off eventually. Considering all additional costs and other factors like distance and weight of the moving load, you should definitely be sure that moving on your own is not a false economy in this case.
Planning a move?
Experience the peace of mind that comes from working with a trusted, affordable moving service. Our team of dedicated movers is committed to providing excellent customer service and making sure your items arrive in the same condition they were in before the move. We work hard to ensure that your move is as stress-free as possible and that your possessions are handled with the utmost care. With our competitive prices and commitment to customer satisfaction, you can be sure that your move will be an enjoyable and successful experience.
