Around 40 million Americans are moving each year, to local and long-distance locations all around the U.S.
Whether it’s near or far, moving has always been a pretty strenuous process. In order for it to run smoothly, a great deal of planning, preparation, and organization is required.
If you’re planning a cross-country move, then it becomes even more important to stick with a regime and allow yourself plenty of time to get prepared. With the added stress of long-distance travel in the mix, the last thing you want to do is make things any harder than they already are.
With a few key moving tips, you can do yourself the big favor of being as prepared as possible. Keep reading for our five best tips to get through a cross-country move.
- Don’t Wait to Begin Your Moving Prep
If you’re planning a cross-country move, one of the most important tips to remember is this: don’t wait until the last minute.
Get Moving Geelong recommends creating a personal moving checklist and prioritizing the most important things you need to get done. Then, create a realistic timeline that you can adhere to. If it helps, use a calendar or planner to help keep your plans organized.
- Downsize and Liquidate Your Belongings
When you’re moving cross-country, the fewer belongings you have, the better off you are. But this doesn’t mean just decluttering: if you have items of value, why not try to sell them off? This will help lighten your travel load and give you some spending money for furnishing your new place.
- Get the Timing Right
For a cross-country move, timing is everything. Try not to overstuff a lot of your “to-do” list items in too short of a time period. For example, if you’ve lined up work at your new location, try to allow a few days of rest and unpacking before you’ll have to start work again.
It’s also worth noting that some peak moving days and/or holidays will carry significantly higher rates for moving companies. If you can secure service on an off-peak day, you could end up saving some serious cash.
- Make Travel Arrangements for Your Cross-Country Move
Hopefully, you’ve already got an idea of how you’ll be moving your belongings for your cross-country move. But have you thought about how you yourself will get there? Be sure to decide ahead of time whether you’ll be arriving via plane or driving yourself to your new location.
- Get Help
Making a cross-country move is exhausting. If you can, get your friends and family to help you with the process. It’s also a good idea to get professional movers, as you’ll probably be really tired when you reach your new home.
Planning Your Big Move
While moving is strenuous, it brings on an adventurous new chapter in life that makes it worth all the trouble. Now that you know the best tips for planning your cross-country move, you can look forward to the big day with confidence.
For more home tips, check out our other articles.