Wondering How to Move Out? Here’s the Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Guide

Part of the Moving Guide is Deciding Where You Will Live

We’re sure you have already decided which city or state you’ll live in. So, the next point would be to determine whether you’ll live in a house or apartment. And when making up your mind on this issue, it is necessary to take into consideration all the factors that could affect the quality of your life. From the location of your new home to the functionality of the property itself. Is there enough space, bedrooms, bathrooms? Is it financially justified to choose that specific type of property? Is the neighborhood safe enough, and what are the prospects of fitting into the community? Is that particular city a good option to raise a family?

Although one of the most important reasons for the move is finding a new job, many people undertake the relocation because of a desire to change the location. So, if you belong to this second group, ensure to explore what are the best places to live out west. Or, if you were always dreaming of living close to the beach, check what the best beachfront places all across the country are.

This decision will affect the process of your relocation as well. For example, if you decide to move across the country, this means your relocation will be even more complex and more expensive, and that you’ll have to choose wisely your long-distance moving company and plan your budget. While the professionals are handling the furniture, you’ll have enough time to sell a house without an agent and relocate to a smaller space or a bigger one.

Organizing a Long-Distance Relocation: What to Do Before You Start To Pack Your Belongings?

Detailed preparations are the very first step of making any relocation become real. So, before you start boxing up the stuff, make sure you go through all the necessary organizational steps. This will make the whole process of packing the household easier and faster. Begin by creating a guide to moving out of state, and you won’t feel stressed or overwhelmed.

Is There a Checklist for Moving?

A checklist for relocation is the most useful thing to help you organize the packing of the household. According to our moving guide checklist, it is recommended to create several more specific lists and divide them into rooms and timelines, which will help you manage everything.

Yet, the most important thing is knowing how many items you are actually taking with you. And the only solution to acknowledge this is starting to sort out your things room by room. Sorting out will help you determine the real quantity of packing objects, so you better sort out your things as soon as you can.

How Do I Start Decluttering to Move?

Decluttering implies removing all unnecessary things from your closets, cupboards, cabinets, and other storage places such as basements, attics, or garages. Keep in mind that decluttering is a long project, and you should start working on it at least two months prior to the move.

Begin it by going room by room, emptying your closets, and sorting out stuff into boxes. Make piles of items. Divide them into things you’ll recycle, donate as unwanted items, sell in a garage sale, or give them away to your friends and family. In a way, this is the beginning of the packing process. Also, this way, you’ll be able to estimate how many things you have to pack and bring to a new home.

When is the Right Time to Contact Long-Distance Moving Company?

After the decluttering is finished, it would be great to contact long-distance moving experts. When you do, schedule an in-home estimation that will give you an insight into relocation costs. Keep in mind that you should contact professional movers and specify all the necessary long-distance moving services at least two months before the relocation. This will give you the possibility to choose the date, and even the day of the week you would like your relocation to take place.

When picking the date for your move, there are some less busy days you should consider. Fun Fact – Did you know that Friday is the most popular relocation day of the week unless it falls on the first of the month? With this in mind, you can easily find the cheapest date that is less busy for movers.

Moving Guidelines: When is Ideally to Start Packing Items for the Relocation to a New Home?

This is the most demanding part of any relocation. If you want to reduce stress during the move, follow all the steps in relocating guide and make a strategy that will help you keep track of all of your tasks.

Six Weeks Before Relocation: Find Cardboard Packages

Finding the right size and types of boxes is essential for boxing up the process, and it should be done at least six weeks before the relocation. The number of boxes will depend on the household’s size and the total amount of things you want to pack. Since this is not easy to estimate, it would be best to consult your relocation specialist, who can provide you with pretty accurate information or even offer you professional packing services.

If you decide to pack all by yourself, then you could try to find some cheap cardboard packages online. You can also check some of the local stores for free boxes and other packing materials. Although they are already used, many of them are still in very good condition, so they would be perfect for storing all the bulky and lightweight things such as pillows or blankets. Another plus goes to budget-friendliness and the possibility to save money, which will decrease your overall costs.

Five Weeks Before Relocation: Pack the Items You Rarely Use

The relocation process won’t look like complete chaos of tasks if you stick to a task list. That’s why you should decide on the order of packing before you actually get into it.

First, box up all the things you rarely use, such as golf equipment, skis, blankets, coats, or waffle makers. In some cases, it would be the best idea to begin from storage areas, such as garages, basements, or attics, because those areas are the most difficult to pack. Boxing up of rarely used stuff should be initiated at least five weeks before relocation.

Second, separate all the books (if you’re a worm book, then you should have especially tactics on how to pack books for relocation), paintings, technical devices, and everything else you can live without for the next month or so. Boxing up your clothes will be another demanding task, so make an essential clothes list before you start.

Three weeks Before the Relocation: Resolving the Legal Concerns

Things are beginning to heat up, so three weeks before the relocation, start resolving all the legal concerns such as:

• Changing the address with USPS could be done in the local postal office or filling the form online. This is one of the most common and easiest things people forget to do in the relocation process, which may lead to misplaced mail and the loss of important packages.
• Canceling or rearranging utility services, ensure you’ve notified all the service providers of gas and electricity, water, waste disposal because there is no point paying the bills for a property you are not living in.
• When it comes to internet, cable, and phone services providers, check with them if they cover the state and area you are relocating to and if there is a possibility to rearrange the contract with any of them.
• Inspect the place and fix the damages. No matter if you are going to give back the keys of the property to your landlords or you’ve sold it, the property has to be in perfect condition for the new tenants.

What Should I Do 2 Weeks Before Moving?

Two weeks before the move, your home might look a bit empty, but there is still so much to do, that’s why you need to focus on:

• Check if any of your clothes have been left at the Dry Cleaner. The best way to forget something is not having you in front of you. For that reason, you should check with your local dry cleaners if anything has left there in your name.
• Throw a relocation party, and saying goodbye to all your neighbors, family, and friends will be a nice way to welcome your new life chapter and show to your beloved people how much they mean to you.
• If you’re relocating with your kids, ensure to check with your parents or close friends if they could look after them on the day of the relocation. At least until you are all set for traveling. It would be nice also if you could count on them for help with some tasks on the relocation day, so make sure you ask them this too.
• If you’re relocating with pets, then ensure to get them to the vet and get all the records. And don’t forget to initiate changing of address on their microchip as well.

One Week Before the Relocation: Final Preparations

That’s it, seven more days and you will be leaving your old place and starting another adventure. However, you can’t relax just yet. Here are some things you need to do in the final relocation week:

• Confirm the date and pick-up and drop-off address with your relocation company. And when you do this, try to do it in written form because there is less space for any misunderstandings.
• Box up all of your belongings. Check every room a couple of times, and your storage areas as well. Don’t leave anything but plants and essentials so you could prepare some simple meals. Also, make sure to pay special attention to boxing up delicate items, such as glassware or china.
• Clean the house thoroughly. This implies deep cleaning of all the cabinets, storage places, appliances (especially refrigerator and oven), windows, carpets, floors, and bathrooms.
• Box up bathroom items. Try to do it the day before the relocation, since it is inevitable you will need it until the last minute.
• Pack essential relocation bags of things you will need during the travel. Water, simple meals, medications, personal documents, and money.

The Big Day: What Should You Move First When Moving?

The moment professional long-distance movers arrive at your address, they will overtake the process of removing the boxes, appliances, and other furniture from your home. It is most likely they will begin with some bigger pieces of furniture, such as sofas or armchairs, or mattresses, which will give you a broader look at the rest of the rooms and the possibility of an easier spot if you’ve left something. When all of it is loaded onto a truck, you can grab your essential bags and head out to your new home.