Top 3 Things You Need to Do Before Moving Across the Country

With careful planning and preparation, moving across the country can be done smoothly and allow you to focus on other important aspects of your transition to a new area. Here are three essential tips to help make your moving day as stress-free as possible.

Declutter and downsize

A cross-country move is an ideal time to discard unwanted items and declutter your life. There’s little benefit in transporting things you rarely use across the country, so start the declutter process as soon as you know you’ll be moving. Here are some easy ways to do it:

• Sell or give away anything you no longer need.
• Give items to the thrift store or hold a yard sale.
• If you have items left over or things that are not saleable, check with your mover if they have a charity they can be donated to.

By reducing the weight of the overall items that your movers will be responsible for before your move, you’ll save time and money. Don’t forget to think about the climate you are moving to and whether some items you have now will really be necessary in your new home. An example is moving a snowmobile from Maine to Florida.

Find your moving services

One of the first things to do once you know you’re moving across the country is to research the area to establish what you’ll need and how you will get there. Using professional cross-country movers that have experience with moves similar to yours is critical. Specifically ask potential movers if they handle cross-country moves, since some companies are only licensed to work within a state or defined area. This is especially important if you need to arrange temporary storage at your destination. Once you find a company that offers the moving services you need, you’ll be able to discuss their availability on your chosen date.

Make a checklist

There’s a lot to think about when moving, especially when you’re going hundreds or thousands of miles. Even after you hire a moving company, there are still things you’ll need to take care of yourself, from transporting pets to paying off bills in your current home. Start by making a checklist of essential items like notifying your children’s schools and post office on your change of address.

Some moving services include insurance with the transportation and storage of your belongings, which is worth checking on when you research companies. Each time something comes to mind, write it down and add it to the checklist. By working through your items, you’ll feel organized and will be able to clearly see what’s left to do. Don’t forget to ask your family and friends for help so you don’t have to do it all yourself! They’ll appreciate being involved in the move, too.

Following these tips will help you stay focused and give you the peace of mind that your cross-country move is being handled properly so you can enjoy the experience and adventure of moving to a new place.