A long-distance move is a challenging undertaking. There is plenty to keep track of. If you do not organize things well, you can find yourself overwhelmed by the multitude of tasks! There is no need to worry, however. If you do take on this task with poise and knowledge of what you need to do to prepare, it will be only slightly more challenging than a regular move. And we are here to help you do that with our tips on how to start planning for a long-distance move!
Decide on a date and time
The first thing you should do is decide on the date of your move! You should plan for one well in the future and give yourself at least two months to prepare. If you are not in a hurry, however, you might want to wait until fall. Fall is the beginning of the off-season, just after the mad rush to move during spring and summer. However, it is not the peak of the off-season since that dubious honor belongs to winter. What this means is that you can take advantage of lower moving prices while not having to deal with the hostile weather conditions winter imposes, as well as the many risks and difficulties associated with them. Whatever you decide, designate a date and stick to it! This will allow you to correctly estimate the time frame you have available for your preparations.
Let your acquaintances know
Now, the first thing you will likely do when preparing for a move is let your family and friends know. However, you shouldn’t forget others who are a part of your life. Your neighbors, colleagues, even your dentist, doctor, or lawyer should all be made aware of your move. You do not want to burn bridges just because you are moving away!
Find a good moving company
Just as important as setting the date is finding the moving company which will be assisting you! The good news is databases, which help connect you to moving companies, exist. They can help you contact crews to obtain estimates and find the best possible company for you. One of such sites is bestlongdistancemovers.com.
Plan for your arrival
It is easy to focus on getting to your new home and completely forget about everything that would await when you get there. However, this is not only unwise, but it could also leave you unprepared to tackle your new life. In addition to the things to keep in mind when moving during the pandemic, here is a list of things you need to take care of in the planning phase:
- Utilities. The first thing you need to do is cancel the utilities at your current address. You do not want to be paying double bills for water, electricity, internet, etc., for both your old home and the new one! The second thing, of course, is to activate utilities at your new address. You might need your landline and internet a lot in the first days after your move, and you do not want to suffer without them!
- Subscriptions. Again, you need to cancel your current subscriptions and sign up for new ones at your new address! This covers things such as newspapers, magazines you like to read and similar. It is an easy thing to forget, but it can still cause you trouble down the line.
- Handling your mail. It is imperative to conduct the transfer of the mail delivery address to your new home. Having your bills delivered to the wrong address can be annoying, both to you and the new owners of your old house.
- Updating your documents. Your ID, driver’s license, passport, etc., should all be updated with your new address. Don’t forget to handle this for all your family members, since once it slips your mind, it can take quite a while to remember you haven’t done it!
- Plan for switching schools. If you have kids, you need to take into account the change of schools! This means that you have to fetch their school records, have them officially transferred, and find a new school. Picking the right one can take a long time, so you should start looking into where you want your kid to end up as soon as you know you are moving!
Take your family’s needs into account
When planning this process with a small kid, there is much to keep in mind. You need to explain to your child that you are about to leave your old home and go through a long-distance move, settle their fears and anxiety they might feel about it, plan how to introduce them to their new community, and more! In addition, if you own pets, the whole process is even more challenging. Animals can get easily stressed by a sudden change of environment, and you will need to be extra careful.
Declutter before moving
A long-distance move is physically challenging and expensive. You can make it a little easier on yourself and handle the stress of moving better by reducing the number of things you are taking with you. Ask yourself: do I really need this? Have you even used the item in question in the last few months? If the answer is no, chances are, you can live without it. Donate old clothes to charities, gift memorabilia to friends, or even pass down family heirlooms. You can also check if any of your friends need the furniture you are prepared to leave behind.
Pack with care
Obviously, it is possible to pack in a rush. However, this tends to be detrimental once you’ve reached your destination. Carelessly packed items can get damaged or lost, and if you just throw everything into boxes, you will likely have trouble finding what you need later. Our advice is to take your time and label everything. You can even make a list of things you had put into a box and tape it to it!
Get moving insurance
We hope that you have found our tips on how to start planning for a long-distance move helpful! If you keep our advice in mind, at the very least, you will not be approaching the task ahead without any idea of what’s waiting for you. Good luck!
Final Words
We hope that you have found our guide on how to start planning for a long-distance move helpful! If you keep our advice in mind, at the very least, you will not be approaching the task ahead without any idea of what’s waiting for you. Good luck, and we hope everything goes smoothly!
Meta Description: Unsure how to approach your relocation? Here’s how to start planning for a long-distance move.
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