A cross-country move can be an incredibly stressful experience at even the best of times, as there is simply so much for you to do and think about before the move. Unfortunately, moving cross-country also has the potential to be extremely expensive. In fact, the average per-family cost of moving within the United States is now nearly $13,000, says Cheap Movers DC. This interstate moving company say this makes customers more sensitive than ever to cost savings. Sky-high moving prices might also help to explain why the most recent US Census Report shows Americans are now moving in record-low numbers.
No matter what you do, a cross-country move is guaranteed to take up a lot of your time and energy, and it will always cost a pretty penny. Nonetheless, following these seven simple tips should help to take some of the stress out of your move and hopefully ensure it goes as smoothly as possible.
1. Hire a Moving Company Well in Advance
Hiring movers to take all of your furniture and other belongings to your new home is always going to be the biggest expense when switching houses, which makes it essential that you do your research to ensure you choose a reputable moving company that won’t charge you an arm and a leg. The problem is that the best moving companies fill up their schedule far in advance, so it is vital that you start searching well ahead of your move. This is especially true if you plan on moving during the busy summer months when most companies have a full schedule and often charge much higher rates.
2. Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need
The total cost of your move will be primarily determined by how much stuff you need to move. For cross-country moves, most companies base their rate on the total weight of all the goods that need to be moved. In this sense, it will be to your financial benefit to try to consolidate your things and get rid of whatever stuff you don’t need by having a garage sale or donating it. As well, this will also make packing and unpacking far easier.
3. Pack Smartly Using High-Quality Packing Materials
Although most companies charge based on weight, the total volume of your goods—i.e., how many boxes you have—is also important. For this reason, it is important that you pack smartly and attempt to fill all of your boxes completely. It is also important that you spend the extra money on sturdy, high-quality boxes and other packing materials to ensure your goods arrive at your new home undamaged and in one piece.
4. Forward Your Mail
Once it starts getting closer to your moving day, you’ll want to make sure that you tie up any loose ends before setting off to your new home. This means making sure to go to the post office and give them your new address. This way, you can be assured that all of your mail will automatically be forward to your new home, so you don’t miss out on any important letters, bills, etc.
5. Don’t Forget About Your Utilities
No matter whether you rent or own your current home, it is imperative that you not forget to have your utilities shut off once you’ve moved. Forgetting to cancel your internet or cable subscription could see you suddenly get hit with a huge unexpected bill in the future. Therefore, it is best to schedule utilities turn-off well in advance to ensure you have one less thing to worry about during the move.
6. Consider Your Four-Legged Friends
If you have dogs, cats or any other pets, it is important that you carefully consider them with planning for your move. This means making a plan to ensure they don’t get in the way when packing or moving, while also ensuring that you pack in a way so that you can easily find their things once you get to the new home. Moving can be even more stressful for your animals than it is for you, so it is vital that you always think carefully about your pets to limit their stress.
7. Prepare for Your Arrival in Your New Home
Once you’re all packed and ready to go, the last thing is to make sure everything is set up your arrival at your new home. This means making sure you have keys to the home or a person who can meet your movers at the new home, as well as taking care of any other details like turning the utilities on and making a plan of where all of your furniture and boxes will go in the new home.
At the end of the day, moving is always going to be a hassle. Nonetheless, you can definitely make everything much easier by making sure to plan and prepare for your move well in advance. In this way, you can then focus on the other important things in your life without your future move dominating your thoughts.
