You found yourself a new place to stay in another region, and you’ve prepared enough savings to acquire a new property. You have also arranged the necessary paperwork. Before you solidify your decision to move, you may want to check how prepared you are for cross-country moving. After all, you’re not just making a move – you’re making a BIG move leaving your home for a new one in a completely different environment.
Cross-Country Moving: Steps for Your Big Move
In the United States, 35.5 million Americans do some form of moving each year. In fact, in 2017, 11% of Americans moved; 0.35% decided to move to another country, 13.4% moved to a different state, and 82.7% moved within the same state.
There’s a lot to consider when you decide to move cross-country, and moving hastily may result in disastrous consequences. There’s no need to fret, though. Here’s a guide to help you.
- Assess your budget very early on and get an estimate: One of the most important things to ask while preparing for a move is to identify your budget and get an estimate on your moving costs. You can make your own calculations by predicting expenses on your end. Also, check how much it costs if you get a mover on board. They can do in-house consultations to give you a rough assessment of moving costs based on the items you have at home.
- Decide if you’re going to move by yourself or with a mover: Deciding on cross-country moving means potentially having to move all of your stuff alone. This can be tricky, especially if your entire family is moving with you. Are you going to use your family vehicle to move your stuff with you? Are you planning to rent a vehicle, such as a truck, to transfer your things? This can save you money, but remember that you may not have the expertise to keep all of your belongings safe and free of damage. On the other hand, movers like North American Van Lines are very capable of giving you a moving service adequate for your needs.
- Never rush into hiring a service, especially movers: One of the most fatal flaws you could make while preparing for anything is to rush into things, as you’re likely going to put yourself in a position where you can’t have many options to adjust. This is more or less the same with moving. For instance, in the United States, it’s not wise to book movers in mid-July where other families with school-age children also decide to move. You may not have enough options as most movers are fully booked, which can result in settling for a low-quality mover or hiring a good one but at a very high price. Time you move wisely.
- Study how to pack your things in a proper manner: A lot of families spend hundreds of dollars on packing supplies, such as boxes and tape, because they don’t know how to pack their things properly. Watch tutorials online on how you can pack your things securely and tightly. Don’t forget to label the boxes with the items inside and where the items will be placed in your new home.
- Go to your home and identify where you will unpack boxes: Part of what makes moving such a long and arduous process is the unpacking stage. You may end up with a lot of boxes and you have no idea where to put them. When you visit your new home again, already plan where you’ll place certain boxes so packing can be easier for you to handle. If you can get yourself a room layout and bring it back home for planning, then do so.
- Sell or remove things you no longer need: Another problem families have when moving is that they have too many stuff in the first place. Do some decluttering before you move to another home. You may donate and sell items that you no longer use and need, and keep only those that you really use. Remember that weight and quantity affect your overall moving costs.
Make Your Best Move
Cross-country moving is a serious endeavor. It means exploring a whole new world, which can be both exciting and terrifying. Take the above considerations to help you get “ready” on your journey to a new life.
