Are you moving across the country? If you’ve moved before, you know that it can be a pretty stressful experience. There are a ton of logistical issues that you need to sort out before you can arrive at your new home, not to mention the steep financial burden that moving cross-country can have. If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, happy, and sane while you plan your next move, read on for 5 of our top tips for a cross-country move.
1. Start organizing at home
While you while certainly need to organize whichever moving truck you choose to use, you will first need to start by making sure that you organize your home. To help sort through what you’ll keep and what you’ll leave, sort items into donation piles. Some companies will come and pick up your unwanted items, rather than you loading up the car and taking them. It’s also a good idea to throw away any trash to clear up the clutter. You can also start selling anything of value that you don’t want to take with you. This step can also help fund your move.
2. Plan a Detailed Route
You will want to have your route nailed down before you set out on the road. Make sure that you have plenty of stops planned and your hotels booked. This transition is also a great opportunity to explore and have some fun along the way.
3. Calculate Your Moving Costs
If you plan on hiring professional movers, you will need to factor in all of the costs associated with that. If you have a new employer, they might be willing to cover the cost of your move. Some common costs to plan for might include renting a truck or a moving container, boxes and related supplies, travel costs, and car bills like gas and oil changes. If you call around furniture and liquor stores, you can likely acquire free moving boxes.
4. Plan New Rooms First
You want to pack for your new home, not based on your old home. Make sure to pack everything that will go into a room in your new home in the same box, or, if it’s furniture, group it together. This order will make your move-in process much more seamless. Make sure all of your items are neat and organized and aren’t in danger of being broken.
5. Be Okay with Mishaps
There are tons of moving parts that go into a cross-country move. It is only natural to expect a few mishaps along the way. To help keep your sanity, give yourself (and others) permission for a few mistakes. It’s okay if you lose a few items that you planned on bringing, or if you fall off schedule a few times. After all, you’re preparing to have your life drastically change. That requires quite a lot of flexibility.
