Preparing for any move is a big project. After all, there are many different factors to consider, from what you’re going to bring to how you’ll bring it carefully. These steps might sound straightforward, but when you’re in the planning stages, things can be a bit more complex than you might expect.
Luckily, the more you know about the essential tips to prepare for a long-distance move, the better your chances are of experiencing a smooth, safe trip. Travel through the list below to find the most helpful tips for moving cross-country with safety and efficiency in mind.
Separate the Clutter
If you’re planning a move, now is the perfect opportunity to organize all your belongings and determine what needs to go with you and what you can dispose of before the big day. The more you can lighten the load, the better. That said, don’t force yourself to depart from everything.
For instance, as one of the top cross-country moving companies in Las Vegas, Capital North American has moving trucks with ample space. That way, you don’t have to purge everything from your old home.
Clutter is something that many, many homeowners accrue over time. So think, is this something you want to have at the new home, or will it gather dust in the corner of the attic? Likewise, when removing clothes from the closet, are you finding items you don’t wear anymore? And will you wear them now? Answering questions like these will help you make the whole move more efficient.
Make a List and Check It Twice
Keeping an accurate inventory of your items is a long-distance moving tip that can save you a lot of time and frustration. When you’re making a big move, one of the last things you want to do is leave something important behind. So once you sort through your belongings and separate the clutter from the must-haves, start making a list. Then, once you’re packing everything in the moving truck, double-check your list to ensure everything is on board. This is a simple step that will save you a lot of frustration during the move.
Plus, making an inventory list does more than help you remember to pack everything. For instance, the sooner you make that inventory, the sooner you can pack and load items into your moving truck. As mentioned above, long-distance moving trucks can have substantial storage space, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn how much space you have and what you plan on using it to store.
Plan for Item Storage and Transportation
This long-distance moving tip might sound obvious because you’re not going to purposefully leave personal items at home, right? By planning for item storage and transportation, we mean finding a reliable moving company well in advance. From their insurance to their reputation among customers, every detail you find will help you choose a reliable mover.
Hauling all your belongings can be stressful, even if you’re not traveling long distances. So taking everything on the road for a particularly long journey can be laborious and stress-inducing. Luckily, if you take the time to find a reliable local moving company, you can have peace of mind knowing that professionals will handle your items with care. Not only will this help ensure your possessions are delivered safely to your new home, but early scheduling is also one of the best ways to save money on your move!
Pack With Care
Personal items, like furniture or dishes, can accrue damage when traveling between the new and old houses. Thankfully, it takes little more than proper packing techniques to ensure the survival of your belongings between points A and B. For example, wrap dressers or tables in moving blankets so that they don’t bump into one another or the moving truck’s walls during the trip.
Fragile items, such as glassware, require sufficient padding, too. Instead of blankets, pack those small and fragile items inside a secure container with plenty of bubble wrap to keep them safe. That way, you can ensure you don’t have to replace all your fine China upon arriving at your new home.
Organize Everything Before Leaving
When you show up at your new home with boxes of belongings, the whole process will be easier if you know where those boxes go. For example, if you unpack a box that says “Dishes” or anything else kitchen-related, you can bring it directly there instead of setting it down and sifting through everything to find out where it should go.
This is a great example of how keeping an eye on those small details can help everything run smoother. The best way to organize your items for the journey ahead is by putting labels on all packages. That might sound laborious and time-consuming, but it will save you time when moving everything inside. By putting labels on boxes, you know what’s in it right away; it couldn’t be simpler.
Furthermore, think about where you pack items in the truck. In other words, is there a section of the house you want to organize before anything else? If you must travel through the living room to get to the kitchen, moving those kitchen items inside first means that you don’t have to carry everything over the living room’s belongings.
Be Careful
Your personal belongings aren’t the only item that needs care during the move. Thus, one of the essential tips to prepare for a long-distance move is to keep safety in mind and plan properly (especially if you are traveling with pets). If you’re a DIY homeowner who loves a challenge, you might want to tackle the largest furniture pieces yourself. However, it’s important to know when to let professionals take over.
For instance, if your dresser pushes back on you too hard, don’t take it as a challenge to push harder; you run the risk of hurting yourself in the process. Remember that your moving team is there to help.
That doesn’t mean you can’t be a part of the move, but suffice it to say, injuring yourself on moving day is going to throw a wrench in your schedule. Let the movers focus on the individual items while you look at the bigger picture, ensuring everything goes where it needs to before the movers leave. Thankfully, now that you know these essential long-distance moving tips, your departure should be straightforward instead of stressful. For more tips and tricks on how to prepare for a long-distance move or to schedule your relocation, give the professionals at Capitol North American a call today.
