Moving is one of the most stressful things for many people because there is a lot you need to do, and a small mistake can be costly. Many people get stressed the moment they realize they have to move. Moving over a long distance is even more complicated and stressful. This is why most choose to hire a moving company to help them with the move. If you are looking to move over a long distance, the tips below will come in handy.
1. Starting Early
It is not the best idea to leave things to the last minute because you feel more pressure. After all, there is a lot to do and not much time. When you start early, you won’t feel rushed or pressured, and you will make decisions more objectively.
It is normal for one or two things to go wrong when moving, and such issues can be costly if you don’t have enough time to deal with them. Starting early will allow you to deal with any problems that come up. You will also have enough time to find the right moving company.
2. Have a plan
This is one of the most important things when moving. Moving over a long distance is complicated, and having a plan will help you know what needs to be done at what time. You will know what is remaining and what to do at any point. The plan will guide you throughout the process, from when you start packing to unpacking in your new home.
You still need to have a plan in place even if you hire a moving company. There are a lot of things you need to do when moving that a moving company is not going to help you with. Some of them include updating your address.
3. De-cluttering Early
You can save yourself a lot of stress and money if you de-clutter. Space is always limited when moving, which is why you should try your best to reduce the number of items to move with. There are a lot of items you have that you have not used recently. If you have not used an item for long, there is a good chance you will not use it any time soon.
You will spend less because you will be moving fewer items. There is also reduced work since you don’t have to pack a lot of items. Moving provides you with the perfect time for lightening the load. You will not have such a good chance to get rid of items you don’t use. You will be surprised at how much stuff you have that you don’t use.
4. Sell What You Can
If there are items you are not using, consider selling them. You will end up with extra cash that you can use for your move. There are different ways of selling. Facebook Marketplace has made it easier for people to sell stuff easily. You can sell furniture, baby gear, décor, appliances, etc.
One of the most expensive things to move is furniture. You can choose to sell items you can easily replace. You will be able to buy new ones when you reach your new home. Just keep your favorite pieces and those you cannot replace. Moving furniture over a long distance might end up being more expensive than buying used ones.
5. Getting Boxes for Free
There is no need to spend a lot of money on moving boxes because it is possible to get them free. If you start planning your move early, you will have enough time to find moving boxes. Save the shipping boxes you get, and look for empty ones on trash day. Dumpster diving is also another way to get free boxes. Tell your friends and family that you are looking for moving boxes. You will end up with enough moving boxes without spending a lot.
Liquor stores also have boxes that have inserts for fragile boxes. Check places like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for free boxes from people who have recently moved. You can find perfectly good used boxes.
6. Labelling boxes
Get labels in different colors so that each room has its own color. Labelling items is important because it will help you determine which ones need to be opened first. There are those items you are going to need when you reach your destination. Your family can help you with labelling and color-coding the boxes. You can have a spreadsheet where you can note down the labels and what they mean.
7. Freezer Meals
This is something many people don’t think about. Freezer meals will come in handy when packing and moving, processes that can take days. Things start to become a little more challenging when you start packing your kitchen. Takeaway food is going to become boring, pretty fast. Freezer meals will help you keep eating healthy when packing and moving. Use foil containers because you can easily put them out of the fridge and pop them into the oven. You don’t need cutlery, appliances, or baking dishes to make your meals. Disposable plates and silverware will help you a lot.
8. Mark Fragile Items
When packing your fragile items, make sure you have marked them. The movers are going to handle them more carefully when you label them. Fragile items need extra care, and it can be hard for movers to know the contents of the box. Always keep in mind that fragile items are packed and loaded differently.
9. Use Towels
Use towels to wrap fragile and breakable items. You have to refold the towels when you reach your new home, but they will protect against the bumps the truck is going to experience along the way.
10. Make a list
Make a moving checklist of all the items you are moving so you can check them off when they are unloaded. This is even more important when your belongings have to be stored before moving into your new home. The above tips will help you with your long-distance move.