Long-distance moving is entirely different from a move across town. If you leave something behind, you won’t be able to return to your old home to retrieve any items you forgot to pack. For a long-distance move, everything must be done right the first time around.
Here is a guide for creating your checklist and a way to control the preparation time involved:
– Create a moving checklist that matches up to your unique circumstances. You can use this guide that we did in collaboration with MyLongDistanceMovers.com to get you through each step of the preparation process.
– Populate a moving-calendar with things to do and personalized tasks that match up to your exact relocation circumstances.
– Sort your move-related tasks into a list of most important to least important. Make sure you have written the jobs down that you need to complete first.
– Get an idea about what the moving timeline needs to contain, by creating your long-distance checklist.
A long-distance move shouldn’t be stressful. However, it requires a lot more planning in advance than moving locally or just down the street. Here is a list of the items that should be included on your moving checklist.
1. First Decide What Items You Will Be Moving
If you have been living in your home for many years, you may have many accumulated items that are no longer in use or no longer want them. Any type of move is an excellent way to throw away, finally, sell, or donate. You want to avoid having to fork out extra money for things that you no longer use. This process should be implemented before you move onto anything else.
2. Use Up All Your Perishable Items
Another essential item to add to your list is the items that you cannot take with you to your new home. This list usually contains bug sprays, household cleaners, paint, frozen food, and other perishable items in your refrigerator.
3. Make Sure You Have Packing Supplies Ready
It is essential to plan by ensuring you have all your shipping tape, packing materials, and boxes in order. It will be a waste of your valuable time if you have to put an end to your packing just because your boxes ran out. Many big-box home-improvement stores or office and stationery supply stores have a range of different packing materials and boxes on sale.
4. Ensure That Your Furniture Is Going To Fit
If your furniture pieces are bulky and large, make sure that you have taken the measurements of the new home and the doorways to ensure that all your furniture is going to fit through a door and into the house. If you cannot get to the new home before the move, ask your realtor to take the measurements for you, or your new landlord if you are renting. It would be pretty frustrating to get to another town or city to discover that your favorite sofa or your beloved piano is not going to get through a doorway.
5. Start To Pack
Packing is a crucial item on a moving checklist that belongs to both local and long-distance moves. Start packing as soon as you can. To minimize any inconveniences, it is recommended to always start with the items that you use the least frequently. Think about seasonal things or clothing, your silverware, and holiday decorations. Make sure that you clearly label each box, and if possible, mark the box so that it coordinates with the room that you would like it stored in your new home.
6. Make Arrangements With A Reliable Moving Company
Any moving checklist for a long-distance move must include finding a reliable, insured, and professional moving company. Once you have signed a contract with the moving company you have chosen, make sure you contact them to make the final arrangements for your move. This includes confirming the date, the cost, and times. It is also essential that you have made the necessary arrangements to pay the movers and keep cash on you to tip your movers. 10 to 15% of the overall cost is suggested as a generous tip. Trust us, it is not worth it trying to move all your possessions across the country by yourself, or even worse with the wrong company that does not have your best interests at heart. Find the right long distance movers, such as Mayflower Movers.
7. Change Your Address
Another essential item that should feature on moving checklists is to make sure you have changed your address and any other necessary details with any company that you do business with and the post office. This list usually includes credit card companies, insurance carriers, brokerage, and any institution you bank with.
8. Contact All The Necessary Utility Companies
You want to make sure that your family will have water, heat, and lights when you move into a new home. At the same time, you need to make the necessary arrangements to transfer the existing utilities into the name of the new owner or make arrangements to have your utilities disconnected.
Now that you have sorted out everything on your long-distance moving checklist, there are a few more things you will need to do a couple of days before the big day:
– Deep clean your apartment or home a final time. This will include inside all the appliances and every surface. You can also hire a professional cleaning company to tick this item off your list.
– Clean out your cupboards and fridge. If you have any items that are still unopened, you may want to think about donating it to a charity.
– Fill your vehicle up with gas or check into your flight and have your boarding passes printed.
– Ensure you have removed any valuable items from your car if you are storing it in a garage, or place items that you do not want to go with the movers in your car.
– Check the weather forecast to ensure there are no major storms on the way that might interfere with the move.
– Make sure you have drawn cash to tip your movers or as a backup if you run into an emergency.
