Planning a Cross Country Move

Moving is exciting no matter what the distance, but a cross-country move comes with its own set of unique challenges and opportunities. With great planning and plenty of patience, your move can be smooth and less stressful. Here are some tips to help you prepare for your cross country move.

Start with Cleaning

The best way to make packing easier is to start with less stuff. Moving provides the perfect opportunity to go through your belongings and sell or donate the things you no longer need or use. You’ll be grateful while packing your boxes, and unpacking at your new home will go much faster if you have fewer items. Using sites like Craigslist or eBay may even let you make a little extra cash for gas money while you’re at it.

Know What You’re Packing

After you’ve pared down your belongings, you can get out the boxes and start packing. As you go, make an inventory of what you’re taking with you on your cross country move. Label each box with the room it belongs in, along with a number. Add the number of each box and its contents to your inventory. Knowing what you have and where it will go will make unpacking at your new home much faster and easier. Take photos of your belongings as you pack. They will be useful if something goes wrong—for instance, if anything gets damaged or lost during the move.

RELATED: Moving Checklist: Organizing for your Move

Do Some Research

Don’t trust your belongings to just anyone. Before filling a truck with your possessions to travel across the country, be sure you know who’ll be getting them to your destination. Take time to research moving companies. Make sure the company is licensed and insured. Read customer reviews to find out what kind of experiences others have had with the company and its employees. Take your time to make the best decision.

Get Insured

When you choose a moving company, check out their options for moving insurance. While it’s great to be optimistic, there are plenty of chances for things to get broken, lost, or stolen during a cross country move. Give yourself peace of mind by choosing an insurance policy before the move.

Take It Slow

No matter how prepared you are, a move is a stressful situation for everyone involved. Take your time when researching, packing, and preparing for your move. Take some breaks during the days leading up to the move. After you arrive at your new place, stay calm if your belongings don’t arrive right away. In the end, everything will work out.

It’s easy to become overwhelmed when preparing for a big move. With our tips, you can save yourself some stress and get through the process of preparing for your next adventure.