Cross-country moving can be an exciting experience for many of us. There’s so much to look forward to. Moreover, cross-country moving is different from other types of moving. Thanks to the extensive upfront work required for successful completion, it can often be stressful. To aid in the process, one can opt for the services of professional cross-state movers.
Here are a few tips that you can learn from someone who has done cross-country moving before.
10 Tips For Cross Country Moving From Someone Who Does It Regularly
Moving with Family
How much does it cost to ship your car?
One of the biggest pressure points of cross-country moving is determining whether you need to ship, drive or sell your vehicle. If you lease your vehicle, shipping can be the best option. It prevents you from exceeding your allotted miles or putting any repair work for your vehicle.
When you consider shipping, you also need to consider the cost of it. HomeAdvisor’s average shipping cost in the US is $950.
Another piece of advice would be to drive your vehicle to your newest location, enjoy the scenic beauty while driving, and then trade or sell the vehicle for extra cash. Or keep it and avoid the expense of buying a new car.
Keep track of your finances
Are you the type who constantly monitors your finances? If not, it’s time you do so. Living costs are guaranteed to change when you move to a new location. Whether it’s groceries, gas or healthcare, you can experience a drastic change in them.
Therefore, try to keep a check on your finances and create an estimate of your oncoming expenses. This can help you with financial stability in the long run.
Get rid of items you don’t need
Sometimes, we forget the amount of stuff we have until we prepare for a permanent relocation. Thus, packing can help you identify and separate your day-to-day items from those you can get rid of. Moreover, when renting a van or a truck, you must consider the space it offers. Remember that you need to fit your belongings within the designated space.
One of our advice would be to create 3 separate piles – keep, donate, and sell. This can readily help you in accessing the items of your actual need. You can use a selling app to sell some items to buyers in your area.
These small steps can help you with organizing your belongings.
Strategically pack your clothes before Cross Country Moving
Black and white clothes hanging in a wardrobe box, prepared for moving.
When you are moving, there are only a certain number of boxes that you can carry. Therefore, when packing your clothes, do it strategically. This can free up some extra boxes that you can use to pack your other belongings.
Tips for Packing your Clothes –
- Rolling: Rolling clothes can be a huge space saver. Moreover, it prevents your clothes from wrinkling up. All you need to do is roll up your clothes and tuck them into boxes.
- Make Use Of The Gaps: Fill up the gaps between your rolled clothes by squeezing in small items like socks, inners, and other delicate belongings that don’t need much space.
Save your Moving Receipts
The government might give you a break from paying taxes when you move for work. You might be able to deduct the cost of your moving expenses from your federal income tax return if you relocated because of your job.
Gather all your moving receipts, including those for the price of boxes, shipping expenses, and gas mileage, and store them safely so that you are prepared for tax season.
Don’t forget the little things
During cross-country moving, one can experience an amplitude of excitement. This might often make you lose track of little yet important things. Therefore keep track of –
- Scheduling and transferring your utilities
- Forwarding the mail
- Cancelling or transferring your gym membership
- Arranging a key drop-off or transfer
- Collecting all your records
Do your career homework
It might seem obvious, but the excitement of a big move might often lead you to forget important details like – Does your desired location support your career industry?
It’s a good idea to contact recruiters right away if you already have a specific career path in mind. Getting interviews while you’re still out of the country can be difficult. If finding a job before you arrive is important to you, a recruiter will be able to help you overcome this challenge.
Tap into your network
You probably have someone living in your new state of residence. Utilize your network to help you advance before you arrive. For instance, ask a friend to take you on a drive through a neighbourhood you’re considering or to an apartment you’ve had your eye on. Before you arrive, they can serve as your eyes and ears.
Always be flexible
No matter how many to-do lists you create and backup plans, something will always go wrong, big or small. It’s possible for your movers to be three hours late or your tire to blow out in the middle of nowhere.
It’s critical to maintain composure and flexibility in these circumstances. Even for someone who is extremely well-prepared and organized, moving across the country is no small task.
Explore your new property
It’s time for the enjoyable part—exploring your new home—after you’ve finished unpacking your final box. Explore your new property to know better the available space and plan positions for keeping your belongings.
If you are looking for reputable and dependable professional cross-state movers in the US, get in touch with our moving experts at International Van Lines!
