Moving is not a favorite activity for many people, the process can be arduous and stressful. Even a short distance move can be difficult, but a long distance move can pose an even greater challenge. Planning ahead can help avoid some common issues that cause added stress during a move. At Berger Allied Moving & Storage, we offer long distance moving services designed to take a load off your shoulders when it comes to handling your long distance move.
If you are preparing for a long distance relocation, here are some tips to help you reduce the stress:
Reserve a Moving Date as Early as Possible
It is important to schedule a moving date with a professional moving company as early as possible. By doing so, you can eliminate the stress of not having your mover of choice available on the day you intend to move.
Give Yourself Adequate Time to Prepare
Plan far enough advance to give yourself ample time to carry out long distance moving preparations. You want to plan when things are more calm and you have time to think things through. Start the planning process many weeks in advance of your move – even as many as 12 to 20 weeks in advance as needed to ensure you can make necessary preparations without extra pressure.
Downsize Your Belongings
Downsizing your possessions can help you save some money before moving day. Doing so can remove clutter and free up space – which translates to less stress. You can downsize by going from room to room and determining the items you cannot part with, and those that you can. When you are done with this process, you will have fewer items that need to be loaded onto moving trucks, which results in less cargo weight and less work for you or the moving professionals handling your move. You may also be able to sell the items you no longer need to make some extra cash.
Take Care of Your Personal/Family Moving Needs
It is important to take care of your personal affairs, such as changing billing addresses, mailing addresses, utilities, and more in advance of your move. Waiting to the very last minute to handle these matters can result in unnecessary stress and complications or delays in your relocation. You will need to register your new address with the DMV and post office, schedule shut-off and start-up dates for utilities, and transfer any paperwork related to family members’ school(s).
In addition, make sure you have copies of vital documents (such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, and social security cards) on hand and ready to submit as needed. You will likely need some or all these documents if you are moving to a new state.
Prepare Your Vehicles Properly
If you will be driving one or more vehicles to your new home, be sure to have the vehicles serviced prior to moving day. This should include having any needed repairs or maintenance work done on the vehicles to help ensure they operate safely on the road.
Pack Properly
Make your packing as efficient as possible. Label boxes according to the room in which they will be unpacked. Keep boxes that have items for a particular room together, so the loading and unpacking goes faster. Pack medium sized boxes instead of overly large boxes which are often difficult to move. If you don’t want to deal with packing your belongings, long distance movers can handle it all for you.
Prepare for the road trip
Long road trips can be hard on the whole family. Be sure to have entertainment (such as games, tablet, and music, podcasts or audio books) and snacks readily available to help everyone make it through the long drive.
Get Sufficient Rest
Sleep as well as possible in the days leading up to moving day, and especially the night before. You will need all the energy you can get on the big day.
Don’t Rush Unpacking
Instead of rushing to unpack your belongings once you arrive at your destination, take a more gradual approach. Ease yourself into your new home, you’ve just completed a challenging move. Unpack your items at a moderate pace and take some much-needed time to relax in-between unpacking and settling in.
Moving to a new home can be exciting, but also includes quite a bit of stress if not done properly. Utilize some of the advice given above to minimize the stress and enjoy the experience and let us help make your moving experience easier. For information about the long distance moving services we offer at Berger Allied Moving & Storage, call us today at 866.969.5040 or request a moving estimate.
