Prepare For The Big Move
Cross-country moving is more common today than it ever has been before, and many people are making these moves for educational reasons, starting new careers or simply for new beginnings. There are many things to keep track of during a big move, especially one that takes you from one end of the country to another. It’s best to have a guideline of responsibilities and a detailed moving checklist so you can be well organized and fully ready to hit the road when the time comes. You can use a list that is already planned out, or you can create one specific to your moving needs.
Although the packing and organizing are extremely important tasks, making a successful move across country also has to do with matters such as climate, topography, demography, and even the surrounding culture. Is your new home going to be in an apartment, a condominium, or a two-story house, and will you be renting or owning? Are you moving to a warm and dry climate, or a cool and rainy one? Is it in the city or the countryside, and what will your new surroundings look like? These kinds of questions should also be considered before the move, so you can be prepared for more than just the wellbeing of your personal items. When considering if you should keep or donate certain items, for example, such as curtains or portable heaters, understanding your new space and the environment can help you make those decisions. If the weather is mostly hot and dry, taking your blackout drapes and portable heater is probably not a priority.
Similarly, you should plan ahead for the road trip. Will your vehicle require special outfitting? Will you require a different mode of transportation, such as moving to the mountains where there are less paved roads? Do you have the right kind of clothes for the climate of your new home? Moving can be a time of stress, with having to get used to a new home and new surroundings, but it can also be an exciting one, if prepared. With a moving across country checklist to follow, detailing the things you need to complete, the entire experience can be much less stressful.
Here are some helpful tips and important things to keep in mind for your cross-country move:
- Identify what you want to keep, and what you need to throw away or donate.
- Label your boxes by the rooms they are from, and organize your moving vehicle with the layout of your new home in mind.
- Keep the boxes with your personal items and the things you will need right away in the front so you have them right away in the new home.
- Draft out the floor plan of your new home ahead of time, so you can configure the best placement for your furnishings.
- Take an inventory of all the boxes and furniture that will be going with you.
- If taking your refrigerator and freezer, remember to defrost them and clean them before moving, and drain any power equipment and water hoses.
- If using professional movers, make sure to get quotes from several companies to secure an affordable rental for the day of moving.
- Inform others and fill out all the forms necessary before your move, such as the post office, credit cards, banks, government agencies, etc.
- Remember to shut off and/or change services with the appropriate service industries and utility companies.