Moving day preparation requires a series of serious tasks – the more you start investing yourself in the planning and the organization process, the more efficient you will be. We can help you with that – just follow our guide, and you’ll sort everything out without any problems.
Planning a relocation doesn't have to be complicated as long as you follow our tips
Moving day preparation should begin with making a good plan and writing down all the steps you have to go through to prepare everything and avoid potential problems. Consider hiring professional long-distance movers in advance if you think you can’t go through this process alone, and we’re sure you’ll have an amazing experience. You should also change your address, transfer utilities, declutter unnecessary stuff, and pack important inventory properly.
#1 When Should You Start Preparing for a Move? The Sooner, the Better, Start Weeks in Advance if Possible
Last-minute relocation should not be a part of your plan. This is usually the main reason people make relocation mistakes or start feeling relocation anxiety – they put themselves under huge pressure and don’t have enough time to plan everything properly. If you want to move safely and efficiently, you should start planning the whole process as soon as you find enough reasons to move. Don’t worry – the fear of relocating will be insignificant if everything is prepared and your move is organized.
In case you don’t have the assistance of your friends and family or you’re relocating alone, hiring a professional cross-country moving company might solve all of your problems. They can show you useful relocation hacks and make the whole process less stressful.
In case you have a month to plan everything, you should begin by writing a good to-do list and following these steps:
- Decide where to live, find a new house or apartment and transfer your utilities in advance,
- Make sure you book professionals in advance,
- Before you start packing, declutter unnecessary stuff,
- Get suitable packing materials,
- Pack storage inventory first, then continue with less significant stuff,
- Pack a bag with relocation essentials,
- Prepare for movers by protecting your doors, floors, and windows,
- Prepare something you can give to your cross-country movers crew.
What to Expect on Moving Day? Get the Best Tips From Professional Movers
If you follow our relocation tips and learn how to avoid relocation scams, this day won’t be stressful – the worst thing that can happen is that you end up exhausted but happy and satisfied. If everything goes as planned, you can expect movers to show up at the desired time, pack all of your inventory and load it into a relocation truck and drive it to the desired destination – and that is it.
Once you arrive there, you can give them instructions about unloading all the inventory and furniture from the relocation truck. You should tell them where to put these items so that later on, you don’t have to do this on your own.
Is There a Checklist for Moving?
How to move efficiently? Obviously, by following the checklist of necessary tasks that were previously mentioned. There is no one general checklist because every relocation is different, but there are some things that are usually more or less similar. For example, downsizing for a move doesn’t necessarily have to be the first step on every checklist, but this step can definitely make the whole process much easier.
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#2 Begin With Decluttering and Decide What You Should Not Pack When Moving
Once you start with all the necessary preparations, you will begin wondering what to do with old clothes, unwanted appliances, or old furniture. It is essential that you downsize for a move, so getting rid of these should be one of your priorities. This can be really useful, especially if you have a strict relocation budget – the fewer belongings you decide to relocate, the lower your expenses will be.
You Can Sell or Donate Unwanted Items
How to repurpose old furniture, and what to do with all the things you decide to get rid of? There are actually plenty of things you can do. For example, you can choose to donate old appliances and clothes that are still in good condition. You can also organize a garage sale if you are on a budget and want to earn some extra money for other relocation purposes.
You can also give some stuff to your friends at your going away party. Finally, once you find out what items movers won’t move, for example, dangerous chemicals and hazardous materials, you should learn how to dispose of them properly, so you don’t end up in a weird situation on your big day.
You have to decide what to do with all the extra stuff you don't want to relocate
#3 Book Professional Movers in Advance
One of the most important steps to take if you want to have a successful relocation process is to book professional cross-country moving services in advance. Booking them for desired dates can be challenging if you choose to move during the summer season when many decide to move, and professionals are usually overbooked.
On the other hand, if you choose to move in winter, it will be easier to hire professionals, and the prices will be lower. Still, you’ll have to deal with winterizing and waterproofing your home and inventory, which is another essential task.
#4 Change Your Home Address and Transfer Utilities
Who to notify when relocating? Apart from your friends and family, authorities should be notified about your upcoming move as well. Don’t worry, you can make the address change online by visiting the USPS official website and filling out the simple form.
This will only take a couple of minutes, but it can save you from many unnecessary complications. Transferring your utilities is usually connected to this – you don’t want to end up paying utilities for two different places at the same time.
Changing your address is very important - you'll avoid any unnecessary complications if you do it in advance
#5 Get Suitable Packing Materials
Another important part of a successful relocation process is being efficient with boxing up your inventory. This will ensure that nothing breaks during transportation in a relocation truck, so investing in quality supplies is a must. If you don’t know how to handle this task, what supplies to buy and how to use them properly, you can always contact professional long-distance movers and get their packing services.
Should You Empty Drawers When Moving?
Do you need to remove clothes from the dresser for movers? This usually depend on the company’s specific terms, so you should check this with your relocation crew. In some cases, it is allowed to have your personal stuff inside the drawers (it is not recommended to keep important documents or valuables such as jewelry inside during relocation). You just have to secure them from opening.
There is no need to empty your drawers before relocation as long as you secure them from opening
#6 Begin With Packing All the Things You Don’t Use
Where to begin with packing? Well, you should definitely not begin with the items you use daily. The best place to begin the process is your garage or some storage room. Begin with boxing items you use the least, such as seasonal clothes or Christmas decorations. Later on, you can deal with more significant stuff like boxing up dishes and finish with stuff you use daily such as toiletries.
If you’re relocating to a smaller place, you should also decide what to do with your storage inventory in advance. You don’t want to risk taking it all there without any creative storage ideas that can help you if you want to store everything in your new home. Another option is renting a storage unit where you can keep all the extra stuff before deciding what to do with it.
You should pack storage inventory first
#7 Pack Relocation Essentials in a Separate Bag
You should also prepare a bag or a box with relocation essentials that you’ll have by your side. These boxes should contain all the stuff you can’t survive a day without, such as a towel, toiletries, a clean set of clothes, chargers, and medications.
These are the things you’ll probably need as soon as you get to your new home, so you don’t want to waste your time unpacking every single container only to find these essentials. If you don’t know what to pack in this box and can’t think of all the relocation essentials that you should bring, this video might give you some interesting ideas.
#8 What Is the First Thing to Do on a Moving Day? Prepare Your Home for Movers
If you went through the previous steps properly, the only thing left to do when the relocation time finally comes is to protect your home and assist your crew if necessary. Even if they handle everything on their own, you can serve them something refreshing like water or coffee.
Apart from that, you should also protect your floors from scratching (or water if it’s raining outside) by covering them. You should also protect door frames so they don’t get damaged while your helpers are carrying some heavy furniture pieces around.
This can save you from additional expenses and repairs that would have to be made if you’re preparing your home for sale. If you protect everything carefully, no damage will be done, and you can save a lot of money and energy without the need to go through any repairs.
Auto Transport
Move your car across the country in an open or enclosed trailer – for an affordable fee. We offer car transport as a standalone service, but you can bundle it with your household move and get a hefty discount.
Learn moreMoving Insurance
All your stuff is secure with Long Distance USA Movers, but in case something does happen to it, there’s a moving insurance policy in place. We offer both basic Valuation Coverage and Full Value Protection.
Learn moreStorage Services
Our spacious climate-controlled units will protect your things until the drop-off. No need to worry about them because all items are labeled and secure, and each customer gets a dedicated unit mixup isn’t possible.
Learn moreIn case of rain or snow, you should take some additional steps. For example, you should clean out the path around your house and in front of the main entrance. You don’t want to risk leaving it all slippery because this can lead to serious problems. For example, some of your helpers could fall and get injured or break some of your items.
To prevent these kinds of accidents, always make sure the road is clean, especially the stairs. If you have small children or dogs that are leaving their toys around, make sure you remove them as well. In case of rain or snow, you should also put dry towels around the entrance and change them as soon as they get wet, so you and your helpers don’t walk inside with wet shoes.
Hiring professional movers in advance can save you from potential complications
Hiring a Long Distance Moving Company Is the Most Important Thing for Successful Moving Day Preparation
Your long-distance relocation doesn’t have to be challenging at all – as long as you are ready to look for professional assistance. Getting long-distance moving services is one of the smartest things you can do to help yourself during these challenging times. There is no need to go through everything on your own. You’ll probably have to handle many different responsibilities, so packing and relocating your inventory can be just an additional problem. Professionals can move your inventory and also offer you long-distance auto transport, which is another phenomenal option for those who want to relocate their vehicles as well.
