At Move 4 Less, we handled thousands of long-distance moves, and we know that any move can be stressful, but moving out of state and perhaps across the country, can be a far more daunting task than a cross-town move. As seasoned cross-country movers, we’ve compiled a Top Ten List to help make this process a bit easier for our clients.
1. Create A Moving Folder
Once you know you are moving, you’ll want to start preparing for the big day. Grab a file folder, label it as “Moving Documents,” and store everything related to the move in this folder. This includes estimates from cross-country movers, checklists, important phone numbers, receipts and anything else related to the move. You can even purchase an inexpensive expanding file to further organize your move-related papers. Keep this in a handy place, such as a kitchen counter, so that you can always access your paperwork.
2. Start Packing Immediately
As soon as you know you will be moving, start packing any non-essential items. This includes out-of-season clothing, special-occasion china, knickknacks, books, extra blankets and sheets, photographs and so on. Anything you don’t need for everyday living can be packed, and the sooner you start, the easier you will find the packing process.
3. Label Everything
Organization is the key to success with any type of move, but it’s imperative with a cross-country relocation. We recommend that you color code each box you pack to identify where that box should be placed in your new home or apartment. For instance you might use blue ink or blue packing tape for all boxes heading to the kitchen, and use red ink or red tape for all boxes heading to the master bedroom.
While color coding makes it easier for you (and your movers), it also is important that you label each box as to its final destination as well as labeling the contents. If a box contains essential items that need to be unpacked quickly, label it with “unpack me first,” so it’s easy to find. You can even number each box and create a spreadsheet on your computer that lists the contents of each numbered box.
4. Create A List
Actually, we recommend that you create several lists or breakdown your lists into categories. For instance, you might have a category for utilities, indicating when to shut off services in your current home or start services at your new home. You also should create a list of documents for which you need to obtain copies, such as medical records, veterinary records and school records.
Keep this list in your moving folding or expanding file and make an effort to check off a few items every day. If you devote a bit of time each day to the move, you won’t be left scrambling at the end to finish packing, return library books, change addresses and the hundreds of other little tasks that need to be accomplished before moving day.
5. Call Movers Immediately
One of the first phone calls you will want to make is to cross-country movers. Consider calling several companies and asking for a few estimates so that you can find the best fit for your budget and needs. Make sure that each moving company sends a representative to your home, as an over-the-phone discussion is simply not enough for a mover to determine the size and scope of a move.
We need to physically visit your property to determine how many items will need to be moved as well as the type of items to be moved. For instance, while it might seem like the cost of moving a typical three-bedroom, two-bath home would be the same for every homeowner, the type and amount of contents inside a home might alter the cost somewhat, although we do our best to save you money, our name is “Move 4 Less,” after all, and providing affordable high-quality moving services is always our top goal.
6. Purchase Moving Insurance
At Move 4 Less, our team of expert cross-country movers always works diligently to ensure that your items arrive to their destination unscathed; there is no way to truly guarantee that this will be the case. Purchasing moving insurance is the best way to ensure that even if your items are damaged, they will be repaired, replaced or you will receive a cash settlement for the cost of repair or current market replacement value.
You can either purchase full-value protection from us or purchase insurance from a third-party. We also recommend that you check your homeowner’s insurance policy to see if you already have moving coverage and what that entails.
7. Give Us A Window
One way to save money is to provide us with as flexible of a moving window as possible. If you can give us a window of 5 to 7 days, this is ideal, both for your move-out date as well as your move-in date at your new home. Friday, Saturday and Sunday tend to be the busiest days of the week, and if you are able to book a move Monday-Thursday, this might be a great way to save some money. Obviously, though, some moves must occur on a specific date, and if this is the case for your move, we highly recommend that you contact us as soon as possible to book your preferred moving date.
8. Avoid Summer Moves, If Possible
While we are happy to provide you with local or long-distance moving services at any time of the year, more moves occur during the summer months than at any other time of the year. This means summer moves can be costlier and harder to book.
Of course, many people simply don’t have any other feasible option that to move during the summer, so again, we highly recommend that you contact us as soon as possible to book a summertime cross-country move to ensure that we can accommodate your needs.
9. Don’t Pack Forbidden Items
Did you know that there are some items that cannot legally be transported by a moving company? For safety, the Department of Transportation, has compiled a list of items that cross-country and local movers are not authorized to move. This includes all types of guns and ammunition (although we can move your gun safe, sans weapons). Typically, gun owners must transport their own weapons across state lines, and it’s smart to study up on the rules of each state where you will be traveling to ensure that you are in compliance with each state laws as well as federal laws.
Additionally, we cannot move flammable products such as oil, gas or lighter fluid and items such as aerosols, paint, bleach and many hazardous household chemicals, pesticides and even common products such as nail polish. If you have these items, consider giving them away or transporting them in your own vehicle.
10. Hire Experienced Cross-Country Movers
This is where we come in. At Move 4 Less, we’ve handled more than 35,000 homeowner moves, 15,000 apartment moves and nearly 10,000 commercial moves. Many of these involved long-distance moves to nearby states as well across the country. We have the expertise and knowledge to help you whether you are moving to Laughlin, Los Angeles or all the way to Florida or New York.
Our team of expert cross-country movers can move just about anything from coast to coast. For West Coast moves, we even offer same-day and next-day services. For a long-distance or cross-country move, it is essential that you select movers licensed for interstate moves. Move 4 Less is a licensed, bonded and insured interstate mover, and we can move just about anything you might need moved. This includes appliances, all types of TVs, and delicate items such as pianos and fine art.
To receive a free, no-obligation quote, contact our team of cross-country movers today. You can get started on our homepage, where you’ll find our phone number as well as our “Get A Free Quote” box. After answering a few basic questions about your move, a friendly customer service representative will be in touch with you to set up a free in-home estimate. We highly recommend that you have a representative visit your home or apartment to truly gauge the complexity of the move, as this ensures a more accurate cost estimate.
