Long-distance moving is a significant and complicated process that requires thorough planning. Unlike local moves, usually within the same city or region, long-distance relocations involve transporting belongings across state lines and even countries.
Thorough preparation and assistance from reliable professionals can make your move seamless and enjoyable. The key to a successful long-distance move is starting early, creating a comprehensive checklist, decluttering, researching RI Moving Company packing efficiently, and notifying all relevant parties.
1. Start Packing Early
If you’re planning a move that will take you more than a few blocks away from your current home, you should start packing right away. Even if your moving date is still months out, starting early gives you plenty of time to pack properly and give careful consideration to your fragile items. If you wait until the last minute to start packing, it could be stressful and result in damage to your belongings.
When you begin packing, make sure to get a few essential boxes together that you’ll keep with you for the day of your move. These should include a change of clothes, toiletries, a few extra kitchen utensils and appliances, chargers for your phone, important paperwork, and any medications you need. You should also have a box set aside for odds and ends you need until you settle in to your new home.
Once you have your boxes, it’s time to start packing! If you’re unsure where to start, try starting with items in storage or on display. This may require some serious decluttering, but it can help you clear out the items you don’t need and start fresh in your new space. Oftentimes, items like books, art, knick-knacks, and holiday decorations can be packed up and moved without much issue.
You should also consider the things you use on a regular basis and start packing those first. This might mean donating or selling some items that you no longer need, but it can also help you save time by only packing up the things you actually use on a regular basis. It will be a lot easier to unpack in your new home if you only have things you need on hand.
Finally, if you have children, start preparing them for the upcoming move as soon as possible. Nothing will completely make saying goodbye to their favorite sitter, grandma and grandpa, or their teachers painless, but you can do a few things to help ease the transition. Setting up Skype dates, writing letters, and marking visits on calendars will help kids understand that it’s not a permanent move and that they’ll see these people again soon.
2. Take Care of Fragile Items
It’s important to use the proper packing supplies for your fragile items. This includes high-quality boxes, bubble wrap, packing paper, and tape. Using these materials will help to protect your fragile items during the long transportation process and make it easier to unpack them at your new home.
Generally, it is best to pack fragile items last, as this can reduce the likelihood of them being damaged. However, it’s also important to plan ahead and make sure you have all of the necessary supplies before beginning to pack. This will prevent you from having to make a last-minute trip to the store or risk being caught short of bubble wrap on moving day.
For the most part, it’s a good idea to pack breakables in smaller boxes. This will minimize the chance of them getting crushed during transport and will also ensure that they are snug and secure. If there is extra space in the box, be sure to fill it with additional padding like crumpled paper or old t-shirts.
If you have a large amount of fragile items, be sure to clearly label them as such. This will let the movers know that these boxes need to be handled with care and may need to be kept away from other boxes. It is also a good idea to write the box contents on the side of the container. This will help if the box ends up being misplaced during transit.
When it comes to packing fragile items, it’s important to take the time to do so properly. Be sure to use the right type of packaging and take all of the necessary precautions. This will help to ensure that your items arrive at their new homes safely and in one piece.
If you are having trouble packing your fragile items, it may be helpful to consider hiring a professional moving service. This may be more cost-effective than trying to do it all yourself and can save you a lot of headaches. Just be sure to choose a company with experience handling fragile items.
3. Label Your Boxes
If you want your moving process to go as smoothly as possible, you need to label your boxes. This is especially important when moving long distance, as it can be difficult for movers to keep track of all the items they’re transporting and ensure that your possessions arrive in one piece.
To make your life easier, you can use a numbering or color-coding system to label your boxes. If you’re using a numbering system, you can simply assign each box a specific number and then write the contents of that box in a large, easy-to-read font on one of its sides. It’s also a good idea to include handling instructions on the sides of your boxes. For example, you can write things like FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP, HANDLE WITH CARE, or any other instructions that may help whoever is handling your boxes to take extra care with them.
Color-coding is another popular option for labeling your boxes. You can choose a particular color for each room in your new home, and then mark all of your boxes that need to go to that room with that color. For example, you might select blue for the kitchen, red for the master bedroom, purple for the kids’ rooms, and green for the living room. You can even tape colored pieces of paper to the doors in your new home that match your color-coded boxes if you’d like.
Whichever method you choose, it’s important to be consistent throughout the entire move. If you don’t, your movers might be confused by the colors you’re choosing or they might mix up the different types of items you have packed into each box. That can lead to fragile items getting broken and your belongings ending up in the wrong place at the end of the day.
Taking your time and being careful when packing will help ensure that your belongings arrive in one piece at the other end of your move. So don’t rush, and remember to label your boxes as you pack them. That way, you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently find the items you need when it comes time to unpack at your new home.
4. Ship Your Car
When moving long distance, it’s easy to leave shipping your car to the last minute. After all, you have so much to think about – finding accommodation, getting the kids settled in new schools, packing up the house, etc. But putting off the car transport can be a big mistake that leads to unnecessary stress and extra costs on move day.
To save money, you should choose a reputable car transport company early on and get a quote before your move. Then, you can plan accordingly. Keep in mind that longer journeys are more expensive, so make sure you factor this into your budget. You should also ask about other services that the company offers – for example, door-to-door transport is more convenient but comes at an additional cost.
You should remove your personal belongings from the car and clean it before handing it over to the transport company. This will help you avoid hefty cleaning fees and ensure that the company can accurately assess your car’s condition at pick-up and delivery. You should also check the oil and tire pressure, and remember to turn off your alarm. Finally, remember to take photos of your car before and after shipping. This will help you if you have to file an insurance claim in the future.
Most companies will provide windows of time for pickup and delivery, with smaller windows for more populated areas and larger ones for remote locations. You can usually find this information on their website. Then, you should inform the transportation company of the exact addresses for the pickup and drop-off. These locations must be accessible to large commercial vehicles, with no parking restrictions or trees that block the road.
It’s also important to note that if your move crosses state lines, you may be subject to extra charges. This is because your shipment will require special authorization from the authorities, so be sure to consult with a moving specialist for more details. Whether you’re moving cross country or just to the next state, these tips will help you make your move as seamless as possible.