Moving across the country is stressful, to say the least. Somehow, you need to transport your entire life from one home to the next, and you need to make sure you don’t forget or break anything as you move across state lines. How do people do this?
As a real estate consultant in Reno, I’ve had clients move across the nation, and sometimes even further than that. Along the way, I’ve picked up some excellent advice for anyone moving across the country. Before you put anything in a moving truck, take note of these 18 tips.
Hiring a Mover
You might decide to make a DIY move, or you might decide to hire someone who can help. If you choose the latter, these three tips will ensure that your cross-country move doesn’t break the bank.
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Get an In-Home Moving Estimate
Every home has different moving requirements and requires separate storage. An in-home moving estimate walks through these requirements and gives you an estimated cost of moving your inventory across the country. Generally, this estimate should be performed at least four weeks before you move, and by then, you should have a clear idea of what’s moving with you.
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Request Estimates from Multiple Movers
Different movers have different pricing and can offer various services. It’s best to request estimates from multiple moving companies before hiring the right one, otherwise, who knows what money you could be wasting with the wrong company.
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Hire a Reputable Moving Company
Remember, cheaper isn’t always better. Before you go with the most affordable option, make sure you aren’t choosing a moving company with a bad reputation for breaking or stealing your furniture. The best moving company will be a balance of price and reputation.
Planning Your Move
Whether you hire a moving company or not, your move will require a lot of planning. Unless you’re willing to make multiple trips, you’ve only got one shot to move everything across the country, so do it right with these planning considerations.
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Get Moving Insurance
Even if you don’t use a moving company, you should always take out a moving insurance policy. You may be able to expand your home and auto insurance to temporarily cover your move, but be sure to sit down with your insurance agent to discuss what your insurance should cover.
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Make an Inventory List
Take as much time as you need to document everything that’s in your home. You can even organize your list by room so that you never forget where anything is.
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Plan Out the Space of Your New Home
Deciding what to bring to your new home is tough, but planning out your new space will make those decisions so much easier. Try to envision your current furniture in the new space, and whatever you can’t envision, start selling!
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Prioritize Your Items
With a vision for your new home, return to your inventory list and delegate what stays versus what sells. You might also benefit from color-coding the items in your house, so you have a visual reminder of what needs to go before you move.
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Plan What You Do With Unwanted Furniture
Do you plan on donating your furniture, selling it on Facebook Marketplace, or simply gifting it to a friend? Figure out where your furniture is moving, get rid of it sooner rather than later, or else you might not get rid of it.
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Know What You Cannot Transport
Some items cannot be legally transported across state or country lines, including certain weapons, flammable objects, or chemicals. Make sure you research what you can bring with you in a car or plane before packing.
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Research Your New Neighborhood
Whether you’re moving on your own or with your family, moving across the country can feel a little lonely. I always tell my clients to research what’s near your new house—after all, you’ll need to meet your neighbors eventually, right? Learn about local restaurants, upcoming events, and other ways to participate in your community.
Packing Your Move
You’ve only got a finite window of time between when the packing starts and the moving truck arrives. With no time to waste, the following tips will help you pack the most efficiently before moving across the country.
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Ask for Free Cardboard Boxes
You can never have enough boxes, but thankfully, businesses can’t get rid of them fast enough! If you’re short on moving storage, you can often ask local shops and restaurants if they have any boxes they’re planning on recycling.
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Pack the Hardest Rooms First
When you haven’t filled any of your boxes yet, the hard-to-pack rooms should be tackled first. Usually, these rooms are your closets and storage spaces with tons of clutter. Packing these first will make the rest of the house seem like a breeze!
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Pack With Distance in Mind
How much bubble wrap do you need? Well, it all depends on how far you’re traveling. Nonetheless, you should pack fragile items together and keep your boxes triple-padded with bubble wrap, t-shirts, and paper.
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Color and Label Every Box
The kitchen stuff belongs in the kitchen, and living room stuff belongs in the living room, so pack accordingly. Keep items from the same rooms in the corresponding boxes, and label accordingly. You’ll make it so much easier to unpack!
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Consider Extra Care for Expensive Items
If you own expensive art, furniture, or fragile items that require special care and attention, you might not want to move it yourself. Even if you can give these items your full attention on the road, be very strategic about how expensive items are transported, you may regret trying to save an extra buck.
Making the Move
Moving day approaches quickly, so make sure you’re prepared with these last three moving tips.
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Move During the Off-Season
Summer is the season that everyone wants to move, but if you can, try pushing the date. Moving services are often more expensive in the Summer, and the heat and humidity can also make moving much more strenuous. Fall and Spring are better seasons to move: trucks are cheaper, and the weather is kinder.
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Schedule Around Your Delivery Window
The one thing that cannot be changed is your delivery window. Once the boxes are in the moving truck, you won’t see those items for a couple of weeks. Be sure not to pack any essentials in the moving truck. Also, be sure you have enough time for both the packing and unpacking stages of the move, as the moving company won’t wait too long for you.
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Tip Your Movers
Finally, it’s good practice to tip your movers. They made sure all of your valuables made it to your new place undamaged, not to mention that they saved you multiple trips and sat in a truck for days on end!
Moving to Northern Nevada
Are you planning to move to Reno, Sparks, or Carson City? Northern Nevada has lots to offer its residents, and making a move here is a great decision. If you need any help moving or finding real estate in Northern Nevada, the Caroline Mathes real estate team is only a call away!