How to Prepare Your Family for a Long Distance Move
Moving to a new home can be exciting, but also stressful, especially if you’re moving far away from your current home. A long distance move requires careful planning, organization and coordination to ensure a smooth and hassle-free transition. Here are some tips to help you prepare your family for a long distance move.
Make a moving plan
You’re about to move everything you own to a new town, possibly a new state or even a new country. That means you need to have a clear idea of what you need to do, when you need to do it, and how you’re going to do it. Start by making a list of all the tasks involved in your move, such as:
- Researching and hiring a reputable moving company
- Updating important documents like your license, insurance and bank accounts
- Packing and labeling your belongings
- Arranging for utilities, internet and mail forwarding at your new home
- Saying goodbye to your friends, neighbors and colleagues
Stick to a schedule
Set realistic deadlines for each task and stick to them. Use a calendar, planner or app to keep track of your progress and remind you of what’s next. If possible, delegate some tasks to other family members or friends who can help you out. Don’t leave everything until the last minute, as that will only increase your stress and risk of forgetting something important.
Pack efficiently and securely
Packing is one of the most time-consuming and tedious parts of moving, but also one of the most crucial. You want to make sure your belongings are packed in a way that protects them from damage, loss or theft during the long haul. Here are some packing tips to help you pack efficiently and securely:
- Declutter before you pack. Get rid of old clothes, appliances that you never use, old DVDs, and any other items that come to mind. Instead of trashing the items, you could have a garage sale or donate them to charity. This will lower the price of your move and make packing and unpacking much simpler.
- Use quality packing materials. Don’t skimp on boxes, tape, bubble wrap, packing paper or labels. You want your items to be well cushioned and sealed during transit. You can buy packing supplies from your moving company or online retailers, or get them for free from local businesses or friends who have recently moved.
- Color coordinate boxes when packing. Color coordinate the boxes to reflect where you would like them placed in your new home. This can be done using a strip of colored masking tape on the boxes and even on the furniture. Most importantly, do not use too many colors and keep the chart simple.³
- Use paper plates to protect your china. Dinner plates are susceptible to breakage and chipping when stacked for packing. Consider purchasing packs of economy white uncoated paper plates (the thin cheap ones). While they’re horrible at supporting food, they’re great at protecting china. Place two or three paper plates between each plate or bowl before wrapping.
- Strategically pack your items for long-distance moving. Remembering what items you have packed in a carton may be challenging while you’re getting ready for a move; especially if you’re interrupted during the process. Consider keeping one of the box flaps up while you’re packing so you can jot down each item as you place it into the carton.
Notify important parties
Before you leave your old home, make sure you notify all the important parties of your change of address and contact information. This includes:
- Family and friends
- Employers and schools
- Banks and credit card companies
- Insurance providers
- Utility companies
- Subscription services
- Government agencies
- Medical providers
You can use online services like USPS Change of Address or Updater to update your address with multiple parties at once.
Plan your transportation and accommodation
Finally, you need to plan how you and your family will get to your new home and where you will stay until your belongings arrive. Depending on the distance and your preferences, you may choose to drive, fly or take a train or bus. You may also need to book a hotel, Airbnb or stay with relatives or friends along the way or at your destination. Make sure you have all the necessary documents, tickets, reservations and directions ready before you leave. Also, pack a bag with essentials like clothes, toiletries, medications, snacks, chargers and entertainment for the trip.
Hire a moving company
If you’re still not feeling confident with your next move no need to stress, YouMoveMe has you covered. With locations all across the United States and Canada we can get you where you’re needing to go. Whether you’re moving from Phoenix to Honolulu or Miami to Toronto we can help you make this the #BestMoveEver! Fill out a free estimate and get started today!
Source:
(1) 21 Best Long Distance Moving Tips, Ever – Updater. https://updater.com/moving-tips/long-distance-moving-tips.
(2) 14 Long-Distance Moving Tips You Need to Know – Redfin. https://www.redfin.com/blog/long-distance-moving-tips/.
(3) Packing Tips for Your Long-Distance Move – Forbes Home. https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/moving-services/long-distance-moving-tips/.
(4) Long Distance Moving: Tips for Planning an Effortless Move. https://www.build-review.com/long-distance-moving-tips-for-planning-an-effortless-move/.
