Tips to Help Long Distance Moving Go Smoothly
Moving long distance can be a daunting task, but hiring a long-distance moving company is one of the best ways to make life easier. Your movers can help pack, load, unload, and even store your belongings if need be. To help the transition run smoother, it's a good idea to create a moving planner with a timeline and a to-do list starting about eight weeks prior to your move. To get you started, here are a few tips
Start Pairing Down at Eight Weeks
Start pairing down about eight weeks before your move date by going through your belongings and separating them into, "keep," "sell," "charity," and "discard" sections. Most people accumulate belongings that they don't plan to take with them and, since pairing down tends to be the most time consuming, it's best to start early. Because this can be an overwhelming task, especially if you have a large home or a big family, prioritize on a room-to-room schedule. Start in areas such as the attic or basement, as these rooms tend to have items that you don't use often. Depending on the size of your home, plan to pair down one or two rooms each week leading up to your move.
Handle Administrative Tasks at Five Weeks
At the five-week mark, submit a change of address to your local post office and have your mail forwarded to the new address starting with the date of your expected arrival in the new city. Contact your current utility companies and schedule to have your services disconnected on your move date. Arrange to have the utilities at your new location turned on for your move-in date. Contact your health insurance company and obtain a referral for a physician in your new town and have your primary care provider updated. Collect all important paperwork, including deeds, large purchase receipts, warranties, wills, stock information and the like. Update your address with your bank, credit card companies, and any lenders.
Pack, Sell, and Give Away at Two Weeks
If you're doing your own packing, contact a moving company like Affordable Transfer Co Inc. and request boxes, labels, tape, and other packing supplies. Start packing items you won't need for the next couple of weeks and slowly work your way up to the day before your move where you'll want to pack daily-use items. Plan a garage sell and take charity items down to your chosen organization. On the day of the move, you'll have all loose ends tied up.