The U.S. Census Bureau tracks the movements of Americans around the country. Their latest data show that 34.9 million people moved between 2016 and 2017. The top reason for moving is for housing-related reasons, which is typically a move within the same city. But millions of people move long distances for family or work-related reasons.
All moves can be stressful endeavors that require a lot of work. However, a cross-country move is another beast entirely.
You may not be familiar with the area you’re moving to, you may not have a support system in your new city, and the further you move the more planning is required. That’s because once things start moving it’s much more difficult to troubleshoot problems.
When you’re gearing up for a cross-country move here are a few essential logistical points that have to be covered.:
Finding a Qualified Moving Services
The first thing that you need to consider is how you will get all your belongings moved across the country. Most people prefer to handle the moving on their own if they’re going across town, but moving across the country requires professional help to some degree.
Even if you don’t plan to hire movers, most people need to rent a moving truck or trailer. It’s usually best to go with a company that specializes in interstate moves like North American Van Lines. These companies are registered with the Department of Transportation to make interstate moves, which is a legal necessity. They also know the demands and time constraints involved with making a long-distance move. Their advice can be invaluable during the process.
You’ll want to start the process of finding moving services as far in advance as possible. If you plan on moving during the busy summer season or have to move on a specific date line up movers and trucks at least a month in advance.
Packing and Stacking Everything Securely
Every mile you have to go is another chance for things to get lost or broken. You may be able to get away with throwing some loose items in the backseat of the car during a local move, but that’s not advisable when you’re moving long-distance.
Follow packing best practices like:
- Using packing paper, peanuts or towels to fill void spots in boxes.
- Use specialty boxes for delicate items like glassware and electronics.
- Label all boxes noting what’s inside, if it’s fragile, and which way is up.
- Be careful when stacking boxes so that the heaviest ones are on the bottom.
You’ll also want to take care while loading the truck:
- Load the heaviest items like appliances and furniture first so that they sit in the back of the moving truck.
- Use moving blankets to pad wood furniture and items that aren’t boxed up. They can also be wedged in between items to prevent shifting.
- All drawers should be taped closed.
- Place long items like mattresses and couches along the long walls of the moving truck.
- Dissemble furniture when possible to prevent damage.
- Load the most fragile items last.
Getting It All Moved in One Shot
Moving out of state has one clear distinction from inner-city moves; you can’t make multiple trips to get everything moves. At least not if you want to keep the costs to a minimum.
Carefully consider how much space you need to get everything moved in one shot once you’re done packing. Standard moving truck sizes include:
10ft – holds 2 rooms
12ft – holds 2 rooms
16ft – holds 3-4 rooms
20ft – holds 6 rooms
24ft – holds 7 rooms
26ft – holds 8 rooms
You can fit some things in your personal vehicle, but err on the side of caution and leave this space open for overflow items and your travel gear.
Planning for Overnight Stops Along the Way
Even traveling across country by car without pulling a trailer will take at least two days. For your health and sanity, it’s better to plan for three days of travel, especially if you’re driving or accompanying a moving truck. That means you have to plan for stops along the way.
Try to strategically plan the stops so that you aren’t battling rush hour traffic. You can also turn the move into a mini-vacation by choosing to stop in cities that you’ve always wanted to visit or have some sort of attraction you’ve always wanted to see.
It’s also important to consider the needs of everyone in the family when you’re planning your stops. If you’re moving with small children or an older family member, you may need to extend the travel out over more days with longer stops in between.
A cross-country move can be a challenge, but if you plan carefully it will feel like a huge accomplishment!
