How To Move Across The Country

Cross country moves are a necessary evil. Sometimes, you have to uproot yourself and go somewhere new - another state on the other side of the country, perhaps. In such a case, setting up your move requires a bit of logistical planning. Sure, your professional moving company can help. But you'll be the one responsible for choosing the company and putting things in place for the move. However, moving across the country doesn't have to be the mess that popular culture makes it out to be. Nor does it have to mean selling off your large possessions (although that does make the logistics a lot easier to handle). If you want to move your entire house across the country without having to sacrifice your home decor, you'll need a plan that will give you an idea of what you're dealing with.

A blueprint will allow you to get an idea of the dimensions of your destination location. It doesn't have to be anything fancy - pulling a tape at the destination will give you an estimate of size or doors, windows, and where you can place your stuff. These blueprints are crucial in your move because you don't want to get to your location and realize you can't fit all your stuff inside. You'll often be unpacking and realize after the fact that you need to put things in storage. Being aware that your new location can take all your stuff is vital since it can help you decide whether you'll need storage for some of your furniture or whether you should get rid of it before your move.

What will you be taking with you to your new place? It seems like a relatively simple question, but no homeowner can quickly answer it at a moment's notice. Setting up an inventory of your stuff will perform two very crucial logistical tasks. Firstly, it'll inform you of the number of things you have to move, giving you an estimate of the number of trucks you'll need to get to your destination, just by volume. Secondly, it'll give you a clue as to whether you should carry certain things to the new location or not. From an economic perspective, moving cross-country will make more money if you intend to carry everything. Giving away or selling off items that you don't intend to take will save on shipping costs.

Cross-country journeys can take it out of you, no doubt. The cost impacts may be significant if you intend to drive your car from home to the destination. You will need to account for wear and tear, alongside the cost of gas and food to get there. A cross-country journey can take anywhere from a week to a month. If you love driving and aren't concerned about sleeping in motels overnight, you might not find it such an issue. However, if you prefer getting to your location quickly, you may choose to fly across and have your car come in by container. Checking the cost of shipping your vehicle against the estimated cost in time and money of a cross-country drive will give you a decent idea of whether it makes sense.

Moving takes time, and the further away you go, the more time it'll take to get your stuff to your destination. Moving trucks can cover a decent amount of road daily, but even so, it may take them a while to get to your destination. Many cross-country moving companies offer tracking apps and daily updates so that you know where your stuff is and how long it'll take to reach there. If you're driving, you can follow the trucks to "keep an eye on them," but that's not necessary if you're using a registered, certified cross-country shipping company. Before you leave, you may need to cover details such as closing your utility accounts or informing the bank of a forwarding address. While it might seem like minor details, these things take valuable time and could potentially cut into other things while you're moving. Setting up a calendar two weeks before you leave and scheduling these things will help you work out your schedule and ensure that you don't miss anything.

Moving cross-country is already stressful, but it can be mind-bending when children and pets get introduced into the equation. The ideal method to approach this challenge is to figure out the least amount of time you may actually have to spend traveling. Moving cross-country will intensely affect your pet or your child, so limiting their exposure may be in your best interests. Children usually require their own needs, and it's up to you to make sure that they've met during the grueling cross-country journey. Pets also need attention and care. Planning things like sedation while traveling or hiring a specific pet-moving company might be in your best interests. If you're moving along with children or pets, it would be ideal to fly there. A professional moving company will ensure your stuff gets to your location on time and in one piece. All you have to worry about is getting your family there, safe and sound.

Moving companies tend to charge different rates depending on whether you're moving locally or cross-country. Usually, the earlier you inform a moving company of your intention, the better the rates you're likely to get for your move. Some movers offer a complete moving package, where they do things like dismantling and packing furniture and appliances then remounting them at your destination. However, if you're looking at a more cost-effective moving methodology, you could consider doing the packing yourself. It may be time-consuming (depending on how much stuff you have), but it might save on costs in the long run. It's vital that you don't settle for the first quote you get but shop around for a company with an excellent cross-country moving reputation and affordable prices. In moving, as in any other industry, you usually get what you pay for. Taking the bargain-basement price usually means you'll get bargain-basement service.

For every member of the family and the family unit as a whole, there should be an essentials box or package that will go with you to the destination. Since cross-country moving takes time, you may get to your new location before the moving trucks. If you're flying there and leave at the same time as the moving vans, you'll get there way ahead of them. This essentials box will cater to the bare essentials of living. Things like a few changes of clothes, toothbrushes, and basic necessities like instant coffee should make up this essentials package. If you're going by plane, the "box" could be checked luggage. The essentials box saves you from having to live in the stone age while you wait for your stuff to get to your home.

Choosing a Professional Moving Company

Moving cross-country is enough of a hassle without having to babysit your movers. That's why the best option for most people is to hire professional, certified movers to get their stuff from source to destination. If you're looking for professional movers that know their stuff and have been involved in hundreds of cross-country moves, give A1 Transport a call today. Just remember, the earlier you call, the better it'll be! We'll be glad to offer you a quote.