As you prepare for a long-distance move, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out where to begin. Unlike a local move, where you may just be moving down the street or across town, an out-of-state move comes with another set of challenges.
Here we have compiled the top 10 long-distance moving tips to get you prepared for the moving process in or out of Orange County and set you up for success in having a successful relocation.
As soon as you know that you will be moving across the country, you want to begin planning. The first thing anyone should do when preparing for a move is to create a moving checklist of everything that must get done leading up to moving day.
Once you have written down everything to get done, big or small, start assigning deadlines for everything. From there, you can create a timeline for how everything will go, and you can keep track of how everything is moving along.
The costs for a long-distance move can start to add up quickly. Creating a budget for your move can keep you on track so you don’t overspend on moving costs. By preparing yourself for any and all costs you may have during your move will also alleviate stress and worry knowing you have a solid plan on how to tackle your move.
The busy season for moving in Orange County is typically in the summer months. This means that moving companies will have fewer dates available to you for moving and the costs could potentially be higher.
Moving during the off-season, typically in fall and winter, you will have more options on the dates you would like to move and could potentially save a little on moving costs.
Cross-country moving can be difficult. Doing it on your own by renting a moving truck can lead to unnecessary stress. By hiring professional movers in Orange County, you can save time and stress knowing the moving process will be taken care of for you.
Before you decide on a moving company, you will want to do some research to determine which company is best for you. First, you will want to decide what kind of moving services you are looking for. Next, you want to make sure and request moving estimates from 2-3 different moving companies.
It is also important to ensure that your Orange County moving company has all the proper licensing required by California and for long-distance travel. If the company is an agent for a van line, keep in mind that you will be working with that company and its moving partners. Movers like Pro Movers SOC, Daly Movers or Meathead Movers are great options for professional movers in Orange County.
Before you begin to pack up your belongings, write up an inventory list of everything you will be bringing into your new home. This will come in handy as you begin to unpack so you can ensure that all your belongings made it to their final destination.
You may also want to write down or take pictures of the current condition of your items, so if the situation were to arise that your items have been damaged during the move, you can file a claim with your moving company.
As you start to pack up your belongings, take this as an opportunity to go through each item and decide what you actually want to go into your new home. Taking the time to sort through your items prior to your move will make unpacking so much easier as you will be more organized and only have things you actually want in your space. Plus, you save money on your move.
Packing can turn into a time-consuming task. If you decide to pack your items yourself, or even a portion of your items, you’ll want to separate the task into sections, making it a goal to pack one section each day leading up to your move. This will make the task seem less overwhelming.
After the big move, as you settle into your first night in your new home, the last thing you’ll want to do is go searching through moving boxes just to find your toothbrush. It is a good idea to pack beforehand a “first-night” bag of anything you might need before you start unpacking your items.
Any documents such as licenses, tax forms, social security cards, birth certificates, etc. should be packed separately and brought with you instead of having the movers transport them with them in the moving truck. This will give you better peace of mind knowing where these valuable items are at all times, and you will probably need them on moving day anyway.
Make sure to set up in advance to have your utilities shut off at your current home the day after your move and turn the utilities to your new place on the day before you move in. It is also important to remember to have your mail forwarded to your new address.
As you prepare for your long-distance move from Orange County, keep in mind these tips so you can feel prepared and have a successful move!
"*" indicates required fields
