How do I Organize a Cross-Country Move?

If you've moved before, you know that a move of any size or distance can cause stress and anxiety.  But when it's a cross-country move, the concerns seem to compound.  What most people find is that staying organized and creating a thorough plan-of-action simplifies the moving process significantly (and who doesn't envy that?).  We've compiled some great ways to organize your cross-country move to make it as simple as possible:

Print off a moving checklist.
MoveBuilder offers a comprehensive moving checklist that begins eight weeks in advance of your move.  I think you'll find it very useful. 

Research first.
Before you spend time getting moving estimates, think about the types of moving services you need and what your budget is.  Then, start researching moving companies.  Word-of-mouth is a great tool, and thanks to social media, it's easier.  Using platforms like Twitter, Facebook, user review sites, and blogs (like this one), you can search company names to see whether they're involved in social media and what customers are saying about them.   Customers sometimes have issues— how does the company respond when they do?  This can often give you a good idea of what type of customer service to expect. (MoveBuilder is active with Twitter, Facebook and of course, this blog…follow us!) 

Start getting moving estimates.
Once you've decided on companies that meet your standards, begin requesting online moving estimates or estimates by phone.  If the estimates don't line up with your budget, make sure to speak directly with a representative; companies like MoveBuilder can often offer options that lower the cost of your move.

Begin reducing the amount of items you move.
This has multiple benefits: You save the hassle of unpacking extra items when you arrive at your new home, and you'll normally save money by moving fewer things. Consider having a yard sale or charity donation several weeks in advance of your move.  Go through the items you have in storage, every room and every closet.  A good rule of thumb for most items is this:  If you haven't used it in more than a year, you probably don't need it!  Also, avoid keeping the items that aren't sold in the yard sale.  You can donate them to a number of local charities or toss them in the trash.  If you donate, just remember to get a receipt for tax purposes.

Consolidate items in drawers, closets and cabinets.
If you gather "like" items into one location, it's easier to fill boxes with similar items— which you'll be happy about when it comes time to unpack.  Go through each room and organize items into a smaller area.  For example, if you can, keep all of your daily kitchen utensils in one drawer versus spread out over five; move all coats and winter clothes into one area; move all books into one location, etc.

Get packing.
For this, you'll need good, quality boxes.  These can often be purchased from your moving company.  Start by packing items that you don't use regularly, such as out-of-season clothes, decorations, books, etc.  Some tips to keep you more organized (and reduce your stress level) are to clearly mark each box with the room it should go into and the items enclosed (e.g. Living Room/ Picture Frames); then designate one room to hold all of the packed boxes until moving day (ideally a low-traffic room).  Taking these steps will give you a better idea of how much space you will need, keep you and the movers from searching the whole house for boxes and allow for easier unpacking once you arrive at your destination.

As a quick reminder, you don't want to load everything into the moving truck:  Items like daily hygiene products, medications, and the family pet need to make the trip in your personal vehicle (or an alternative). Chances are you'll need these things before you make it across the country.

Relocating long distance can be stressful and emotional, but there's no doubt that starting out with an organized cross-country move can make it much more enjoyable and exciting!  If you have questions about your move or want to know how MoveBuilder can help, give us a call at 800-968-1276.