You did it. You’ve decided to move out of state to a new home in a new city with a new job. It’s no wonder one-third of all people in their 20s move in a given year. When you move to a new place, a world of opportunity is at your fingertips.

But before you can take advantage of those opportunities to see what the world has to offer, you need to move to your new home. Moving is a complicated process even if it’s just moving across the street, and so moving long-distance can be a major game-changer.

The good news is that many people have moved long-distance before, which means you can use their wisdom to make your move that much easier. That being said, here are six tips you can use to make your long-distance haul a breeze.

Start planning ASAP

It’s a good idea to start planning your long-distance move the moment you know that you’ll be moving out of state or to a new city. Long-distance moves are a major life event. It takes longer than one month to plan your trip. Because you’re moving long-distance, you need to take travel into account and how your travel will impact how many days you’ll need to pack and unload.

Research local residential moving services

When you’re moving long-distance, a residential moving service is essential. But don’t just assume every residential moving service has your best interest in mind. You want to be sure that the residential moving service you’re using has a history of great customer service. The moving professionals you work with need to have the experience and expertise to pack up, move, and deliver your belongings without causing property damage.

Get moving estimates

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices of residential moving services, contact those services to get an estimate. Don’t settle for moving services that charge you for this estimate. After all, you haven’t yet decided whether or not you’re going to work with them. Instead, choose a moving service that offers a free, same-day moving quote like Craig Van Lines. Fast, free quotes make it easier for you to make your decision on which residential moving service is best for your move and your budget.

Purge and downsize

It’s recommended to go through your belongings to get rid of old, unwanted, or damaged things you don’t need anymore. This helps to reduce the number of boxes you’ll be taking with you when you move.

It might not seem like a big deal to move an old table you don’t like to your new house when you’re moving just down the street because you know that if you still don’t like it, you can always get rid of it and donate it. But when you’re moving that table across the country or the state, you’re paying more money out of pocket for moving something you’re going to get rid of anyway. That said, downsize first and pack second.

Make an inventory list

Once you’ve narrowed down the items you’re going to be bringing with you to your new place, it’s recommended to create an inventory list. This helps you keep track of your belongings even when they’re spread across different states. An inventory ensures that everything has arrived at your new home and that nothing has been left behind or lost.

Familiarize yourself with the area

When you move to a new state or city, chances are you don’t know where local shops, stores, and roads are. Consider giving yourself a few days before your actual moving date to familiarize yourself with the area.

When you have a better idea of which highways to take, which streets to turn down on, and which stores are available to you, you can feel more confident during your big move. If you can’t physically visit your new home before the move, consider giving yourself a local tour on Google Maps instead.

Need long-distance moving help? We’ve got you covered. Craig Van Lines is a residential moving service that’s been serving our community in Northern Virginia for four generations. We know how to make long-distance moving easier for everyone involved. For more information about our residential moving service or to schedule a moving date with our moving professionals, contact Craig Van Lines today.

Fred Craig

Fred C. Craig III is the owner of Craig Van Lines, a Northern Virginia moving company his family has run for more than a century. The business began in 1918 when J.H. Craig hauled cattle, feed, and hay from Virginia’s rural farms to the markets of the DC area. As the region shifted from farmland to residential communities in the 1940s, the family started moving households after hours and on weekends, eventually building the full-service moving company Craig Van Lines is today. Fred carries on that tradition, providing the same quality and care his family has brought to this community for over 100 years.

6 Tips for Conquering Your Long-Distance Move