Moving Tips and Advice

By the Team at Craig Van Lines  |  Gainesville & Fairfax, VA  |  Serving Northern Virginia, Maryland & Washington, D.C. since 1918 Published: September 6, 2023  |  Last Updated: May 2026 When you hire a moving company, one of the most important — and most misunderstood — topics that comes up is coverage. What happens if something is damaged? What does the mover actually owe you? And should you buy additional insurance on top of what the moving com

Hiring a moving company is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during a relocation — and one of the most consequential if you get it wrong. The moving industry, unfortunately, includes a share of unreliable operators: companies that quote low, show up late, hold belongings hostage for surprise fees, or simply don’t carry the insurance they claim to have. The good news: the right questions asked upfront separate the professionals from the pretenders. This guide gives you exa

2025 was a standout year for moving and relocation insights from Craig Van Lines. From managing emotional stress to protecting valuables and understanding national migration patterns, these posts offered practical advice, thought-provoking trends, and real-world tips for anyone planning a local or long-distance move. Whether you’re preparing for a family move, summer storage, or just curious about moving logistics, this curated list highlights the most engaging and useful content from Craig V

It's no secret that moving is stressful, but many don't know the side effects this stress can have on your mental health. While moving to a new area can do wonders for your emotional and mental well-being, the process of packing can still take a toll on someone struggling with a mental illness. Between the physical strain of moving, the mental strain of emotional regulation, and the other feelings of homesickness you may experience, it's only natural to experience a decline in your overall heal

Each year, millions of Americans relocate across town, to a new metro, or across state lines. For a moving and storage company like Craig Van Lines, understanding where people are going and why offers critical insight into demand, emerging routes, and the kinds of services customers will need. Below is a deep dive into the most current trends in internal U.S. migration, what’s driving them, and how patterns differ by age and life stage. Migration Trends in the U.S.: Big Picture Sun Belt

Moving homes isn’t just a logistical shift, it’s emotional terrain, especially for children. Through years of helping families settle smoothly, I’ve seen what truly helps kids adapt: empathy, involvement, and a dash of creativity. Here’s how to turn the upheaval into a positive adventure, for both you and your kids. 1. Talk About It Honestly and Openly Before the move, explain why you’re relocating, whether it’s for better schools, a fresh start, or more space for everyone. Hi

When the temperatures soar during a Virginia summer, storing personal and professional belongings requires more than just packing boxes and stacking them in a unit. Many household and office items are highly sensitive to heat and humidity—and improper storage can lead to permanent damage. At Craig Van Lines, a family-owned and operated moving and storage company serving Northern Virginia for over 80 years, we’ve helped thousands of customers protect their belongings through all seasons. Belo

You’ve spent years curating a collection that reflects your passions and your past — cherished family heirlooms, vintage estate finds, delicate antiques, and one-of-a-kind pieces of fine art. Whether it’s the Shawnee Corn King pottery your grandmother handed down, or the sculpture you stumbled across at a weekend flea market, these irreplaceable items hold far more than monetary value. And when it’s time to move? You want every last piece to arrive at your new home exactly as it left you

We wrote about this 7 years ago (see original post below) and here we are again, but this time instead of the transition between the Obamas and the Trumps, it is the Bidens and the Trumps. Witnessing history in the making. Crazy, right? The transition between presidents is such an amazing, efficient process we wanted to highlight it again. On Inauguration Day, the White House undergoes a meticulously coordinated transition to move the outgoing president's belongings out and settle the incoming

Moving is hard. And sometimes, things happen. Couches are big, and doorways are tight. Sometimes, bookshelves are heavy, and stairways are steep. It might seem like the best option is to try, and hope for the best. And sometimes, it works out. Some couches sent flying over deck railings live to sit another day. But some couches don't. Some couches are just wide, or just tall enough that it seems impossible to think you'll ever get them inside. Some bookshelves are just too much for one person t