Are you packing up and moving long distance? In 2019, 7.4 million Americans moved to another state.
Moving long distance presents you with new opportunities, new landscapes, and new friendships. Before you can enjoy the adventure, you have to get through the packing phase, which can be stressful.
Keep reading for packing tips for moving long distance that can make the move less stressful and more organized.
1. Cut Down on Your Belongings
You have a lot to do before a long-distance move, but don’t just toss everything in a box and move it all. Give yourself enough time to sort through your belongings and downsize to make the job easier.
If you’re moving yourself, you can rent a smaller moving truck and save on packing supplies once you downsize. If you’re hiring a mover, fewer belongings mean you’ll pay less for the services.
If you haven’t used something in over a year and it doesn’t hold any sentimental value, consider getting rid of it. You can donate, toss, or sell the belongings that don’t make the cut.
You might decide to sell your furniture before moving if you’re ready for new furniture anyway. Those large pieces take up a lot of valuable moving truck space and are often awkward to load. Leaving them behind makes the move easier.
2. Stock Up on Packing Supplies
Once you get in the zone of packing, you don’t want to stop because you run out of tape or boxes. Start collecting high-quality boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, and other padding in the weeks or months before the move. Create a central location for the packing supplies, so you don’t waste time searching for the things you need.
3. Label and Color Code Items
A labeling and color-coding system improves the organization of your move. An easy color-coding option is to assign each room a color to identify where the box goes easily. Use a sticker, marker, or colored tape in that color to clearly mark the box according to your system.
Write the contents of the box on the outside to locate specific items more easily once you arrive. You don’t have to write every little thing in the box, but it’s best to be more specific than just “kitchen” or “bathroom” on the label. You might write “cooking utensils” on the box without listing every individual utensil, for example.
For a modern twist on labeling, use moving apps that let you create and scan QR codes to show what’s inside the box. This keeps your boxes neat and tidy while creating a digital record of your belongings.
4. Create an Inventory Sheet
An inventory sheet helps you track all of your belongings and make sure they get to your new home safely. Create lists of everything in each room. When you pack each item, check it off on the inventory list.
When you arrive at your new home, you can check the inventory list to make sure you still have everything.
5. Protect Your Belongings
Tossing things into a box with a little newspaper might work if you’re just moving across town, but long-distance moves put your belongings under a lot more stress. Strong, sturdy boxes and extra padding are essential for a cross-country move. Wrap items individually and add extra padding around the sides of the box to cushion your belongings.
6. Hire Movers
If the thought of packing your entire home causes you stress, consider paying for a full-service moving company. This can be especially helpful if you’re on a short timeline.
Movers can come in and quickly pack up all of your belongings using professional supplies. You might find paying extra for a full-service mover is worth it to reduce your stress.
7. Make Plans for Specialty Items
If you have any large or valuable items, contacting a specialty moving company is often a good idea. Things such as pianos and pool tables are large, awkward, and heavy, making them difficult to pack and move.
Valuable items, such as artwork, grandfather clocks, and antiques, can easily become damaged and lose value if they’re not packed and prepared properly. Companies that specialize in those items know how to handle them and pack them so they’re protected.
8. Use Storage Services
One of the best packing and storage tips is to use a storage facility before and after your move. In your current location, the storage unit helps you free up space in your home without it being taken over by boxes.
This can be especially helpful if you start packing months in advance. Once you sort through things and pack them, they can go to the storage unit, where they’re secure yet out of your way. It can keep your stress levels lower and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed or anxious without lots of boxes around you.
Once you arrive, having a storage unit makes it easier to slowly sort through things. Mark the essential boxes of things that you’ll need right away so you can get them in your new home immediately. The rest of the items can go to the storage unit, where you can slowly decide what needs to go to the house and when.
This gives you a more strategic approach to unpacking. With all of the boxes in your new home, you might feel overwhelmed with the unpacking process. When you bring home a few boxes at a time, it’s easier to manage.
9. Pack a Moving Bag
Whether you’re driving or flying to your destination, you want easy access to your essential items. Pack the things you’ll need for the trip, such as clothes, toiletries, electronics, important documents, and medication. Not only does this come in handy during the trip, but it also ensures you have those things set aside until the day you move.
Keeping those items separate also helps you once you arrive. You don’t have to dig through all of your boxes to find those necessities. If you’re having a moving company handle the move, you’ll likely arrive before your belongings anyway, so you won’t have access to anything you put on the truck.
Follow Our Packing Tips for Moving Long Distance
With these packing tips for moving, your long-distance relocation is a lot less stressful. Organizational strategies and protective packing for fragile items help you stay on track and get your items to your new home safely.
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