Moving is a big hassle, without it being across a long distance. When moving to a new city, packing and moving your things is often the least of your worries. Shifting to an unfamiliar place comes with several challenges, most of them unexpected.
For instance, when moving to San Diego, it is easy to underestimate the traffic, learn about the interstate regulations and legal requirements, or neglect the unstable weather conditions. Amidst all these potential obstacles, hiring professional movers sure helps ease the moving process.
Long-distance moves are not like many others; for some, it is sufficient to just throw everything you need in the back of your vehicle and think about the rest when you settle in. But with long-distance moves, you need more foresight and planning.
5 Things to consider when moving long distance
Preparing for a long-distance move? Ensure a successful journey with these five important factors you must remember.
From the minute you decide on the destination and get the paperwork started to the day you move into the new house, there are plenty of decisions to make, where even a small mistake can be costly.
Keeping that in mind, the following are some factors you should consider when moving long distances.
#1. Calling in the professionals
If you haven’t thought of bringing in help yet and are confident in your DIY skills, it is time you consider doing so. While you can make do with getting help from friends and relatives, calling in the professionals will save you a great deal of time and effort.
You don’t want to be so preoccupied with packing your belongings and arranging for transport because that leads to you forgetting things and making the moving process more stressful.
So if you’re moving from San Diego, where the weather is miserable, and the traffic is terrible, planning months ahead of the moving day will ensure you’re not stuck in traffic jams or at the side of the road because of a rainstorm.
Moreover, with the number of tourists entering the state, you must plan things properly. We suggest taking the easy way out by hiring long distance movers in San Diego. These movers understand the city well and will help map out a plan that ensures your transition is hassle-free.
Related: The Difference Between Transportation and Logistics Services?
#2. Researching the destination well
One possible pitfall of long-distance moves is the unfamiliarity with the new location. Often the new destination doesn’t ‘feel like home.’ Getting acquainted with the place, neighborhood, climate, etc., can make setting in much easier.
This is especially true if you have kids; let them familiarize themselves with the place in advance and absorb the idea. Children find it difficult to adjust to change,and moving into a new home can affect their emotional and psychological well-being.
#3. Sticking to a schedule
Moving, especially long-distance, can take up a lot of time, and if you don’t keep track of it, it will slip from between your fingers.
Scheduling helps ensure you don’t miss out on any important tasks, so set realistic goals and save contingency time for the ‘unexpected’ tasks.
Start by identifying the amount of time you have on your hands. Then, schedule the essential tasks you need to be done. When you have a rough to-do list with you, prioritize. High-priority tasks should take the front seat in your schedule and leave enough time for the low-priority ones.
Remember to schedule some contingency time that you will use for unexpected or emergency tasks because planning tasks till the last minute is never a good idea.
Related: What are Logistics and Supply Chain Management?
#4. Taking only the necessary furniture
Ideally, it is best not to take furniture with you on your long-distance move; yes, none. Why? Because moving furniture is unnecessarily costly. You can always get new furniture for your new home.
But if you have to take some with you, remember that most pieces are too heavy and costly to move, so each piece you add to your list of take-along will add to the total shipment cost.
Go over each piece in your house and ask yourself,Do I need to take this along?For a clearer estimate, compare the price of shipping existing furniture with the cost of getting used or new.
#5. Decluttering
Apart from furniture, there is a lot that you should consider leaving behind. Decluttering will save you time and money that would otherwise go into packing and moving things you could have discarded.
It also keeps things organized and lets you start fresh in the new home.
Start by listing everything you don’t need to take along. When deciding which items get discarded, it is a good idea to stick to the one-year rule; if something hasn’t been used in one year, you don’t need it.
Keep a separate room for these belongings. Once you have collected everything you can leave behind, consider selling. You can set up a garage sale, give away in charity, or give as gifts to your friends or relatives. With time, you will see this step as a blessing in disguise.
Final words
Moving long distances isn’t easy; it requires great strategic planning, insight, and a big heart. When planning your move, do consider calling in the professionals.
Moving away from the city you’ve lived in for years can be tricky. You’ve made a lot of memories and met people you can’t just let go of, but if you want to change your life, you have to change your location.
So when choosing the city you’ll move to, you must research. Moreover, sticking to a schedule, discarding unnecessary furniture, and decluttering will help ease the process. The fewer things you have to carry, the easier it will be. With the right tricks up your sleeve and professional help by your side, you can make your long-distance move a smooth one.
We hope you learned something from this article. If you think we missed something, please tell us in the comments below.