Are you getting ready to move across state lines? How exciting! Just don’t let that excitement morph into stress because you neglected appropriate planning! At Ace Moving & Warehousing, our long-distance movers have been facilitating relocations for over 60 years, so when it comes to interstate moves, we know a thing or two. Below, we’ve outlined a few helpful tips for planning your big move — keep these suggestions in mind for a smooth, low-stress relocation.
Start Your Moving Planning as Early as Possible
As soon as you have a date for your long-distance move, start planning for it. Preparing for a massive relocation takes considerable time and coordination, so the earlier you start, the less stressful the process will be.
Ideally, you should allow at least two months for move planning. However, if you hire professional movers who can facilitate the planning process, they can speed things up considerably. Create your moving timeline early and be sure to adhere to it diligently.
Keep an Inventory & Sort Your Belongings
Transporting an entire home full of belongings is quite an undertaking, so start by organizing your things and creating an inventory list of items you plan to take with you. Room by room, write down all of the items you plan to move or create a visual inventory by taking photos.
After you’ve determined which items are non-negotiables, it’s time to begin the sorting process. For ease of sorting, categorize items into four groups: move, sell, donate, and recycle. If you own a considerable amount of stuff, assigning sorting areas in your garage or in a spare room can be helpful to keep your living areas clear. If you’re more of a minimalist, large boxes or bins work well, too.
Decide What To Do With Appliances & Furniture
Do you absolutely love your furniture, or are you willing to purchase new pieces when you settle into your new abode? Should you bring your appliances with you or upgrade those, too?
If you’re looking for ways to make your long-distance move as easy as possible, leaving large, bulky items behind can help. That said, if you can’t bear the thought of letting your things go, professional appliance movers and furniture movers can make your move considerably less taxing.
Keep in mind, though, that long-distance moving rates are calculated on the total weight of your items and the distance of the move. Depending on your situation, it may be more economical to purchase new appliances and furniture after your relocation.
Donate or Sell Unused Belongings
After you’ve sorted your belongings and decided what you’d like to pack, it’s time to get rid of the things you no longer need. Reducing the total weight of your possessions can cut down your moving costs considerably, as well as make the unpacking process significantly less time consuming. Here’s a simple way to get the process started:
● Have you used the item in the last year? If you own things you haven’t touched for the last 12 months (save holiday decorations), you probably don’t need to take them with you. If you own things you’ve forgotten about, chances are you won’t miss them when you move.
● Can you make money off the item? If you own items you no longer want but that are still in great condition, consider having a yard sale or listing them online. While selling your unwanted possessions requires more time and effort, the money you make can help offset the cost of hiring long-distance movers.
● Do you support charities? If you’re not up for selling your things, why not donate them to your local charity? If you plan to donate a considerable amount of stuff, you can typically schedule a pick up at your home, especially if you’ll be donating appliances or furniture.
Once you’ve removed all unwanted items from around the house, it’s time to get packing! For a long-distance move, you’ll want to make doubly sure you have plenty of protective packing materials, especially if you own expensive electronics or other high-value items such as art. If you’re not sure what you need, don’t hesitate to contact professional movers and packers for guidance on what to buy.
Pack Appropriately for Safe Transport
If you’re planning a do-it-yourself packing spree, be sure to learn the safest packing techniques for your high-value items. One of the best ways to ensure your valuables arrive at the destination in perfect condition is to purchase professional-quality moving materials.
While you can cut corners by using free boxes, blankets, and pillows from around the house, it’s better not to skimp when it comes to packing materials. You want your boxes, cushioning, and wrapping to be as sturdy as possible to avoid jostling and damage during transport.
If you really want to ensure your possessions arrive safely at your destination, consider hiring professional movers and packers. With in-depth training and years of experience, the professionals know exactly how to situate, cushion, wrap, and protect your things for safe transport. When you hire experts, you also get the benefit of high-quality moving materials, such as:
● Custom-designed wooden crating for large, breakable, or awkwardly shaped items
● Wardrobe cartons to protect high-value clothing
● Protective materials for safely transporting appliances and furniture, should you choose to move those items
● Professional-quality padding, bubble wrap, stretch wrap, moving tape, packing paper, and other materials designed to facilitate safe transport
At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we offer several professional packing options to meet your needs. If you think you’ll handle some of the packing yourself, feel free to inquire about our pricing options for partial packing and DIY packing with professional-grade moving supplies.
Looking for Reliable Long-Distance Movers? Contact Ace Moving & Warehousing Today
At Ace Moving & Warehousing, we’ve been helping Twin Cities residents with all of their moving and storage needs since 1958. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and our commitment to exceptional customer service, so when you need professional movers and packers you can trust, make us your first call!
To learn more about our wide variety of moving and storage solutions, give our team a call at 763-755-2045 or send us a message via our contact form. Ready to get started with your moving estimate? Feel free to request your free, no-obligation quote online.