How To Handle a Long-Distance Move

Sep 9, 2019 | Tips

Moving your family, and your belongings over a long distance can be a jarring and difficult experience. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The key to making sure that your long-distance move is as smooth and painless as possible is the development of a plan that can help keep you on track through each step of the process. If you make an effort to stay organized right from the start, then there is a much smaller risk of getting overwhelmed by the growing number of tasks that will all need to be taken care of. Even the small step of deciding to pack up one or two boxes a day ahead of your move date can have a big impact on how everything unfolds. To help make this challenging proposition easier, the team here at Element Moving has brought together a few important moving tips to help you prepare for your upcoming change in scenery.

How to handle an upcoming long-distance move.

Start the Planning Process Early

Perspective can play a big part in how you approach the moving process. Instead of viewing it as a problem that can be taken care of once the move has started, spend some time weeks ahead of the move to map out a plan to help keep yourself on track later. The most stressful part of moving is usually the limited time people give themselves to accomplish everything, and this can be alleviated by starting the entire process earlier.

A great first step when you know a big move is going to happen soon is to through all of your belongings and make sensible decisions about what to keep, what to throw away, and what to donate. It is not uncommon for a person’s closet to be filled with clothes they have never actually worn more than once, or for their storage areas to be cluttered by belongings they haven’t even used in a year or more. Although it is sometimes hard to let go of the belongings we have accumulated over the years, it can also be a refreshing and rewarding experience to clean out those closets, cupboards, and shelves to lighten your load. If you start several weeks in advance and only pack up one box a day, it can still be a large amount of stuff that will already be taken care of once your actual moving date arrives.

Another good approach is to focus on packing up one room at a time so that all your belongings are more organized, and also so that the unpacking process will be easier down the road. By keeping your boxes and containers properly labeled, and grouped by room, it will be much easier to unpack later. More importantly, it will save you from having to search through every box for that missing item you need once you move into your new home.

Create a List of Important Tasks

When preparing for a move, there is always going to be specific things that need to get done before anything else. Taking the time to create a list of tasks that need to be accomplished is a great way to help you stay organized. A list of prioritized tasks can provide a clear picture of things you have already done, while also helping you stay on top of what still needs to be taken care of. 

A notebook or other planner is a great place to start writing down all the things that need to be done in chronological order. This can include something as simple as when to start packing, up to the more complicated tasks of when to notify your bank or insurance company about your situation. If you have a family, this can be even more important because you need to give yourself time to make sure their needs are addressed as well such as looking at the schools in your new area.

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Get Professional Help

Although many people prefer to tackle the process of moving by themselves, choosing to get help from professionals can be a huge relief both mentally and physically. By reaching out to our team at Element Moving, you can get the support of a group that has years of experience helping families with the challenges of moving long distances. We take pride in making certain that all the belongings in a client’s home are treated with the utmost care and respect they deserve, and we are always ready to handle the heavy lifting that can be a huge part of the stress associated with a big move. To learn more about how we can help you handle a long-distance move, be sure to contact our office today.