No matter your level of experience or the complexity of your plans, packing up and moving all your belongings to a new home can be stressful. From administrative tasks like changing your postal address and updating your driver’s license, to the actual logistics of packing and decluttering, a lot of work needs to be done before you can even set foot in your new home.
In an average year, over 35.7 million Americans move home, though almost 80% only move as far as a different county in their home state. For the remaining 20%, moving home can be much more complicated, with plans needing to account for moving belongings cross-country.
To relieve some stress and help cross-country movers make smart plans, this post explores a few best practices for storing and securing important items during long-distance moves. For buyers relocating to a new area, below are 4 practical storage tips for long-distance moves.
1. Start by De-Cluttering
The easiest way to cut down on storage requirements is to cut back the volume of items you need to store. That might sound simple at first, but choosing which belongings are important and which aren’t can be difficult, especially if you need to convince multiple family members.
Start the process as early as possible, preferably around 6 months before your moving date. Walk through each room systematically and evaluate how essential items are by how often they’re used, and remember, you can always keep some things in storage units if necessary. If some family members seem hesitant to declutter, it might help to let them know that doing so can cut moving costs by up to 30%, freeing up some money to spend on your new home.
2. Follow Packing and Labelling Best Practices
The items you intend to keep must be packed and stored safely, so before you start moving things, it’s wise to draw up an organized plan. While some points may need to be adjusted depending on the types of items you’re storing, below are some top packing tips to consider:
- Find Sturdy Boxes: Prioritize new or barely-used boxes made from sturdy materials like corrugated/laminated cardboard to protect your items from bumps and knocks.
- Use Packing Materials: Fill out empty space inside packed boxes using cushioning materials like packing peanuts, packaging tape, and packing paper to help absorb impacts.
- Create a Labelling System: Clearly label each box with key details like which items are inside and which room you plan to store them in.
- Make an Inventory List: Note down every item you pack, which box they’re in and any special handling instructions to help you keep track of all your belongings.
- Don’t Pack Dangerous or Hazardous Goods: Items like flammable liquids, cleaning agents, paint, propane tanks, and aerosols are considered dangerous or hazardous goods and should never be packed for long-distance moves or stored in containers. Always check with your storage or moving provider for a list of restricted items.
Whether you’re organizing your move yourself or running a business at the same time, like many self-employed professionals, using tools like the best invoice software for contractors can help keep your operations running smoothly while you manage the move.
3. Make Use of Self-Storage Spaces
Now that you’ve reduced the volume of your belongings, it should be easier to organize your long-distance move. When going over your items, you may find things you want to keep but don’t want to move immediately; things that might get in the way when organizing essentials.
Self-storage units can be very helpful in this situation, providing a secure, climate-controlled space in which to store important but non-essential items. Storing things like paintings and memorabilia in a self-storage unit will give you more space at home to arrange and organize items you intend to move right away and offer another chance to declutter away from home.
4. Store Large Items in Portable Containers
Hiring a moving company is often one of the biggest expenses when moving cross-country, costing anywhere from $2,500 to $11,600. With this in mind, it’s not uncommon for people to consider alternative moving options, from renting vans to entirely DIY cross-country moves.
While over 60% of homeowners think about the above-mentioned alternatives, only around 16% consider using portable containers. This cross-country storage and transport hack can be a great way to save time, reduce costs, and simplify your own travel to your new property.
Many shipping container companies will drop off a container at your current location, let you pack it with large items in your own time, then pick it up and transport it to your new property for a reasonable fee, removing the labor costs associated with traditional moving companies.
Is a Cross-Country Move in your Future?
All types of home moves can be stressful, let alone those that involve long-distance travel, but you’ll often find that a little planning and smart organization can make things much easier. If you’re ready to make a big life change, keep these clever storage tips in mind and get in touch to start your search for your dream home.
As a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, I can offer you expert relocation services. This network provides clients with access to top-notch real estate agents in over 70 countries – you can go anywhere you want, and we can get you there. Our specially trained relocation team continually provides outstanding service, client satisfaction, and successful relocation to and from the New England area. No matter where you’re going, we’ll help you find your way home.