The Ultimate Moving Across Country Checklist

Prepare Weeks Before the Long-Distance Move

Like with everything else in life, it is prudent to start preparing for this step thoroughly. That means to start planning early enough because there is a lot to be taken care of. The main thing is to create a checklist, quoting all the activities you need to undertake and the right time for each of them.

Make a Checklist for Your Cross-Country Move

If possible, it is good to start with creating a file on your computer to store all the guidelines, receipts and records pertaining to your long-distance move. You can start doing that as early as a couple of months in advance. Also, this is the time to schedule in-home estimates with the company. You also need to measure your furniture and check to see if it will go through doorways, stairways, and elevators both at your current and future location. That way, you can plan which belongings have to stay behind.

If you are a working person, you need to inform your superior about your relocation and request a day off for moving. If you have little children and do not have somebody to look after them, hire a babysitter for the moving period. Keep in mind that you will not be able to watch them and do the packing at the same time. The same goes for pets. If a friend cannot watch them for free, arrange for doggy daycare.

Create Your Moving Across Country Checklist

When you are relocating far away, know that you will not be able to retrieve any things you may have forgotten. To prevent that, you need to plan in advance and prepare a checklist. Here’s what it should include:

• Disposing of surplus items and using up all the perishable ones to start with, such as frozen food, household cleaners, paints and so on.
• Measuring the furniture to fit the doorways, stairways, and elevators in your current home, but also in your future one.
• Start packing in advance.
• Pack the stuff necessary for your everyday life the last and in a separate box, which will be opened as soon as you arrive.
• Label the packing boxes using particular colors for each room. This trick will make unpacking much easier.
• Change your address with the postal service and all the services and companies you are linked to, such as banks, brokers, insurance companies, credit card companies, and others.
• Confirm your arrangements with the selected company and call them a few days before relocating to your future home, just to see if everything is in order.
• Cancel utility services at your current location and apply at your destination, so that you have lights, water, and heating when you start moving in.
• Don’t forget to ship your car to your new country if you can’t drive it.

Decide What You’re Taking With You

This is a critical step as you are bound to have accumulated stuff you no longer need over the years. This is the right time to think about it and declutter, as it will save you some trouble and money.

Keep Fragile Items in Mind

Making a plan for relocating fragile items means checking with the companies if they have the resources to transport stuff like pianos, pool tables, safes, fine art, guns, etc. Keep in mind that not every company is qualified for this particular task.

Pack Your Items Weeks Before Moving

Start by collecting the boxes either at the specialized shops if your budget allows it, or at the supply stores for free. Bookshops might have surplus boxes as well, but they might not be free. Get all the material needed for packing whether it is free or not, like tape, bubble wrap, packaging paper and so on. Do not forget the colored stickers for each room, and label the boxes with warnings about which ones are fragile.

Don’t Leave Everything Until the Last Day

It is best if you start packing early and pack a little each day, so you can keep up with your life and prepare for relocation on time. Packing the night before is not a good option, especially if you’re in for a long-distance trip

Prepare for Your New Home

When the movers are gone and your stuff has been moved from storage to your future home, start unpacking. First, start unpacking by opening boxes with essentials for your everyday life, like toiletries and food. Then, mount your bed and prepare the linen, as you will definitely need it in the evening. Proceed with the stuff you need first according to your priorities.
You have probably researched your new community already, but now you can find some points of interest, like a favorite restaurant or park. Introduce yourself to your neighbors and ask advice on that matter.

What to Do a Week Before Your Long-Distance Move?

The week before you move is very important, and there are a lot of things you need to take care of, before your long-distance move.

• Start clearing your kitchen by preparing the meals from the frozen food you have left and donate unopened food to charities.
• Start canceling or redirecting the scheduled deliveries.
• Clean the place you are leaving and check if everything is repaired.
• Unplug the fridge and defrost a few days before.
• Drain the water hoses of the dishwasher and washing machine.
• Make sure all the shelves and closets are clear and the walls are in proper state.
• Check the weather for the moving day both at your current and the new destination, so that you can prepare for potential rain or snow.
• Take a photo of the place you are leaving, so you have proof you left it in proper condition.
• Protect the floors so no damage is done during the move.

After you have checked off all the steps from your checklist, go to bed earlier to be fit for the following day. Set the alarm to get up early in the morning.