How to Prepare for a Cross-Country Move

By: Harrison Gough Last Updated: Sep 12, 2024

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Moving cross-country can be both an exciting and overwhelming experience. It requires a lot of planning, coordination, and execution.


How to Prepare for a Cross-Country Move

Whether you’re moving across the country out of necessity or by choice, it’s life-altering. It can be very stressful while also being exhilarating. Moving across the country requires a lot of planning, coordination, and preparation.

To ensure your move is easy and smooth, we have created a guide for your cross-country move that will cover all the steps from before the move and during.


Before The Move

There’s a great deal of preparation before the big move. If you have a place in mind where you want to move to, take some time to visit the location. Try to gain as much information about that location as possible so you know that area aligns with your goals and interests.

Once you’ve decided to move, start by creating a moving checklist that’ll help you stay organized and complete all the necessary tasks.

To find out what steps your checklist needs, please keep reading.


The Steps For Moving Across The Country

When moving across the country, assess what you’ll need and what things need to get done. Here’s a breakdown of the common steps.

Step 1: Determine Your Timeline

The first step is to determine your timeline. Remember, that a cross country move does take time, from packing, loading, travelinging, and unpacking. If you are moving for a job, consider the time it will take and when you need to report to your job.

Step 2: Budget

A long-distance move is more costly than a local move, so cater that to your budget. On average, a cross-country move can cost as low as $2,500 and as high as $6,900. The national average is $4,500. Keep in mind that moving costs can go as high as $10,000 depending on the size of the move, the distance, and the services you may need.

When calculating your moving costs, factor in these potential expenses.

  • Travel fees
  • Packing and unpacking services
  • Storage
  • Moving supplies
  • Moving specialty items
  • Insurance coverage
  • Tipping

Step 3: Decide How To Move Your Belongings

As mentioned previously, moving cross-country can be expensive, so consider what’s the best way to get your belongings from point A to point B.

  • Hauling Your Items: Renting a truck and moving your items yourself is the cheapest way to move. You may even save a good amount of money. Remember, this option does take a significant amount of time, so you may want the help of friends and family.
  • Shipping Your Items: If you really don’t have much to move, this may be the best option. You can ship your items through the United Postal Service, FedEx, or UPS.
  • Hiring A Full-Service Moving Company: If you are willing to pay, hiring a professional moving company is the most convenient option. You will have all your belongings packed and moved without you lifting a finger.

Hybrid Method: The hybrid method is a mixture of moving yourself and hiring a professional moving company. For example, you may prefer to pack and unpack your belongings yourself but may want to hire a moving company to transport your belongings.

Step 4: Plan For Packing

If you are planning on packing your belongings yourself, here are some things to keep in mind.

  • Pack early: It’s easy to underestimate the time it will take to pack. Packing early will help the move be less of a hassle and you are giving yourself time to sort through your belongings.
  • Downsize your belongings: As you are sorting through your stuff, determine which items you need and which items you may not want or need. This will make the move easier since you have less to move.
  • Itemize and label boxes: Itemizing and labeling your boxes will make the unpacking so much easier. Label your boxes by content or by room, and note if there are any fragile items in the boxes.
  • Find boxes and supplies: To save some money, you can find boxes at local businesses, online, or from friends and family.

Step 5: Set Up Mail Forwarding And Contact Utilities And Services

Around a month before you move, notify the U.S. Postal Service of your address change.

You’ll still have to alert your utility company and other service providers of your address change. Here is a list of them.

  • Electricity and gas
  • Water and sewage treatment
  • Internet, phone, and cable
  • Home alarm system
  • Medical and dental
  • Home, auto, and life insurance
  • Banks and credit card companies
  • Schools if you have children
  • Subscription providers

Step 6: Clean Your Home

This is usually an overlooked step in the process. Cleaning your home before moving out ensures you leave it ready for the next person moving in.

Here’s what to do:

  • Sweep, mop, and vacuum
  • Remove all nails and screws from walls
  • Dust all surfaces
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Clean all doors and windows

Step 7: Hit The Road

Now, it’s time to hit the road. You may want to pack a travel bag with your wallet, keys, medications, important documents, toiletries, clothes, and most importantly, your phone. Don’t forget to take in the excitement and experiences that will come when traveling to your new home.


Conclusion

Moving across the country is no easy feat, but creating a checklist and being prepared will make it a lot more easier and even enjoyable.

If you are looking for a moving company to help accomplish the move, go to the website MovingFeedback to help find the right cross-country mover that fits your needs. We even offer tips and information that will make your move less stressful. You are in good hands!