There’s nothing like long-distance relocation to make you feel like you have a second job.
Having so many things to keep track of can make a cross country move feel like a desperate juggling act—or herding cats, if you have an uncooperative family! The best way to bring order to the inevitable chaos is with a checklist.
Here’s the ultimate moving across the country checklist.
Make a List
You should start your move by taking an inventory of everything you own. This way, you can ensure you account for everything, and you can make decisions about what will come with you and what will remain behind.
This list will also be useful for insurance purposes, and to figure out exactly how you plan to transport your items.
Lose Some Weight
Your inventory will help you figure out what’s coming with you on your move. There’s no better time than moving to shed some excess baggage. You can shed clutter, things the family has outgrown, and even bulky furniture to lighten the load.
Once you’ve decided what to leave, you’ll also need to get rid of it. Try to recycle wherever possible by selling on or gifting to charity, but don’t be afraid of throwing things out if needed. Either way, if after carefully deciding and you still have a sheer amount of furniture and other items that you really need to bring with you, it may be time to find a shipping container for sale to keep things neat and organized.
Pull Up Your Roots
You’re sure to have roots where you are, in the form of bank accounts, utilities, insurance, and so on. Take a moment to list everything so you can go through them one by one and ensure you update the account with your new details. This will guarantee continuity in your services and reduce the security risk of mail turning up at your old home.
Hire a Packing Service
It might seem cheaper to go it alone, but packing and moving things yourself is often a case of false economy. Consider hiring a packing service instead. They’ll have the expert knowledge needed to keep your things safe. They’ll also take a lot of the stress out of moving day and many services will also offer insurance for your possessions during transit.
Have a Plan
It’s the big day! You better have a plan.
Emotions are high on moving day, and, with so much going on, it’s easy to overlook something. Having a plan will keep you focused and bring order to the chaos. It’s also a great way to ensure everyone has a job to do—so the adults can be useful and the kids kept occupied.
Leave Forwarding Info
Accept one thing: no matter how prepared you are, you’re almost guaranteed to forget at least something. But that doesn’t have to be the end of the world. By leaving forwarding details in your current home, you’ll ensure that there’s still a line of communication open.
Your Moving Across the Country Checklist
This moving across the country checklist should prepare you for the big day and everything that comes before it. By bringing just a little order to the chaos, you can focus on the excitement of a new life.
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