Managing a Long-Distance Move

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

When it comes to moving, nothing comes easy.  From the chore of packing away everything you own, which can take a month or more, to managing your family, your job and the lengthy ordeal of unpacking, moving is stressful to say the least.  Now add the hassle of moving cross-country and you are talking about a whole new level of aggravation.  For those of you planning to make a long-distance move, there are a few things you need to consider.  Below are the top-5 considerations you need to factor into your moving plan.

Factor #1: The Longer the Distance the Greater the Peril

Everyone know all about Murphy’s Law, which states that “Everything that can go wrong will go wrong and at the least convenient time.”  Well, old Murphy just lives for cross-country moves.  That’s because, the longer you are forced to travel, the greater the chance for Murphy’s Law to read its ugly head.  Unlike crosstown moves that require a day or less to complete, moving from one state to another, or from one coast to another presents many more challenges to overcome.

Since you not only have to hope your movers don’t experience mechanical trouble with their truck, you also have to hope you don’t have any car trouble yourself.  This can include mechanical problems, weather-related problems, or locking yourself out of your car at a rest stop.  If you have ever taken the family on a long road trip then you know that there are a hundred and one things that can go wrong.  Try cramming your trunk with everything your movers won’t move and the task becomes even more difficult. 

Image courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

While your moving company has a fallback plan that includes roadside assistance, or even swapping out a truck, you need to make sure your family has everything it needs to weather a breakdown.  If you are planning to move more than 500 miles, I suggest you pack a cooler and a tent just in case you wind up stranded overnight in unfamiliar surroundings.  The other alternative is to fly the family to the new location and have your vehicle shipped via an auto transporter.  While it will cost you extra, just think how much less stressful it will be than having to hop from motel to motel as you and yours travel the open road for days on end.

Factor #2: Beware of the Delivery Window

Depending upon the moving company you retain to perform your cross-country move, it’s quite possible that the shipper may hem and haw when it comes to telling you when to expect delivery of your belongings.  That’s due to several factors, including the length of the route, the prevailing traffic and weather conditions and the logistics.  By logistics, I am referring to the mover’s standard operating procedure that’s involved with a long-distance move.  It is quite possible that the truck that removes your goods will not be the same that truck that delivers them.  And I’m not talking about mechanical difficulties.  Some movers routinely transship cargo through company-owned warehouses.  This means they require long-haul deliveries to be made in stages.  Unfortunately, it’s also a good way to wind up with your belongings getting lost in part or in their entirety.  Not to mention it necessitates your being willing to wait for as long as 20 days for your belongings to be delivered.  Your best bet is to find out in advance whether your goods are going to be warehoused and/or transshipped.  This way you can either write the mover off your list, or you can make arrangements for you and your family should your delivery date get pushed back.  (It’s also a good idea to mark all your boxes with your name.  This is one way to make sure all your belongings get packed onto the right truck.)

Step #3: Make Sure the Truck Has Access

Courtesy of Scott's Discount Movers

Depending upon the distance traveled from your current address to your new home, you need to make sure that the moving truck has access to your property.  Especially if the move involves crossing multiple state lines, the delivery truck is probably going to be a tractor trailer.  If a tractor trailer can’t negotiate your street, you could wind up paying a shuttle fee since a smaller truck will have to be retained by your moving company to complete the delivery.

If you are moving into a high-rise or condo, you need to make arrangements with building management to provide the movers with access to the building and the elevator.  Failure to do so could result in the movers being unable to make their delivery, which will again result in added fees.  Your condo association could also impose a fine if you fail to arrange the move in advance with them.  (For more info, check out my Moving to aHigh-Rise blog.)

Step #4: Pack an Essentials Box

Whether you are moving across town or across the country, I can’t stress enough that you need to pack an “Essentials” box that contains everything you need to pick up with your life where you left off.  This is the box you want to take in your car, or ship ahead via Fedex or UPS.  That way when you arrive at your final destination, you will have what you and your family needs to get through the first few days in your new home.  In the case of an interstate move, you should pack enough essentials to make it through the better part of a week, because you never know.

Step #5: What NOT to Pack

Image courtesy of Wikimedia

Any time the move will take 2 or more days to complete, you want to refrain packing anything that’s perishable. (The exception is what’s packed in the cooler you plan to take with you, provided you have plenty of ice.)  You also want to avoid packing liquids.  With long haul moves, you run the risk of spoilage or spillage, either of which can do more damage to your belongings, since anything wet encourages mold and mildew.  Depending upon the storage conditions in transit, it can also attract vermin.  The last thing you want to find when you open a box is a rat jumping out at you.  You also don’t want to have to toss out your finest linens or clothing due to mold or mildew.

Provided you heed the advice above and select with care your moving company, making a cross-country move shouldn’t grind your gears.  

With over 4,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.