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Relocating Help: 8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move

September 9, 2015 by jessica 26 Comments

familyroom

We all know about turning on the utilities at the new place and filling out the change-of-address form for the postal service, but when you make a long-distance move, some other things come into play that can make getting from here to there a bit trickier. Here are eight tips pulled from my recent experience of moving from the East Coast to the West Coast — from packing the moving van to handling the inevitable meltdowns.

Contemporary Bedroom by Heather Banks
1. Maximize space in the moving van. Moving cross-country is not cheap (I can only imagine the cost of moving overseas), so I did a lot of reading and asking around for tips before we packed up our house, to make sure we made the most of the space in our truck. Now that we’ve made it to the other side, I can say with confidence that these are the top three packing steps I would do again in a heartbeat:
  • Declutter before you pack. If you don’t love it or need it, there’s no sense in bringing it with you — that space in the truck is money!
  • Leave dresser drawers filled. For the first time ever, rather than emptying the dresser drawers, I simply left the clothes and linens folded inside and wrapped up the furniture. Does this make them heavier? Yes. But as long as the drawers are filled with lightweight items (definitely not books), it should be fine. And if not, you (or your helpers) can carry the drawers out separately. The benefit is twofold: You need fewer boxes, and it will be easier to find stuff when you move in.
  • Pack soft items in black trash bags. Glamorous? Not in the least. But this has to be the smartest packing idea we tried. Fill heavy-duty black garbage bags with soft items (duvets, pillows, stuffed animals), then use the bags as space fillers and cushioning inside the truck. To keep items clean and protected, we doubled the bags and tied, then taped, them shut. Use a permanent marker on sticky labels applied to the outside to note the contents.

2. Paint before you move in. If you plan to give your new space a fresh coat of paint, it makes a lot of sense to do this before moving all of your stuff in.

Aside from the obvious (it’s easier to paint an empty house than one full of furniture), you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment having “paint” ticked off your to-do list before the first box is even unpacked.

While you’re at it, if there are other messy, disruptive items on your list (anything to do with the floors definitely qualifies), getting to as many of them as possible before moving day will be a big help.

Modern Bedroom by Lindye Galloway Design
3. Ask around before signing up for services. Depending on where you’re moving, there may be many or very few choices of service providers for things like phone and cable. If you have some options, take the time to ask around before committing to one — you may find that the company that served you so well back at your old place doesn’t have much infrastructure in the new area. Or you might find, as we did, that (thanks to lousy cellphone reception) a landline is a necessity at the new place, even though using only cellphones worked fine at the old house.
Sunroom by Natalie Myers

4. Put ‘Buy houseplants’ at the top of your to-do list. One of the unexpectedly sad moments of our move was when I realized we couldn’t bring our houseplants along. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you’ve lovingly nurtured a houseful of plants for years, the thought of starting back at zero is kind of depressing. We gave away all of our plants but ended up keeping some of our favorite pots — something that has made picking plants for the new space much easier (and cheaper).

Once you’re in your new place, you might be tempted to put off buying new houseplants, but I urge you to make it a priority. Why? Houseplants clean the air (especially important if you’ve used paint or flooring that has volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), but most important, they will make your house feel like home.

Contemporary Living Room by Touch Interiors
5. Give yourself time to get used to a new climate, time zone and culture. After moving from New England back to the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve been amazed at how long it’s taken to feel “settled” — even though I’ve moved back to my hometown! Building in extra time to handle that adjustment period can be a relief, especially for families with kids. A week or two to catch your breath (and track down the best local ice cream parlor — priorities, you know) will put everyone in better spirits.
Farmhouse by Alys Design
6. Expect some meltdowns — from children and adults. Moving is hard, there’s just no way around it, but moving long-distance is especially hard. It means leaving behind friends, schools, jobs and perhaps family and entering a great unknown, new place.
Even if the new place sounds great (and is great!) meltdowns and emotional moments are a totally natural reaction to such a big shakeup in life.
So when the moment comes (and it will) that someone (or more than one someone) in the house needs a good cry, roll with it. Then get yourselves up and find something fun to explore or do in your new town.
Eclectic Living Room by Monteliushome

7. Expect to shed some more stuff after you move. No matter how much decluttering you do before moving, it seems to be a law of nature that there will be items that simply don’t fit in the new space.

Even if everything physically fits, there’s bound to be something that just doesn’t work like you thought it would. Try not to hold on to these things purely out of frustration.

Sell them, gift them to a dear friend or (if you truly love the items) keep them — but only if you have the storage space.

8. Also expect to buy some stuff after you move. But we just gave so much stuff away! It’s not fair! I know. But each home has its quirks, and those quirks demand new stuff. For instance, perhaps your old kitchen had a huge island with plenty of space for cooking prep and for stools to pull up for breakfast, but the new kitchen has a big empty spot right in the middle of the room that requires a portable island or a kitchen table and chairs. Earmarking a bit of money for these kinds of things can help you set and stick to a budget.

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Comments

  1. James Bergman says

    January 28, 2016 at 5:50 pm

    Moving is never fun and it is almost guaranteed that there will be at least one melt down. Probably from the kids, but I have been known to snap as well. Mostly when I am trying to pack everything in the moving van so that it will fit. To combat this kind of stress, I would recommend being organized and purging your house of unneeded items before packing. Less stuff equals more room.

    Reply
  2. Grace Turner says

    February 10, 2016 at 3:23 pm

    Painting before you move in is a really good idea. We went and checked out the house we are moving into a month ago and the paint is awful. We haven’t let our kids see it yet but I have a feeling they will be really disappointed if they see the way the house looks now. We are going to be doing a long distance move so I’ll have to see if I can plan a trip before hand to clean it and repaint it! Hopefully this makes the move less painful for everyone!

    Reply
  3. Andre Beluchi says

    April 21, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    The decluttering and packing up of every room is what has me stuck on. Looking at it has me wanting to use the tools that my uncle’s moving services left in his garage. Well, it I would need to get for my long distance move that is coming up for next week.

    Reply
  4. Zequek Estrada says

    August 19, 2016 at 12:09 am

    I remember when I almost moved across the country because my mom got offered a job out there. It was nerve racking. I can only imagine how stressful it must be for people who move long distance. I think another thing you can do is probably to check if the moving services will help with long distance moves. I’ve heard some companies only do thing locally.

    Reply
  5. Kenton Foster says

    May 5, 2017 at 9:23 am

    Ya, taking some time to plane for the move will surely helps the persons to avoid pitfalls along the way. One must have to consider the difference between local move and long distance move during the pre moving process. Your blog shares some friendly tips for happier long distance mover. Apart from these I also want to share some tips in the following which may helps the person during relocation.
    1)It is good to pack the belongings for long haul.
    2)All the belongings must be insured properly.
    3)Inspect all the outdoor furniture.
    4)Avoid packing of food and liquid.
    5)Naming the boxes is one of the finest way to differentiate the boxes. Etc
    Thank you so much for sharing such a lovely post.

    Reply
  6. Preston Damian says

    May 9, 2017 at 10:50 am

    That’s a superb tip to look for really good recommendations when looking for a long distance move. I appreciate the efforts you people put in to share blogs on such kind of topics, it was really helpful. Keep Posting!

    Reply
  7. Ivy Baker says

    May 25, 2017 at 4:22 am

    Moving long distances does seem like a tricky thing to do. If I had to move long ways I would be stressed out that I should forget something. So, I liked that you talked about how you should be prepared to declutter when you are moving.

    Reply
  8. Chris Winters says

    June 5, 2017 at 6:52 pm

    I like the idea to pain the new space before you move all of the large and heavy materials. It looks like one of the large industrial plants where we live is planning on moving to a different county. It seems like a huge ordeal, but I think that having the new location prepped will help to cut the workload in half.

    Reply
  9. Stu says

    July 19, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    I received a great tip. When you are packing up your boxes, use a different colored tape on the important ones so you know what to unpack first when getting to your next location

    Reply
  10. Violette Lebrac says

    September 7, 2017 at 11:47 pm

    My husband got a promotion in a city that’s pretty far away, and I don’t want the move to be stressful. I appreciate the tip about getting rid of things you don’t love or need so that you can have more space in the truck. If I declutter before we go, that might make it easier on us and the long distance movers we’re going to hire.

    Reply
  11. Jeremy Thompson says

    October 3, 2017 at 4:36 am

    Placing soft items into black bags and using them as space fillers and cushioning is a great tip. Thanks for your wonderfully helpful article! We’ll be moving soon and I’ll be trying to get professional movers for help, I’ll be sure to do your tips while at it too.

    Reply
  12. Christina says

    March 29, 2018 at 10:31 am

    Great read. Moving is tough at any age. Finding a long distance moving company you can trust is often the key to making a smooth transition so it is important to take your time and do your research before you hire a moving company.

    Reply
  13. Gary Puntman says

    April 16, 2018 at 7:55 pm

    I agree that making sure you declutter before packing is a great idea. It will help you maximize the amount of room you have in a moving van and get rid of things you won’t even want to move with anyway. It can also help you get organized when you’re preparing to move and make the process smoother.

    Reply
  14. Joey Harlow says

    May 14, 2018 at 2:03 pm

    Moving relocating work is very stressful for humans life. I search on google for long distance moving tips and i found your blog. I read your blog and i get the some valuable information on relocating tips. Thanks for sharing this so interesting post! I really want to be thankful for the way you have put it here.

    Reply
  15. Monica Chavez says

    May 21, 2018 at 11:48 pm

    It’s really interesting that you suggest to leave the clothes and linens folded inside the dressers and wrap up the furniture as it is. That must help save a lot of time and space in the moving process. My brother is getting ready for a long distance move so that he can start up a new job, and he needs all the help he can get to save time and space. I think it would be super helpful if he hired a moving company to help him get the job done.

    Reply
  16. Hector Uba says

    June 12, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    Thanks for the tips on making a long distance move smoother; they were very helpful. I agree that you should be willing to declutter before you pack; you don’t want to be hauling stuff you don’t want across the country. My sister is planning on moving a couple of states away soon. I will be sure to share these tips with her.

    Reply
  17. Lilia Robberts says

    June 20, 2018 at 4:53 pm

    The advice about using double bags then having them tied and taped is great insight on how to make less mess! Right now I am moving a few states over. I am nervous, but I loved the tips and tricks that you provided me. Now I just need to find a long distant moving company to finish up my work.

    Reply
  18. Penelope Smith says

    June 23, 2018 at 3:34 am

    I liked that you pointed out that you should try to ask around for recommendation on what service to use. It is good to know that I should ask friends or neighbors about good movers they have used. In a few months, I will be moving and I want the process to go smoothly. So, this is good for me to know.

    Reply
  19. Joy Butler says

    June 28, 2018 at 12:53 am

    I’m grateful for your advice about relocation services. It really helped when you said that leaving the dresser drawers filled will give a twofold benefit! I awesomely agree with it, thus, it will become easier to find stuff, will fix a little and need only fewer boxes!

    Reply
  20. Kenneth Gladman says

    July 20, 2018 at 10:02 pm

    If you want the ultimate stress free move, you should consider hiring professional movers. They can handle all the heavy lifting for you and really ease your mind. They have the tools to avoid any damages to your items as well.

    Reply
  21. Sutton Turner says

    August 9, 2018 at 3:51 pm

    I like how you suggested packing soft items in black trash bags for moving. I am planning on moving this next year. Thanks for the tips on relocating.

    Reply
  22. Joy Butler says

    September 27, 2018 at 7:34 am

    My brother and his family need to move into their new house in the nearby state. His wife has just received a gift from her parents. They gave them a newly built home instead of staying there themselves. They are looking for professional movers who could help them, particularly with their huge furniture.

    Reply
  23. Bram says

    October 9, 2018 at 11:50 pm

    Giving yourself a week or two, as you said, to adjust to a new living situation is a good idea. Jumping right into a new life might not be for some. Easing into it may be better, especially after a long distance move.

    Reply
  24. Mark Murphy says

    November 29, 2018 at 5:22 pm

    I never knew that your houseplants can actually clean the air while they are in your house. My wife and I recently got married, and we want to try and make our small newlywed apartment cleaner and more welcoming to guests. I will be sure to tell my wife that houseplants can do both of those!

    Reply
  25. Sutton Turner says

    December 13, 2018 at 6:40 pm

    I like how you suggested decluttering before you pack and move. I am looking for movers to help us move across the state next year. Thanks for the tips on moving.

    Reply
  26. Gary Puntman says

    December 27, 2018 at 4:10 pm

    I’m going to be moving to a new city next month. I want to know what I can do to be prepared for the moving process to go smoothly. I’m sure decluttering and making sure everything is clean will help a lot. It would be nice to find a cleaning service to help, so I’ll have to take time to look at my options for people to hire first, like you said.

    Reply

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