Moving Tips for a Smoother Long-Distance Move

How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Move

A long-distance move goes best when it starts early. Give yourself at least eight weeks if you can, and use the time to make decisions before they become emergencies.

Declutter before you get a quote

The size and weight of your shipment are major factors in the cost of a long-distance move, so every item you sell, donate or recycle is one you don’t pay to move. Go room by room and ask whether you’d buy each item again. Furniture that won’t fit your new home is the easiest place to start.

Measure your new home

Get room dimensions and doorway, hallway and stairway widths for your new home. Large sofas, sectionals and armoires that fit today may not fit tomorrow, and it’s better to know before moving day.

Start a moving folder

Keep your estimate, paperwork, receipts and contact details in one folder, paper or digital. It saves time when you need to check a date or answer a question quickly.

Handle the address changes early

• Submit a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service.
• Schedule utility shut-off at your old home and setup at your new home.
• Request school, medical, dental and veterinary records.
• Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance providers and subscriptions.

Packing Fragile Items

Most packing damage comes from boxes that are too big, too heavy or not filled tightly. A few habits make a real difference.

Use the right materials

Use strong boxes (double-wall boxes are best for dishes and glassware), plenty of packing paper, bubble wrap and good tape. Avoid reusing grocery boxes for heavy or delicate items.

Dishes and glassware

• Wrap each piece individually.
• Stand plates on edge, like records, rather than stacking them flat.
• Wrap the stems of wine glasses separately before wrapping the whole glass.
• Put a layer of crumpled paper on the bottom and top of every box.
• Fill empty space so nothing shifts when the box is lifted.

Electronics

Use original boxes if you still have them. Take a photo of the cables behind your TV and computer before you unplug anything, and bag and label cords and remotes together.

Mirrors, artwork and lamps

Protect corners, wrap glass, and stand framed pieces upright. Remove lampshades and bulbs and pack them separately. For high-value or very fragile pieces, ask about custom crating.

Label clearly

Mark fragile boxes “FRAGILE” with arrows showing which side is up, and write the room and contents on at least two sides. Keep boxes light enough to carry comfortably.

Moving With Children and Pets

Children

Children handle moves better when they feel included. Tell them early, answer their questions honestly, and look at pictures of the new home, school and neighborhood together.

• Let each child pack a small box of favorite things that rides with you, not on the truck.
• Keep regular meals and bedtimes as much as you can during moving week.
• Arrange childcare or a trusted helper for moving day, so children stay safe while doors are open and furniture is moving.
• Set up children’s rooms first at the new home so they have a familiar space quickly.

Pets

Pets should never travel in a moving truck. Plan to move them with you, and prepare ahead.

• Visit your veterinarian for records, any needed refills, and advice on travel.
• Check whether your destination state has entry requirements for pets.
• Update ID tags and microchip contact information with your new address and phone.
• On moving day, keep pets in a quiet, closed room or with a friend so they can’t slip out.
• Pack a pet kit with food, water, bowls, medications, leash, litter and bedding.

Preparing Appliances and Furniture

Appliances and large furniture need a little preparation so they arrive clean, dry and ready to use. Always follow your appliance manufacturer’s instructions.

Refrigerators and freezers

Use up food in the weeks before your move. Empty, defrost and clean the unit a day or two ahead, dry it thoroughly, and leave the doors slightly open to prevent mildew and odors.

Washers and dryers

Disconnect and drain hoses, and secure the washer drum if your model has shipping bolts. Gas dryers and gas ranges should be disconnected by a qualified professional.

Furniture

• Empty drawers of anything fragile, heavy or valuable.
• Take photos before taking furniture apart, so it’s easier to put back together.
• Put screws and hardware in labeled bags and tape them to the matching piece.
• Remove glass tops and shelves and pack them separately.

What Not to Pack

Some items can’t go on a moving truck for safety or legal reasons, and others are simply too important to let out of your sight. Your mover will give you its list of items it can’t transport.

Hazardous materials

• Gasoline, propane tanks, lighter fluid and other fuels.
• Paint thinners, solvents, pool chemicals and household cleaners.
• Aerosol cans, fireworks and ammunition.
• Car batteries and other corrosive materials.

Perishables and living things

• Perishable or frozen food.
• Plants, which some states restrict.
• Pets of any kind.

Keep these with you

• Important documents, such as passports, birth certificates and financial records.
• Medications, including a few extra days’ supply.
• Jewelry, cash and other valuables.
• Keys, chargers, laptops and anything you’ll need before delivery.

Organizing Important Documents

Important papers are easy to lose in a move. Gather them early and carry them yourself.

Personal documents

Passports, birth and marriage certificates, Social Security cards, wills, financial records, vehicle titles and registrations, medical and school records, and pet records.

Moving documents

Your written estimate, bill of lading, inventory, valuation paperwork, receipts and our contact information. Keep them until your move, and any claim, is complete.

Make it easy to find

• Use one clearly labeled folder or a small locking file box.
• Make secure digital copies of key documents.
• For a military PPM, keep your orders, weight records and every receipt together.

Preparing for Moving Day

A calm moving day comes from the work you do the week before. A few final steps help everything run on schedule.

The week before

• Confirm your dates, addresses and contact numbers.
• Reserve elevators, loading docks or parking if your building requires it.
• Finish packing everything except the essentials you’ll use until the last day.
• Pack an essentials box with medications, chargers, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools, paper towels and snacks.

On moving day

• Be present, or have an adult you authorize there for the whole pickup.
• Walk the crew through the home and point out fragile items and anything that isn’t moving.
• Review the inventory carefully before you sign, and keep your copy of the paperwork.
• Do a final check of closets, cabinets, the attic, the garage and outdoor areas.
• Take photos of the empty home and note meter readings before you leave.