What Is the Easiest Way to Move Across the Country?

September 12, 2024 / Posted in Before the Move
Milly Andrews

Born and raised in Portland, Milly has had a lot of experience moving and writing about the relocation process.

Those who decide to uproot their whole lives and relocate to a new state tend to seek the most painless way of doing so. After all, the sole prospect of this new chapter is challenging enough as it is. But what is the easiest way to move across the country? If you’re looking for tips that can facilitate the whole process, take notes! This guide explains it all.

Woman unpacking after long-distance moving
Our guide will help you simplify the relocation process as much as possible

What Is the Easiest Way to Move Across the Country?

Undoubtedly, the easiest way to relocate from one state to another is with professional help. Reputable professional movers know all the ins and outs of the relocation process and are able to help you with almost all aspects of your upcoming move. However, you can ease this process even further by staying organized, well-prepared, and well-informed.

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DIY Relocation or Professional Help – Make a Choice

It’s no secret that relocating to a new home can get pretty stressful and pretty expensive fast. Therefore, looking at the cheapest and easiest way to move across the country at the beginning is almost a given. However, it’s important to note that one does not necessarily imply the other.

Moreover, in certain situations, they contradict one another. So, at the start of your relocation journey, you must determine whether you are looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or want to ease the process as much as possible.

Should You Relocate On Your Own?

If finances are your main worries concerning a move to a new city and you wish to save on relocation costs, you’ll probably try to do as much as possible on your own. After all, the cost of interstate relocation is high, and not many are willing to set aside additional funds for hired help. However, this relocation method demands a lot of time and effort. Most of the tasks on your to-do list would be your responsibility, and they can pile up fast.

More often than not, the stress of managing each detail leads to many moving mistakes or injuries. Some of them can even get quite costly in the end, so instead of saving money, you’ll spend much more than you originally intended. That is why one of the first things you need to do is create a relocation budget and see how much money you have at your disposal. If the calculations show you have enough room, even just for the basic long-distance moving services, it will take a huge burden off your back.

Hiring Movers – The Optimal Solution

If your ultimate goal is to relocate efficiently and safely, getting professional help is the best option. By hiring long-distance movers, most of the logistics and planning will be placed in the hands of those more experienced than you. Not only that but with top-tier companies, such as Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving, you can also opt for professional packing services to facilitate the relocation journey to the fullest. It will minimize the time you spend on the most demanding relocation task as well as the chance of your belongings getting damaged in the process.

If you want to transport a car from state to state, it can also be done trouble-free with the help of the right car shipping company. Having to drive your vehicle across several state borders to get to your new destination does not exactly scream “easy.” However, if you choose to book auto transport services, you can board a plane carefree, knowing these professionals have all the knowledge and equipment to ensure completely safe car transport.

In the end, don’t forget that you’ll also be presented with moving insurance options for both your belongings and your vehicle. Staying protected in the case of some unexpected occurrence will help you breathe more easily.

Cross-country movers carrying furniture
For a stress-free experience, delegate as many tasks as possible to movers

The More Organized You Are, the Easier the Process Will Get

Although many assignments can be placed in the hands of experienced movers, you’ll also stumble upon some chores that will be solely your responsibility. That is why you should set some time aside to organize, plan, and go through timetables and deadlines.

After all, planning is key for a successful cross-country moving journey. Not only will it reduce the chances of problems and mistakes, but it will also bring order to the otherwise chaotic process – and, therefore, make it easier for you to handle.

What are some of the things to consider when relocating to a new state that can’t be delegated to a moving and auto transport company? When planning ahead, here are some chores to count on:

  • Decluttering – although movers can pack all of your belongings, deciding what to get rid of and what to keep will be on you. The smaller household inventory you have, the easier (and cheaper) the relocation will get.
  • Notifying others about the relocation – you need to tell all of your family, friends, employers, colleagues, and acquaintances that you’ll be relocating to a new home soon. Not only them but also utility companies, the IRS, financial institutions, and other important entities need to be informed about the change of address.
  • Making travel arrangements – depending on your relocation method, you’ll need to book airline tickets or rent a relocation truck, plan a route, or even look for some accommodations you’ll be staying in while on the road.
  • Gather important papers – birth and marriage certificates, medical records, powers of attorney, and passports are all important documents that need to be organized before the big day.
  • Move-out cleaning – whether you want to rent or sell your soon-to-be-old home or you’ve rented it yourself, it needs to be in pristine condition before you relocate.

Make Your Transit Easy With the Right Research

There is almost nothing more difficult than diving into the unknown, so make sure you come to the new city fully prepared. During your relocation day preparations, research local lifestyle and culture, health services, transportation options, as well as the cost of living (use specialty websites such as Numbeo). If you’re relocating without a job, check the local job market, and make sure to assess local schools if you’re relocating with kids.

A girl researching places before long-distance moving
Preparing for a new place starts with research

When to Organize a Cross-Country Relocation?

Summer is the most popular season for organizing relocations – it is simply the most convenient time to move for many. Those relocating with a family often choose summer because school is off. Not only that but if you plan to move to a big city, it would be less difficult to get a new place since there are more options to choose from. Not to mention, the days are longer, and the weather is better, which makes the process a lot easier.

That being said, if you don’t schedule it on time, planning a cross-country relocation in summer can be more complicated than it seems. Since most people choose this time of the year, summer becomes the peak of the relocation season.

During this time, professional movers experience higher demand, and most reliable companies end up being booked months in advance. Therefore, you’ll need to start looking for a company as early as possible in order to book the relocation with trusted movers.

More than 60% of all moves are organized during the summer

At the same time, don’t forget that higher demand always brings higher prices, so you’ll also need to set more money aside. Although the best time of year to relocate will depend on your specific circumstances, it’s always wise to choose an off-peak date if it suits you. However, if you need to schedule relocation between April and September, make sure to hire the best movers by contacting them on time.

Packing Tips to Facilitate the Relocation

If you opt against getting professional packing services, you’ll be the one handling one of the most demanding relocation tasks. The ultimate goal of each move is to get from point A to point B without damaging any of your household goods. In order to achieve this, you need to put a lot of time and energy into the process of wrapping all of your stuff and boxing it up. However, we’ve prepared a few valuable relocation hacks that can simplify this action, even if just a little.

Dedicate a Room (Or a Table) for Packing

When packaging, it’s much simpler to have all of your supplies in one place rather than running through the house trying to find where you’ve left something. Therefore, if you have a spare room, make use of it. If you’re living in a smaller home, even a table should be enough – as long as you keep everything organized. At the same time, you should also find a place in your house to store packed boxes so they don’t end up getting in your way.

Gather All the Supplies on Time

Imagine you start boxing up and realizing you’re lacking some crucial packing materials. You would need to stop everything you’re doing at the moment and run to the store to get what’s missing. So it doesn’t happen, ensure you have enough boxes, packing paper, tape, and bubble wrap by your side, as well as some scissors and markers.

Use Towels, Linens, and Old Clothes as Packing Material

These household items are all made from soft materials, which makes them perfect for cushioning boxes. You can even use them to wrap some objects as well – just don’t do it for delicate items or belongings you value the most.

Start With Non-essentials

Realizing something you need at the moment is already packed can be frustrating, especially when it keeps occurring over and over again. That is why it’s wise to start with items (and rooms) you rarely use and progress slowly to your relocation essentials. For example, you can pack seasonal clothes, books, and decor at the beginning of the packaging process.

Label Everything in Detail

This may seem excessive for some. After all, it should be enough just to state which room the boxes belong to. However, the more detailed you are, the easier the unpacking process will get. Not only that, but you’ll be able to find whatever you’re looking for even before you finish the unpacking. Did you know that, on average, a person needs around six months to unpack completely?

Prepare a Relocation Day Bag

When you’re in the midst of relocating, you’ll find out that some items represent necessities. Therefore, before you leave your home, prepare a bag with objects such as a change of clothes, a phone, a charger, basic toiletries, and other essentials. Make room for important documents, as well, since they need to be by your side at all times.

Note also that each family member needs to have their essentials with them – even your furry friends. If you’re looking for the easiest way to move across the country with pets, providing them with enough food, water, treats, and comfort toys should do the trick. Therefore, make sure all things mentioned are packed with the rest of the essentials.

Importance of the Emotional Preparation

In the end, you need to count on more than just physical preparation. A cross-country relocation is a major upheaval, but you can make this change a bit easier by acknowledging your emotions during the process. While it will still be an overwhelming experience, you can reduce the stress and anxiety about moving out by simply talking about it with your friends and family.

In addition to that, you should also focus on the relocation benefits as well as the happy memories you’ve made in your old home rather than dwelling on people and places you’re leaving behind. Actively trying to shift your focus to more optimistic thoughts can do wonders for your emotional well-being, leaving you feeling calmer and even happier. This way, you’ll be able to handle all the challenges of interstate relocation much easier.

A couple packing and smiling before long-distance moving
Make sure to break the negative thinking cycle

Each Relocation Is Made Easy With Our Reliable Cross-Country Movers

With all the challenges an interstate relocation brings, it’s only natural to look for help from professionals who have a lot more knowledge and experience about cross-country moving. If you’re looking for a long-distance moving company able to handle all of your relocation needs, you’ll make no mistake with Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving.

Our reliable crew will be by your side from the beginning of your journey, making sure everything goes smoothly and according to plan. Don’t make your next few months a lot harder than they need to be – contact us and schedule your relocation on time.

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