Moving Tips

Between 10 and 25% of Americans move to a new home every year.

Every move takes work, but long-distance moves need an extra level of preparation and organization. Making sure you are set up for the best way to move long distance comes down to four essential things.

If you’re getting ready for a long distance move, take a look at these tips that’ll make your trip easier.

1. Get In-Home Moving Estimates

When it comes to long-distance moves, finding the right moving company should be one of your top priorities. Spend some time researching different in-home moving companies and make sure you get at least three different estimates.

Don’t schedule these estimates any later than four weeks before your moving date. Otherwise, you might find yourself pressed for time. Getting estimates as early as possible is always a better idea. You’ll also want to prepare your home before the in-home estimate, so you get an accurate price.

Reputation is more important than price for long-distance moves.

While price is important, these movers will be taking all your belongings across the country. You’ll want to make sure you can trust that your items will make it to your new home in one piece.

2. Do Some Major Downsizing

The more belongings you have to pack, the more expensive your move will be. Use the packing process to organize your belongings and do some significant downsizing. Go through every room in your house and find things you don’t need or don’t use anymore.

For example, if you haven’t worn an article of clothing in over a year, you probably don’t need it. Get rid of old shoes and mismatched socks. Go through your dishes and get rid of things that are broken, old, or unused. If you have a lot of books you have finished reading, don’t keep them because they take up space and cost more money to move.

You can either donate these items or sell them yourself at a garage sale.

3. Prioritize Items When You Pack

You might arrive at your house before the rest of your things get there. Because of this, you should prioritize what you pack.

Make sure you have a box full of things you’ll need during the first few days. This might include bedding, towels, clothes, a few cooking utensils, toiletries, and other personal items. This box should stay with you during the move so you’ll have essentials if the rest of your belongings have a delay.

Allow yourself ample time to pack everything for your move. Because the move is long-distance, you’ll need to take extra care to make sure everything is secure. Bundle fragile items in bubble wrap or other packing materials.

And put your name on each box. Your things might be in the same truck as another family’s items.

4. Move During the Off-Season

Because most people move during the summer, moving prices go down during the off-season. You can save yourself a lot of money if your schedule allows you to move during the offseason which is generally the fall and winter months.

Moving mid-week and mid-month might also save you on your costs as well.

They’ll also be more movers to choose from and flexibility. Moving during the off-season is easier and less stressful.

The Best Way to Move Long Distance

A long-distance move takes a lot more planning and a lot more work than shorter moves. But if you take the time to prepare and find a reputable moving company, you can have a smooth and worry-free experience.

The best way to move long distance is during the off-season. If you can be flexible with your moving date, avoid making the trip in the summer.

Are you looking for a moving team for your trip? Head over to our contact page and let us know how we can help you.

Are you moving across the country? Or even down the street?

Regardless of how far your move is, you can’t cut corners with packing. Fragile items will shatter with one bump in the road if not packed correctly.

If you’re reading this article, you’re probably wondering how to pack fragile items. There are definite methods to be sure your breakables stay intact; it’s as simple as taking your time and getting the right materials.

Learn how to pack fragile items for shipping or driving to their new home!

Take Your Time

It might seem like common sense, but you’d be surprised by how many leave packing to the last minute! Even if you have to move unexpectedly, it’s still important to spend as much time as possible packing up your breakables.

This is because breakables stacked incorrectly will shift during travel. And if not wrapped correctly, they’ll quickly break.

Once packed up, take the time to label the boxes with your fragile items. Make sure “Fragile” is indicated on each side of the box to be sure it is handled with care throughout the move.

Choose the Right Boxes

The key to successfully packed breakables is in acquiring the right boxes. Consider specialty boxes for your fragile items.

For example, don’t pack a long, thin object like a mirror in a wide box and assume extra padding will keep it safe. Oddly shaped objects like that need to be packed in boxes that match their shapes.

If you’re wondering how to pack glasses, the answer is not to just wrap them up individually and put them in a square or rectangular box. Use specialty glass pack boxes with compartmentalized inserts, so each glass has its own little cubby.

When it comes to packing china and other fragile dishes, stick to small boxes. Again, specialty boxes like dish pack boxes work well. They protect the plates and ensure they don’t shift.

Gear Up

Packing paper is a useful and inexpensive way to protect your delicate belongings. Wrap fragile items in packing paper, and crumple additional paper to fill space on the bottom, top and in between things to prevent. Consider recycled packing paper as well.

Along with packing paper, invest in bubble wrap and packing peanuts for things like lamps, dishes, and vases. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts may be used to fill and wrap the objects thoroughly. In addition to wrapping your fragile items, you should also use these materials to stuff the boxes to the brim to avoid fragile items shifting too much during transit.

Don’t Want to Worry About How to Pack Fragile Items?

Stressing out about how to pack fragile items? Don’t DIY it if your items are irreplaceable. We can help.

Get in touch to talk about your move today. We do it all: local moves, international moves, corporate relocation, even storage, and distribution!

Moving can be expensive, but with a little creativity, there are ways to make your move without breaking the bank. Read on for some ideas about how to keep your costs down.

1. Purge Before You Pack

Take the time to purge unnecessary or unwanted items from your home. Go from room to room and evaluate everything. Determine what’s useful and what you no longer need, use, or want anymore.

After paring down, you will have fewer boxes and bags to pack and less need to purchase more packing materials.

Also, consider purging large items as some of those can cost more money to move than to just purchase a new item when you are in your next home. For instance a weight set or unused electronics like old desktop computers.

2. Use Free Moving Boxes

Check grocery, liquor, and big box stores for used but sturdy boxes for your move. Check with neighbors to see if they have any after a recent move or if they are throwing away large boxes after a large purchase of a TV or other electronics.

Save boxes both big and small from purchases made online from sites like Amazon. Each one of these free boxes will save you some money.

3. Put All Containers to Use

All containers are usable when you are trying to pack up for a move. Fill your hampers, laundry baskets, and suitcases with as many items as you can. Also, use your reusable shopping bags for lighter things.

Doing this will help you save money on boxes and other packing materials. The more creative you can be using things around the house to pack, the less you’ll spend on boxes.

Just be mindful of the weight of each container. You don’t want to break a hamper or tear a bag during your move.

4. Use Shredded Paper as Packing Peanuts

As part of your purging process, take this opportunity to go through your old paper files and lighten your load. Shred unneeded documents then reuse them as box filler. It’s a great way to save a little on filler material.

5. Line Boxes With Egg Cartons

Egg cartons are strong, light packing materials that most people forget about and throw away.

Egg cartons can be used to line your boxes during a move. They supply your items with an extra layer of security.

6. Avoid Moving Season

The most popular time of year to move is May through September.

Avoiding moving season all together is a smart choice if you’re moving on a budget. You can save a great deal of money. Plus, if you’re renting, landlords are anxious to fill vacancies during the winter.

Moving on a Budget in the Future

Moving is never an easy process. However, these tips should help make the experience smoother and more cost-effective.

Are you or anyone you know in the Tampa area planning an upcoming move? If so, please contact us so we can help you through the move!