Ultimate Moving Guide

Overcoming the Fear of Moving to Another State

Whether you’re moving for love and don’t know what to expect or have to move during coronavirus and you’re worried about your family’s health, or you simply don’t have any real reason to be scared, but you’re still struggling to relax, the first step of combating those feelings is to recognize them and accept they are here.

Those fears are usually caused by not having control over upcoming events. One of the most effective ways to get rid of fear is to gradually change your mindset, focus on all the good opportunities that will come your way, on a new job that awaits you there, or on meeting new people and friends. Also, sharing those fears with the closest friends or family members could also be helpful in the process of overcoming them. Talk to someone about it and get a new perspective on the whole situation.

Deal With Anxiety Before You Start Feeling Physical Consequences

Many people who feel severe anxiety about moving out have to deal with multiple physical and psychological side effects. If you feel incredibly high levels of tension, have perpetual worrying thoughts, get angry and annoyed easily, feel sad, have problems with insomnia, and start avoiding friends, it means you’re dealing with anxiety. If left untreated or ignored these symptoms could develop into physical ones, such as stomach aches, headaches, chest pains, breathing interruptions, tachycardia, low energy, and low focus. Make sure to tackle the issue as soon as you notice it, so it doesn’t develop into a more complicated and potentially chronic problem.

Prepare Mentally and Emotionally to Avoid Depressive States Once You Relocate

Relocations are real emotional rollercoasters, even when you think the ride is over. If you want to avoid feeling depressed once you relocate away from everyone, prepare yourself emotionally and mentally and be ready to face depressive thoughts once the nostalgia kicks in. Whenever you feel sad, melancholic, or simply lonely, take your phone, make a call or message your loved ones, and you will feel better instantly. The point is to invent the mechanisms for coping with those emotions which will inevitably kick in at some point.

How the Relocation Process Flows Once You Contact Long Distance Movers and Schedule the Moving Day

The moment you contact Long Distance Movers over the phone, email, or using the online form on our website to ask for a free quote, our representatives will start working on your request. Our agent will contact you back to ask for all additional details. When you provide us with a detailed inventory list, your dedicated agent will provide you with a precise price quote. All our prices are based on the inventory list and number of items listed there. Keep in mind that inventory lists are completely adjustable until one day before the relocation day and that modifying them is free, but that the number of items definitely influences the total cost of your relocation.

On the moving day, our team of movers will contact you to check the address details and confirm the approximate time of arrival in front of your house. The moment they park the truck, they will start disassembling your furniture and other bulky items and loading your stuff into the truck. They will mark all boxes with barcode stickers that are proof of your ownership, eliminating any possibility of mixing them up with someone else’s belongings. The moment they load all the items into the truck, the only thing left to do for you is to wait until it is delivered to the new address.

On the delivery date, our movers will contact you again to inform you about the estimated time of their arrival and the delivery. They will unload all the boxes, furniture, and other items, reassemble all the furniture pieces, and arrange the items into the right rooms. Our movers will also go through the inventory list to ensure everything has been delivered, and once they confirm it, their service is officially finished.

A Checklist Will Keep Everything Under Control

Creating a detailed to-do checklist is of utmost importance if you want to follow the process of the relocation and create a reasonable timeline. Knowing what tasks are done, in progress, or still waiting will provide you with enough time to react quickly if something goes wrong. And when we say detailed checklist, it means you should include every single task, starting from making an inventory list, decluttering, organizing a garage sale, packing, and preparing the car for shipping. Another useful piece of advice we’d like to share with you is – always have your checklist close and update it as needed.

Creating a Moving Budget and Managing Your Finances Properly

Knowing all the costs in advance and budgeting is of tremendous importance to keep your finances safe and ensure you don’t spend the money you don’t have. There are multiple solutions for tracking expenses. You can do it by creating excel sheets or using apps specially designed for this purpose. Whichever option you choose, just be sure that it will support you in your goal of creating an accurate and detailed budget plan. Also, remember to add 10% more to the total sum you calculate, because there will always be some unexpected expenses you couldn’t have foreseen.

Although a reliable cross-country moving company will provide you with an accurate cost estimate, there are still many additional expenses that will increase the total amount. Some of the things you should include in your budget are repairs in your old and new home, babysitter or pet sitter expenses, real estate agent services, and travel expenses. So when tackling this task, make sure to be cautious and cover all the foreseeable expenses.

Essential Packing Materials to Acquire Before Packing

Keeping your items fully protected is only possible if you use suitable protective packing materials. There is a solution for every piece of furniture, breakable, or delicate thing you have in the household, so here are some essential packing materials to acquire:

• Medium and large-sized cardboard or plastic boxes. Some of them should have dividers. While cardboard boxes are suitable for packing light things like cushions, linens, clothes, or some fragile items, plastic boxes are ideal for heavier things. Books, plates, and decorations are some things that might be safer in a plastic container.
• Wardrobe boxes that are made of hard cardboard and contain a metal bar are the perfect solution for some of your most valuable clothing. So, if you have an elegant dress that deserves special attention or an expensive tux, get a few of these kinds of boxes.
• Packing paper is also a good option for fragile items and all other things you want to protect additionally. It can be used to wrap things additionally, as well as to fill in the empty space in a box.
• Bubble wrap is the perfect solution for all breakables, whether we’re talking glassware, plates, decorations, electronic gadgets, TVs, or laptops.
• Plastic foil is necessary for protecting all the cupboards, sofas, and other similar furniture pieces, so ensure to have enough of it.
• Moving blankets are a great solution to attain additional protection for your wooden furniture and prevent it from any scratches or damage. Moving blankets are most suitable for covering cupboard doors, bed frames, and such, so consider buying them.
• Padded divider sets – those are ideal for glasses, bottles, and other fragile items that have to be stopped from clinking against each other.
• Packing foam and foam peanuts are great options for filling empty space in a box once you put all the things in it. They will buffer the vibrations during the transportation and make sure your items are delivered in one piece.
• Sturdy tape is necessary to close the box and make sure that nothing will come out or tear the bottom,
• Tape gun can make taping the boxes quicker and easier, although it is not a necessity,
• Labels for boxes are a must if you want to know the content of the box and place it in the right spot in the moving truck. Labels will also help you during the unpacking process, so label every box properly by writing on the box with markers.

Here Is How to Organize a Successful Garage Sale

Selling the things you won’t use anymore will positively affect your budget. For that reason, you should know what to do when trying to organize a successful garage sale. The very first step is to sort out the items you want to sell and set the prices. When it comes to prices, make sure the items on your garage sale are reasonably cheaper than new ones.

The second step is to organize the process itself, meaning you need to acquire tables, clothing racks, and boxes to place your items for sale. Since many people will be stopping by, the essential thing to take into consideration is the security of your house, so make sure to ask some of your reliable neighbors or family members to be there and help you keep the whole event under control.

The third and most important step is to market your garage sale and inform the community about it. Creating a couple of attractive posters and placing them all around the neighborhood is definitely one of the most effective ways to attract the attention of potential buyers. Still, don’t neglect the potential of Facebook and remember to post your garage sale as an event, share it on different groups that gather the members of your local community, and of course, ask your friends to share it on their social media too.

Check out the video below for some more tips on decluttering for a move.

Updating Residential Data with the USPS

Our advice would be to start updating your residential data with the U.S. Postal Service since we are sure you wouldn’t like to miss an important letter or package or cause an inconvenience for the next tenants and make them have to figure out how to stop getting mail for previous residents. The easiest way to update an address at the USPS is to fill out the online form or visit the closest local post office to file Form 3575. Since the USPS needs approximately two weeks to update your residential details, make sure to initiate this process at least two weeks in advance.

Change the Address With All Government Agencies

Updating your address details with government agencies might sound like a complicated process. However, it is actually much easier than you expect. Here is how to change the address with each of them:

• The IRS provides the possibility to change your address details by filing an online form. Simple as that! Bonus tip: Modify the address with your state’s department of revenue, too.
• Voter registration is managed at the state level, so check how to re-register in the state you’re moving to. Generally, you can update your address using mail, online forms, or in person at your county board of registrars or the DMV. Just make sure to have a valid driver’s license or ID.
• Changing the address on the social security cards is mandatory only for beneficiaries of Social Security or Medicare benefits. Address updates are possible through their online system or by contacting the local office.

Notify all Financial Institutions of the Address Update

Banks, loan issuers, credit card companies, accountants, and tax advisors are definitely parties you would like to notify when updating your address. Since every institution or company has different regulations and requirements on updating the address, the best idea would be to send an email to all of them and ask for further instructions.

Shoes and Clothes Are a Good Place to Start

If you’ve already started packing the household, we are sure the question of how to pack shoes for moving has crossed your mind. The general rule when it comes to clothes and shoes is to divide them into categories, keep them dry to prevent mold, and pack them into cardboard boxes.

Undeniably, boxing up clothes is much simpler than packing shoes. If you want to get your shoes delivered in perfect condition, it means you will have to pack each shoe separately, wrapping it into protective paper and filing it with crumpled paper too.

When it comes to clothes, the only detail you should pay attention to is to store them in a dry place. You can put them in wardrobe boxes, simple cardboard boxes, vacuum bags, or even plastic bags – any way you choose will be absolutely acceptable and safe.

Handling Bulky Furniture Pieces Is Easier With LDM’s Packing Services

Although the majority of bulky furniture pieces can be sold with the property you’re moving out of, there are probably some pieces you’d definitely like to take with you. Using the packing services of professional long-distance movers is the easiest and surest way to keep your furniture properly disassembled, packed, and protected. Not only will our pros take care of the whole process, but they will also get all the protective materials and wrap up your bulky furniture properly.

Packing Fragile Items Is Much Easier Using These Packing Tips

If you’ve ever wondered how to pack fragile items, here is the solution. The best place to begin is the kitchen. First, you need to identify which dishes to pack for moving and what you will leave out to use until the relocation day. After you decide what to box up first, get all the necessary protective materials.

To pack glasses for moving, wrap them with bubble wrap and put them into a hard cardboard box padded with packing paper and filled with packing peanuts. The process will be pretty similar when packing plates for moving, so you could organize the packing of those items the same day. Of course, when boxing up all the kitchen items, ensure to learn how to pack pots and pans, too, since you will definitely need a few of them.

How to Properly Box up Electronics?

If you have a TV, laptop, or similar gadgets, you will have to learn all the ways to properly box up electronics. Protective packing materials like bubble wrap, blankets, hard cardboard boxes, and packing peanuts will be necessary to protect them fully and prevent any possible damage. Whether you want to pack laptops, TV monitors, or anything similar, the process will be the same. However, keep in mind that professional cross-country movers will take care of your TVs, so you won’t actually have to deal with that once you hire them.

What Not to Pack When Relocating

Knowing what to exclude from your packing list is another thing that could facilitate the process. The very first step is identifying the items you will definitely not need in the next home. Use this opportunity to also get rid of other unnecessary items that are not usable anymore. This is especially important to do if you’re moving from a house to an apartment. Another step is to explore which items movers won’t move (more on that later).

House Hunting or What You Should Know When Looking for a New Home

Trying to sell the property while simultaneously searching for a new place you’ll call home can be pretty emotionally draining. However, with a couple of our house hunting tips, we are sure the whole process will be much easier to perform.

When house hunting, the crucial step will be to understand your needs and match them with your budget. The number of your household members will definitely dictate your needs in terms of the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, or square footage overall. Since the real estate market is often complex, consider finding a reliable real estate agent who will help narrow your search and find the property you want in record time.

Know Your Skills and Goals and Research the Job Market

If you want to find a better-paid position, consider your skills, knowledge, experience, and goals that will help you define what you are looking for. The very next step is to research the job market and the opportunities it provides, as well as the average salary for the positions you plan to apply for. This way, you will be able to narrow your search and approach the companies that match your needs and expectations.

Being Proactive Is Your Best Advantage When Searching for Employment

Finding a new workplace can be a time-consuming process. For that reason, make sure to approach this task strategically. A helpful tactic is to create a list of the companies you would like to work for and send them your CV.

Another effective way of finding employment could be to create a Linkedin profile and connect with all relevant experts in the industry, as well as with your previous colleagues. This way, you will get noticed more easily. Last but not least, make sure to explore online platforms and apps for job ads.

Take Advantage of the Power of Networking

Having previous working experience means having contacts that can help you find a job much more easily and quickly. For that reason, reach out to previous employers, colleagues, bosses, managers, and associates you worked with closely and inform them that you’re open to new offers. You can do so by sending them an email or connecting with them through LinkedIn. This way, you can also get recommendations and a higher chance of finding the next employer easily.

Still, be aware that networking means so much more than being in touch with former coworkers. Attending networking events like conferences or business trade shows, whether they are organized virtually or on-site, is of tremendous importance to keep up with the latest trends and greatest experts in the industry. Those events can provide an opportunity to make new contacts.

Preparing the Vehicle for Shipping Properly

One of the most demanding tasks on your moving to-do list will certainly be associated with car preparations for shipping, and once you’ve done it, the whole process will be much easier to perform. Here are the ultimate steps on how to prepare your vehicle for car shipping and make it secure for transport:

• Prepare all necessary documentation like car registration, insurance policy, proof of ownership, driver’s license, original car title.
• Remove all personal items from the vehicle – things like sunglasses, charging cables, water bottles, GPS devices, identification, and insurance documentation. We all tend to store such items in our glove compartments, so remove them before you send the car for a wash.
• Leave mandatory equipment like spare tires, license plates, warning triangle, reflective vest, and emergency kit.
• Schedule a maintenance check with the mechanic and ensure that all repairs are made before the vehicle is loaded on the trailer. Note down every scratch, dent, or another form of damage before the auto-transport company comes to pick the car up. Also, check the tire pressure, battery charge, oil, brakes, coolant, and power steering, and last but not least – note the mileage upon pickup and delivery.
• Wash the vehicle in detail – cleaning your car both from the inside and outside will reveal all the small scratches and other damage, so do it before you hand over the keys. Consider washing it at a professional car wash since they have all the equipment to do it properly.
• Take pictures of the vehicle before you hand it to the carrier. This way, you’ll document the real state of your car before it is handed over to the shipper, and be sure that nothing has been damaged once you receive it back.
• Leave the gas tank full up to a quarter – this way, you will avoid unnecessary weight and still have enough gas to drive it to your new home address if you choose the terminal-to-terminal pickup and delivery option.
• Disable the alarm, lock the car, and give a copy of the keys to the carrier.

Car shipping Takes Time, so Consider Using Rent-a-Car Services

Depending on the mileage and the number of drop-offs, the car delivery could take from 3 to 14 days. Knowing this fact is of utmost importance when planning your time at the new location. If you think you will need a car to get around right away, then consider renting one for a couple of days, and ensure to arrange it in time and in advance.

The Next Task on Your Plate Is – Preparing the Home for Movers

Preparing the house before cross-country movers come over with the moving truck is of essential importance to a functional relocation process and will maximize the efficient use of time. Aside from packing all your belongings into boxes, there are several more things to do, so add them to the relocation planner.

Label the Boxes

Although we have already mentioned this, we will do it again, because it will be very helpful not only while packing the moving truck but also during the unpacking process. This way, you will always know the content of each box and what to unpack first.

Plan Where the Moving Truck Will Be Parked

If you’re moving out of a house, the whole process will be much easier to organize since all you need to do is move your vehicle and ensure that the street is not blocked. However, if you’re relocating from an apartment, you will need to explore how to get a parking permit since the truck usually takes two parking spaces. You can arrange it with your building manager or with the city representative directly. If you choose the latter, turn to your local Department of Building and Safety and obtain the permit in time. Many cities have the possibility to apply online, while some need to resolve it in person or via mail.

Clear Pathways Inside the House

If you want to move efficiently, create clear pathways inside the house, so the movers can move around without the risk of stumbling over things. The best way to do this is to designate a packing area, a room where you’ll store all your packed boxes. No matter how you decide to organize the rooms, secure adequate space for movers because this is the only way to accelerate the process of loading the truck.

Hire a Babysitter to Take Care of Kids on the Big Day

There is no way you’ll have enough time to dedicate to your children on the moving day, so make sure to hire a babysitter who will take care of them or ask some of your closest friends and family members to help you out. Whichever option you choose, organize everything in advance, and know your kids will be completely safe and cared for while you are assisting the movers.

Don’t Forget to Do This Either!

There are also a few more obligations to add to your moving-out day list. Remember to unplug and disconnect all the appliances you’re leaving behind, remove the trash, and get rid of all hazardous materials. Following these moving hacks, you’ll leave the property in perfect condition and ensure you did everything correctly.

Ask Your Long-Distance Movers When They Will Deliver Your Belongings and Prepare Accordingly

Depending on the distance, some stuff might be delivered in 21 business days (plus weekends), which means you should be ready to live without those things for three weeks. For that reason, taking a couple of essential bags with you and having clothes and other essentials will be the best course of action.