Moving across the country is difficult. The fact is that the USA is a pretty big place — about 3,000 miles from coast to coast! So, if you’re gearing up for a cross-country move, it’s understandable if you’re a little worried about the process.
The right preparation can make all the difference. Hopefully, you’ll have a couple months, or at least a few weeks, to plan in advance for your big move. During this time, it’s essential to think through your strategy. There are plenty of things to consider, from your budget to what items you’re willing to part with. In this post, we’ll walk through what you need to know to make that cross-country move as simple and painless and possible. Let’s break it down.
Step 1: Decide on the way you plan on moving
Are you renting a truck and packing up everything you own? Or, are you planning on starting fresh with a clean slate, and simply flying to your new destination with nothing but your credit card and some clothes for the road?
Chances are, if you’re like most people, the answer is somewhere between those two extremes. Still, it’s important to think about the exact method that you plan on using to move across the country. Here are a few of the common methods, as well as the amount you can expect to pay:
Professional movers: this is the easiest but most costly option. You could pay to have your things professionally taken to your destination (by air or cargo truck), then get a plane ticket and fly there yourself as well. This will cost anywhere from $2000 to $5000, to closer to $10,000 for a large house; but it is as logistically painless as can be. Be sure to only use services employing licenced professionals, preferably who undergo employment background checks.
Rent a truck: Truck rental services offer large moving trucks that can be used to move cross-town or cross-country. Rates can start relatively low — like $20 a day — but become more expensive if you plan on using them to cross state lines. This option will likely cost anywhere from $1000 to $2000, depending on the size of the truck you need.
Pack up the family car: This is naturally the cheapest option, and if you’re able to fit everything you own into your personal car, you’ll definitely get away with a much more inexpensive journey! This option works best if you own an SUV, van, or pickup truck. Keep in mind, however, that you’ll likely have to purchase many of the things you weren’t able to bring, like large pieces of furniture (more on that next).
Once you’ve thought through the way you plan on moving, it’s time to think about what you want to bring with you.
Step 2: Take stock of what you own
Moving can sometimes be a freeing opportunity. You finally have a good reason to part ways with all that clutter that was filling up your house. It’s also a good excuse to buy some new furniture pieces, if you feel that many of the ones you own simply aren’t worth the journey.
Before packing up the truck or van with your belongings, make a packing list of everything you want to bring, and organize it according to intuitive categories: a box for kitchen supplies, a bin for bathroom items, duffle bags for clothing, etc. The last thing you want is to start packing and realize you haven’t rented a large enough truck, or that your compact crossover won’t fit both your bike and your boxes in the hatchback.
Depending on the moving method you choose, the amount of items you’ll be able to haul across the country will be limited to some degree. That means you’ll have to choose wisely which items are essential and which can be left behind. An important rule of thumb is to hang onto things that you know you’ll need immediately in your new destination.
That includes clothes, bedding, toiletries and cleaning supplies, and maybe even your bed. If you do plan on purchasing a new bed at your destination, it’s wise to bring along an air mattress that you can use until you’ve figured out where you’ll get your frame and proper mattress from. Once you arrive, you may also want to look into local moving services to help you bring things from the store to your new place.
Step 3: Plan out the journey
Next, you’ll actually have to drive across the country (unless you’ve paid for professional movers and are flying). This can be quite the slog, and will almost certainly take multiple days to accomplish. If you can bring along a friend, partner, or relative to help with the driving, that’s a great idea. If you can’t, just be sure that you take frequent breaks.
Before embarking, use a map to figure out how far you plan on driving each day. Try not to book yourself for more than 9 hours in a day; road fatigue is a very real danger, and falling asleep at the wheel — or even just losing your reflexes due to exhaustion — can be deadly. If you can, call ahead and book rooms at hotels or short-term rental properties, that way you know exactly where you’re headed and where you’ll be able to rest.
Another factor that many people don’t consider is where they will eat. If you’re into it, one thing that you can pretty much always rely on is fast food. A roadside burger joint, pizza parlor, or taco shop will almost always be available. However, many people try to avoid stopping at such places, either for health reasons, to boost their budget, or simply because they don’t want to make stops if they don’t absolutely have to.
Healthy, energizing roadside snacks like protein bars, trail mix, fresh or dried fruits, or simple granola can all be good options to keep you energized and focused on the road. It’s also important to bring plenty of water. Stopping for the bathroom may be annoying, but the threat of dehydration is real, and it’s better to stop to pee than to become overtired or get a headache from driving all day without any water.
Moving across the country is a challenge. For many, it may be one of the biggest, most exciting adventures of their lives. And, with the right preparation, it can be as near to painless as possible.
Author Bio: Samantha Rupp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She is the managing editor for 365businesstips.com as well as runs a personal blog, mixedbitsmedia.com. She lives in San Diego, California and enjoys spending time on the beach, reading up on current industry trends, and traveling.
