Leaving your home is more complex than taking a few things and driving away. It’s even harder when you’re going to the other side of the country. That’s why you must follow this moving across the country checklist to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible and that you will remember everything during the commotion. Let’s find out more!
1. Look for a Decent Moving Company
The first thing you’ll have to do is find the right moving company to take you across the country to your final destination. You should consider certain things before hiring any business. Sometimes, your employer might handle the move if they offer a relocation package, but you need to understand what you’re responsible for.
The movers could still require you to liaison with the workers and tell them where everything goes. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a moving company on your own, you need to check their websites for deals and reviews. You need to explain precisely what you want and be sure that they can handle such a big commitment because driving across the country with all your items is challenging.
They’ll deal with your furniture, TVs, appliances, and other delicate items. They need to have the proper equipment and trucks to handle things as best as possible. It’s also good to know about their insurance policies in case anything happens. Your property might still suffer some damage on the road even if adequately secured, and you must understand what kind of compensation you can receive. Let’s continue analyzing this moving across the country checklist.
2. Start Sorting and Discarding
Once you’ve taken care of the moving company, you can start sorting your items. You won’t want to take everything with you, and going through the things you own offers an excellent opportunity for purging and home cleaning. People accumulate too much stuff, including knick-knacks, souvenirs, useless documents, old furniture, etc. Therefore, you need to take stock of everything you want to bring to your new home and discard anything else.
However, if you feel like discarding certain items is wasteful, you can organize a garage sale. It’s the perfect way to earn a little extra cash while eliminating what you don’t need. Remember that your new home symbolizes the next step in your life, and you must have enough room to accept the chances coming your way. Decluttering might seem like an internet trend that only works for rich, minimalist people, but that’s untrue.
You can still clear your life of useless things and maintain a maximalist lifestyle. Wanting to save items just in case doesn’t mean you like to hoard. It means that you understand the value of everything you’ve bought. However, your new start should not include things you don’t want anymore.
3. Check Your Insurance
Your home insurance is one of the main things you’ll need to change after you move. You must call the insurance agency to transfer all your policies to your new home. Some companies offer coverage for moving, so find out what they can pay if that’s the case. You also need to change your personal insurance to reflect your new address. Furthermore, remember that some agencies have different prices and offer in other states.
If their policy is inconvenient for your household, consider changing companies altogether. It’s a huge hassle, but it’s often better than being stuck with insurance that only covers some situations that could happen in your new residence. It shouldn’t be that complicated, either. You just need to begin your search and plan as soon as possible, so your family won’t be caught without protection once you move.
This moving across the country checklist can help you get organized in many ways, but it can’t protect you from all the things that could happen when you leave your former house. Therefore, you must learn as much as you can about your new state and sign up for insurance that benefits your household the most.
4. Gather Boxes and Stuff to Pack
After clearing out your things and knowing exactly what you want to take to your new house, it’s time to gather the materials for the actual process. You’ll need boxes which you can buy or recycle used ones. Most supermarkets and other retail stores are happy to give anyone their boxes because it’s better than throwing them away. You’ll also need protective material like packing peanuts or bubble wrap for your most valuable things.
However, there’s something you probably haven’t considered yet. You might not want to take specific furniture and heavy pieces to your new home, but you can keep them to sell later or donate. Fortunately, a storage company is a great option for anyone moving. You can rent a unit to keep your things, giving you more time to plan what to do after settling in your new house.
Remember to label all your boxes and stick to a specific order when packing. Kitchen items in one box, each kid’s things in another, etc. This will simplify your unpacking process, and your movers can simply put the boxes in the appropriate rooms. It’s also a good idea to take inventory of certain things with pictures and videos. Everyone has a phone, so if there are particular items you don’t want to lose, you can record yourself placing them in a specific box with a certain label. It’s one of the many helpful things about having a moving across the country checklist.
5. Discontinue Your Services
If the utility bills are in your name, you must discontinue all your services and schedule a start date for your new home. Some accounts might be in the landlord’s name, so you don’t have to worry about that, but you need to change the ones in your name before you move away. You can start by calling local electricians and changing your address. But other services should be considered too, such as the phone, cable, internet, gas, water, oil delivery, etc.
There are even some services most people don’t remember. Call the house cleaning and babysitting companies to let them know you’ll no longer be around. Your dog walker, gardener, pool maintenance, newspaper delivery, and gym membership must be canceled. Remember to take your things out of your safety deposit box. If you have a P.O. Box, you’ll need to take your things out and find a new one closer to home. Furthermore, you might be entitled to some refunds, so always check the contracts, just in case.
6. Hire Experts for Repairs Where Needed
It’s a bad idea to leave your home in a less-than-pristine state. Whether you owned or rented it, it’ll need some repairs so you can get the most out of a sale or your security deposit back. Therefore, check the usual things, such as holes in the walls from portraits and everything else caused by regular usage. Hiring repair technicians is also a good idea, particularly if you plan to sell the place.
You can start with a roofer if you notice something odd or need an inspection. A lawn sprinkler service may also help you bring your garden to life so you can get a better price during the sale. Ensuring that the alarm system works correctly. Hiring an HVAC company will also be beneficial. The idea is to do everything you can to leave the area with no unfinished business. You’ll be busy enough continuing this moving across the country checklist, so it’s best to reduce your worries with expert repairs.
7. Add Your New Address Where Needed
Aside from discontinuing certain things and scheduling new utility deals, you’ll need to change your address for most of your items. You need to contact USPS to get your mail re-routed, which shouldn’t be a problem. However, you must ensure that other entities know where to find you. Go online and change your banking details.
Your insurance companies and any credit card issuer outside your regular bank should also know about your residence change. Your new place of work needs to have your current address as well. Call your financial advisors too. Some people give this information to a couple of trusted neighbors just in case there’s a problem. Furthermore, your extended family needs your address as well. Let’s continue with this moving across the country checklist.
8. Have All Your Records on Hand
The next item on the moving across the country checklist is to find all your records and important documents. You might have already packed your insurance and have your I.D. in your wallet, but you’ll need everything else. Buy folders or anything else to help you quickly organize and carry them.
You will need birth certificates for everyone in your household, medical and dental records, degrees and transcripts, kids’ school information, passports, and other legal items. If you have vet records, you can add them to the pile. Losing these papers when you move is too easy, so you must be careful. Another good idea is to fill all the household prescriptions before you move, so you won’t have to worry about finding a pharmacy as soon as you reach your new state.
It’s better to be prepared because there’s nothing worse than scrambling to find something while trying to adapt to an unfamiliar place. If you don’t have your records, you might have to visit a new doctor, which can take weeks, depending on the nearby medical practices. Always be safe by planning for the worst-case scenario.
9. Find a Babysitter for Your Kids and Someone to Watch Your Pets
Moving can be hectic and tiring, so you’ll need someone to watch your kids, pets, and plants. It’s always best to get them out of the way on a moving day, at least while you get everything ready with the moving company. You’ll be in and out of your house, putting boxes in the truck, and more. Therefore, your extended family or a nanny/petsitter should watch your little ones. You can pick them up when everything is settled.
The last thing you want is for your child to get hurt or lost in the hassle of everything, and dogs might run off and bark too much, disrupting the process. Cats are already prone to wander around, and you don’t want to be calling for them once you’re ready to leave. This moving across the country checklist has many tips to help avoid headaches.
Meanwhile, some people are as attached to their plants as their pets, so you can arrange for someone to help you with them. They can’t go in the moving truck like the rest of your things as they might be damaged. Therefore, you can find someone to take them for good or pack them last. Remember to put them on top of everything else in your car once you’re ready to go.
10. Call the Movers to Confirm Everything
Once you’ve done everything else on this moving across the country checklist, there’s only one thing left: confirming everything with the movers. Call them a day or two before your scheduled move, and ask them if they’re good to go. You can discuss payment methods so there won’t be any misunderstandings later and check if there’s anything else they need from you.
Remember to plan a specific time for them to come and let your neighbors know, even if it’s not required. They should be informed about workers coming and going so they don’t get worried. It’s the polite thing to do, and you’ll leave on a good note. You can even buy a little present for your favorite neighbors to thank them for the time they helped, let you borrow sugar, or watched your kids. You must consider more than just practical matters when you leave your home.
If you follow this moving across the country checklist, you won’t have any problems. You can drive away and start your new life in an exciting new area. Take things slowly, and don’t panic. You can do this!