If you haven’t heard the news yet, my family and I will be moving long distance this year and while that is so exciting, it can also be stressful because there are so many things to do and consider!
This is true for any move, but when you are moving to a new city, across the country, or even to a different country, the to-do list may seem endless. If you are planning a long-distance move yourself, here are a few tips to help you out as you prepare for this new adventure.
These tips should help you (hopefully) reduce stress in the long run, which will make your move less stressful and more fun. Continue reading to learn more.
Get a head start on your to-do list
Don’t wait until you are in the middle of your move to realize that planning a long-distance move takes a lot of time, consideration, and proper execution. There are a lot of things you have to do in order to better prepare yourself for a long-distance move.
Some of these things require a fair amount of time to complete, or you may have to wait on the schedules of someone else to get everything done. Make sure you think of every little small detail (and write it down) and then start checking off your to-dos.
Declutter
Anytime you move, decluttering is helpful, but when it comes to a long-distance move, you will definitely want to travel with and move as little as possible.
Go through all of your closets, drawers, and other storage spaces and see what you need. If you haven’t used it in over a year (and do not plan to in the near future), you may want to consider donating it, tossing it, or selling it. When you are moving with children, traveling with less “stuff” is a bit harder, but it is totally doable! Just be smart with the things that you do choose to bring along with you.
Look into donation guidelines or requirements
If you followed my above tip on decluttering, you might wonder which method is the best way to rid yourself of items you no longer need.
Do a yard sale, utilize the Facebook marketplace, or donate your old furniture and clothing items. Do keep in mind, though – dropping off a bag of clothes at Goodwill isn’t as simple as it was a year or so ago. Wherever you donate household goods locally, check their website to see how and where to give. Goodwill and Salvation Army locations near you may have rules that reflect state and local guidelines, so make sure you check the local site, not just the national one.
You can also check out charities such as AMVETS, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Family Thrift, My Brother’s Keeper, and more to donate. Most of those will pick up donations for free and even leave you a tax deduction receipt, which is always handy.
Either way, local donation centers have new procedures in place to help keep those who are using the items and opening the boxes you donate safe and secure, so just be aware before you head to your local donation spot without doing any research.
Choose movers who know what they are doing
To help you get your moving done fast and without the extra stress, it’s a good idea to research long-distance moving companies who know what they’re doing.
If you are in MA, or New England, check out the Springfield MA commercial moving company, Fresh Start – The Moving Crew – Springfield. Fresh Start – The Moving Crew is the most trusted, most highly-reviewed moving company in New England. They go above and beyond for their clients and always strive to do work that as close to perfect as possible. Worried about valuables? Don’t be – they will take great care of them. Stressed about moving all of your things quickly? They have so much experience that they are able to knock out your move in the blink of an eye!
Fresh Start services are available for customers in MA, CT, NH, ME, or VT, and they travel wherever you need them to, even if that means you’re going quite far!
Get the kids excited
One of the best tips for planning a long-distance move with your family is making sure that the kids are excited about it. This is a huge transition for them and it might be a scary one, too. If you are able to, visit your new city or state ahead of time. Plan out a list of things you will do with your kids once you are there. Let them choose their own rooms. Get them involved in activities once you do move in. However, you can get them excited, go for it. The excitement will get them to feel better about the move, instead of nervous, stressed, or sad.
Create travel plans
Last but not least, create your travel plans for the move. If you need to fly, book tickets. If you need to take multiple cars, figure out how to pack them efficiently and create a driving itinerary. Don’t forget to make a few fun stops along the way!
Once you get to your new city, if you cannot get into your new home immediately, make sure you have hotel reservations booked ahead of time. Think it all through before you leave your old home.
Moving can definitely be stressful, but these tips for planning a long-distance move with your family can make it just a tad bit easier. I hope you enjoyed reading through these tips! I would love to hear any tips that you might have, as well. Feel free to share in the comments.
Briana Marie is a mental health and financial literacy advocate, and founder of Major League Mommy. In her spare time, Briana enjoys yoga, travel, and spending time with her Husband and two daughters.
Choose movers who know what they are doing
