Moving to a new house in the same town or nearby is an experience by itself, but moving long-distance to another far away city or even country can be a different kettle of fish. The move can even be a culture shock and needs you to understand the challenges of this new locale so that you can plan your move better.
Visit The Place You Are Moving To
To start with, it cannot harm to visit the other place you are moving to and get in some way familiar with its particular characteristics so that you can plan even better to deal with any major changes you may be required to make. Once you have done this, you will be better equipped to make the right arrangements for your move.
Declutter Your Belongings
Once you are back from your exploratory trip, go through all the closets in your home, even the attic and basement where you may have stored your belongings that you will have accumulated from your stay of a few years. If it is a family home you have acquired, the things you will find may be part of your past and that of your family, with many of them having sentimental attachments. All the same, take the time to do this, and then comes the hard part. Decide what you want to carry with you to your new home. Here, you need to consider the sort of accommodation you have arranged at the other end, and the space you will have for all the things you have decided to carry with you. The available space and even the weather there can influence your choice.
Now that you have culled your belongings decide whether you want to keep or dispose of those things you will not be carrying with you to your new home. If you have not used any item for a year or more, you will find it can safely be relegated to the disposal bin. Hold a garden sale, or get hold of agencies who can take those things of your hand. You may even make a fair bit of money out of this disposal, which can help meet your moving expenses. If your move is for a temporary period, even of few years, and you will ultimately be coming back to your hometown, look at the possibilities of arranging for storage of these redundant items that you will find useful when you come back again. You may also need to arrange for such storage at the new town you are moving into, if you have not arranged for the accommodation, and need to keep them safe while you find a new house.
Hire Professional Movers
You are now at a stage where you know where you have to move, the space you have in the new town, and the things that you need to carry during your cross country move. This is where you have to decide whether you will pack up the things yourself and arrange for transport, or whether you need to call in moving professionals. If you happen to go with the later option, you could refer to 9kilo cross country movers list. At this stage it is imperative to have a schedule in place for your move. This may have to match several things, like when you need to take up your new job or assignment, school start dates for the children, the start of the lease for the new home, or even the ending of the one you presently live in. Moving can be an expensive proposition, especially if it is to a faraway place. You can save yourself some money if you plan this during the off-season and not during the busy July and August period when most people plan their moves.
Pack Your Items
Packing is one thing that must be done systematically, and this is what professional movers will do quickly. You can pack all your items category wise or room wise, depending on the system you are comfortable with. But whether you do the packing or have the professionals do it, listing the items in each package is a must and correctly labeling each of the boxes. Delicate and fragile items need special packing as would items of furniture. Moving can often require cars to be also shifted, though you can always plan to drive down on your own. Special items like pianos may also need the mover to look at the new city facilities to lift and place it correctly in your new home.
It is always best to look for professional packers who have branches or some representation at the new place you are moving to, as this will lead to better coordination. Make a proper contract, see that your goods are adequately insured and work out on an appropriate schedule for packing, moving, and receiving the goods at the other end and unpacking them.
Moving can be stressful, but if you plan and follow your checklist for the entire move, it can be an easy process. Also, hiring professionals can be time-consuming for a smooth long-distance move.