The Ultimate Moving Checklist for Your Cross Country Move

Luxy Transport

In 2021, approximately 27.1 million families moved homes in the United States. Many of these moves were across the country, which required more extensive planning.

Planning a move can be hectic, leaving many families overwhelmed. This stress often leads to more complications and forgotten details throughout the move.

However, following a checklist for moving can help things go smoothly overall.

Continue reading to learn about this ultimate moving checklist that will alleviate most of your stress!

Pick a Moving Date

The first priority on any moving-out checklist is to set an estimated moving date. Doing so will need to be done as soon as possible so that you stay on a set schedule. Staying on schedule is essential so that you don’t run into more complications.

Start by picking a week you’re interested in moving. This week will give you a good idea of when things need to be done. Of course, the sooner you get things done, the better.

You’ll need to specify an exact date as the time gets closer so that you can hire the necessary services. Failure to do so could mean moving companies are fully booked, and you’ll have to reschedule.

Create a Budget

Another critical factor you must do is set a realistic budget for your move. Remember, cross-country moves can be expensive and should be budgeted for accordingly. Some things you’ll need to budget for include:

Moving supplies
Vehicle transportation
Movers
New home necessities
Moving trip (hotels, food, fuel)

Getting a quote from the movers and vehicle transportation companies is a great idea. This will give you an overall picture of how much you should budget for and the average costs.

You should also ensure extra room in your budget for unexpected expenses. Doing so will give you a safety net without requiring you to go over budget.

Hire Movers

Hiring movers is another step you should take for your extensive move. Movers will take a lot of the labor out of the move, allowing you to focus on other priorities. They will also handle most of the brunt of work, so you have more energy overall.

You must do your research on each moving company. Doing so will allow you to hire a reliable company you can trust throughout the process. Always look up online reviews to better understand how the company conducts business and treats its customers.

You must also ensure that the company you hire has insurance. An insurance policy will protect your belongings in the event of an accident or if any damages occur.

Hire Vehicle Transportation

Most cross-country moves require you to transport your vehicles. Families with multiple vehicles may find this challenging and prefer hiring companies to get the job done.

Vehicle transportation companies are experts in relocating your vehicles and understand the procedures necessary. These companies adequately load, haul, and unload your vehicle safely and efficiently.

As previously mentioned, you should research each company to ensure you find a reputable service. Pick a company you’re comfortable with and is experienced in transporting vehicles similar to yours.

Declutter and Organize Your Home

As you’ve lived in your home throughout the years, your family has likely accumulated unnecessary clutter. This clutter can make a move more stressful when trying to organize and pack.

Before you begin packing, you should consider decluttering your home. Doing so will lighten the load and make packing quicker.

Start by going room to room and removing any trash, unused objects, or outgrown clothing. You can donate anything that may still have value instead of throwing it away.

Once you’ve decluttered, you can begin organizing your home. Doing so will make the packing process much more manageable since everything will be ready to go in boxes.

You’ll need to organize each room separately. Compile similar objects like bedding, clothing, toiletries, etc.

Buy Packing Supplies

The last step before you begin packing is to buy packing supplies. Packing supplies are essential for your belongings to stay safe and not break during transport. These supplies will also ensure everything stays put along the way and does not get strung out in the moving vehicle.

Always buy any unique supplies you think you may need. However, some standard moving supplies include:

Packing peanuts
Boxes
Tape
Packing paper
Moving blankets

These supplies are usually affordable and can be found at most hardware stores. Some moving companies also provide these supplies for an extra fee.

Begin Packing

Packing is one of the most exhausting steps on any moving checklist. This step can take lots of time and effort as you pack your belongings into boxes. However, this step is one of the last things you’ll need to worry about before making the actual move.

Since you’ve already organized each room, you can begin boxing things up. Remember to always box items up by likeliness to make unpacking easier.

You must also label each box with its belongings. Doing so will help you find things quickly and unpack things in the designated room. Label each box by room with a brief description of its belongings.

You will also need to note which boxes have fragile objects in them. This will give the movers a heads up, so they are extra careful with these objects. Once everything is packed up, the movers will load everything into their transport vehicle.