Relocations take time and money – that’s a well-known fact. However, having those two isn’t enough to pull off a successful and stress-free move because good planning is the most important relocation essential. Do you know how to plan a move to another city? Don’t panic if you don’t – with our brilliant guide, you will learn in no time.
How can I plan a move to another city? This is the most common question that bothers almost everybody who plans to move in the near future, even if they had moved before. Let’s face it – it’s hard to master the art of relocating. Or, at least it used to be. Now that you have our guide in front of you, things are about to get way easier. We’ve gathered the best, game-changing advice that will help you get through this smoothly.
How to Plan a Move to Another City – A Guide to a Stress-Free Long-Distance Moving Experience
Planning a move to a new city often sounds like an impossible mission – we all fear relocation stress and countless changes that we’ll face after the move to another state. So, it’s reasonable to ask yourself – can a stress-free move be achieved? We are here to tell you that it is more than possible. In fact, if done right, long-distance moves don’t need to face you with any issues and can be a pleasant experience. You don’t have to wait for the relocation day to pass to start enjoying the benefits of relocating.
The Ultimate Moving Tip – Make Lists for Everything
The queen of relocation tips and the one tip you mustn’t avoid is this one – prepare a lengthy list for everything relocation-related. Why do we suggest this? The reason is simple. When faced with such a challenge as cross-country moving, people tend to overlook even the most obvious tasks such as packing paintings.
So, to avoid mistakes and move efficiently, we suggest writing down a to-do list with all the tasks you need to accomplish before long-distance movers arrive to unload the truck. Additionally, having a separate expenses checklist is a wise idea.
The best way to face this challenge is to be organized and write lists for everything
First Steps to Moving to a New City – Do a Thorough Research, Find a Perfect Neighborhood, and a Home of Your Dreams
Relocating to a new city is a long process – you can’t just wake up one day and say, “I’ll move there next month” – that’s not how things work. It’s going to take a bit more effort on your side. Obviously, you’ll first have to decide where to move. This is mainly connected to your reasons to move and shouldn’t be a challenging issue.
A Neighborhood That Suits All Your Needs – What to Look for?
What to look for when choosing a neighborhood? Do you want to live in the downtown area, or is your plan settling down and living in the suburbs? Either way, it would be good to look at your options after considering a few factors that affect the livability score of an area – a score that tells us how good a particular place is for living. Let’s see what the factors are:
- The cost of living,
- Job opportunities,
- Real estate market,
- Amenities,
- Access to green spaces,
- Crime rates,
- Public transportation,
- Access to good schools,
- Demographics of a community.
Choosing a neighborhood is one of the most important things to do before you move. Don’t spare time when making this decision – take as long as you need. Consider everything from public transportation to access to parks. Trust us, this isn’t something where you want to make a relocation mistake.
Finding a perfect place to call home is a life-altering decision - don’t rush it
House-Hunting Will Take a While – You Have to Be Patient
There are thousands of house-hunting tips out there, but the most important one would be to know what you want out of a home – how many rooms, bathrooms, square feet, and what kind of amenities. If you elaborate on that, your real estate agent will do their work faster, and you will have your new home sooner. However, you must stay patient – a perfect house or an apartment doesn’t magically show up overnight.
Consider Finding a Roommate
Are you relocating to a new place alone? If so, consider looking for a roommate. Not only will you be less lonely in your apartment, but you’ll also save some money on rent. This is a perfect solution for those who have yet to find a job after college or plan to search for a job after the move.
Make sure your house or apartment has everything you want - never settle for less
Contact Professional Cross-Country Movers
A long-distance move isn’t something you can do alone. You will have to contact reputable and trustworthy cross-country movers if you want to avoid relocation depression induced by loss of belongings and plenty of money. Trust us – many have been burned like this before. So, be smart when choosing a relocation company. Don’t go with the first one you set your eyes to – not everybody will provide you with excellent long-distance moving services.
Long-distance movers are an unavoidable part of any successful move - contact them
Make Sure You Start Preparations for the Move on Time
No one wants to have a last-minute relocation. So, unless you absolutely have to, don’t put yourself under this kind of pressure. You will be prone to forgetting and making mistakes that could’ve been easily avoided. Give yourself at least two whole months to handle everything without rushing – you’ll be glad you did.
There’s No Efficient Move Without Decluttering
Getting organized to move means getting rid of the excess stuff in your soon-to-be-former apartment or house. It’s important to know what not to pack. Nobody can really use everything they collect over the years – we’re all a bit hoarders. If you want to ease up the packing process (even if you’ve booked packing services), go room by room and declutter.
What to do with all those belongings that you’ll part ways with? You have a few options: donate, sell, gift them to friends, recycle, or throw in the garbage. Basically, think like a minimalist – check out the video below to see some advice on doing exactly that.
Get Adequate Packing Supplies
After you have purged the whole place, you are one step closer to packing. But, hold on, there’s one more thing to do before you finally get to pack books or furniture. You can’t do it if you don’t have the suitable packing materials for the task – here are the essential supplies anyone should have by their side when preparing for a move to a new home:
- Boxes (small, medium, large),
- Packing paper,
- Bubble wrap,
- Plastic wrap,
- Furniture blankets,
- Dolly,
- High-quality tape,
- Markers for labeling,
- Styrofoam peanuts.
You can’t pack anything without quality supplies
Get Familiar With the Essential Packing Hacks Before You Start to Pack Your Belongings
Some of the best relocation hacks include the packing ones. Researching them is more than beneficial for anybody who plans to pack on their own – the job is always easier if you use a few brilliant hacks, especially if you have to pack in a hurry. Before we share our knowledge with you, let’s see how to organize packing and which items to pack first.
Where to Begin? Here’s What to Pack First
It seems overwhelming to think that you have a few weeks to wrap up your whole household inventory. That’s why many people have no clue where to even begin. Luckily, there’s a simple rule to follow – pack non-essential items first. Begin by wrapping up storage areas, then do the same with the living room and bedroom (leave the bed so you can sleep, obviously). Packing dishes and kitchen items, as well as the bathroom, should be left for last.
Tips That Will Help Keep Your Items Intact in the Box During the Move
A lot can go wrong during the ride on the truck. Of course, some stuff is out of your control, but how you pack your belongings is something that depends only on you. It’s essential to learn how to disassemble furniture or how to protect the most fragile items from breaking, but that’s not something most people forget. The trick is to learn how to pack a box, so nothing inside gets damaged. Here’s all the advice you could use:
- Reinforce the bottom of the box with tape so that it can carry a heavy weight.
- Put a layer of clear packing paper on the bottom before placing items inside.
- Carefully arrange items in the box, so they can’t tumble around during the ride.
- Never overpack a box – even if it can fit way more stuff.
- Never leave the residual space empty – fill it with padding materials or bubble wrap.
- Always seal the box with tape.
- Label every box, so it’s not hard to find items once you get to unpacking.
There are many tricks and hacks that can help you pack items better and faster or show you how to use alternative materials. It would take days to list them all, but some of our favorites are mentioned in the video below – check it out.
Plan Your Moving Day Down to Every Little Detail
Don’t think that everything is over once you seal the last box. No, you still have to get through the big day. It’s a common practice to prepare everything the night before – some comfy clothes to wear (we hope you didn’t pack your favorite sneakers and tracksuit when you packed shoes and clothes) and a bag with essentials that includes the following:
- Laptop and chargers,
- Important documents,
- Valuable items,
- Basic hygiene products,
- Clothes to change after the move,
- Money,
- Snacks and water bottles.
Those relocating with kids should have a plan for them – little ones shouldn’t be running around while long-distance movers do their work and load the truck. The same goes for pets – if you’re relocating with pets, be sure to leave them with trusted friends or family members. And lastly, remember to learn how to tip movers – you wouldn’t want to embarrass yourself by undertipping.
You’ll be celebrating your success soon - all that’s left to do is get through the big day
Be Ready for an Adjustment Period After Your Move
Everybody has an adjustment period after the long-distance move. For some, it lasts a few days. For others, it’s a few months. You may not be facing any struggles, or you might have adjustment insomnia – you can’t predict that. Whatever happens, it is essential to try to settle into a routine. Decorate your residence, or explore the area around it after work. Of course, you will have plenty of boxes to unpack after the move – don’t put this off forever.
It’s Important to Make Friends in the New City – Look for the Groups You’d Like to Join
Making friends in another state can sound scary, especially for introverts. It’s crucial not to lock yourself in your residence after the move, no matter how lovely it is. Some people tend to do that as a coping mechanism after such a massive change that a long-distance move is. Don’t fall prey to such a common mistake – you need to go out, explore, meet people. Find a hobby that allows you to join a group or visit community events – friendly people are everywhere. You just have to get out of your abode to meet them.
Your adjustment period might be tough, but don’t let that discourage you - it’ll pass
Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone and Having a Fresh Start Is What Long-Distance Moving Is All About
Although relocations require a lot of work, there is no doubt that they are worth the trouble. Starting anew somewhere else is a brave step, especially for those who take that step alone. It shows the strength of character and the ability to get out of the comfort zone and face the unknown. You can’t deny the fact that this is healthy – it builds character and makes us more mature. Everyone should have this experience at least once in their life.
