Moving to another home is not only hundreds or thousands of miles you need to travel. An interstate move is a whole process that starts months before the actual moving date and lasts until you unpack and settle into your new house. If you haven’t moved a lot, this journey might worry you. You already feel overwhelmed by all the moving tasks mixed with everyday challenges that will come your way in the next period. That’s why learning how to properly deal with all the moving work will help you stay more organized and save your sanity. We’ve come up with a simple, yet very useful guide on how to coordinate an interstate moving process and become an organized moving pro. Let’s start!

The preparation process

The pre-move period is the time to prepare the house for the relocation. Make sure you start the preparations weeks, or even a month or two before the moving date. This will give you enough time to manage to do all the moving tasks without affecting your everyday routine that includes work, kids, meals, etc.

Be organized

Since moving includes a lot of details, make sure you don’t forget some of these by making a personal moving plan, or a moving checklist. You can list the moving tasks in the form of a timeline, so you can track your progress and manage the pre-move time the best way possible. Use a dedicated notebook, a calendar, or some of the moving apps that allow you to create personalized checklists.

Figure 1If you have the upcoming period properly organized, you won’t worry about managing to do everything on time. alt.tag: A calendar you need to coordinate an interstate moving process.

Sort your home out

Before you start putting things into boxes, make sure you know what exactly you’re packing. It’s necessary to sort your items out and make an inventory of your belongings. This should also include the decluttering process. Getting rid of the items you won’t need in the new house will clear your way and help you save time and money when you start packing. Recycle, sell, or give those items away – depending on their condition – and make more space in your new home for some new items and memories.

Schedule the moving date

Another task that should be one of the first in the moving timeline is finding a mover and scheduling your moving day. Making it official will help you plan the time you have left much better and make you start doing the moving tasks you might be postponing.

So, it’s time to find a moving company – hiring moving help is a way to coordinate an interstate moving process with ease. The earlier you start looking, the better the deal you’re going to find – reliable moving companies offer affordable rates if you book your date on time. Of course, moving on short notice isn’t impossible, but it is often more expensive and more stressful. So, to find a reliable mover, you shouldn’t just pick the first name that you find. Since you must trust them with all your belongings, the moving team you pick should be experienced and trustworthy. Start your search online – you can

avoid problems by doing research – reading moving reviews and gathering more information about the companies you like will make the move a lot safer. Next, try to get recommendations from the people you know and trust – relatives, friends, or co-workers. This way you can minimize the risk of moving scams that are unfortunately the reality of the moving industry.

The packing process

Now, it’s time to start packing your home. Packing the whole house is one of the biggest steps when trying to coordinate an interstate moving process. If you have prepared your home and gotten rid of all the clutter, you can now start planning the packing. Here are some tips on how to coordinate it like a pro.

Make an inventory list

Making a list of your items is a great way to coordinate an interstate moving process and stay organized. You can do this while sorting out and decluttering. Knowing exactly what you’re relocating can help you in many ways. First, you’ll know how much of packing supplies you’ll need. Also, you can estimate your moving costs. And finally, you will have the proof if anything happens during transport – that’s why it’s great to make the inventory by taking pictures with your mobile phone and storing them in a separate photo gallery.

Get enough packing supplies

Once you start packing, you want to be efficient and fast. That’s why you should make sure you have everything you need so you don’t need to make multiple visits to the store to get some more boxes or additional supplies. You’ll need sturdy moving boxes or some other containers, heavy-duty tape, scissors, packing paper, peanuts, or some other protection. Also, make sure you get some markers – it’s important to label all the boxes with your name, address, and the items inside. Knowing what’s inside each box will make it easier to sort the boxes in appropriate rooms once you move in, and make less mess in the hallways or the living room.

Bonus tip: To save time, space, and money, use the items you already have to pack. Containers could be gym bags, drawers, even garbage bags! However, for more delicate or fragile items, use safe moving boxes. Also, old clothes, towels, or linens can protect fragile items very well.

Professional packing – yes or no?

Having your items packed by professionals may cost a bit more, but it can be pretty useful. If you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to packing, or simply don’t know how to do it to protect your belongings, taking professional packing services might be a good idea.

Figure 3: It’s not easy to do everything on your own, so contact the professionals to help you out. alt.tag: A tag with the word heavy on it.

Arriving at the new home

The first night in the new home should also be part of your moving plans. To coordinate an interstate moving process, you need to finish it successfully. Make sure you’re ready for the first night in the new house. Pack the first night/day box separately so you can have everything you need at hand, without searching through multiple boxes. Include toiletries, clothes, snacks, linens, etc. Ensure a stress-free and relaxed first night in the new home – everything you’ll need after a long day of traveling.

Alexa B. is a travel blogger, who also writes articles on moving and house organization. She enjoys exploring unusual travel sports, as well as cooking international dishes.