Moving cross-country is one of the most stressful things you can do, and if your planning is poor, you will likely suffer the stressful side effects of bad logistics too. Non-stop decisions, seemingly endless packing, the moving quotes received by your moving company and a long time on the road are all factors that can erode your sanity (and probably will if left unchecked!). Add to this the cost of the overall process, and you might start wondering why you decided to move in the first place! But all is not lost – keep reading for the ultimate moving checklist giving you some help with the most important parts of planning a big cross-country move.
How to Move with Ease
If you have a truck or a minivan, you can easily take up some or most of your belongings with you as you move to a new place but that wouldn’t be advisable if you have tons of stuff and very limited time to move it.
The best way to go about this, is to get a moving company around you that can get your things to your new destination. Of course, these companies will collect a small fee for helping you move but the ease and comfort it brings will make it worth it. You can reach out to a company around you to come to an agreement, but it is advisable not to settle until you have checked several online moving quotes to determine the best option for you.
Utilities and cleanliness
When the home is being transferred to your name, you will need to also ensure that the utilities are transferred, or set up if they were not in place before. Arriving at a home with no water or electricity after a long journey is no fun.
Ensure that your new home is clean before your belongings arrive – this will save you a lot of hassle later, as it is far easier to move into a clean place than having to clean around the clutter after things start arriving. A professional house cleaning service is often a great idea.
Update your billing address
To avoid unintentional non-payments, make sure that you change your address with all your service providers in time for the next billing cycle. If you need to cancel any local service providers, like pool or garden services, make sure to give them adequate notice about your upcoming move.
Your bank, medical aid, insurance company, and voter registration records will have to be updated to reflect your new address.
Making a new space your own
Although your first instinct will be to nest and make your new home your own, this is, unfortunately, something that takes a bit of time. Knowing where to find the basics, like your cookware, personal care items, and toiletries will go a long way in making you feel more comfortable in your new environment. Many people believe in setting up the bathroom first so that personal hygiene is taken care of.
Let go of the idea of unpacking everything in one go – tackling this task bit by bit is a lot less stressful, and will allow you to be a bit more mindful of where you would like to put your things. Moving presents an excellent opportunity for clearing and decluttering items that you no longer use or want. Take the opportunity to clear out and make space, before settling in.
Occupy your new space
A small celebration is a great way to acclimatize to your new environment – a simple but tasty meal with the family or a few friends, or even a barbecue, weather-permitting, will let you start your journey in your new home with great memories, right from the start!
Look for clubs and activities in your new area as an easy way to start socializing with others, and more than anything, allow yourself time – you’ll be settled into your new neighborhood before you know it!
Good checklist to keep in mind, especially because moving can be so stressful!
This is a great checklist. I recently moved this summer and I completely forgot to change my address on a few sites. I am glad you have a list of the essentials and reminders of what services to cancel. It is incredibly easy to forget to cancel a service or change your billing address amid the chaos of sorting through and packing. It is also a good idea to update your info on USPS probably a week or so prior to move to ensure mail gets forwarded.