There’s no easy way to say this: cross country moves are among the most difficult residential moves one can make. If you and your family are making a big move this year, you need all the advice you can get.
Keep reading to find our tips on how to move across the country.
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1. Plan Your Route in Advance
One of the biggest stresses about moving is the unknown. When you take that away by meticulously planning your move, you’ll be off to a much better start.
It doesn’t matter if you’re embarking on a three-day drive or a two-week excursion, plan your stops in advance. Book your hotel rooms and decide what restaurants you’ll visit. Use a website like Gas Buddy to determine who has the best gas prices and where you’ll stop for gas along the way.
2. Hire Help
Moving across the country will be much easier if you have a team of supporters by your side.
Hiring a moving company can be pricy but it’ll be worth it in the end. The movers can help you pack your things up as well as load them into their vans. We recommend getting several estimates to have a better idea of what you’ll wind up paying.
You might also consider hiring a vehicle transport company if you have several vehicles. Learn about shipping a car here.
3. Bring Creature Comforts From Home
Anyone who has ever made a big move before can attest that it’s easy for things to be misplaced. If you’re someone who’s very particular about their things, pack your important items separately.
If you have a specific pillow you need to sleep, pack it in your car and not the moving truck. If you have small children who have a stuffed animal or blanket they cherish, bring it along with you.
If you’re traveling with pets, bring some of their favorite toys, blankets, or beds along. Moving isn’t only stressful for humans, so having those items with smells of “home” can help your pet feel more at ease.
4. Bring Road Trip Essentials
There’s no reason your long drive has to be boring and drab. If you’re looking for how to drive cross country and make it fun, we can help.
Well before moving day, work with your family members to create custom playlists. You might even create several for different moods (sleepy, energetic, etc) to keep everyone happy.
If you’re a reader or podcast lover, download a few audiobooks or podcast episodes for your drive. You may as well spend all those hours on the road getting further in your favorite book or learning something new.
No road trip is complete without snacks or drinks. Pack a cooler full of refreshing drinks like water and sodas. Put a few pieces of fruit in the cooler to keep them cold.
Other great easy-to-eat cooler snacks include pepperoni snicks, homemade energy balls, and premade wraps.
Cross Country Moves Made Easy
Cross country moves are a whole other beast when we’re talking about moving. With some planning and preparation in advance, it doesn’t have to be difficult, though.
Keep reading our blogs for more helpful articles to help you live a better, stress-free life.