Sometimes the inevitable call of a new job, family situation, or new love, will present the opportunity to move cross-country. While moving from place to place within the same region can be daunting, making a move to an entirely different state or region of the country can be far more taxing, if you are not prepared. There is a great amount of planning and care that must be involved in a cross-country move in order to ensure you do it right.
Pre-Move Prep
Before you decide to move, make sure you do the legwork involved in finding employment near your new home. Should you choose to move before setting up a job, you may find yourself stranded in a new place with low finances and few options. Instead of having to make a mad scramble for the classified section once you arrive, planning ahead will take a great deal of weight off your shoulders
It’s also important to have your living situation sorted out before you move. While this may seem like a no-brainer, some folks opt to stay with relatives or friends in their new town while they take care of finding a new place to live. If you choose to stay with others, you may run the risk of over-staying your welcome or becoming a burden. If it is at all possible, find your new home and make arrangements to move in before you leave your current residence.
What’s Worth Moving
After you’ve squared your living and employment situations away, it’s time to take an inventory of your possessions. While this is never a pleasant choice to have to make, it’s vital in saving you time and money during the move. The fewer items you have to move, the less time and space you’ll have to take up when the packing process begins. This can save you a significant amount of money when moving time comes. The smaller the moving vehicle, the lower the price!
Whatever is non-essential or can be re-purchased cheaply should be sold, donated, or discarded. If you don’t feel like having a yard sale, sell them online. Beyond the convenience, online selling generally assures you will get a much higher return on your item than you would through a yard sale or garage sale. Old furniture, books, DVDs, appliances, and other things which may weigh down your move are usually sought after by others. If you don’t want to take the time to sell these items online, donation is a helpful option.
Toting Your Stuff
If you’re going to rent a trailer and/or moving truck, do your research beforehand. Find out how much it will cost to rent the size you need, and determine, before ordering, the size truck required to move what you need most. Consider vehicle towing, mileage and gas consumption in order to determine the best method of transporting all of your essentials.
Don’t be afraid to be creative when making a big cross-country move. Perhaps a relative or a friend would be willing to drive your vehicle and belongings across the country for you, simply for the experience. If this is the case, you can offer to pay for their gas, food, and lodging for their trouble. Depending on the move, this may be more cost effective than using a moving service or vehicle shipping service. Or, if you don’t have many possessions in the first place, it might make sense to let go of all your large items and move by airplane, train, or bus.
There are a myriad of options and services at your disposal! Decide what suits your needs, do a little homework before the move, and enjoy your new home … wherever it may be!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
