3 Useful Tips for Long-Distance Moves

You’re not moving a few blocks away. You can’t rent a moving truck and ask your friends to help you pack up everything in an afternoon. Your new home is a long way away from your current location. So, it’s going to require some careful planning to move there without a hitch.

What are some tips you can follow for your long-distance move?

1. Use a Shipping Container

A regular moving van might not be the right option for your long-distance move. A better option just might be a shipping container for moving. A shipping container has a large internal volume meant for carrying lots of cargo. A 20-foot container has an internal volume of 1,172 ft³ while a 40-foot container has an internal volume of 2,385 ft³. You should be able to fit all of your belongings in there without having to return for a second trip!

Shipping containers can be moved via truck, so one can be driven to your new location, even if it’s several states away. The containers can also travel via ship. If your new home is an ocean away, you can ship your belongings to the nearest port. Then, they can be picked up and driven to your new home. No matter how far you’re going, this vessel could be the right fit for you.

If you’re interested in purchasing a shipping container for your move, you should find out if you have enough space for container delivery. If your current home (along with your new home) is located in a high-traffic urban space with narrow streets, it may not be possible to offload the container properly. Delivery trucks need a wide berth and clear roads.

2. Assess Your Biggest Items

Before you make a plan to pack away your small items, like silverware and books, you should assess your biggest and heaviest items. These are some of the items you should assess:

• Dressers
• Dining room tables
• Couches
• Futons
• Mattresses
• Refrigerators
• Freezers
• Ovens
• Dishwashers
• Washing machines
• Dryers

Why should you assess them? They can complicate your move.

First, they are large. They will also take up a lot of precious space in the moving vessel (whether it’s a moving van or shipping container). You’ll want to fit as many of your belongings in there as possible so that you can move everything in a single trip. Plus, there’s a possibility that the items won’t fit through the doorframes of your new home.

Second, they are heavy. Heavier items will be harder to lift without injury. Heavier items will also increase the total weight of your cargo. This impacts the overall cost of transporting your vessel long distances, whether it’s by road or sea. The heavier your vessel is, the more money you’re likely to spend on it. If you’re trying to be careful about your budget, it might be most cost-effective and less stressful to leave your current heavy items behind and purchase new versions of the items after moving.

3. Learn What Can’t Travel

Certain items may be considered unsafe for traveling cross-country or overseas, like perishable foods, plants and hazardous materials. You do not want to make the mistake of packing these items.

In the best-case scenario, the items could be discovered by the transport company. They could refuse to transport your belongings until those specific items are removed. Your moving plans will be delayed, and you will likely have to pay more money than you originally intended. In the worst-case scenario, these items could cause serious problems in the midst of transport (for example, a hazardous item could combust).

Learn which items aren’t safe to travel out of state and out of the country. These should not be packed with your other belongings.

A long-distance move will be a little more complicated than a move next door. You’ll have to work harder to make sure everything goes perfectly. Start by following these tips!