Moving long-distance is already pricey – but how much are you going to expect to spend when you’re looking to move 1000 miles or more from your home? Typically, these moves are going to cost you $5,000 or more, depending on a number of factors.
Prepping for a move this far is going to take a lot of work and it can be stressful to try and sort out. How do you make sure that you do everything as efficiently as possible? Here’s our guide to getting ready for a 1000+ mile move.
Hire a Moving Company ASAP
You want to start the process of finding a moving company as soon as you’re able to do so. You want to take your time and explore your options so that you can find the best moving company for your purposes.
First, you want to look around online and learn as much as you can about the long distance moving companies that you’re considering. Look for one with a good reputation and that offers cross-country or long-distance moves as part of their services. If you need extra services, like packing services, be sure that they offer those services as well.
Then, ask for moving quotes from at least 3 different companies. Compare the quotes and see which one is going to give you the best value for your move. It’ll definitely be pricey, but a good company will make it worth your while.
Plan Your Itinerary
Now that you’ve sorted out your moving company, it’s time to look at your itinerary. When is moving day? When will you get everything cleaned up in your current residence? When will you leave for your new home?
Then, you want to figure out a day-by-day plan based on everything. Ask the moving company when they expect to get to your new home and have a date in mind based on when you and/or your family need to start work/school.
Be reasonable with your itinerary. You don’t want to be rushed or stressed out by the schedule you’ve set. Try not to have one person drive more than 5-6 hours in a day so that they aren’t exhausted. Schedule hotel stays, food stops, and other such things so that your drive isn’t overwhelming – this is especially important if you have kids and/or pets involved. In short, it’s essential to be realistic.
Figure Out the Costs
There are a lot of costs associated with your long-distance move – and they aren’t just related to hiring a moving company. You’ll get what you need from the moving company that you choose for your moving purposes as we described above.
After that, your itinerary is going to be another part of the cost process. Will you need to stay in a hotel overnight? There’s a cost associated with that. How much is the gas going to cost (you can use a variety of websites to figure out average gas costs in different states)? And what about food and other things you may need on the way.
Be sure that you’ve got enough money aside. The last thing that you want is to not have enough money to finish your move effectively, so over-budgeting is wise in order to have some wiggle room to work with.
Start Packing Early
The sooner that you start packing, the easier that it’s going to be for you to be ready for moving day. The fact is, you need to be sure that you’re doing the best you can in order to have things organized and to be pretty much packed up by the time moving day comes along.
One of the most important things to do as you pack early is to go ahead and put items into separate piles. One pile is trash, one is pack, and one is donated/sell/give away. That last pile is really important because you don’t want to be hauling extra, useless stuff across the country.
Many people will schedule a moving sale a weekend or two before they move. Then, when that’s all said and done, they’ll schedule a time for the local thrift store/donation center to come and take everything else away. That way, you can stay on top of things and make sure that you don’t get stuck with extra stuff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a moving pod instead of hiring a moving company?
Absolutely! But you’re going to need to load it up yourself, which can take a lot of time and effort to complete. You also run the risk of injury. So, many times, it’s a lot safer for you to connect with a cross country moving company that can deal with all of it for you.
What are the average costs for mileage for a long-distance move?
On average, you can expect to pay somewhere around 75 cents per mile for a long-distance move. But don’t forget, they also include the weight of your items in there, which is going to fall around 50 cents per pound. This is why long-distance moves end up varying widely in terms of cost.
What about transporting vehicles?
If you need to move an ATV, a classic car, or another vehicle, there are a number of vehicle transportation services that can give you a hand with the process. They usually charge per mile, but if you are unable to send it with the movers and/or you’re planning on flying instead of driving, it’s a great option to consider.
Prepping for Your Move Effectively
There are so many logistical things you need to determine for your move, it’s essential that you start to figure out things as soon as possible. A cross-country move like this can take a lot of effort to sort out, so it’s well worth your time to see what you can find and get ready now, instead of later.
