You’ve decided to move from Orlando, Florida, to Katy, Texas. Now it’s time to tackle your huge moving to-do list. Making a long-distance move requires a lot of planning, and it can be stressful, but you can use these five tips to help you make your long-distance move as smooth as possible.

Lighten the Load: 

If you’re hiring professional cross-country movers, you’ll want to move as little as possible. Your moving cost will largely depend on how much your belongings weigh. My move asserts that other factors, such as distance and move date will also help determine the cost. 

Sort through your possessions and decide what you need and want to move. Donate gently used items to Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, or the Salvation Army.

Photo courtesy of Ruth Hartnup on Flickr.

Decide on a Mode of Transportation:

Decide whether you’ll be driving or flying to your new home in Katy, Texas. If you decide to fly and have a car, you’ll want to hire an auto transport company. The price of auto transportation will depend largely on your car’s size.

Price shouldn’t be the only thing you consider when hiring an auto transport company. Ask the company how involved they’ll be during the process and whether they offer cargo insurance. 

Determine How You’ll Move:

You’ll need to decide if you plan to move or hire a professional moving company like this West Houston-Katy moverConsumer Reports suggests getting at least three in-home estimates from professional moving companies. You should be suspicious if the estimate is unusually low or if the company gives you an estimate online or over the phone without having sent a representative to your home to check things out. 

Before hiring a moving company, check their credentials. You may want to consider hiring a company that’s certified by the American Moving & Storage Association’s ProMover Program; it requires movers to undergo a background check and to follow the association’s standards. 

Pack Strategically:

It’ll likely take you several weeks to pack everything yourself. If you decide to pack yourself, start with the items you know you won’t need for a while.

Stay organized, pack room by room, and pack like items together. Clearly label each of your boxes on all sides so that they’re easy to sort at your new place. Lifehack suggests making things even easier on yourself by using color-coded labels for boxes that go into different rooms. For instance, you could use yellow labels for boxes that go into the kitchen, green labels for boxes that go into your bathroom, and blue labels for boxes that go into your bedroom. 

Give Yourself Time to Adjust:

Moving cross-country is a huge change in your life. It will take you some time to adjust to a new location, time zone, and culture. It’s normal to become emotional during and after your move.

Making a cross-country move is a huge undertaking. With careful planning and organization, you can make the transition into your new place more comfortable. 

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