Moving house is a stressful life event — even if it’s just down the street or to another suburb. But long-distance moving, now that’s a whole other ball game. 

From packing up your house, choosing the right moving company and moving container, to changing your mailing address, and settling in a completely new city, there seem to be a million things to consider. 

The key to this herculean task is preparation. No matter how massive you feel this endeavor might be, if you’re fully prepared, you can definitely cross the bridge. Of course, don’t think you can do this by yourself, it’s always prudent to ask for help or even delegate tasks to members of the family and make this a worthwhile family activity. You’ll feel better afterward, knowing that each has a valuable contribution to attaining this objective.

Luckily, this blog is here to help you sort your life (and packing) out before the big day. Read on for more!  

  1. Start Your Packing Early (And Don’t Rush!)

One of the best ways to manage your stress with a long-distance move is to get ahead of yourself in terms of packing. It might seem excessive, but it’s actually a good idea to start your packing weeks in advance. 

Obviously, you want to begin with the least-used items in your home, then move on to packing up the essentials closer to your moving date.

For example, you want to tackle areas of your home such as your attic, basement, or storage cupboards and start clearing those out first. This is a good chance to declutter as well and throw out items you just don’t need any longer. 

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You also want to take it slow when it comes to packing up precious or sentimental items. Start early, take your time, and don’t rush — this will save you time and money and any potentially damaged items! 

  1. Build Up a Stock of Packing Supplies 

The efficacy of your packing hinges on the available packing supplies you have on hand. So, along with starting your packing early on, you want to start collecting a decent stash of packing supplies. 

Set them aside in a storage cupboard for when you have some free time and want to start clearing out and packing up certain rooms in your home. There’s nothing worse than being on a great packing streak, only to run out of supplies! 

Stock up on packing boxes or containers, packing paper, packing tape, markers, and any old towels or rags you want to use to wrap up delicate items, etc. 

  1. Hire Your Long-Distance Moving Help Early On 

If you plan on hiring the help of professional movers or renting out a moving container, you want to do this early on. In fact, months in advance before your move. You can read more from thestoragebox.com about how and when to hire the best movers. 

Suppose you have storage tanks that need handling like hydrogen tanks, it would be best to find a hydrogen storage solutions company early on to ensure that your tanks will be safe and won’t be prone to damage.

Hiring professional help doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg, either. It’s about comparing quotes and finding the right company that fits in with your timeline and budget.

Do your due diligence before you hire professional movers and always ensure they offer insurance and experience for your peace of mind. 

  1. Deconstruct Larger Items Where Possible 

This sounds like a hassle, but it will save you tons of packing space and ultimately, money. It’s also a good way to ensure your beloved furniture items don’t get scuffed and damaged during the moving process — because this is inevitable. 

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Deconstructed items such as shelving units, bookcases, wardrobes, bed frames, and items of furniture won’t take up as much space in your moving container or truck. Ultimately, this allows you to pack more into the space and save money on your long-distance move.  

Just make sure to carefully pack away all nuts, bolts, and important pieces with each deconstructed item. 

  1. Don’t Over Pack Your Boxes 

While it may seem like a great idea to stuff your boxes/packing containers with as much as possible, it’s a recipe for damage. Sure, you might have to pack less into your moving container, but heavy, overstuffed boxes pose a risk because they’re hard to lift and carry. They’re also more likely to topple over, break, or tear and damage the items inside.

Instead, you want to pack smart and break up heavier items into one or two boxes where possible.  

  1. Use Plastic Tubs/Bins for Packing

You don’t have to default to standard packing boxes for your long-distance move. Another great option for packing is to use hard plastic boxes or bins for your more sentimental and delicate items. 

Obviously, it’s not feasible or cost-effective to use plastic bins for all of your house items. But if you’re particularly concerned about certain home goods, this is a great option for extra security and peace of mind. 

To add to this, plastic bins are easy to stack, you can identify what’s inside them, and you can re-shuffle items as and when you need them because you don’t need tape to seal them. 

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But, even if bins are transparent, you still might have a challenging time determining what’s inside so it’s best and easier to label them.

  1. Don’t Overstuff but Keep Things Snug 

As we mentioned earlier, you don’t want to overpack your boxes. But what you do want is your items to fit snugly in each container. This is where your puzzle skills come into play. 

In short, you want to fill every available inch inside a box or container so that your items don’t shift around too much. But there’s a fine line between overpacking and fitting things snugly. Your goal is to avoid excessive amounts of space between items.

Use packing paper, bubble wrap, clothing, old rags, or dishcloths to fill up empty spaces where you can. Another great tip is to use the ”nesting technique” where you stack items inside one another to fill up and save space. 

Use packing paper, bubble wrap, clothing, old rags, or dishcloths to fill up empty spaces where you can. Another great tip is to use the ‘nesting technique’ wherein you stack items inside one another to fill up and save space.  Also, to keep fragile objects from breaking, secure them with anything that will prevent them from bumping into something hard. Bubble wrap will do, but to be more sustainable, old clothes and rags will work just fine.

  1. Always Opt for Insurance 

While moving insurance might not be necessary for a short, local move, it’s a little more important when it comes to long-distance moving. This is because there’s a greater margin for error and accidents along the way. 

Don’t get caught off-guard. Rather take out the insurance before your long-distance move so that your home goods are protected from damage during transportation or moving. 

A Homeowners Resource You Can Count On 

Long-distance moving doesn’t have to be a stressful, unpleasant experience. Yes, it takes plenty of work to make such a move happen. But with enough preparation and these packing tips, you can minimize the stress of the experience! 

If you’re a proud homeowner and have a passion for all things home improvement, don’t miss out on the rest of this blog. Explore for more!