By / OVM TEAM

6 Essential Moving Tips to Make Moving Across the Country Easier

Planning a cross-country move can be overwhelming; these moving tips will help alleviate some of the stress.

Moving across the country can be an exciting new experience and adventure. Embarking on such a significant change can be overwhelming and intimidating, and moving your life belongings is no easy feat. You don’t always have a lot of time to prepare, and sometimes moves like these can be out of your control. Regardless of your situation, preparing for your journey and arrival will make the experience easier and more enjoyable for you and your family. At Ottawa Valley Movers, we’re professionals at long-distance moving; we’ve seen it all, and we know what does and doesn’t work. We’ve compiled a list of our top five essential moving tips for a successful cross-country move.

1. Start planning right away

One of the most important moving tips is to plan ahead. Even if your move is last-minute, your first step is to start planning as much as possible, even before you start packing. Make a checklist of all your tasks by priority and importance; this will keep you on track if you get overwhelmed.

You’re moving across the country; you won’t be able to make the whole move in one day. Determine the travel route you’ll be taking, decided whether you’ll be driving or flying, and be sure to book hotels ahead of time.

2. Take inventory of your belongings

Create an inventory of everything you own and the condition of your items. When you arrive at your new home in your new city, you’ll use your inventory list to confirm that everything has arrived safely. Knowing your items’ condition before your move is essential, especially if you’re investing in moving insurance. If anything is lost or damaged, you’ll have proof.

3. Declutter and downsize as much as possible

This is a very common moving tip for any move, but it’s crucial for cross-country moves. When you’re moving long-distances, the less stuff you have, the easier it’ll be. Use your move as an opportunity to get rid of belongings you don’t need anymore and downsize. Selling old furniture is also a great idea; you can buy new stuff and ship it directly to your new home.

4. Save all of your receipts and keep track of expenses

In Canada, you can claim your moving expenses as a deduction on your taxes – this is a moving tip that many people don’t usually remember. Keep all of your receipts and keep track of your moving expenses, so you know the exact amount. It’s common for moving costs to get audited, so keep the receipts in a safe place just in case.

5. Hire movers

If you’ve never considered investing in a moving company, now is the time to do it. Moving across the country is not easy, and there’s a lot more planning needed to make it successful. Hiring experienced movers will allow you to focus less on packing and transportation and more on the small details that can be easily forgotten or overlooked. Some moving companies offer moving insurance. Insurance can help to protect your belongings and cover the cost to replace or repair them if they’re lost or damaged in the move.

6. Read up on moving tips, tricks, and hacks

The best moving tip of all – do your research. There are a lot of people who’ve moved across the country that share their stories online; learn from their mistakes and what worked best for them. Reading up on packing, organizing, and moving day tips will put your mind at ease and help you avoid common issues and obstacles.