A Guide to Choosing Moving Companies and Preparing to Move Across the Country

Planning a move across town can be stressful and complicated enough. Relocating your entire life across the country makes this complex task even more challenging. Trying to arrange everything on both ends of your long-distance move can temporarily become a full-time job filled with truckloads of frustration if you are trying to do it all yourself. It also does not become any better when you have partnered with a moving company that is not experienced in executing long-distance moves or that is not the right fit for your specific move.

However, there is no need for you to end up with sky-high blood pressure and your hands in your hair. As challenging as it is to move from one end of the country to the other, the process can be executed smoothly and with as little hassle as possible if you approach it logically and when you have the right removals company to help you along the way.

Frankly, the success of your long-distance relocation all depends on how well you plan the move. Proper planning will ensure that nothing gets left behind – literally and figuratively – and that all the millions of little tasks become a manageable action list instead of a massive mountain that looms over you.

Here are some truly handy tips to get you going:

 

Start as Early as Possible

There is no such thing as a too-early start. As soon as you become aware of the move – in fact, even when you become aware of the possibility of the move – you should start with your preparation. Sure, you will not immediately start wrapping everything you won and packing it into boxes, but you can start creating checklists, researching furniture removal companies, and finding out more about the city you are moving to in order to give yourself a head start and take some pressure off the later stages of the move.

 

Make Lists

One of the biggest contributors to stress when relocating across the country is the fact that there is so much to do and think about while the process becomes completely overwhelming. Yes, everything is important, but you cannot and should not have to try and remember everything all at once. This is not an effective way of approaching such a project. Instead, make lists of everything you need to do, and realise that this is a “living” list. Things will get added as they pop up during the process. This might seem simple, but it will take a lot of pressure off you.

 

Downsize

This does not mean you have to get rid of everything you love. However, you will be surprised at how much clutter a person can hoard over time without realising it. Not everything is worth taking along. Not only is it a hassle to pack and more expensive to transport, but it is also no fun unpacking a pile of useless items that you do not want. So, start early and scan through your belongings. Take out everything you do not use, do not like, or do not want, and sell it, donate it, or throw it out, depending on its value.

 

Move During Off Season If You Can

Now, this might not always be in your control. Certain dates are set and cannot be changed. However, if you do have a choice, try to schedule your move during the slower seasons (usually winter). If possible, also try to plan your move for the middle of the month. These are times when moving companies are less busy. You are more likely to get a booking with your first choice of moving partner, and chances are that you will secure preferential rates due to them not being that busy.

 

Check Whether Your Insurance Covers Your Move During Transit

No matter how well you prepare, accidents can and do happen. Typically, regular short-term home contents insurance will not cover your possessions when in transit during a move. Check with your insurance provider whether they offer cover for moving, or make sure that the moving company you choose provides sufficient cover to protect you against potential loss, even if this is an added service you need to pay for.

 

Remember the Admin

It is so easy to forget about all the mundane tasks that need to be taken care of while running around trying to organise a move across the country. This is, again, one of those situations where lists come in handy. Remember to take care of things, such as notifying companies and people you know of your address change, searching for suitable schools in your new city if you have kids, and getting insurance quotes for your new residence.

 

Choose the Right Moving Company

This might actually be the most important task when it comes to planning a move. Here are some important things to look out for when deciding who to partner with:

 

• Experience

Executing a move properly takes professional experience. You are, after all, trusting someone with all your possessions. You need more than merely someone with access to a truck. Also do not be fooled by local moving companies with great reviews that only do short-distance moves. Moving across the country requires a service provider with long-distance experience.

 

• Relocation Services

In addition to furniture removals, do they also assist with people relocations? Depending on your needs, you may want a moving company that can assist you with integration into your new community, finding schools close to your new home, handyman services, and more.

 

• Pet Relocations

Moving can be extremely unsettling and stressful for pets. Have you thought about how you will get your family’s beloved pet to your new home? Instead of struggling on your own or engaging yet another service provider to negotiate with, you might want to look for moving companies that can also assist with pet relocations.

 

• Vehicle Transport

You might own multiple vehicles. Or perhaps some investment vehicles that are not ideal for long-distance road trips. Whatever the case, you need to make sure you find a moving company that can get your vehicles to the other side safe and sound.

 

• Additional Services

Do not ever assume. Check whether the moving companies you are considering provide packing materials, do the packing and unpacking, and have the skills to move antiques and fine art pieces, if necessary.

 

• Storage Facilities

Have you considered whether you might need to store some of your possessions for a while? Maybe not everything is going with you at once, or your new place is not ready immediately. If this is the case, you may want to look for a moving company that can also provide safe and secure storage facilities.

 

• Insurance

Do not just take the word of moving companies that they provide proper insurance cover. This is not the type of thing you want to find out is not sufficient after the fact. Make sure they offer insurance and that claims are paid out speedily and efficiently in the event of something going wrong.

 

Founded back in 1947, Elliott Mobility has grown to become one of the world’s leading removal and relocation companies. With representation throughout South Africa and a full bouquet of professional relocation services, we make short work of long-distance moving. If you are planning on moving across the country, get in touch with our team. We will gladly explain our services to you and provide you with a detailed quote that is custom-made for your move.