Here’s What’s Different About Long-Distance Moving

At Marrins Moving, we know that every household move brings its own particular hurdles, but shifting everything you own over hundreds or thousands of miles comes with a few specific challenges. Here are the things that we’ve learned are the most different—and important—about making a long-distance move.

Check the Delivery Window

We understand that during a long-distance move, one of the highest priorities is finding out when the movers will be delivering your things. But because of the long distances involved, and because your belongings might share space on a truck that’s hauling other households too, most movers can’t give you an exact day for delivery. Our advice is to make sure you read the fine print on the delivery window, which can stretch for days or weeks, and to pack enough belongings to hold you for a few extra days—just in case. Another strategy we like is booking your move as soon as possible: This makes it easier to get your choice of move-in dates, and some companies will let you book a confirmed delivery day in return for an extra fee.

Pack a Travel Bag

We recommend packing a “go bag” of essentials for any move. That bag becomes especially important when you’re separated from most of your belongings during a long-distance move. The bag should contain basic toiletries, changes of clothes, vital documents and medications, along with anything you’ll need to find work, secure housing, or get started on school during your first days in your new town.

Here’s another good tip: Pack (and clearly label!) a “Day One” or “Week One” box that contains everything you need to quickly return to normal life without having to dig through all the boxes that were delivered. Some things you might want to include are wardrobe staples, favorite comfort items, and pots, pans, dishes, and utensils for cooking.

Your Belongings May Be Changing Hands

Your belongings might pass through many hands during a long-distance move, so we recommend packing everything as if it were going into long-term storage. That means filling every box full to the top so the contents won’t shift and padding all sides so that even if the boxes tip over, your belongings will be safe. Clearly label each box with your name, its contents and the room it belongs in, so you can quickly get organized once everything is delivered.
One of our highest priorities is being very careful with any fragile items you’ve packed, but you can help us out by grouping any fragile items together, so we can concentrate our care on those “fragile” boxes. Finally, please don’t pack liquids or food of any sort—even non-perishables can burst or leak during a long move.

You Have to Get There, Too

Here’s one last tip that’s usually a big help to clients: Don’t delay in planning out the logistics of getting yourself, your family, and any pets to your new home. You might need to rent a second vehicle or send some people ahead by plane. If nobody wants to drive, you’ll need to ship your vehicle to your new home.

While it’s true that a long-distance move can be challenging, we here at Marrin’s Moving take pride in getting it right, and we’ll be here to help you through every step of the way. Contact us today to get started!