How to Organize a Long Distance Move

• April 9, 2015
• Bill Chen

Last updated on October 30, 2023

Moving is one of the most stressful situations families can find themselves in, but with careful planning and organization, it is possible to have a stress-free move. It is a testing time for all members of the family, as it changes their surroundings and introduces a new one, which they are largely unfamiliar with. It is not exactly an easy feat to organize a move, as there is a lot of work involved and a lot of things that need to be considered to have a successful relocation.

Sadly, things are even more difficult when it comes to long-distance moves. It is one thing to move to another house or flat to the other side of town, but imagine if you have to do home removals across half the country. The things to consider are even more, and you will need to work and plan everything right if you want a stress-free move. Here are some suggestions that can help ease the process:

1) Plan and give yourself plenty of time to execute the move.

All guides about moving should begin with this point. Time is essential, and you will be surprised how quickly the day when the man and van service arrive will come at your home. For this reason, it is very important to have plenty of time to organize everything and not feel pressured by the deadline. Start planning and research early to adjust all of the many details concerning the long-distance move. That way you will have enough time to react in case of contingency and unforeseen problems.

2) Do proper research about the place you are moving to.

Knowing the place you are moving to will not only help you get used to it better, but it will also help the moving process itself. When you already know what your new home looks like, you can begin planning what part of your old one to bring with you. If you are moving to a smaller place, you will have to get rid of some of your belongings, including furniture, as you wouldn’t want to pay the professional removalists Inner West for transporting stuff you cannot keep.

3) Decide on what stays and what goes

As much as you would like to keep all of your old homes and have them moved somewhere else, this might not always be possible. As was already mentioned, the new place might be smaller, thus forcing you to downsize. Think of this as a possibility to get rid of stuff you no longer need in some way. One good strategy is to follow 4 categories: things you will move, things you will want to sell, things you will want to give away, and finally things you will dump. This can help you organize things a lot easier and save you time, which is essential. If you find it overwhelming, consider hiring a decluttering service to help you sort through your belongings.

4) Pay special attention to your pets

Pets are part of the family after all, and if you have one, you have to keep in mind that the move will greatly affect the animal too. This is not just talking about the stress, but also the fact that you will have to consider the proper carrier and means to transport all pet equipment. Make sure that the pet will have a comfortable trip on the moving van or whatever means of transportation you are using.

5) Mind your documents and valuables

A long-distance move will likely take a while. For this reason, you should always try to keep your valuables such as cash and jewelry, along with important documents with you. That way you can keep those in check and separate them from the other stuff you are loading onto the moving van.

They should remain under your supervision at all times. Long distance move is a challenge that you should be prepared to meet. Following the guidelines mentioned above is a way to help get through this process without too much hassle. It will not be easy, but if you carefully plan the whole process and give yourself enough time to go through all steps of the process, you can make it easier for yourself and the removal company.