Unlike a local move, a cross-country move out of bigger cities of the Sunshine State, like Fort Lauderdale, requires extensive upfront work. Packing is not the only concern. There’s much more to plan, do, and coordinate during the moving process, from when you decide to move until the last box is unpacked. 

Despite all this chaos, there’s a positive side to your cross-country move out of Fort Lauderdale. Perhaps you’re tired of the rising housing costs that soar 52% higher than the national average and yearn for a place away from frequent traffic jams and overcrowded metropolitans. Know this: exciting opportunities await you, and your life is about to unfurl in ways you might never have imagined.

But the question remains – how can you make this move out of Fort Lauderdale smooth, easy, and stress-free? Don’t worry, for that’s precisely why we’re here. Continue reading to explore some great tried-and-tested tips for moving cross country, whether you’re moving out of Fort Lauderdale or other corners of the Sunshine State.

Leave the Packing and Moving Part to the Pros!

Rule #1 of a stress-free cross-country move – delegate as many tasks as possible! And there’s no better way of doing that than hiring a reliable and credible moving company to handle all the aspects of your long-distance move – from packing your belongings and purging the extras to logistics, storage, and even unpacking. 

Whether you’re all geared up to start afresh in another state or moving internationally from Fort Lauderdale, professional long-distance movers like Solomon & Sons Relocation Services can take care of the most important and time-consuming aspects of your move. Their professional packers carefully pack and label your valuable belongings for a safe cross-country move, while experienced moving specialists ensure your valuables are securely transported to the destination location or storage units. 

For the best moving experience, take advantage of their full-service moving options, including packing, moving, short-term or long-term storage, unpacking, furniture assembly, car shipping, and custom crating, with standard insurance valuation. 

A Smooth Move Starts with Meticulous Planning

We can’t emphasize enough on planning each aspect of your move in detail. Unlike local moves, a cross-country move requires tonnes of planning, and that too, right from when you decide to relocate to another state or country. Creating a complete blueprint of your entire move will eventually help you every step of the way and avoid common pitfalls. Start with making a complete moving checklist, which includes all the tasks in the exact order of execution, such as:

  • Looking for both temporary and permanent accommodation in the new state or country. 
  • Financial budgeting – including your packing endeavors, clearing all bills, hiring long-distance movers, insurance costs, transitional or travel expenditures, and initial expenses for settling in.
  • Creating contingency funds to deal with any unexpected expenses.
  • Creating a moving binder, with all the essential paperwork and receipts.
  • Making a list of items to pack, arranged by room or type of item.
  • Making a list of packing supplies needed.
  • Assigning a timeline to each packing task.
  • Planning your best route or mode of transportation and allocating travel time. 
  • Making a moving kit includes extra clothing, toiletries, a moving binder, and self-grooming essentials needed during the transition. 
  • Notifying all important parties, including any business partners, banks, utility companies, lease contractors, insurance companies, etc. 

As you make your moving checklist, be sure to factor in delays and additional expenses and create a Plan B in case there are any changes to your move schedule or mode of transportation. 

Time to Get Rid of Your Extra Items and Make Some Money!

When embarking on a cross-country or international move, there is a fundamental principle that proves most effective – minimize your baggage and sell as many items as possible. This is especially true for long-distance, inter-state, or international relocations, as the more items you transport, the higher your transportation, packing, and storing cost will be. The cost of packing and moving an item often exceeds the actual value of the item itself. Plus, you wouldn’t want to clutter your new space with unnecessary items that don’t truly belong. 

Moving out is the perfect time to part ways with the belongings that are no longer needed, weigh heavily, occupy excessive space, or have served their purpose before your relocation. This approach will reduce your moving expenses and ensure a clutter-free new space that aligns with your needs and preferences. Moreover, you can purchase replacements that suit your new home better. 

However, before starting your sale frenzy, take your time to consider which possessions to let go of before the move and research various avenues to sell or donate your items. You can either list your belongings on eBay or online platforms, hold a garage sale for a quick deal, or simply contribute to a local thrift store if you’re running short of time. This way, you can cut back on your moving expenses and make up enough for purchasing new items for your new home. 

Pack Items Strategically 

Once you’re done decluttering your home, it’s time to start packing, keeping in mind the use of each item in your new space. For example, instead of packing your clothing haphazardly, it’s always best to organize your clothing according to the weather and make separate baggage for each type of clothing to make it easier to unpack and organize. 

  • Depending on the weather conditions at your destination locations, pack the clothing items and accessories you’ll need right away in a separate bag. 
  • Adopt the first-in-last-out principle – the items you least require will be packed first and unpacked last. 
  • Label each box with the items packed inside according to the room. To make it easier, assign a color code to each room and paste the list of items inside a box on that colored paper. 
  • Use the right size and type of box for each item. For example, use corrugated boxes to pack heavier items like books and crockery, and make sure to fill out any extra spaces with packing peanuts, old linens or quilts, or foam sheets to provide added protection. Try not to overstuff your packing boxes, as they might break open during transport, potentially damaging the items inside. 

Wrapping Up

Moving to a new state or country provides a unique opportunity to redefine your life and opens doors to a world of new opportunities. Follow the above simple yet invaluable tips to make your cross-country move stress-free and a time to remember. However, before you plan your move, we recommend researching the new area extensively to better prepare yourself for this new chapter of your life. Best of luck! 

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