How To Pack A Truck For Long Distance Moving

Best Tips To Prepare For Long-Distance Moves

1. Be Organized

The first thing to do when preparing for a long-distance move is to be as organized as possible. This means not only knowing what you are going to pack but also knowing where the items are located in your current home. It can help to make a list of everything that you own so you can see how much space it takes up in your house, and so you know how much room you have left for packing.

One of the best ways to get organized is to make a room-by-room checklist of all the things you have and then take a picture or video of them. This way, when you are packing, you can check your list and know exactly what is still in the house.

Another way once you’ve gotten started is to designate a specific room or area of the house for your packing process to begin. This way, you can move around while packing instead of staying in one spot and missing things that you may have forgotten.

2. Figure Out Which Items Will Need Specialty Services

Once you’ve got your packing ideas down, it’s time to consider which items need special treatment. This is especially important for items that are fragile, can’t be moved easily, or are otherwise too valuable to risk having damaged during the move.

Items that may need this service include:

• Artwork
• Valuable Ceramic/Glassware
• Collectibles
• Valuable Electronics:
• Delicate Furniture Items
• Large furniture

3. Get Estimates From Multiple Moving Companies

The best way to ensure that you are getting a fair price for your move is to get multiple estimates. Moving prices vary greatly depending on the distance and the company that you choose, so it’s important to understand these factors.

There are several steps you can take to get these estimates, including:

• Weighing Your Belongings:

In order to get a moving estimate from a moving company, you need to find out how much your belongings weigh. This is especially important for long-distance moves because the price will be determined by how much it costs the company to move your items. In order to get an estimate, you can weigh your items yourself and report back to the company, or some companies will come out to you if you’re close by.

• Confirming The Mileage Of Your Move

In order to get an estimate, you can use a service that will calculate the mileage of your move. This will help give you a better idea of what you can expect with other types of long-distance movers, and will often be the first point of potential negotiations moving forward.

4. Figure Out Where Your Stuff Will Go In Your New Home

Once you’ve got your estimate, it’s time to start figuring out where you’ll be putting your belongings once they reach their new home. This will help to determine how much space you have and how much you’ll have to unpack once you arrive.

If you are moving to a space that is already vacant, it will be much easier to unpack than if you’re moving into a partially furnished house. Make sure that the size of the room or home is big enough for your belongings and let your movers know if you will have to take part in unpacking off the moving truck once you arrive. It’s also helpful to let your movers know the dimensions of the new home and specific rooms in the home if they will be heavily involved in the unpacking process.

5. Get Insurance On Your Valuable Belongings

The last thing that you’ll want to do before your move is to get insurance on your valuables. This is especially important if you aren’t sure which items need specialty services, or if you are shipping a significant amount of items. Many of the top-rated long-distance movers actually provide their own insurance programs and work with third-party insurers to make sure that you don’t have any stressful situations during your move.

6. Save Money By Selling Items You No Longer Need

If you have a lot of space in your new house, it can be helpful to sell any unnecessary items that you may have before moving. Selling these items will not only help you to get ahead with your packing, but it will also save you money on the moving services because your total trip will weigh less.

7. Don’t Pack Food Or Liquids

Food and liquids are among the most susceptible items to damage during the move, so it’s important to not pack them. This is especially true for long-distance moves, since you may be moving them over a number of days or weeks. Most long-distance or cross-country movers actually don’t allow food or liquids, for this reason, so you’ll want to be extra thorough when making sure that nothing like that is getting packed.

8. Read The Fine Print Of Your Moving Agreement

Many of the top-rated long-distance moving companies will include a clause that says that they are not responsible for any items damaged or lost during your move. If you have a strict no-damage policy, make sure that you read this clause before signing, since it will save you from potential headaches further down the road. This is another reason that you’ll want to make sure you get insurance for your valuable belongings.

9. Schedule Your Packing Well Before You Plan To Move Out

Once your moving date has been set, make sure that you start to pack well ahead of time. This will give you time to get everything together and sort through all of your belongings. It’s also a good idea to have a few large boxes just in case you need additional packing space. The best types of household items to pack first are items that are small, like electronics or clothing, as they’re the easiest to fit into little empty spaces before you fill up your boxes more.

10. Get Your Personal Packing Materials In Order

A great way to get organized before you start packing is to go through your closet and bathroom and pick out the items that you will be taking with you. This will help you make a  list of items that need to be packed separately so that the things you’ll personally need don’t get packed by the moving company incorrectly.

11. Mark All Of Your Boxes With Your Name Before The Movers Arrive

The last thing you want to worry about while moving is whether or not your belongings are actually going to make it. This is why it’s a great idea to write all of your information on each and every one of your boxes so that each item can be accounted for. You may also want to make a list of all boxes numbered with their contents, so that family members will be able to find the items they’re looking for when they arrive at the new residence.

12. Keep Your Pets Safe While The Movers Are Moving

When moving to a new home, you may be concerned about your pets when the movers arrive. To keep them safe, it’s a good idea to crate your larger animals while the movers are going through your house and carrying items out to the truck. This is also a great time for you to discuss with the movers what items they will need to avoid handling at all costs so that your pet is never injured during moving.

13. Put Heavy Items In Smaller Boxes

When packing, use smaller boxes instead of larger ones. That way, you’ll be able to more easily transport these heavier items by yourself or with the help of a friend or family member. If you pack heavy objects in boxes too big to carry, it will require more people, which means more trips back and forth.

14. Hold On To Important Documents While Moving

Homeowners should always keep important items like their wills, insurance policies, and passports in a safe place until move-in day has passed. However, it is crucial to hold on to these documents for at least a few months following the move. That way, if your items are lost or damaged during the moving process, all vital information will already be on file.

15. Move Heavy Items In Suitcases

Suitcases are sturdy and often hold a lot of volume, which makes them great for heavy furniture that are too valuable to risk by using a cardboard box. They will likely keep your heaviest items much safer than cardboard. They are also easy to carry and store, should the need arise to relocate the suitcase at a later time.

16. Use Food Storage Containers

Another packing tip is to use food storage containers. Food storage containers make moving durable goods more affordable and convenient. One of the best things is that they often already come with lids, which make them ideal for transporting fragile items like glassware and lighter items like electronics.

17. Plastic Wrap Bulk Items

Plastic wrap is a great way to wrap items to make them more portable and less likely to break during transport. It’s super easy to use on entire racks of clothes, bed frames, or drawers instead of folding everything into individual moving boxes.

18. Figure Out The Plan For Your Vehicles

During packing, it’s a good idea to figure out what you’ll be doing with your car and any other vehicles that will be coming with you. If you can find a professional mover who will allow you to drive it on the trailer, that will make your move much easier. You’ll also want to figure out if your long-distance mover plans on hauling any extra cars you might have that you or a family member can’t drive themselves.

19. Consider A UHaul or Truck Rental

Uhaul and truck rentals are a great way to move long distances on your own, or supplement your full-service move to save some money. They are also great for one-time moves, which is perfect for when you’re moving things from or to storage units. For Uhauls, it’s best to pack your heaviest items like washers and dryers, bed frames and headboards, and dining tables toward the back of the truck on furniture pads, and keeping your smaller items like kitchen appliances in the front of the truck.

Final Thoughts

Moving is a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming when you do it right. There are a lot of great options available today, so you’re sure to get the service that you need by hiring the right company.

Before you make any decisions, make sure to shop around and find the best long-distance moving company for your needs. You can also stay up to date on the best long-distance movers here at Pro Mover Reviews & Ratings.