The Ultimate 20-Step Guide to Moving Cross Country

Are you moving cross country? One of life’s greatest adventures! Whether you are chasing a new job, craving different scenery, or just ready for a new beginning, the adventure is yours. Moving-from ‘We are moving!’ to ‘Welcome home’-could feel like running a marathon while juggling flaming torches, to be honest! Sorting through all you have, not to mention thousands of miles on the road, could make anybody dizzy.

The good news? Nothing to lose sleep over! With planning, a move across the country can be smooth, successful, and dare I say-fun.

This is no mere random collection of moving tips thrown together. Nope, this is going to be your whole roadmap with specific timelines. We have broken everything down into little chunks in 20 do-or-die steps. Stick with us so that you can be a master at this long-distance move.

Phase 1: Setting Groundwork (Over 3 Months Before Moving)

They say that preparation is key. These early steps set you up for success down the road. Trust me, don’t skip these.

Setting Up the Master Moving Binder or Digital Folder

First things first-bring out the binder or set up a digital folder (Google Drive or Dropbox would be great) to use as your moving headquarters. This will be the place where you bombard all things related to your move.

Contents: Moving quotes, receipts, an inventory for the contents of your home, important phone numbers, travel confirmations, and a copy of this checklist are all to be included.

You will thank your lucky stars later: No more last-minute, hair-tearing searches for that one wayward document or confirmation number. You will know exactly where to find it-boom, it’s done.

Assess Your Cross-Country Moving Budget (Be Detailed)

Everything boils down to the budget, so let’s have the conversation with the specificity in numbers. Not that moving cross-country is cheap; also, you need a clear financial standing. Don’t just throw a number to it; put down all the expenses you can think of:

Professional Movers/Truck Rental: Your largest cost. Get at least three detailed estimates so that you can compare them.
Packing Materials: This one sneaks up on you. Good boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape, and markers-it adds up so quickly.
Declaring the Value (Insurance for Your Move): Know what you’re getting. Basic Released Value Protection is typically free but provides little coverage. Full Value Protection? That’s your pick.
Travel Costs: Gas, plane tickets, hotels, and meals during that epic road trip for your team.
Temporary Storage: Necessary should there be an interval between moving out and in.
Vehicle Shipping: If you’re not driving all your cars by yourself.
Contingency Fund: This is extremely important. Set aside 15-20% more for the “oh no” moments-repairing something at the last minute, extra boxes, or delays that came up unexpectedly.

Decide on Your Way to Move: Full-Service, Do-It-Yourself, or Hybrid?

There are three routes for moving cross-country, all with pros and cons in the departments of money, labor, and convenience.

Full-service movers: The “we’ve got this” option. They’ll pack, load, drive, unload, and sometimes even unpack for you. Sure, it’s the fanciest option, but the comforts and peace of mind that come with it are hard to beat. If the budget allows, that’s heavy weight off your shoulders (quite literally).
DIY truck rental: The most cost-effective approach. You rent from U-Haul or Penske, then do all of the packing, lifting, and driving. Yeah, you’ll save money, but it will also take up a ton of your time and energy-not to mention, not everyone thinks driving a massive truck across the country would be a blast.
Hybrid (Moving Containers): Somewhere in the middle. Companies like PODS or U-Pack drop a container at your place. You load it up at your own speed, they haul it to your new home, and you unload. Nice balance of cost and convenience.

Most people find real comfort in knowing their stuff is being handled by professionals. When you hire a full-service residential moving company, trained crews take care of your belongings while you focus on the million other things on your plate.

Research, Check Out, and Book Your Movers

Booking full-service movers? Find time to do it right now. The good ones are usually already booked for months in advance from May to September when everyone is moving.

Get 3+ In-Home or Video Estimates: Don’t trust over-the-phone bids. If a mover is worth anything, they should come look at your stuff and give you a formal – binding – estimate
Check Their Credentials: Make sure they have a USDOT number – equalize this with an interstate move on FMCSA’s website.
Get Reviews: Google, Yelp, BBB. Look for trends, particularly those mentioning late arrivals, poor communication, or difficulties with handling claims.

Phase 2: The Great Purge and Organization (6-8 Weeks Before Moving)

Here’s the fact: every item you move will cost you money and energy, and this phase is all about lightening the load.

Clear Out Every Room, Closet, and Drawer

Ditch everything that is not necessary, not used, or not loved, and this is the time for that. The more stuff you carry, the more boxes will cost and the more you’ll spend moving.
The Four-Box Method: Those boxes are Keep, Sell, Donate, and Trash/Recycle. It’s time to really shed that weight.

Sell: Hit up Facebook Marketplace or Poshmark to get rid of mostly expensive junk. Or hey, throw a good old-fashioned garage sale!
Donate: Goodwill and Habitat for Humanity ReStore are great places for all your gently used wares to find new homes. Pro tip: Keep that receipt for tax write-off potential!
Junk: Broken stuff? Expired products? Things no one wants? Bye, Felicia. If you have piles of old furniture and junk, you have to think about how you’ll get rid of all that stuff. Trust me; having to deal with tons of unwanted junk can be a headache of its own. Professional junk removal folks can be lifesavers here – they’ll swoop in and clear out everything you’re ditching while you focus on packing what matters.

Create a Comprehensive Home Inventory

It’s really important in staying organized and proves invaluable in cases of emergency in terms of insurance.
How to do it: Get a spreadsheet going, try a moving app or la-di-da, walk through your place talking into your recording phone. List and describe everything you’ve got.

Why it’s crucial: Look, nobody wants to think about stuff getting lost or damaged, but if it happens, this inventory will be your best friend. That’s your proof when you’re going to file claims and recall what box has what.

Buy Packing Supplies of High Quality

Listen, this is not the place to skimp. Crappy boxes and dollar-store tape = broken treasures.

Fresh Boxes: New, strong moving boxes in a variety of sizes. Those tired boxes from the grocery store might be cheap, but they are most often weak and sometimes contain unwanted critters.
Specialized Boxes: Spare clothes, dish packs for your kitchen stuff, and TV boxes for your electronics are wardrobe boxes.
Essentials: Storage paper, bubble tape, heavy-duty tape, and permanent markers are necessary for labeling everything.

Phase 3: The Strategic Pack-Up (4-6 Weeks Before Moving)

8. Pack Non-Essentials:

It is best to start packing things that you will hide for the next month from now. Taking this step will not make crazy the last weeks.

Good candidates for early packing: Your collection of books, your winter coats in summer (or vice versa), decorative knick-knacks, fancy dishes, guest room bedding, and whatever’s collecting dust in your attic or garage.

9. Master the Art of Packing a Box

How you pack matters equally to what you are packing with.

Weight Distribution: Heavy stuff (think books) goes in small boxes, light stuff (like pillows) fills the big ones. Keep it under 40-50 pounds – your back will thank you.
Cushioning is Key: Start with wrinkled packing paper at the bottom of each box. Wrap fragile items individually and stuff any voids so that nothing is sliding around in there.
Label Like a Pro: 1. Where it goes (“Main Bedroom”); 2. What’s inside (“Sweaters and Jeans”); and 3. Big “FRAGILE” slap it on there if you need to.

Want more from professional packing tricks like the H-tape method or securing grandma’s china? Check our fine guide on packing tips.

10. Plan from Furniture and Big Appliances

Impressive sectional moving across the country or a giant king-sized bed? Need a strategy.

First, know the measurement: Tape measure that mega-dimension couch, dimension all big pieces, then get the doorways, hallways, and stairs for both homes. Nothing worse than finding out your couch won’t fit through the door!
Disassemble If Possible: Most of the time, bed frames, dining tables, and shelving units can be disaggregated very easily. It’s safer and easier for its transport. Pro tip: put all of those little screws and bits of hardware in a labeled Ziploc bag, and tape it right to the biggest piece of furniture.
Professional Help: Complicated furniture is complicated to disassemble quickly. Furniture assembly pros know how to do this quickly without losing any pieces, and it saves time for those not so handy with tools.

Make Tracking Down Mail, Subscriptions, and Documents

By USPS: Go online and file your Change of address with U.S. Postal Services (USPS) now.
Change Address with: Banks, credit card companies, loan providers, and insurance companies (health, auto, home), as well as your employer’s HR department, and subscription services.
Medical Records & Dental – You may also transfer your medical records, dental records, and school records to your new address.

Transfer Utilities

We are serious about that as not to have someone abandoned in the dark!

Schedule Disconnection: Call your current utility providers (electricity, gas, water, internet/cable, trash) and inform them that you are going to be moving from that location after tomorrow.
Schedule Connection: Call the utility providers in your new city and schedule for the service to start before you arrive.

Deals with Pets, Plants, and Cars

Pets: Arrange the safest and most comfortable transport for your pets, such as a pet-friendly road trip or even hiring a professional pet transport service. Don’t forget their veterinarian’s records!
Plants: The thing is most moving companies will not transfer plants across state lines due to agricultural regulations. You’ll have to drive them personally or give them away to friends.
Vehicles: Do not drive all of your cars? It’s time to book an auto transport service.

Phases 5 and 6: The Last Stretch and Moving Day

Your “Day One” Essentials Kit

This is your lifesaver box. It rides with you in your car, not on the moving truck. Your essentials for the first 24 hours need to be packed.
Include: Medications, toiletries, toilet paper, a change of clothes for each family member, phone chargers, simple tools (like a box cutter and a screwdriver), paper towels, soap, and some non-perishable snacks and water.

Verify Last Details with Your Movers

A few days before the moving day review your appointment with the moving company with information about when the movers are expected to arrive, the driver’s cell number, and both addresses.

Prepare Your Home for Leaving

It’s time to defrost that fridge and freezer, clean every room as you now empty it and prepare all to be in order for the movers.

Watch Over Move Out

Stay here on moving day to answer questions and assist the crew. After the truck is loaded, do one last walk-through your empty home – check every closet and cabinet one more time.

Be in charge of the Arrival and Unloading

Be in your new home to welcome the movers. Tell them where to put the furniture and boxes. As the items come off the truck, check them off your inventory list. Notice any damage? Note it on the Bill of Lading before you sign.

Strategise Your Unpacking

Never do anything and everything in a day! Set up the bedrooms so that there is a place to sleep and unpack your Day One kit. Then, kitchen, then main bathroom. After that, begin with one room, and then allot some time in the following days or weeks for each other one.

Settling Into Your New Community

You made it! Now go check out the community. Find the grocery store, the pharmacy, and the most important of all-a pizza place. Also, don’t forget to register your car and driver’s license.

Frequently Asked Questions about Interstate moving

Q: How much is it going to cost me to move interstate?
A: Costs vary widely depending upon distances, amount of belongings, and services chosen. While DIY costs might run somewhere in the range of

1,500−1,500-1,500−

4,000, it may vary anywhere from $5,000 to even $15,000 or more for a full-service move. You’ll have to look for precise estimations to get the bark out of someone.

Q: How long will my belongings take to arrive on that cross-country connection?
A: In relation to a local move, say it will not happen in one day. Depending on your distance and the mover’s schedule, your properties can be in transit for anywhere from 3 to 21 days. The moving company will provide you with a delivery window.

Q: What should not be loaded in the truck?
A: Hazardous materials such as paint and propane, perishables, and items that are very valuable and irreplaceable should under no circumstances be packed; passports, birth certificates, jewelry, medicines, laptop computers, and anything of sentimental value are crucial items to keep close and pack with yourself.

Your New Journey Awaits

A cross-country move isn’t a small thing; with this thorough checklist, you are good to go to make this one smooth and organized.

Are you ready for the first move? On The Move will do the heavy lifting. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation quote and see how our long-distance moving experts will help you through your new home.

The Ultimate 20-Step Cross-Country Moving Guide (2024 Checklist)