Interstate moving can be both exciting and stressful. It’s exciting because you are about to move to a new state, new town, new house, new job, and maybe a completely new life. It’s also stressful because you have to leave behind everything you’ve built in your current state.
And in every way, an interstate move is not an easy thing. You have to carry all your things, furniture, and luggage and then shift them to another place. These items can be heavy or fragile, which creates more pressure on you to move them safely.
However, people face some challenges during interstate moving that can add to their stress. So here’s a list of the most common interstate moving challenges and how you can avoid them for a stress-free move:
11 Interstate Moving Challenges You Can Face + Tips to Overcome Them
1. Getting Caught Up in the Scams of the Moving Company
Many people consider moving companies with the best deal or offer the lowest price. This is a mistake because many fraudulent movers charge customers extra fees. Customers often do not know about this until the day of the move, when it is too late to cancel the contract.
The Solution
Search online to find reviews about different movers before you hire one. You might find that hiring a reliable mover with enough experience will save you money in the long run by avoiding extra hidden costs and damaged items.
A moving company with many negative reviews should be avoided regardless of how cheap its service seems compared to other companies.
The best interstate movers have experienced shifting any type of household goods from one state to another. The process gets easier and smoother if you hire interstate moving companies who understand your requirements and make it a point to meet them.
2. Lack of Prior Planning and Preparation
When moving interstate, people’s biggest mistake is not planning their move early enough. When you don’t plan your relocation, you’ll find yourself in a big mess at the last minute, which only complicates more. The worst moving nightmares can happen when you’re unprepared and disorganized.
You might think that this won’t happen to you because you believe you’ve got everything covered. But there are just too many things that need to be taken care of when relocating.
For example, you need to plan your move by scheduling appointments with various movers and making sure your packing goes smoothly. If you don’t have a clear plan for what needs to be done, then there’s a high chance that something will slip through the cracks.
The Solution
You should start looking into moving companies as soon as you know you will be relocating. Start researching, price out options, and consider what you need from a moving service.
Next, call up your preferred movers and set up an in-home estimate. This will help you gauge how much time, money, and effort your move will take and allow you to plan accordingly. Prepare a handy printable version of the interstate moving checklist to give you an idea of what you need to do before moving and plan a timeline.
3. Not Having an Interstate Moving Checklist
When you’re burdened with multiple things to do in a move, you may miss out on important stuff. And these can be crucial and can affect your relocation. Not having a moving house checklist means missing out on essential things that need handling.
The Solution
The best way to deal with this is by creating a moving timeline with a moving interstate checklist that clearly outlines what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. A timeline will help make sure that you don’t forget anything important and that things are done on time. It will also help you determine how long each step of the process should take to stay on track.
4. Not Giving Enough Time for the Interstate Move
Many people underestimate the time needed for such a move, resulting in a stressful last-minute relocation.
It’s easy to overlook important factors that can affect your move date. For example, if you have kids, they will need extra time to settle into their new schools.
The Solution
The best strategy when moving interstate is to start the planning process ahead by at least a month before the big day so that everything goes smoothly on moving day.
When moving from one state to another, gauge the time needed to pack and transport your belongings and plan it in such a way that it’s stress-free and leisurely. Don’t forget about cleaning up your old house and unpacking and rearranging items in your new home. Always make sure that you have enough time for your interstate move and have a moving house checklist to be well prepared.
5. Miscalculating Moving Costs
Moving companies often charge customers based on weight and distance traveled. If you overestimate your load, it might increase your moving expenses. And if you underestimate the distance traveled, it could cost more than expected.
The Solution
To avoid this situation, you should always speak with your movers before starting your relocation. When you give the movers the exact to and from the address of your move, they can calculate and provide a better estimate of your moving costs.
6. Underestimating the Time for Packing
Planning is always essential when relocating. And time is definitely one of the essential elements in planning a move.
If you don’t give yourself enough time to pack, the entire process will be frustrating. When people underestimate packing time, they start throwing things into boxes and end up with broken, fragile items or boxes that are too heavy to carry.
The Solution
It is best to start packing at least two to three weeks prior to the moving date during an interstate move. This way, you will be able to sort through all your belongings, discard what you don’t need, and pack what you need without rushing into moving boxes.
To avoid underestimating your packing time, you should evaluate how much stuff you have and how long it will take to pack everything up and the number of empty containers you’ll need. You should also factor in any special requirements for packing specific items and getting the necessary packing supplies and boxes. You can reach out to your local stores to get the packing boxes to save money for your removal company.
7. Failure to Get the Documents in Order
Your documents should be ready by the time your moving date comes. This includes passports, social security cards, birth certificates, medical records, school records, details about bank accounts, etc.
If you forget to get your documents in order before moving day, there may be delays getting your house keys from the landlord or changing the address on your credit cards and driver’s license.
Also, your movers will need a few important documents and documents that you should have ready yourself. For example, your movers may need your auto registration and insurance information to move your vehicle legally.
The Solution
To make sure that everything goes smoothly, we recommend contacting the moving company at least one week before knowing the official documents they might need from you for the interstate move. You can also make a copy of essential documents like the medical records and keep them safe. Also, check online to know about the government agencies like the Australian Electoral Commission, credit card companies, and other financial institutions to whom you need to inform about the new address before you move out.
8. Packing the Junk Along
One of the easiest ways to spend way too much money on your out-of-state relocation is by moving items that you don’t really need.
If you decide to bring along items that you’ll never use or rarely see, it will cost you in many ways, especially when you’re backloading. First of all, those unneeded items mean more moving boxes that take up precious space in your moving truck — and when it comes to long-distance moves, space is money. In addition, if you bring along more than what your new home can comfortably hold, you may find yourself renting a storage unit until you can get rid of some things.
The Solution
With a long-distance move, it’s crucial that you only pack up and take with you what you absolutely must have — and nothing else. Make sure to go through every one of your rooms, analyze if those are things you really need or regularly use, and discard the rest.
You can have four piles to assess an item: throw away, donate, resell, or keep. Based on how necessary each item is, you can decide if you want to keep or leave an item back. This will help you save space on your vehicle and indirectly save you money.
9. Not Packing the Fragile Stuff Carefully
Packing fragile stuff like crystal vases, glassware, china set, or grandfather clock can take a lot of effort and attention to detail. When you don’t take the time to take care during the packing, you can damage your stuff in the transit.
Most people mistake not being careful enough while packing these items. They just wrap them in paper and pack them along with other similar items. This can be a big mistake since not all fragile items are the same. For example, dishes should be packed in cardboard boxes, while heavy glassware should be packed in wooden crates.
The Solution
Consult with the moving company or anyone experienced about the best ways to pack this fragile stuff.
Bubble wraps and boxes are good for some of the items, but for other things, it’s not enough to just wrap them in bubble wrap. So, try packing your fragile items in layers inside secure packing boxes with big fragile stuff in a separate box.
If you have cartons, place them first with their labels facing up. Now cover the bottom of the cardboard box with some sheets of paper so that they don’t slide off while transporting them. In between each layer, place some sheets of paper or bubble wrap over it to ensure they don’t get damaged due to vibrations during transportation.
10. Missing to Arrange for Childcare/Pet Care on the Moving Day
It can be very stressful for young children and infants if they are present at home while movers are moving your furniture and appliances. It’s also a challenge as you need to find a place where you can keep your pets safe while the moving truck is being loaded with your furniture.
If you don’t make proper arrangements, it becomes difficult to focus on the tasks involved in the relocation process.
The Solution
It’s important to arrange for a family member or any sitter to take care of your children and pets on a moving day. This will save you time and give you the peace of mind that your kids are safe and comfortable with their caregivers.
11. Forgetting to Disconnect or Transfer the Utilities When Moving Interstate
Forgetting to disconnect or transfer the utilities before an interstate move is a very common mistake to make during the moving process. Because people have so many other things on their minds, they tend to miss out on contacting the utility companies before moving to the new location.
The Solution
To prevent this issue, make sure to add it to the top of your to-do list. And give a call to the utility companies whenever you have time once you’ve decided on the move — or to the real estate agent to know if they can give you better insights about the local council and the local utility services.
Let them know when you want them to disconnect your power, water, gas, or cable service. You should also inform them of your new address and make sure they will be able to provide you with services there as well. If they aren’t able to do that, then you need to make other arrangements.
