Here are five tips to simplify a long-distance move

You’re likely to have experienced the stress and pressures of a move, whether you are one of the many millions of Americans who have moved in the past few years. Long-distance moves, which are any move that is more than 100 miles in length, only add to the stress. You need patience, perseverance, and a partner with a great moving company to make long-distance moves work.

Even if you have the best movers there are still things you can do to make the move easier. These five tips were compiled by industry professionals to simplify a long-distance move. This article is designed to help you prepare for your move so you have an enjoyable and easy experience.

These are the Five Tips to Make Long Distance Moving Easier

• To make long-distance moves easier, it is important to be familiar with the industry term “first available delivery date”. If you have items that are being moved by a moving company they must deliver them within 30 business days. The first delivery date is the day you are available to receive your belongings and the day they can be delivered. To avoid any delays during transportation, moving companies will coordinate deliveries with the first delivery date. Moving companies can schedule their deliveries around the first delivery date to avoid waiting for shipments to arrive, which will save both time and money. Understanding the “first delivery date” will allow you to plan your move better and make the most of your time. You can choose your F.A.D.D. if you have to prepare your home in advance of your items arriving. You should plan accordingly. You can set your F.A.D.D. to ensure that your items arrive exactly when you expect them. You can plan your F.A.D.D. so that your items arrive on time. Planning efficiently can make a long-distance move easier. Make sure you know the “first delivery date” for your items.
• Understanding the fees that may apply to long-distance moves is another tip. Long-distance moves can be subject to additional fees such as elevator fees and long-haul fees, shuttle fees, storage fees, bulky article fees, and extra stop fees. These fees are different from local moves because they are charged by weight instead of labor hours. If the movers have to transport items up to eighteen or more steps or use an elevator, they will be charged stair and elevator fees. Long-haul fees are charged if the moving company has to transport items more than seventy-five feet from the loading or unloading destination to the truck. The fee goes up every fifty feet. If the truck is too small to carry your items to the final destination, the shuttle fee will be charged. Extra stop fees and storage fees are because your items must be stored for an extended period or unloaded at multiple locations. The fee for bulky articles is specific and depends on the item’s size and the tools required to transport it. Long-distance moves are also charged by the total weight or cubic feet, and not by a minimum labor cost (as is local moves). You can get a rough idea of the cost of a long-distance move and prepare for any additional costs.
• A dedicated truck is the third tip to simplify a long-distance move. Although this service will come at an additional cost, it will provide a greater level of convenience for your long-distance move. A dedicated truck is a truck that is only used for one shipment in the moving industry. This gives you the freedom to have your items travel on their own, with no stops or deliveries. Many long-distance moves require that multiple shipments be loaded onto the same truck so that the moving company can handle multiple moves at once. A dedicated truck can only transport one shipment at a time. The dedicated truck service is more expensive because the moving company has lost the ability to accept other shipments. A dedicated truck is best if you need privacy and the assurance that your items will not be made before they arrive at your destination. This is the easiest way to move your items long distances.
• A fourth tip to simplify a long-distance move is expedited delivery. This industry term refers to having your items arrive on a particular date. The expedited delivery option eliminates the need to wait for delivery and allows you to plan your unpacking. This service allows you to receive your items in a matter of days. You also get the benefit of the same crew that loaded them, handling the unloading. Because expedited delivery can often require moving companies to send two teams, this is because they cannot drive for more than twelve hours. This will ensure that the loading and unloading of the truck are done by the same crew. This gives you peace of mind knowing who is responsible for your belongings. The additional cost for expedited delivery is due to the additional crew the company must hire. The long-distance move becomes easier when you know when your stuff will arrive and who is doing the unloading.
• A good moving company should offer assistance from a consultant to help you plan your long-distance move. It is important to manage the logistics so that your move runs smoothly. The moving consultant will help you plan and prepare your move. The consultant will help you with all the details, such as transferring billing information, shutting down or transferring utilities, notifying banks, schools, etc., and disposing of any unwanted items. Planning will not only be simple, but you will also save money and reduce stress. Planning is key to simplifying long-distance moves. Make sure you allow enough time for planning and preparation (at least 2 months).

These five tips will make your long-distance move much easier and more efficient. All that’s left is to find a mover that can provide the services you need at a rate that fits your budget.

There are many great long-distance moving companies out there, so the key is to get quotes from as many companies as possible. After you’ve found a potential moving company to work with, check their licensing and capabilities with the Public Utilities Commission as well as the Department of Transportation. You are now ready to move.