Category: Movers

Moving long distances may sound traumatic, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. It happens all the time everyday here at Texas Movers Group. Whether you’re in the military or just wanting to start a new life someplace else, long distance moving can be relatively painless. 

There is a fine line between a long distance moving company (which is what we’re going to focus on today) and a local moving company (which is what you’ll often find in your neighborhood). Our company happens to specialize at both.

This article will talk about exactly what is considered long distance moving. We will take you through some important steps to think about before, during and after your move. 

What Does Long Distance Moving Mean?

The word “distance” is in the title of this article because, in short, long distance moving can mean a lot of things. First and foremost, it means that you’re relocating a great deal of items from one place to another. We’re talking about moving from one city, state or even country to another 

Preferably this is accomplished by working with a company that specializes in long distance hauling. This type of moving specialist knows all about the ins and outs of the logistics needed to plan for such an event..

When Should You Consider Using a Long Distance Moving Company?

Any time that you have a large quantity of items to move, for one thing. Big items such as a piano need to be handled with extreme care. Maybe you simply have way too many items in your old home that you can’t possibly move by yourself. That’s when professionals will be best suited for the task.

Either way, you’ll want a moving company that can move with ease and efficiency. Also consider your budget.

Your budget is a consideration for many moving decisions, and it’s important to take care of one aspect of the equation at a time. 

Once you’ve determined how you’ll be moving your stuff, you’ll need to learn more about how to hire a long distance moving company. 

Long distance moving companies are an efficient solution for moving your home or belongings.

What to Look For in a Reputable Long Distance Moving Company

A good long distance moving company should have a number of core qualities. 

These are the very things you’ll want to look for when considering whether or not you want to hire them:

• Insurance – Make sure you are covered for things like damages during the move
• Stability – Check to make sure the company has been around for a while
• Contact information – The long distance moving company should be very easy to reach
• Customer service – The representatives need to know what they are talking about and be easy to reach
• Customer reviews – This will tell you what people really think about your moving company’s service 

Some of these qualities are relatively easy to understand, and the others are fairly unique to long distance moving companies. 

What To Include in Your Contract

Professional moving companies worth their weight will sit with you and explain every detail of the moving contract.  

To narrow down the list, ask yourself these questions: 

• What types of destinations will I be moving to? 
• How many miles do I expect to travel? 
• What type of packing and moving assistance is the company going to provide? 
• What should I expect in the fees associated with the move? 

Your needs must be tailored to your circumstances no matter if you are transplanting to a new city or to a different country. This is why consulting with your movers beforehand is so important.

For instance, if you’re moving to a new state, you’ll need to pack your things as if you’re going to be moving in right away.

How Long Does It Usually Take?

As long as you consult carefully with your movers, it shouldn’t take very long to get you relocated. Mostly it just depends where you are and where you wish to go.  

You should receive an estimated time for moving almost immediately after your consultation with the moving company. This will give you plenty of time for coordinating the move and there should be some extra time for last minute changes.

What Are Some Moving Tips?

Your moving company consultant will normally discuss options with you about planning out times and packing considerations. There are plenty of things to help make your move go stress free so nothing is forgotten.

Here are a few tips to consider:

• Inventory Your Items – Take pictures and or video of all items that are being packed for the move. This helps if you have damage claims
• Utilities – Plan on when you need to have the gas, lights, etc turned off at the old place and turned on at the new home
• Vehicles – Prep to make sure registration and tags are up to date. If moving to another state, you might consider getting your vehicle serviced before your trip
• Mail – Be sure to forward mail to your new address
• Bank and Credit Cards – Don’t forget to update your debit/credit cards to your new address

What To Do After the Move

After the moving company has completed the move, you should do a careful inventory of your items. Immediately report damaged items so you can make a claim if needed.

Be sure certain comforts are available such as cable and internet are turned on. Check that all utilities are operational. It would also be a good idea to head out to your post office to check for mail. 

Texas Movers Group Has Your Long Distance Moving Needs Covered

With 20 years experience in moving our customer’s treasured items, you better believe you can count on Texas Movers Group to get your items transported safely and responsibly. We have a stellar reputation and our customer service is phenomenal.

We can handle your move, whether nationally or internationally. You can choose to pack your goods or we can pack it for you with no problems. In Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin, contact Texas Movers Group today to get started.

Moving is stressful. Moving a long distance can be extremely stressful. Not only do you have to pack up your whole life and somehow transport it to your new home, you also have to do that over hundreds or thousands of miles.

Many people think of moving as a sort of road trip but with a lot of boxes in your car. If you’re only moving to the other side of town or maybe an hour away at most, this seems like a feasible DIY plan. You can take multiple trips until you get everything, possibly without spending more than gas money.

But if you’re moving farther away, it becomes more complicated. If you have to fly to your destination, how will you get your boxes and vehicles there? If you can drive, how will you get everything in one trip?

Here at Texas Movers Group, we know how troublesome long distance moving can get. So, we’ve compiled this guide to help you prepare for your long-distance move:

Planning

The most important part of any move is planning. But it’s more than just knowing how to get from point A to point B. Use the following tips to plan your move and set the foundation for success:

• Plan your route and travel method.

This part of the plan depends on where you’re moving from and to. 

If you plan on driving to your new home, map out your route. Include any stops you may want to make along the way. Make a budget for this trip including gas, accommodations, food and other expenses.

If you need or want to fly or take other public transportation, wait to buy your tickets until you’ve made arrangements for everything else first. Alternatively, consider purchasing tickets that can be changed or refunded in case something comes up.

• DIY or Professional?

The easiest and most reliable way to make a long-distance move is to hire a moving company. Movers can pack, load, transport, and unload everything for you, so all you have to worry about is getting yourself there. At Texas Movers Group, we offer customizable services to fit your needs.

If you don’t want to hire movers, you need to decide how you’ll get your belongings to your new home. The cheapest way would be to try and fit everything into your vehicle with you. This is rarely feasible, however, so you will probably need to look at rental options.

Depending on the amount of things you will need to move and the capabilities of your vehicle, there are a variety of rental options at your disposal. For example, you could tow a trailer for extra storage or rent a truck that can tow your vehicle and haul your things. You also have the option of movable storage containers, which is essentially shipping your belongings in one big box.

• What is your time frame?

Whatever methods of transportation you choose, there will always be a time frame to consider. If you need to be out of your old home or moved into the new one by a certain date, plan accordingly. Keep in mind that some methods for moving your belongings have variable delivery dates or arrival windows.

Preparation

Once you have your plan in place, it’s time to get ready to move. Aside from packing, there are a few things you can do beforehand to make the move easier.

• Downsize

The time before a big move is a great opportunity to downsize. The less you have to move with the better.

• Sort out essentials

If you think about traveling, you usually just bring along clothes, toiletries and maybe some food for the trip, plus electronics. When you’re moving, unless you’ll be staying in a hotel until you’ve moved in, you’ll need to pack some extra things so you won’t be stuck without them while unpacking or waiting for your stuff to arrive:

• Cleaning supplies
• Toilet paper
• Towels
• A few sets of kitchen utensils, tableware and cookware
• Hand soap
• Laundry detergent 

Make sure to hold these essentials back when packing and keep them with you or easily accessible among your boxes.

Packing

Packing and unpacking are the biggest chore of moving. If you’re doing it yourself, set aside plenty of time so you can get the job done while not in a rush. Take the extra effort to label your boxes and arrange them so you can get out the more important items first.

It’s also a good idea to gather packing materials that are a little sturdier than normal. The longer the haul, the more opportunities for things to get broken or crushed. Use specialty packing organizers to keep things like dishes safe.

Once you’re all packed, it’s time to hit the road. If you’re using a moving service like Texas Movers Group, all you’ll have left to do is get to your new home and settle in. We’ll handle the rest.

Contact us today for a free quote to make your long distance move a breeze.