There are many reasons why one may need to make a cross country move; it may be either due to a job change, retirement or other personal reasons. Whatever the reason for moving, it can be quite hectic and getting all the help available is a very good idea. However, some people do not know the appropriate help to get to make their move more seamless.
When planning a cross country move, there are many things that you need to do. Hiring a professional cross country moving company might be the best thing that you can do amongst other tasks in preparation for a move. In this article, we will discuss the complexities of this kind of move and how to choose the best company to help you so stay with us.
The Complexities of Cross Country Moving
There are many challenges that come with a cross country move and they include the following:-
Logistics
This involves coordinating packing, loading and transporting your stuff, then having to unpack them when you get to the new destination. These activities require a lot of planning and organization so it is important that you give yourself enough time to organize properly for such a big move.
Distance
The distance between locations in a cross country move is usually huge and this can be source of great stress for the people involved. The distance involved in this kind of journey means that the travellers will encounter different terrains with different weather conditions and one or more roadblocks on the way.
Cost
The cost of moving cross country can be quite expensive compared to moving locally or within the same region. Things like hiring a moving company, buying packing materials, layovers and transportation can quickly add up which can take a toll on one’s budget.
Emotional Toll
It is not easy to leave all that’s familiar and move to an unfamiliar and strange locality. Adjusting to new things, places and people can be quite challenges and that could very well be the greatest challenge of relocating.
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Criteria for Choosing a Reputable Cross Country Moving Company
There are a number of things that you should consider before you even begin to think of the moving company to hire.
Full Service
There are companies that offer full services for moving and these services include providing packing supplies and packing up your stuff and loading them. After that they drive the stuff to your new destination and help you unpack them.
You do not have to lift a finger; only direct them on what to do. In addition, they also dispose of the packing materials that were used.
Specialized Packing
Full service movers most often lump up different sets of properties in a single moving van because their trucks need to be full for cross country movements. The process of loading up the truck means that your possessions can be moved several times. This therefore means that delicate objects have a high likelihood of getting damaged.
If you have really important objects that you don’t want to get damaged, your best bet is to hire a portable container for your stuff. This ensures that your property will be handled only at the point of on-loading and off-loading.
Saving Time or Saving Money?
You need to consider what’s more important to you; is it to save time or to save money? Well, if you have enough time to plan your move, you can hire a portable container and carefully pack up your things by yourself but if you do not have time, your best bet will be a full service moving company.
The Size of your Home and the Stuff to Move
Another point of consideration before searching for a moving company is to the size of your home and the things you have to move. If you live in a big house and have a lot of stuff to move, you need to consider hiring a whole moving truck and paying for full service. Paying for a full truck means that yours would be the only properties placed in the truck which means your stuff will not be moved several times.
If however, you live in a small house or have less stuff to move, you can make do with a portable container as this will also provide additional protection for your stuff without requiring that you pay for a whole truck.
Factors to look out for When Choosing a Cross Country Moving Company
Having established you priorities (what is important to you and what is not), the next thing to do is to consider the following:-
License and Insurance
Ensure that the mover has gone through the process described here and is duly licensed and insured. This will give you the assurance that you are working with a legitimate company. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration allows people to check whether the company they want to use is duly insured and licensed and also look at their inspection results.
Ensure that there are no Hidden Charges
Make sure that you ask whoever you get to discuss with at the moving company about every possible charge that you can expect. Then let them know how much you are not willing to exceed. This is because most movers will include charges for moving heavy items or extra weight or moving stuff down and upstairs. It is safe for you to know how much you will have to spend upfront to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Other things that you must do include the following:-
- Get recommendations from friends and family
- Ensure that you get reviews from past customers and also read reviews on the company’s website.
- Get as many written quotes as possible
- Find out about insurance coverage for your stuff
- Confirm the timeline for pick and delivery.
Conclusion
Moving cross country doesn’t have to be a harrowing experience; in fact it can be one to remember for good reasons. However that will not happen just like that; you have to put in some effort looking out for the company that will work best for you. We believe that the tips that we have shared here will come in handy in making an informed decision.