Relocations are already stressful enough for people who don’t have the luxury of an entire army to pack, move and unpack their things. When the move involves travelling cross-country, these are made even more challenging for the average homeowner. There’s also the fact that moving services become expensive with longer distances, thus, the popularity of self-serve moving truck rentals like U-Haul.
But don’t despair! You can actually plan smartly so that your cross-country move become less stressful on your mind, body and wallet.
Plan Well in Advance
You have to consider that a cross-country move will require more planning because of the added complications of rest stops, sleep breaks, and traffic, among others. You should then plan well in advance, say, three months before the actual moving day. You can do it in two months but it will be a tight schedule and every able body must contribute to the effort.
Be sure to make a checklist of the things that must be accomplished for each week and then the days before the moving day. You will find plenty of moving checklists online for a cross-country move – choose one and use it to your advantage.
Plan Your Route
You may agree that packing the objects that will be brought to your new home – the rest can be donated to charity, sold in a garage sale, and stored in a storage unit, if you want – is the easy part. The more challenging part is planning your route since these are many things to consider.
You may know the general direction of your new address from your old one but the devil is in the details. You have to plan a specific route – and stick to it as much as possible – so that you can arrive at your new address in the fastest, easiest and safest way.
Fortunately, there’s the Internet and Google Maps as resources for planning your route. You can start by searching for an online map, such as Google Maps, and entering your Point A and Point B information. You will then be provided with information about your route options, one of which will be the best one for you and your family.
Also, be sure to break up your trip so that you will only drive based on your limit. You and your partner may take turns driving throughout the day but it’s best to plan for rest stops and sleep in motels along the way.
There’s nothing easy, of course, about cross-country driving because of the physical and mental demands. But when you plan well, you will find that it becomes more enjoyable and less stressful.
