Long Distance Moving Checklist: Essential Guide

If you already know which long distance movers in Dallas, TX you’ll choose, then you can start using this checklist about eight weeks before your move date. If you haven’t yet chosen your long distance movers, then start your process a few weeks beforehand to investigate and select them.

This can involve getting recommendations for long distance moving companies from friends, family members, and colleagues. Make sure those movers have an online presence. Read their reviews. It’s recommended that you use a certified mover. At a minimum, they should have a Department of Transportation (DOT) number; interstate movers require additional certifications.

Then, get quotes from a couple of long distance movers in Dallas that rise to the top of your list. You can request a quote from Daryl Flood here.

Eight Weeks Before Your Move

Book Your Move Date

Move dates are ideally booked around this time. If you’re going to relocate in the spring or summer, know that long distance moving companies are generally busier at this time, so take that into account with your scheduling. (You can also ask the movers if they have special rates during less busy times of the year.)

In general, a long distance move within your state (more than fifty miles) will come with lower costs than when you need interstate movers—with cross country movers traversing more miles with your relocation and, therefore, coming with more costs.

Organize

If you haven’t already done this when researching long distance moving companies in Dallas, create an organizational moving binder for your to-do lists and to keep all your important paperwork connected to the relocation in one place.

Investigate your children’s new schools; what you’ll need to do to stop utilities at your current home and start them in your new one; cancel memberships that you’ll no longer use, such as your local gym; plan change of address notifications; and so forth.

Declutter

Have you begun decluttering? If not, now’s the time to start. Envision the layout and space of your new dwelling, using this info as you determine what to throw away/recycle; donate; sell; gift; store; or take with you.

Go room by room, making these decisions:

• Recycle or toss: Items that are broken, past their expiration date, or otherwise have no remaining value can be thrown away or recycled.
• Donate: When items still have value (but you don’t need them), you can donate those to charities in Dallas. If the place will pick them up, you’ll save both time and gas money.
• Sell: You may decide to put some of your household goods in consignment shops or sell them at rummage sales or online. You could use these funds for your moving expenses.
• Gift: You might decide to give some belongings that you don’t want (but others do) to friends, family members, and neighbors.
• Store: You may be unsure about certain household goods and how they might fit into your new home (size-wise or decor-wise). Those could go into storage.
• Transport: What remains can then be taken by your long distance movers in Dallas, TX to your new place. These are the items that need to be packed for your move.

Five to Seven Weeks Before Your Move

One of the most daunting parts of a move can be packing up your belongings. If you’d like Daryl Flood to take on that entire job, request our full packing services. Here are items that typically require specialty packing.

If you’ll be doing some of your own packing, this is the timeframe in which you should gather together your packing supplies. These can include:

• Enough sturdy boxes and/or reusable containers
• Quality packing tape and dispensers; get extra rolls as backup
• Permanent markers to label your boxes for ease of unpacking
• Padding materials
• Moving blankets, dollies, and dolly straps

Four to Six Weeks Before Your Move

While decluttering, you divided belongings into categories. At this point, you should be in the process of selling, donating, and gifting items that you’ve designated. Drop off leftover hazardous material in approved places in your community, downsize belongings in your garage, and otherwise prune your household goods down.

Three Weeks Before Your Move

Pack seasonal clothing and other items that you won’t use before your relocation—perhaps holiday ornaments, special dishes, and home decor items. As you pack them, mark their contents on the various sides of the boxes and where they should go in your new home. Place them in orderly stacks that allow you (and, ultimately, your long distance movers) to safely navigate around them.

Two Weeks Before Your Move

Now, switch your mindset to what you will need during the final two weeks of your home—and then pack the rest. In the kitchen (a good starting point), keep enough plates, bowls, glasses, and silverware for each person in your home along with a basic set of cooking items: a saucepan, a skillet, and enough utensils like a colander and spatula.

Start packing boxes that read “Open First,” placing key items that you’ll want in your new home when your belongings arrive. Consider keeping them open as you think of other belongings to add. Also start thinking about what belongings to physically keep with you on moving day: medications, important papers, toiletries, clothing, pet supplies, phone chargers, and so forth.

One Week Before Your Move

Keep packing! At this point, you’ll probably seal your “Open First” boxes and double check the boxes you’ve packed to ensure that they’re properly taped, labelled, and stacked.

On Moving Day

Enlist the support of friends and family members to watch over any children or pets. That way, you can focus on the move itself, knowing that they’re being taken care of properly.

Daryl Flood as Your Long Distance Movers in Dallas, TX

We’re not just dependable. We’re Daryl Flood Dependable.

We’ve been serving as intrastate, interstate, and cross country movers for more than forty years, personalizing each relocation to the family’s unique needs. Request a quote!