It’s not just a couple of thousand miles between Texas and New England – it’s a whole new climate with different food, customs, and accents. Visiting is interesting, but relocating from one to the other is stressful! Just like with any complex and possibly overwhelming project, the key to a successful move from the Lone Star State to the Bay State is breaking the project down into simpler tasks.
1. Four to Six Months Before the Move
Hopefully, you have plenty of advance notice to plan your move. This is your time to minimize. Go through your home room by room, and use the one-year rule: if you haven’t used the item in over a year, you can probably live without it. Additionally, make a packing checklist.
Tell your friends that you’re leaving. People who see you only once or twice a year will want to spend time, and fitting them all in right before your departure would be impossibly draining.
2. Three to Six Months Before the Move
Identify a room in your home that will be last to be packed. If you pack everything away too soon, you will find yourself without the comforting routines that relieve the stress of everyday life. Set aside important documents and personal items that can’t be shipped, and store them in this sanctuary. If you haven’t already, firm up your travel plans. If you’re flying, book the tickets. If you’re driving, plan your route and book lodging ahead of time.
Hire a Moving Company
A cross-country move is no joke! Given this move’s complexities and distance, you may find that it’s worth it to hire a professional mover. Cheap Movers Houston, a Katy TX moving company, recommends getting quotes from at least 3-4 moving companies. Also, be sure to check licensing and insurance for the moving company you ultimately hire. You can verify a mover’s license via the FMCSA website.
3. A Month Before the Move
As your clutter gets pared down, you can begin cleaning the spaces left behind. Consider hiring house cleaners to assist in this or in deep-cleaning any appliances you plan to take with you. Take inventory of your belongings – make a list, and take photos, in case anything goes wrong during transport.
Don’t forget to take time for yourself – socialize, exercise, take time to relax. Give your plants away to your friends.
4. A Week Before the Move
You’ll be transitioning from having some stuff in boxes to nearly everything into boxes. It’s an excellent time to bring in professional packers; they provide not just brawn but also the brains to use container space more efficiently and to protect fragile and precious belongings. You may need to plan a trip to the landfill or recycling center to dispose of cleaning agents, paints, glues, oils, or any other hazardous materials.
5. Moving Day
If problems do arise, having begun your planning well in advance will leave you better prepared to handle them.
6. After the Move
Leave yourself at least a week to explore your new environment and unpack before you have to go to work or school, or whatever brought you to the Northeast. If you did use professional packers, that’s when you’ll thank yourself the most, because you’ll be finding your local coffee shop rather than digging through mysterious boxes. Relax, enjoy, and get to know your new home!
