When you are long distance moving it takes a lot of planning for all of it to go right. Weeks if not months of preparation until all of the things you are going to move are accounted for, all the long distance movers Denver (or any other place from which you might be reading this from) compared and the best one selected, everything packed, etc. To keep up with this is not easy for anyone, even those who are moving more often than is average. Therefore, for this reason, you need to know how to do it. You need some tips and guidance on how to figure out long distance moving.
And the answer is that you need a checklist. Old-fashioned, we will admit, but it is very useful to have everything you need to “check off” before you move. Therefore, we made this comprehensive guide on exactly how to make a checklist for your long distance relocation. With that out of the way, we think you are ready to learn about exactly how to plan your long distance moving!
First and foremost on your long distance moving checklist
Let us start with the basics. We will presume you just now decided that you will move. The location has been selected, apartment found… what now? Grab some pen and paper, and make a list of everything you need to do before you can embark on your move. Every single detail of your long distance moving must be there!
And, speaking of comprehensive lists, it should start with something basic. How does one choose a company? How many moving companies are there even and what are elements that differentiate professional movers like Homegrown Moving and Storage Company CO from a local, unlicenced crew?
Well, professional movers are definitely the way to go, but we get that you probably don’t know why yet. Therefore, we made this little list of elements and characteristics that truly make professional movers.
- Licensed and transparent. Movers you should pick should be licensed. Only then can you rely on them being transparent. That matters because once you sign a contract you are bound by it. Devil can easily be hidden in the details, among small print. To avoid this, you should do everything you can to read your long distance moving contract with care. Don’t sign blank agreements and don’t sign them with unlicensed movers. It will be very difficult to recover damages from such an endeavor.
- Well reviewed. Furthermore, be sure that they have a good track record. You can check this by going on various reviewing platforms.
- Good communication. And, finally, communication is key to good planning. And, as we explained previously, planing has an indispensable place in the moving process. Therefore, you need movers that are ready to go through every detail with you.
With all of these elements listed, we would like to specially address reviews.
How to recognize fake reviews
Yelp and other platforms such as Google and Facebook have really revolutionized the way we think about customer satisfaction. Before the internet, if you wanted to know the merits of a moving company, your best option was word of mouth. You can easily see how that would have somewhat narrowed your choice, would it?
However, now, in the age of the internet, you can simply go online and see reviews of any moving firm you like. Anywhere. You can even simply ask for movers near you and a list of them will appear, neatly listed by their review score.
However, there is one problem. One little thing that word of mouth technique holds over online reviews. When your friend, co-worker, neighbor or a family member recommends a service, you know who is recommending it. You can actually see the person and you know something about their taste and preference.
No such luck in online reviews, we are afraid. In online reviews, you simply cannot be sure. This is why you need to take care and be sure that you can recognize when a review for a long-distance moving company seems fake.
There are several things that can point towards a fake review.
- A little bit too neat – if the review for that long distance moving is just stellar and the description underneath is describing this perfect, heavenly experience… and then the next one, and the next one, and you realize that there are just 100 perfect 5-star reviews – you should reconsider trusting them.
- Just awful – fake reviews can be used to smear companies good name too. Be on the lookout for an unrealistically bad review among the shower of genuinely very good to excellent reviews
Local/long distance moves
Long distance moving can differ in a lot of things from movers done by, for example, local movers Denver. Of course, there is the obvious. Long distance moves are… well… long distance. They take longer to complete, often a whole day or more. They also have more “moving parts”. More cogwheels inside the machine.
But how does that affect you?
Well, for one, you will find that planning for long distance moving takes much longer than for the local moves. It makes sense, really. With more elements in the relocation process, it takes longer to complete checklists like the one you are making right now.
There are also differences in the movers themselves. Movers that do long distance moving, while often on the same level as professionalism, are of much greater capability than their exclusively local moving colleges. This is why they need that better logistical capability (more vehicles of greater carrying capacity) and bigger crews to take on the challenges of transporting something across the country.
Finally, the paying method will differ. Elements that comprise the equation are largely the same in the sense that the weight of your possessions is still measured. However, in local moves, it is the time that is the most important. The estimated time that it takes the crews to complete the move, that is. However, with long distance moving thing, you are looking for is weight. Weight takes primary consideration in price-setting because weight equals fuel consumption, something that is quite important on the long roads such as those.
Additional services
As we finished with the basic elements of a good mover, we can safely say that you checked that off of your long distance moving checklist. However, there is more to be done. Now that you hired your Summit County movers, you also need to consider what is that you want them to do!
This might seem ridiculously simple. They are movers, you can say, they are here to move. And sure, that is the main function. However, you will find that there are a lot more details inside this. For example, do you need them to pack your possession? How about your heavy furniture or piano, do you need those moved? Will your car be transported to? Or maybe you will need decluttering services, or possibly transportation of highly valuable art pieces, antiques or jewelry. How about home applications? Will you need your TV moved and installed? Your kitchen electronics? Your plants or pets…
With all of these things moving is often considered additional service, since they don’t come into the main form of relocation. Some are most often refused, for example, plants of valuables. In the case of plants, you have to start good 4 weeks before the move, slowly but surely introducing your plant to a different pot and making hefty preparations for its replanting. As for valuables, the common advice goes that you should keep those in your car while you are long distance moving, but there are exceptions. Same with the pets.
However, furniture moving, electric appliances installation, and piano relocation is something you can expect more often than not. But, you do have to pay more for them and it is very important that you communicate your needs with your movers. It is for exactly this reason that we emphasize the importance of good communication with your movers. And, of course, to know what you need you first need to cover one other thing from your checklist.
Take inventory
And that would be the list of your possessions, or more simply said, you are to take your inventory status before any apartment movers Denver relocate you to your future place of residence. How will you do this? Well, it is actually good that you can do it any way you want. Far as we are concerned, there is no one right way of taking inventory. However, we do have some recommendations.
First off, it is important that you remember to categorize properly. Here too you choose what those categorizations will be, but to do them you must. Only with proper categorization will you be able to go through all of your possessions before you go long distance moving.
You can always categorize by room, size, value… but we also have a recommendation here. After you have done your first checklist of things you posses, be sure to recategorize them into several fates that the objects in question will experience.
Some, or even most of them, you will move with you. That is to be expected. Those are things you find useful, like home appliances. Decorations, like pictures and various elements and valuables like jewelry. However, you might find it useful to downsize before you get going. Small movers Denver will relocate you much cheaper if you don’t have to carry much with you. For this reason, you should downsize if possible. You can do it in 4 distinct ways.
Firstly, you can always simply sell things. If it’s functional, why not? An item can be posted online on Craiglist or simply be sold in a garage sale. Secondly, you can donate to charity. Have furniture? They will take it. Clothes. They will take it… well, they will take anything really. Furthermore, you can just throw it away (preferably into recycling) But should all of this fail… there is one more option.
Storage
If you just hired your senior moving service CO but want to go as affordable as possible, try downsizing by putting things into your storage. Storage service oftentimes actually comes with the movers. Therefore you will not have to lose time by trying to find storage facilities for you.
Storing is a great way to preserve things you will need – but not right now. You can always come later and take them. They will be safe there and furthermore, they will not take up space.
Essentials
Be sure to mark some items as essentials, even if you are in a hurry and hiring last minute movers CO. Having essentials with you is, well, essential.
These would include medication, hygiene, documents, and jewelry. These are to be with you, instead of packed, therefore you will be able to access them any time.
Contact list
With that out of the way, you should add contacts to talk to before leaving for your long distance moving checklist. These are everything from your local gym to possible customers to friends who you hold dear but have not seen in some time.
This is also a great way to organize a going-away party. This farewell gathering should be after you have finished our guide on how to make a make a checklist of course. Business first!
Time to go!
Speaking of finishing, that is what we are doing! With all the things we mentioned above, we are sure you will be making a good, comprehensive long distance moving list in no time. Just be sure to deal with the beginning step with care and to truly write down everything. Memory is more of a reconstruction than a reproduction – it can be faulty. Paper and pen, however, are something you can rely upon!