{"id":21691,"date":"2023-02-27T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-27T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/?p=21691"},"modified":"2025-09-09T10:36:40","modified_gmt":"2025-09-09T14:36:40","slug":"tips-for-moving-across-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/","title":{"rendered":"20 Tips for Moving Cross Country (The Serious Checklist)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"690\/445\" width=\"690\" height=\"445\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-across-the-country.jpg\" alt=\"Tips for moving across the country\" class=\"wp-image-37901 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-across-the-country.jpg 690w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-across-the-country-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 690px) 100vw, 690px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group hl-block\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Highlights\">Highlights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Moving across the country is viewed as the most difficult type of residential moving that can only be rivaled by international relocation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moving to another part of the country is a serious business \u2013 it involves the safe transportation of your prized possessions over a great distance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And yet, the most challenging stage of a cross-country move remains the preparation period where many things can go wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>These 20 tips for moving across the country will help you have a smooth state-to-state move from start to finish.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-table-of-content ultp-block-5b9d9b\"><div class=\"ultp-block-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-block-toc\"><div class=\"ultp-toc-header\"><div class=\"ultp-toc-heading\">Table of Contents<\/div><div class=\"ultp-collapsible-toggle  ultp-collapsible-right\"><a class=\"ultp-collapsible-text ultp-collapsible-open\" href=\";\">[Open]<\/a><a class=\"ultp-collapsible-text ultp-collapsible-hide\" href=\";\">[Close]<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"ultp-block-toc-style1 ultp-block-toc-body\"><ul class=\"ultp-toc-lists\"><li><a href=\"#Highlights\">Highlights<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"_Serious_tips_for_moving_across_the_country\">Stage One: Serious tips for moving across the country<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Follow_a_moving_checklist\">1. Follow a moving checklist<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Hire_cross-country_movers\">2. Hire cross-country movers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Compare_movers\">3. Compare movers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Request_cost_calculation\">4. Request cost calculation<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Inventory_your_home\">5. Inventory your home<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Moving_furniture_across_country\">6. Moving furniture across country<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Moving_across_country_with_children\">7. Moving across country with children<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Moving_cross_country_with_pets\">8. Moving cross country with pets<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"_driving_or_flying?\">9. Make up your mind: driving or flying?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Change_your_address\">10. Change your address<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Change_home_utilities_\">11. Change home utilities <\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"_Serious_packing_tips_for_moving_cross_country\">Stage Two: Serious packing tips for moving cross country<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Let\u2019s_move_for_less\">12. Let\u2019s move for less<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Ask_friends_to_help_you_pack\">13. Ask friends to help you pack<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Get_free_moving_boxes\">14. Get free moving boxes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Purge_your_home_of_unwanted_items\">15. Purge your home of unwanted items<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Pack_essentials_boxes\">16. Pack essentials boxes<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Discard_non-allowable_items\">17. Discard non-allowable items<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Pack_your_furniture_like_a_pro\">18. Pack your furniture like a pro<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Pack_the_right_way\">19. Pack the right way<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#_Pack_with_safety_in_mind\">20. Pack with safety in mind<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get one thing straight: moving across the country often proves to be the toughest type of residential moving, challenged only by complicated cases of international relocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To move to a new residence that is located hundreds or thousands of miles away is definitely not something you can joke about \u2013 the mere thought that so many things could go wrong during that intensely transitional period is enough to send you into a state of panic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is exactly why we\u2019ve created this seriously important moving across the country checklist so that you can take your long-distance move <strong>seriously<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What would you be willing to give to have a fairly simple, straightforward, and affordable cross-country move? 5 minutes of your time would be enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the next 20 tips for moving cross country in order to better understand the challenges you\u2019ll soon be facing with your decision to move&nbsp;to another part of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Stage_One:_Serious_tips_for_moving_across_the_country\">Stage One: Serious tips for moving across the country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting ready to move across the country requires impeccable organization on your part \u2013 know what things to do before you move across the country in order to take full advantage of the weeks, days, and hours you have until your moving date and keep the stress level to its minimum while keeping the efficiency as high as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Follow_a_moving_checklist\">1. Follow a moving checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of the move distance between the two homes (neighboring state or coast to coast), the one thing that will remain unchanged is the myriad of tasks that are waiting for you and you alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of those jobs can be so overwhelming that you may quickly find yourself confused about where to begin. Moreover, the exact order of completing the pre-move chores is very important for gaining complete control of the remaining time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t waste time you can\u2019t afford to lose \u2013 set up a day-by-day\/week-by-week moving checklist for yourself and populate with it personalized and prioritized move-related jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/moving-timeline\/\">Moving Timeline: Week By Week Moving Checklist<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Hire_cross-country_movers\">2. Hire cross-country movers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Deciding to move across the country is a guarantee that you won\u2019t lose valuable time resolving the ever-present dilemma: <a href=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/hire-movers-or-do-it-yourself\/\">hire movers or do it yourself?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the jaw-dropping distances of moving coast to coast, for example, New York, NY \u2013 Los Angeles, CA (2,800 miles), Miami, FL \u2013 Seattle, WA (3,300 miles), the only way you can have a normal household move without problems of any sort is to hire one of the top-rated cross-country movers out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a good reason why self-moving is only suited for local moves \u2013 factor in all <a href=\"\/move\/forgotten-moving-costs\/\">forgotten costs of moving by yourself<\/a> and things will suddenly become clearer than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/reasons-to-hire-movers\/\">7 Reasons to Hire a Professional Moving Company<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Compare_movers\">3. Compare movers<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"267\/400\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/woman-mover-contract.jpg\" alt=\"What's the easiest way to move across country?\" class=\"wp-image-21701 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/woman-mover-contract.jpg 267w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/woman-mover-contract-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Don\u2019t skip the step of comparing top-rated cross-country movers.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>It won\u2019t be long before you realize that moving cross country by yourself is a bad idea due to the great distance and the increased costs and risks that the extra mileage will introduce. Faced with a fairly complicated long-distance move, your best option is to contact an experienced cross-country moving company and hire their quality services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Okay, hire a professional moving company \u2013 check. But which one?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is that you won\u2019t really know which long-distance mover is right for you until you do a comparative analysis of several cross-country movers in your area. Basically, it comes down to making an informed decision after exploring your available options as far as price and additional services go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/compare-moving-companies\/\">How to Compare Moving Companies<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Request_cost_calculation\">4. Request cost calculation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s hardly a surprising statement that the cost to move across the country is almost always higher than the cost of moving locally. The real question is just how much higher, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Having your moving price calculated long before Moving day is something you just must do as it will introduce more clarity into your family budget and will hopefully ease your mind too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask a few reputable cross-country moving companies for price estimation. Do not settle for online or phone cost estimates because they can never be as accurate as you need them to be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead, <a href=\"\/moving-cost-estimator.php\">request in-home surveys<\/a> from moving company experts for much more realistic moving price quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Inventory_your_home\">5. Inventory your home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you know exactly what items you\u2019ll be taking with you to your new place?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most cost-effective way to move across the country is to simply leave all household items behind and literally take just a handful of valuable personal belongings. Tempting, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not really because such a long-distance moving scenario sounds more like science fiction than reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Complete a home inventory so that you do know what items you\u2019re really moving to the new house or apartment. As you\u2019re going from room to room with a trusted notepad or an electronic gadget in your hands, remember to decide the fate of each possession of yours \u2013 Keep, Sell, Gift, Donate, or Recycle?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Moving_furniture_across_country\">6. Moving furniture across country<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most furniture pieces are big and heavy, and therefore you should focus on resolving the dilemma of whether it\u2019s better to pay to have your furniture moved to another home or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, purchasing new pieces of furniture upon arrival proves to be more cost-effective than paying professionals to pack, load, transport, and unpack the pieces that you own right now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s a tough call, no doubt, but unless you have priceless <a href=\"\/move\/moving-antiques\/\">antique furniture<\/a> that you can\u2019t even think about leaving behind, doing the math often favors moving as few furniture pieces as you possibly can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/what-to-do-with-furniture-when-moving\/\">What to Do With Furniture When Moving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Moving_across_country_with_children\">7. Moving across country with children<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No matter the major reasons to move across the country, expect much more worries and difficulties when you\u2019re embarking on that moving journey with kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The added responsibilities will only make the tough relocation even harder for you as a parent so it\u2019s important to think ahead and get ready for the challenges as they come one after the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consult our <a href=\"\/move\/moving-with-kids\/\">Moving with Children Guide<\/a> to keep stress levels from escalating. There, you will find detailed information about what to expect from and how to prepare your baby, toddler, pre-schooler, school-age kid, or teenager to have a smooth transition not only between the two homes but between the two worlds as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/moving-house-affects-children\/\">How Does Moving House Affect Children?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Moving_cross_country_with_pets\">8. Moving cross country with pets<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"450\/300\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/moving-across-country-with-cats.jpg\" alt=\"How to move a cat across country?\" class=\"wp-image-21704 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/moving-across-country-with-cats.jpg 450w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/moving-across-country-with-cats-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/moving-across-country-with-cats-400x267.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Moving across the country with pets? Enjoy the calm before the storm.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Moving with pets across the country will keep your hands rather full as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Non-surprisingly, pets have their own needs, so you are advised to find time to tend to those special needs in order to keep your animal friend safe and calm before, during, and after a house move of such a magnitude. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re moving with <a href=\"\/move\/moving-with-a-dog\/\">a loyal dog<\/a>, <a href=\"\/move\/how-moving-affects-cats\/\">a graceful cat<\/a>, <a href=\"\/move\/moving-with-birds-to-a-new-home\/\">a lovely bird<\/a>, <a href=\"\/move\/how-to-move-a-fish-tank-to-another-house\/\">beautiful fish<\/a>, or <a href=\"\/move\/moving-exotic-pets\/\">an exotic pet<\/a>, you can be sure that it won\u2019t be long before they sense that something big is about to happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember that even the best cross-country movers are not allowed to transport pets, so you\u2019re in charge of finding the best way to transport your pet to another state. Make sure that they are healthy before the trip (a pre-move visit to the vet is a must) and that their routine remains as unchanged as possible under the circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Make_up_your_mind:_driving_or_flying?\">9. Make up your mind: driving or flying?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your long-distance mover will be charged with the task of protecting and transporting your possessions from Point A to Point B, but what about you and the people you are moving with? How do you plan to reach the new address?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving across the country in your car is the most common way to reach the destination of a long-distance move. And if that\u2019s your plan too, then remember to have your transportation vehicle serviced prior to Moving day so that the moving trip goes as smoothly as silk. Also, plan your car journey well in advance to avoid potentially bad last-minute decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, if you intend to fly to your new home, then you should definitely think about how to move your car across the country. Contact a few <a href=\"\/car-movers\">top-rated car shippers<\/a> and get price quotes so that you can select the best offer in terms of pricing and conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/drive-or-ship-car-across-country\/\">Ship a Car or Drive It When Moving Across Country<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Change_your_address\">10. Change your address<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A cross-country move will surely introduce many changes in a person\u2019s life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the fact that you\u2019re moving across the country means that your postal address is going to change as well. It\u2019s quite logical, isn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s best to change your address with the United States Postal Service (<a href=\"https:\/\/moversguide.usps.com\/mgo\/disclaimer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">USPS<\/a>) approximately 2 weeks prior to your move-out date. This way, you will continue to receive your mail without any issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly enough, you can also change your address right after the move but the risk of getting important pieces of mail lost will be somewhat higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily for you, there are 4 ways to change your address: 1) in person at the nearest USPS office, 2) online, 3) over the phone, and 4) by mail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/change-address-when-moving\/\">How to Change Your Address When Moving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Change_home_utilities_\">11. Change home utilities <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"450\/300\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/home-utilities.jpg\" alt=\"The best way to move across the country\" class=\"wp-image-33299 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/home-utilities.jpg 450w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/home-utilities-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Do you really need to pay for cable TV with 200+ channels? <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p> In some relocation cases, you\u2019ll also need to change your home utilities\u2026 unless you\u2019d want to experience what it\u2019s like to unpack in the dark once you make it to the new place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Don\u2019t forget to get in touch with your current utility companies and schedule the disconnection of the utilities in the place you\u2019re leaving soon. Timing is important here, so remember to do this task approximately 2 weeks before moving out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, contact the utility providers in the new state and arrange for the reconnection of the utility services &#8211; electricity, water and sewage, gas, Internet, cable TV, telephone, waste removal, etc. &#8211; in the new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/transfer-utilities-when-moving\/\">How to Transfer Utilities When Moving: 10 Easy Steps<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Stage_Two:_Serious_packing_tips_for_moving_cross_country\">Stage Two: Serious packing tips for moving cross country<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It comes as a little surprise that everybody\u2019s looking for the cheapest way to move across the country. Why? Moving to another home is an expensive affair, especially when that new residence is located far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The truth is that you will need to secure the services of not just a random moving company, but rather, one of <a href=\"\/usa\/long-distance-movers\">the best long-distance movers<\/a> on the market as of today so that you can have the peace of mind that your prized possessions are being cared for throughout the entire household move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When it comes to relocation professionals, the definition of <strong><em>the best<\/em><\/strong> often means a reasonable balance between high-quality services and affordability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How much does it cost to move across the country? The average cost to move across the country (an interstate move) is roughly <strong>$4,300<\/strong> for a distance of <strong>1,225 miles<\/strong> and a shipment weight of <strong>7,400 lbs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though that is only an average moving cost and the price you pay will most likely differ substantially (request moving estimates to know for sure), it does give you a strong incentive to always take advantage of proven cost-saving strategies when moving cross country on a budget \u2013 see below for some real-life moving tips that will actually let you save hard-earned money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Must-read<\/strong>: <a href=\"\/move\/average-moving-cost\/\">What is the Average Moving Cost?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Let\u2019s_move_for_less\">12. Let\u2019s move for less<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"267\/400\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/packing-books-for-moving.jpg\" alt=\"Moving across country expenses\" class=\"wp-image-21706 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/packing-books-for-moving.jpg 267w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/packing-books-for-moving-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Packing whatever you can by yourself, like books, for example, is a good way to lower moving expenses. Plus, you never know who will volunteer to help.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>More often than not, the best way to move across country is to hire the services of an affordable cross-country mover and then do most of the packing job by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This tactic will let you have the best of both worlds \u2013 you\u2019re still getting professional assistance for the special items that only specialists know how to pack and transport safely \u2013 pianos, pool tables, hot tubs, gun safes, antique furniture, big and heavy furniture pieces, heavy electric appliances, special-purpose equipment, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the same time, you\u2019re saving loads of money from packing on your own the more ordinary stuff in your home &#8211; non-breakable items such as clothes, shoes, books, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-hire-packers\/\">How Much Does It Cost to Hire Packers?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Ask_friends_to_help_you_pack\">13. Ask friends to help you pack<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to reduce the cost of moving across the country, you must use all resources available to you. A good way to reduce the packing costs is to ask your good friends to help you pack, thus potentially saving big money from having to hire professional packers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that packing for a move is not meant to be completed by one person. If you have family members who are willing to give you a hand, that\u2019s great. If not, then asking for friendly packing assistance should be the way to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Organize a packing party and invite your best friends to it. Make sure you reach out to your pals as early as possible so that you don\u2019t disrupt their own plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The thing is that sometimes mixing business with pleasure can work out well in the end, especially when you\u2019ve fallen way behind your packing timeline and need help ASAP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/friends-help-you-move\/\">How to Get Your Friends to Help You Move<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Get_free_moving_boxes\">14. Get free moving boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While you\u2019re looking for inexpensive ways to move across the country, one thing that you shouldn\u2019t underestimate is the cost of the required packing materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While you probably won\u2019t find yourself too worried about the price of bubble wrap, packing paper, and packing tape, just think about the overwhelming number of cardboard boxes you\u2019ll need to move your stuff across the country!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Bear in mind that the average number of packing boxes needed to pack the content of a home is 60.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, packing boxes are the biggest packing expense so find a way to lower that cost and you\u2019ll have a cost-saving trick that\u2019ll actually work. Access below the full checklist&nbsp;of the places where you can get free moving boxes in good or even excellent condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/get-boxes-for-moving\/\">Where to Get Free Moving Boxes Near You<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Purge_your_home_of_unwanted_items\">15. Purge your home of unwanted items<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"450\/300\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/declutter-home-1.jpg\" alt=\"Declutter your home before moving\" class=\"wp-image-33302 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/declutter-home-1.jpg 450w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/declutter-home-1-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">You&#8217;re not moving all that stuff with you, are you?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When looking for cheap ways to move across the country, know that each and every small decision to move an item that you won\u2019t really need after the relocation will lead to a classic instance of losing money \u2013 the very thing you\u2019re trying to prevent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The more things you plan to take with you, the heavier the total weight of your shipment will become. And, as you can easily deduct, that will increase the amount on the estimates you get from professional cross-country moving companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Prepare to pack only the things that will be useful to you in the near future and get rid of the rest:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"\/move\/moving-sale-tips\/\">organize a moving sale<\/a> to pocket much-needed cash,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>gift still usable items to friends,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/move\/where-to-donate-used-items\/\">donate to charity<\/a>, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>recycle the stuff that stopped being practical a long time ago.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/get-rid-of-unwanted-items\/\">How to Get Rid of Unwanted Items When Moving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Pack_essentials_boxes\">16. Pack essentials boxes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the best tips for moving across the country is to prepare a few boxes full of essential items. Why, you may ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The so-called essentials boxes will help you make it alright until you get reunited with your household items again. The thing you should remember here is that once your cross-country movers load your things into their truck and drive off in the direction of the new out-of-state home, you won\u2019t have access to those items until after the move is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Set aside absolute essential items such as vital kitchen items, prescription medicines, toiletries, change of clothes for everyone, children\u2019s items, pets\u2019 items, basic hand tools, and so on. Then, pack up those essentials in a few boxes and keep them with you at all times. Also known as survival kits, those essentials boxes will help you survive the first day or so in the new place until your household items get delivered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/open-first-box\/\">How to Pack an Essentials Box When Moving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Discard_non-allowable_items\">17. Discard non-allowable items<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Packing for a cross-country move is never easy as your valuable possessions will need to be protected really well to survive the days of being hauled through the country and arrive in your new home perfectly intact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make things even more complicated, you have to know that there are some household items that are forbidden for transport due to their hazardous nature. As a result, your cross-country movers will not pack and move any items that are included in their list of non-allowables. Don\u2019t even bother packing anything that happens to be flammable (combustible), corrosive, or explosive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, interstate moving companies are forbidden by law to transport perishable food, plants, pets, and items that are simply irreplaceable. So, it\u2019ll be your responsibility to take your pets and a few select plants in your car when moving cross country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/moving-non-allowable-items\/\">What Movers Won\u2019t Move: What Not to Pack When Moving<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Pack_your_furniture_like_a_pro\">18. Pack your furniture like a pro<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s best to leave large, heavy and\/or antique furniture to be handled by <a href=\"\/move\/best-furniture-movers\/\">professional furniture movers<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, you can safely pack up some of the smaller and lighter furniture pieces you own \u2013 a proactive packing action that will let you save a good deal of money in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do this in two major stages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>prepare your furniture pieces to be moved across the country by emptying, cleaning, and then disassembling them as far as they will go.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow these <a href=\"\/move\/packing-furniture\/\">furniture packing tip<\/a>s to secure and protect your prized possessions unless you find out that that job is too much for you to handle.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/furniture-disassembly-moving\/\">How to Disassemble Furniture When Moving: Step-By-Step Guide<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Pack_the_right_way\">19. Pack the right way<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-aspectratio=\"267\/400\" width=\"267\" height=\"400\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.mymovingreviews.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/kid-with-box-family-back.jpg\" alt=\"Packing tips when moving across the country\" class=\"wp-image-21710 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/kid-with-box-family-back.jpg 267w, https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/05\/kid-with-box-family-back-200x300.jpg 200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Who says packing is too complicated?  <br> #PackerAtHeart<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When getting ready to move across the country, one of the worst things that can happen is to run out of time before you happen to complete the packing project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your options will be severely limited if you still have piles of unpacked boxes when your movers start knocking at the door on Moving day. To prevent such a stress-inducing scenario from ever happening, make sure you follow this excellent <a href=\"\/move\/packing-timeline\/\">Packing Timeline<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Starting the packing process early is key \u2013 as soon as your cross-country move is confirmed, get down to sorting out and packing your belongings with a clear plan of action in your head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with the storage areas in your home as they are the hardest ones to prepare for shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/how-to-pack-for-a-move-quickly\/\">How to Pack for a Move in 3 Days<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"_Pack_with_safety_in_mind\">20. Pack with safety in mind<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Unless you hire professional packers to wrap up your stuff, packing safety is paramount when moving across the country because your items will be on the road much longer compared to a local move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few simple safety rules are all you need to remember to keep things running smoothly and damage-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Always tape the bottom and sides of each cardboard box before starting to fill it in regardless of its condition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always place a few pieces of bubble wrap or several wads of paper (newspaper is also fine) on the bottom of the box before packing fragile items.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Don\u2019t skimp on bubble wrap and soft packing paper when packing breakables.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always fill in any spaces inside the box once it\u2019s been packed so that no shifting is possible during transport.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write <strong>FRAGILE<\/strong>, <strong>THIS SIDE UP<\/strong>, and <strong>HANDLE WITH CARE<\/strong> on the boxes that contain easily breakable items.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"\/move\/pack-your-home-in-60-steps\/\">How to Pack Your Home in 60 Steps<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights Let\u2019s get one thing straight: moving across the country often proves to be the toughest type of residential moving, challenged only by complicated cases of international relocation. To move to a new residence that is located hundreds or thousands of miles away is definitely not something you can joke about \u2013 the mere thought &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;20 Tips for Moving Cross Country (The Serious Checklist)&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":33295,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[76,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-21691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-long-distance-moving","category-moving-checklist","entry"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-cross-country.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Joshua Green","author_link":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/author\/joshua-green\/"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.8.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>20 Tips for Moving Cross Country in 2026 (The Serious Checklist)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Moving across the country is never a joke - it\u2019s about knowing what to do and how to do it. Here&#039;s a very serious checklist with the best tips for moving cross country!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"20 Tips for Moving Cross Country in 2026 (The Serious Checklist)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Moving across the country is never a joke - it\u2019s about knowing what to do and how to do it. Here&#039;s a very serious checklist with the best tips for moving cross country!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"MoveAdvisor\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-09T14:36:40+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-cross-country.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"675\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joshua Green\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joshua Green\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"17 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"20 Tips for Moving Cross Country in 2026 (The Serious Checklist)","description":"Moving across the country is never a joke - it\u2019s about knowing what to do and how to do it. Here's a very serious checklist with the best tips for moving cross country!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"20 Tips for Moving Cross Country in 2026 (The Serious Checklist)","og_description":"Moving across the country is never a joke - it\u2019s about knowing what to do and how to do it. Here's a very serious checklist with the best tips for moving cross country!","og_url":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/","og_site_name":"MoveAdvisor","article_published_time":"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-09T14:36:40+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":675,"url":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-cross-country.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Joshua Green","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Joshua Green","Est. reading time":"17 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/","url":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/","name":"20 Tips for Moving Cross Country in 2026 (The Serious Checklist)","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/tips-for-moving-across-country\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/moving-cross-country.jpg","datePublished":"2023-02-27T14:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-09T14:36:40+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/moveadvisor.com\/move\/#\/schema\/person\/d3403805c89e6de681f261f811cdccb4"},"description":"Moving across the country is never a joke - it\u2019s about knowing what to do and how to do it. 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Joshua is a recognized author of two books about moving one of which is Relocating Without Breaking A Sweat - Your Personal Handbook For A Perfect Move. Both books are well received and help thousands of people make the right relocation decisions. He is known to skillfully incorporate his never-ending energy, utmost dedication and raw passion into his works. 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