11 Simple Tips Will Help You Moving Across Country Alone

Moving across country alone can be a stressful, overwhelming experience. But planning carefully and following these tips will be much less stressful than you think.

For many people, the thought of moving to a new city, let alone a new state or country, is a daunting task. But what if you had to do it alone? Whether you’re moving for a new job, to be closer to family, or for any other reason, you can do a few things to make the transition smoother. Here are a few tips for anyone who finds themselves having to move across country alone.

1. Get Boxes

When it comes to moving across country alone, you’re going to need boxes. But do you know where to get them? The most obvious answer is that you can buy them at a store. And if you want to pay for your boxes and don’t mind the extra cost, that’s fine.

Just remember: if someone offers something for free—like a friend or coworker with some extra cardboard lying around, that might be one of the better moving across country options around.

There are two main boxes: “flats” and “folds.” You’ll use flats when packing up books or items with lots of surface area (like dishes or clothes), while folds are best for heavy items like TVs and mattresses.

Both types help pack fragile items like porcelain vases, which could break during transit if not carefully packed. The box size should match how much space it takes up in your room/house.

If an item doesn’t fit inside existing ones, consider getting two smaller containers instead of one large.

Lastly, ensure your boxes are sturdy enough to hold whatever you plan to put in them. If something falls out mid-commute because it wasn’t properly packed, all your hard work has gone to waste.

Plenty of resources are available if you’re looking for more information on how to pack up your home. You can ask friends and family members what they do when moving. Several companies offer packing services—though it might be worth considering doing it yourself if you have lots of time before the move.

2. What You Don’t Need

It’s time to take an inventory of what you want to take with you. This should give you an idea of how many boxes you’ll need and a good idea of what kinds of televisions are best for your belongings.

If things in your basement or garage aren’t being used, get rid of them! If they’re still in good condition, try selling them online. 

Donate any other items like clothing and books to charity or through a local thrift store. You can also throw away things that have broken down beyond repair (or are so old that no one would want them).

If there are items left when all is said and done, make sure everything is packed tightly into the moving van before heading out on the road toward your new home.

When you get to your new home, unpack everything as quickly as possible. So you don’t have to move around later, get everything out of the boxes properly as soon as possible.

3. Take An Inventory

Moving across the country alone you need to make a list of everything you own, then take photos of them. You’ll need to keep track of what goes where, so the easiest way is to create a spreadsheet or inventory app. Use this list as you go through your things and decide what to keep or discard. 

If you don’t have time to do this yourself, hire someone else to do it for you. They can also help ensure they know what every item costs before they go through with the move, so there are no surprises when it comes time for payment!

If you’re looking for a moving company, look no further than Good Move. We offer a wide range of services and can help you with anything from packing to unpacking your items.

We’re here to make your move as easy as possible. We can help with packing, loading, unloading, and transporting your belongings anywhere when you are moving across the country alone.

4. Hire Movers 

Movers are an excellent option if you’re moving across the country with a lot of stuff. If it’s your first time driving solo, though, or if you haven’t done much heavy lifting before, hiring movers may not be the best idea.

Before you decide to hire movers, ask friends and family about their experiences with previous moves. You can also check out review sites. 

This is perhaps most important—consider whether your belongings are fragile or valuable; if so, it might be safer to hire professional help from beginning to end rather than risk damaging them in transit.

If you’re going to hire movers, make sure that they have insurance. This way, if anything gets damaged while moving across country alone, you won’t lose any money.

5. Talk To Your Landlord And Neighbors.

• Talk to your landlord and neighbors. Let them know your plans, and arrange for a bit of help with packing, moving, and cleaning up after you’re gone.
• Ask others to watch your home while you’re away (if they can).
• Arrange for a neighbor, friend, or family member to check on the house daily and make sure all is well.
• Ask a trusted neighbor or friend who lives nearby if they’ll be willing to water plants/take care of pets/pick up mail/etc., during their stay in the house while you are away. If necessary, search online for local lawn service providers, pet sitters, and plant watering services.

Ask a trusted neighbor or friend who lives nearby if they’ll be willing to water plants/take care of pets/pick up mail during their stay in the house while you are away. 

6. Set Up Mail Forwarding

• If you want to keep using your home address as your mailing address, consider getting a post office box. You can open the box for only 12 months at first and then decide if you want to continue.
• Some mail delivery services offer discounts for signing up for multiple months at once (usually three). Sign up with one of these companies instead of using the old-fashioned mail forwarding service offered by the USPS.

You can use a mail forwarding service if you want to keep your home address as your mailing address. Many companies offer these services, which are often used for business purposes. Some offer discounts for signing up for multiple months at once. 

Consider getting a post office box if you don’t want to use your home address as a mailing address. You can open the box for only 12 months at first and then decide if you will continue. Some mail delivery services offer discounts for signing up for multiple months.

7. Get Renter’s Insurance

If you’re moving out of an apartment and into a home, or if you’re moving across country while living in an apartment because, let’s face it—you don’t have to be rich to live in one, renter’s insurance is a good idea.

This coverage will protect your belongings against damage or theft during the move. If you already have homeowners insurance, that coverage may extend to your items at storage facilities and during transit if they are damaged or stolen during shipment.

If your items are damaged in a fire, flood, or other disasters, your renter’s insurance will cover the cost of repairs or replacement. This can be especially helpful if you have valuable artwork or collectibles you don’t want to take when moving across the country alone.

When you move into an apartment, you are given a credit check. The landlord will want to ensure that your credit history is clean and stable before giving you the keys—which can affect your score. If you don’t have any previous rental records, or if they are all positive, it may not be as big of a deal when moving in.

8. Pack A Bag Of All The Essentials

It would be best if you packed a bag of all the essentials in case you have to leave your apartment or home quickly. This includes:

• First aid kit and medicines
• Toiletries
• Clothes and shoes (at least one pair of each)
• Blankets and pillows
• Food

You’ll also want to bring anything else you use daily, such as a laptop, chargers, etc.

If you have pets, bring along any medication they need. If possible, take a separate bag for them as well.

Having a go bag is essential if you need to leave your apartment or home quickly. It’s also a good idea to have one in case of other emergencies and for camping trips and other excursions.

9. Prepare For Essentials Products.

• You will want to ensure you have what you need for the next day or so. This includes things like toiletries and towels. If these aren’t things you can buy easily at your new location, then plan ahead with your friends or family members who are helping you move across the country alone.
• Be sure to pack all of your medications beforehand as well! Don’t forget any medications that may be crucial for the trip and could be an emergency if forgotten during transit.
• Take care of your pets. If you have any animals that need to be moved with you, then ensure they are in good health and have everything they need. Even if you don’t have animals that need to be moved, remember that many people do.

Check out the local shelters or animal control facilities in your new town to see what services they offer and how much it costs. If there is a local animal shelter, consider volunteering some time there. 

Many people don’t have the resources to take care of their pets or can’t afford them anymore. By volunteering at an animal shelter, you can help out those in need and get to know some new faces in your community as well.

Consider renting a moving truck if you have a lot of stuff that needs to be moved. They have many locations throughout the United States, and their trucks are well taken care of so that your belongings will arrive safely at their destination.

10. Make Sure Your Kids Feel Safe 

When you’re moving across the country and leaving your kids behind, they must have a support system. To ensure their safety and happiness, make sure they feel connected to the people they know, whether it’s their friends or their teachers.

If your child is attending school while you’re away, either by yourself or with another family member staying home with them, talk to their teachers about how things will work during your absence. 

• Map out a plan for when you can talk on the phone or via Skype. Since most kid-friendly communication takes place online nowadays, think about how often this communication holds up between states.
• Keep up with daily activities like homework assignments through texts back and forth between parents/guardians and children.
• If you’re traveling with other family members staying home with your child, consider how they will communicate while you’re gone.
• Texts and phone calls can be expensive to keep up with daily activities like homework assignments through text back and forth between parents/guardians and children themselves.

11. Alone Moving Can Be Scary

Moving across country alone can be scary, but it can also be fun with careful preparation. You will have time to think about your new home and life. You will also have time to make new friends, which many people find difficult once they move away from their hometowns.

When you are moving across the country, it is essential to plan. You will want to start looking for a new place before your move date, so you have time to find something that meets your needs. 

It may be helpful if you can visit the area before you make any final decisions about where you want to live. It would help if you also started looking for a new job. You may be able to find one in your new town, but it is more likely that you will have to look in other nearby cities. 

You can use the Internet or a newspaper to help you find jobs in your field of expertise. It’s important not to rush into anything when moving across the country. Take your time and ensure everything is perfect before heading out.

It would be best if you started looking for a new place before your move date so that you have time to find something that meets your needs.

Conclusion

Moving across country alone is a significant life change, but it doesn’t have to be as scary as you might think. Plan ahead and take your time. More exciting while moving across country alone is possible if you follow that advice.