Moving across the country is an exciting milestone, but it also comes with plenty of logistics to manage. From coordinating transportation to budgeting for the journey, a cross-country move requires thoughtful planning. The key to success? Starting early, staying organized, and choosing the right moving professionals.
We understand how overwhelming long-distance moves can feel at Gentle Giant, so we’re here to help simplify the process. Our cross-country relocation experts have created this step-by-step guide, walking you through everything you need to know to plan a stress-free move.
Step 1: Create a Timeline for a Cross-Country Move
Planning ahead is the secret to a smooth move. Breaking the process into manageable steps ensures you stay on track and avoid last-minute chaos.
8-12 Weeks Before Moving Day:
- Research and compare cross-country moving companies by reading reviews, verifying licenses, and confirming insurance coverage. Make sure to choose a company with a solid reputation for long-distance moves.
- Set a moving budget that includes all potential expenses, such as hiring movers, travel costs, packing supplies, and storage fees. Consider getting multiple quotes to compare pricing. A general rule of thumb is three estimates.
- Request moving estimates and schedule in-home or virtual surveys with moving companies to get an accurate price and avoid surprise fees.
6-8 Weeks Before Moving Day:
- Declutter your home by sorting belongings into categories: keep, donate, sell, or discard. The fewer items you move, the lower your moving costs will be.
- Begin packing non-essential items, like off-season clothing, books, and decor. Use high-quality packing materials to protect fragile items.
- Organize and secure important documents, including passports, medical records, financial paperwork, and moving-related contracts, so they are easily accessible.
4-6 Weeks Before Moving Day:
- Finalize travel arrangements, including flights, hotel bookings, or planning your road trip route. If flying, arrange for transportation at your destination.
- Notify utility providers, subscriptions, banks, and government agencies of your address change. Set up mail forwarding to ensure you receive important correspondence.
- Arrange storage solutions if your new home will not be immediately ready or if you need a temporary place for certain belongings.
2-4 Weeks Before Moving Day:
- Pack a designated “open first” box with essentials such as toiletries, a change of clothes, important documents, chargers, and basic kitchen items.
- Confirm all moving details with your movers, including pickup and delivery dates, insurance coverage, and any special handling requirements for fragile or oversized items.
- If you are moving with pets, plan their transportation and ensure they have a safe and comfortable travel setup. Also, update their identification tags and microchip information with your new address.
Moving Week:
- Double-check logistics, like confirming you have parking permits for the moving truck or making necessary arrangements for elevator use in apartment buildings.
- Pack a travel bag with everyday essentials, medications, electronic devices, and snacks for the journey.
- Conduct a final walkthrough of your old home to check for forgotten items, turn off utilities, and lock all doors and windows.
Step 2: Budgeting for a Cross-Country Move
Long-distance moves come with several costs, but planning ahead can help you stay within budget.
Cost Breakdown:
- Hiring Professional Movers: Costs vary based on distance, weight, and additional services like packing, storage, and specialty item handling. Request detailed estimates to understand all fees involved.
- Truck Rentals & Fuel: If you plan to do a DIY move, factor in the cost of renting a moving truck, gas expenses, mileage charges, and potential late return fees.
- Lodging & Meals: If your move requires a multi-day road trip, account for hotel stays, meals, and potential unforeseen travel expenses.
- Insurance Coverage: Moving companies offer different levels of liability coverage. Consider purchasing full-value protection if you have valuable belongings.
Ways to Save Money:
- Off-season Rates: Move during the off-season (fall or winter) when demand is lower and rates may be more affordable.
- Declutter: Selling, donating, or responsibly recycling items reduces transportation costs and makes unpacking easier.
- Book Early: Many moving companies offer lower prices when booked several months in advance.
- Material Costs: Use free or recycled packing supplies from local stores, community groups, or online marketplaces to significantly reduce material costs.
Hidden Costs to Watch For:
- Shuttle fees if a smaller truck is required for neighborhoods with narrow streets or restricted access.
- Extra charges for last-minute packing services or changes to your moving plan.
- Storage fees if there is a delay in accessing your new home, and your belongings need temporary housing.
- Utility connection fees at your new residence, which may include deposits or service activation charges.
- Unexpected repairs or cleaning costs at your old home, such as patching walls, repainting, or deep cleaning to meet lease agreements or sale conditions.
Step 3: Choosing the Right Moving Company
Not all moving companies are created equal, and cross-country moves require reliable, experienced movers.
How to Research Movers:
- Read customer reviews and testimonials on sites like the Better Business Bureau and Google to gauge trustworthiness and service quality.
- Verify the company’s licensing and insurance with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). This ensures they comply with federal moving regulations.
- Avoid companies that require large upfront deposits or have vague estimates without detailed breakdowns.
- Check if the company is a member of professional moving associations such as the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), which upholds high industry standards.
- Ask if they provide GPS tracking or shipment updates so you can monitor your belongings during transit.
Questions to Ask Before Booking a Moving Company:
- Do you offer a binding or non-binding estimate? A binding estimate guarantees a fixed price and is typically used for long-distance moves. Meanwhile, non-binding estimates may change (the price may go up or down at the end of a move) and are mainly associated with local moves.
- What is your claims process for damaged or lost items? Understanding your recourse in case of issues is essential. For example, Gentle Giant’s Quality Control team is on hand to solve any problems that may arise during or after a move.
- Will my belongings be transferred between multiple trucks? This increases the risk of delays and potential damage. At Gentle Giant, we self-haul every long-distance move—no subcontractors, just our trusted team.
- How do you handle delays or rescheduling? Understanding their flexibility and policies can help you plan accordingly.
- What additional services do you offer, such as packing, unpacking, storage, or furniture assembly? Knowing the full range of services available can make your move more efficient.
Step 4: Packing Strategies for a Long-Distance Move
Packing for a local move is one thing—packing for a cross-country move requires extra care.
Smart Packing Tips:
- Label each box with contents, destination room, and priority level to make unpacking efficient.
- Color-code or number boxes for an organized moving process, ensuring easy identification.
- Keep an inventory checklist to track all items and reduce the risk of lost belongings.
Check out our blog on How to Pack for a Long-Distance Move for the full breakdown.
Protecting Fragile Items:
- Wrap fragile items with bubble wrap, packing paper, and cushioning materials to prevent damage.
- Pack electronics in original boxes whenever possible or use padded moving boxes for added protection.
Deciding What to Ship, Store, or Carry With You:
- Ship large furniture and non-essential items if you’re downsizing or moving in stages.
- Store seasonal or bulky belongings in a climate-controlled storage unit if needed.
- Carry valuables, important documents, and sentimental items personally to prevent loss.
Cross-Country Moving Solutions with Gentle Giant
Planning a cross-country move takes time, but having the right team on your side makes all the difference. At Gentle Giant, we specialize in stress-free, full-service long-distance moves.
Why Choose Gentle Giant?
- We self-haul every long-distance move—no subcontractors, just our trusted team. Unlike other moving companies that outsource parts of the process to third-party carriers, we handle every aspect of your move ourselves. From the moment we arrive to pack up your home to the final delivery and unpacking at your new destination, your belongings are in the hands of our own trained Gentle Giant movers. This ensures consistency, accountability, and a seamless experience.
- We provide clear, accurate estimates with no hidden fees. Over 90% of our estimates come in at or under the quoted price, so you won’t be caught off guard by unexpected charges at the end of your move. While our estimates may sometimes appear higher upfront compared to other companies, this is because we include all anticipated costs from the start—no surprise add-ons or last-minute fees. Transparency is a core part of our commitment to excellent service.
- We handle as much (or as little) of the move as you need. Whether you want a full-service experience or just help with the heavy lifting, we can customize our services to fit your needs. Our professional team can take care of everything, including packing, unpacking, storage, and logistics. We also specialize in handling fragile or high-value items such as artwork, arcade and pinball machines, gym equipment, and antiques. Need crating, craning, or complex assembly/disassembly? We’ve got you covered!
Let’s make your cross-country move smooth and stress-free. Use our free move estimate tool to determine the cost of your relocation. Or, call us at +1 (800) 442-6863 and speak to one of our experienced cross-country move coordinators today!