Helpful Moving Tips:
How to Move Cross-Country

Moving cross country presents some special challenges. While you’re likely to go to your new destination by plane, your possessions will probably make it there by road. This means you will need to plan well in advance for things to be shipped and picked up so nothing gets lost or misplaced in the way. Here are some questions that can help you make the whole process much easier on everybody:

Can you take it with you? Before you rent a truck to move your boxes, find out what the luggage limits are for your plane ticket. Lots of domestic airlines allow a large number of pounds or have a reasonable rate for extra luggage. If you don’t have many cardboard boxes, you may be able to take it all with you on the flight.

Can you drive it yourself? You don’t necessarily need to hire a truck with driver to move your things cross-country. Rather than paying a moving company to take over the whole process, consider renting a moving truck or trailer and drive it yourself. Large companies have offices in almost every city, so you should be able to drop off the truck at a nearby location once you reach your new home.

Can you ship it? Boxes of books, paperwork and magazines can be shipped through the post office via media mail for a relatively low price. The shipping is slow (about two weeks), which can actually be an advantage, as the boxes will arrive at your new destination when you’re already a little more settled.  

Can you throw it out or give it away? When you’re packing things away, make it a goal to only pack things you really want to keep. If you don’t love the item or rarely use it, is it worth it to pay money to move it to another state? If getting rid of things seems difficult, consider giving them to others who may want them, such as friends or neighbors.