8 Tips for a Happier Long-Distance Move
Garbage bags, houseplants and a good cry all have their role when it comes to this major life change
We all know about turning on the utilities at the new place and filling out the change-of-address form for the postal service, but when you make a long-distance move, some other things come into play that can make getting from here to there a bit trickier. Here are some tips – pulled from my recent experience of moving from the East Coast to the West Coast of America – covering everything from packing the moving van to handling the inevitable meltdowns. Hopefully they’ll help make the process go more smoothly for you.
2. Paint before you move in
If you plan to give your new space a fresh coat of paint, it makes a lot of sense to do this before moving all of your stuff in.
Aside from the obvious (it’s easier to paint an empty house than one full of furniture), you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment having ‘paint’ ticked off your to-do list before the first box is even unpacked.
While you’re at it, if there are other messy, disruptive items on your list (anything to do with the floors definitely qualifies), getting to as many of them as possible before moving day will be a big help.
Tips for your next painting project
If you plan to give your new space a fresh coat of paint, it makes a lot of sense to do this before moving all of your stuff in.
Aside from the obvious (it’s easier to paint an empty house than one full of furniture), you’ll feel a great sense of accomplishment having ‘paint’ ticked off your to-do list before the first box is even unpacked.
While you’re at it, if there are other messy, disruptive items on your list (anything to do with the floors definitely qualifies), getting to as many of them as possible before moving day will be a big help.
Tips for your next painting project
3. Ask around before signing up for services
Depending on where you’re moving, there may be many or very few choices of service providers for things like the phone and internet. If you have some options, take the time to ask around before committing to one – you may find that the company that served you so well back at your old place doesn’t have much infrastructure in the new area. Or you might find, as we did, that (thanks to lousy mobile reception) a landline is a necessity at the new place, even though using only mobile phones worked fine at the old house.
Depending on where you’re moving, there may be many or very few choices of service providers for things like the phone and internet. If you have some options, take the time to ask around before committing to one – you may find that the company that served you so well back at your old place doesn’t have much infrastructure in the new area. Or you might find, as we did, that (thanks to lousy mobile reception) a landline is a necessity at the new place, even though using only mobile phones worked fine at the old house.
4. Put ‘buy houseplants’ at the top of your to-do list
One of the unexpectedly sad moments of our move was when I realised we couldn’t bring our houseplants along. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you’ve lovingly nurtured a houseful of plants for years, the thought of starting back at zero is kind of depressing. We gave away all of our plants but ended up keeping some of our favourite pots – something that has made picking plants for the new space much easier (and cheaper).
Once you’re in your new place, you might be tempted to put off buying new houseplants, but I urge you to make it a priority. Why? Houseplants clean the air (especially important if you’ve used paint or flooring that has volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), but most important, they will make your house feel like home.
One of the unexpectedly sad moments of our move was when I realised we couldn’t bring our houseplants along. This may not sound like a big deal, but when you’ve lovingly nurtured a houseful of plants for years, the thought of starting back at zero is kind of depressing. We gave away all of our plants but ended up keeping some of our favourite pots – something that has made picking plants for the new space much easier (and cheaper).
Once you’re in your new place, you might be tempted to put off buying new houseplants, but I urge you to make it a priority. Why? Houseplants clean the air (especially important if you’ve used paint or flooring that has volatile organic compounds, or VOCs), but most important, they will make your house feel like home.
5. Give yourself time to get used to a new climate, time zone and culture
After moving from New England back to the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve been amazed at how long it’s taken to feel settled – even though I’ve moved back to my hometown! Building in extra time to handle that adjustment period can be a relief, especially for families with kids. A week or two to catch your breath (and track down the best local ice cream shop – priorities, you know) will put everyone in better spirits.
After moving from New England back to the San Francisco Bay Area, I’ve been amazed at how long it’s taken to feel settled – even though I’ve moved back to my hometown! Building in extra time to handle that adjustment period can be a relief, especially for families with kids. A week or two to catch your breath (and track down the best local ice cream shop – priorities, you know) will put everyone in better spirits.
6. Expect some meltdowns – from children and adults
Moving is hard, there’s just no way around it, but moving long-distance is especially hard. It means leaving behind friends, schools, jobs and perhaps even family, and entering the great unknown of a new place.
Even if the new place sounds great (and is great!) meltdowns and emotional moments are a totally natural reaction to such a big shakeup in life.
So when the moment comes (and it will) that someone (or more than one someone) in the house needs a good cry, roll with it. Then get yourselves up and find something fun to explore or do in your new town.
Moving is hard, there’s just no way around it, but moving long-distance is especially hard. It means leaving behind friends, schools, jobs and perhaps even family, and entering the great unknown of a new place.
Even if the new place sounds great (and is great!) meltdowns and emotional moments are a totally natural reaction to such a big shakeup in life.
So when the moment comes (and it will) that someone (or more than one someone) in the house needs a good cry, roll with it. Then get yourselves up and find something fun to explore or do in your new town.
7. Expect to shed some more stuff after you move
No matter how much decluttering you do before moving, it seems to be a law of nature that there will be items that simply don’t fit in the new space.
Even if everything physically fits, there’s bound to be something that just doesn’t work like you thought it would. Try not to hold on to these things purely out of frustration. Sell them, gift them to a dear friend or (if you truly love the items) keep them – but only if you have the storage space.
7 useful tips for decluttering
No matter how much decluttering you do before moving, it seems to be a law of nature that there will be items that simply don’t fit in the new space.
Even if everything physically fits, there’s bound to be something that just doesn’t work like you thought it would. Try not to hold on to these things purely out of frustration. Sell them, gift them to a dear friend or (if you truly love the items) keep them – but only if you have the storage space.
7 useful tips for decluttering
8. Also expect to buy some stuff after you move
But we just gave so much stuff away! It’s not fair! I know. But each home has its quirks, and those quirks demand new stuff. For instance, perhaps your old kitchen had a huge island with plenty of space for cooking prep and for stools to pull up for breakfast, but the new kitchen has a big empty spot right in the middle of the room. It may require a portable island or a kitchen table and chairs. Earmarking a bit of money for these kinds of things can help you set and stick to a budget.
TELL US
What was the most surprising thing you had to deal with on your long-distance move? Your best tip? Share your thoughts and stories in the Comments.
MORE
12 Ways to Make a New House Feel Lived-In
How to Calm New-Home Nerves
Don’t Let the Little Costs of Moving House Surprise You
But we just gave so much stuff away! It’s not fair! I know. But each home has its quirks, and those quirks demand new stuff. For instance, perhaps your old kitchen had a huge island with plenty of space for cooking prep and for stools to pull up for breakfast, but the new kitchen has a big empty spot right in the middle of the room. It may require a portable island or a kitchen table and chairs. Earmarking a bit of money for these kinds of things can help you set and stick to a budget.
TELL US
What was the most surprising thing you had to deal with on your long-distance move? Your best tip? Share your thoughts and stories in the Comments.
MORE
12 Ways to Make a New House Feel Lived-In
How to Calm New-Home Nerves
Don’t Let the Little Costs of Moving House Surprise You
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Moving cross-country is not cheap (I can only imagine the cost of moving overseas), so I did a lot of reading and asking around for tips before we packed up our house, to make sure we made the most of the space in our truck. Now that we’ve made it to the other side, I can say with confidence that these are the top three packing steps I would do again in a heartbeat: