A few celebrities have been in the news lately because they’re leaving California, and plenty of non-celebrities are doing so, too. Since the lockdowns began across the country and people went inside to work from home, many started asking themselves why they lived where they lived. Some have found new freedom as their jobs turned them into digital nomads. It can feel pretty amazing to realize that your job is now “location independent.” Others may feel like they have a fresh perspective on location, and they’re ready for a new adventure. Moving is never an easy task, but it’s especially difficult when you are going somewhere far away. Here are five tips to help you move out of town.
Do You Really Want to Go?
Before you pack up everything you own and leave Los Angeles for Idaho, Texas, or another state, ask yourself: Do you really want to do this? The climate in Southern California is about as idyllic as it gets in the U.S. Our beaches are some of the prettiest, and our winters some of the most tolerable. Texas gets mighty cold in the winter, and they Even had a snowpocalypse recently! Traffic is going to be pretty bad no matter where you go. Some of the popular cities such as Austin have heavy traffic, too, and Austin is at least four hours from the nearest saltwater beach – which is in a gulf and doesn’t look anything like Venice!
Okay, so let’s say your heart is set on living in the Colorado Rockies or the Texas Hill Country. Now comes the really hard work: packing and moving!
Get Rid of Some Stuff
Before you even pack up to move, you should get rid of some of the things you don’t need. We all have stuff we don’t use, don’t want, and have kept around for no reason. If you’re moving far away, it can be very expensive. Bringing less with you will help. Not only will there be less stuff to physically move to the new house, you will cut down on the cost of the truck and other expenses like hiring movers.
Hire Movers
While you might want to watch how much money you’re spending moving to a new place, hiring professional movers is often worth it. It will take longer to pack the truck yourself. Even if you ask some friends to help you load the heavy items such as the couch, beds, TVs, and more, they likely won’t be there to help you when you need to unload. Instead of having to worry about loading out and loading in on your own, hire some professional movers who will get the job done faster. Make sure that you aren’t paying them by the hour, or they might stretch out how long they are moving. But if you get a professional company who will do it for a lump sum, packing the truck, driving to the new location, and unloading will be much easier.
Use Storage Containers
When you’re moving somewhere far away, you should think about using a shipping container. Whether you want to ship the container with you or use it as a storage unit in the place where you live now, packing some things away to deal with at a later date is a great idea when you’re taking on the task of moving. If you are going far away, stashing some of your belongings in a container will help you focus on the first things you need to do. Whether you want to store it for years or just until you get the other stuff unpacked, these containers can really help.
Buy Enough Packing Materials
When you’re moving far away, you want to have extra packing materials around. You want enough bubble wrap to pack the fragile items because if you don’t properly wrap it there could be mishap and break along the way. You can never have too many boxes. Even if you don’t use them all, having extra boxes around always comes in handy—even just to pack the truck. You might be thinking that you don’t want to waste so much paper and plastic, but there are even eco-friendly options for these moving materials.
Do Your Research
It should go without saying but if you are planning to move somewhere far away you should do some research on the place. Whether you are moving to another city or a rural area, it’s absolutely necessary to know what you are getting into beforehand. You should not only know what to expect, but you should also have a plan in place for your life once you get there. Don’t get caught up in the move itself. Remember that it matters how much thought you put into a place. If you take your time deciding where you will settle down, you’ll be a lot better off.
Wherever you are thinking of moving, it is never easy. Make it easier on yourself by doing research, getting enough moving materials, hiring movers, using storage containers, and getting rid of some items you don’t need. When you’re set on moving out of town, sometimes the dream of leaving is all people think about. If the move goes well, you will set yourself up for a better chance at being happy in your new home.
