As research shows, moving is one of the most stressful events of a person’s life. You have to uproot your entire life and move it to a whole new place. This is especially true if you are moving across the country and to a new state. While you are probably looking forward to a new start, you are anxious at the thought of the logistics of the move. However, there are easy solutions to what seems like a nightmare. You can move your furniture efficiently and even on a budget if you plan it correctly. These tips on shipping furniture cross-country will make your move and the mental transition smoother.
Measure every item of furniture
You will want to avoid any unpleasant surprises on the day of the move. For example, realizing that your favorite dresser cannot fit through your new bedroom door. In this case, you will have spent money on shipping furniture you no longer need. Moreover, consider the decor of your new home. Think about whether your old furniture will go with the rest of the design.
For this reason, measure every piece of furniture you intend on moving. Write down the heights and widths of bulky items. Additionally, measure the doorways and hallways in your new house, if you can. If you can’t make the drive before the move, there is an easy solution. Ask the owner to send you a floor plan of the house. That way, you have the measurements even if you can’t make it there.
Get rid of clutter when shipping furniture cross-country
One of the most common mistakes people who move make is to take items they no longer want or need. Or even those that won’t fit in their new home. However, there are simple answers to this problem. First, you can donate your items to Goodwill or your local Red Cross. There are many people who can’t afford furniture but desperately need it. Second, you can have a yard sale. This is a great way to earn some extra cash for the upcoming move. Additionally, you can sell these pieces online, or to interested friends and neighbors. Finally, you can dispose of unwanted furniture. You can hire professionals who will collect your furniture and dispose of it properly.
Furthermore, many professional moving companies also offer storage services. Here you can store furniture or items you don’t want to take with you, but don’t want to get rid of either. Storage is a great way to keep your favorite belongings safe.
Packing the furniture
Moving can be very expensive. You will want to do all you can to cut on costs. One of these things is to disassemble bulky furniture by yourself, instead of paying professional. Consider whether you can take apart your bed frame and dresser. Moreover, taking apart shelves and TV stands is also a way to save on room and money. However, when you do so, make sure to keep the parts together. You don’t want to look for the rest of your bed on the day you arrive. Additionally, you should keep all bolts and screws you take out in a bag packed with the furniture they came out of.
While this is a great way to save money, keep in mind that you cannot to it all yourself. Don’t try to handle heavy items without help, professional or from a friend. Also, know what you are doing. If you are not sure how to disassemble that shelf, leave it to a professional moving company that offers packing services.
Shipping furniture cross-country by air
Shipping furniture items by planes has become more popular in recent years. It is a great way of moving such items without much hassle. However, it is also one of the most expensive ways. Therefore, consider air shipping only for the furniture you can’t move any other way. If you want to know how much your move will cost, there are great ways to find a reliable quote online. This will give you an approximate picture of the money you will spend on the move, so you can plan accordingly.
While many airlines offer these services, all of them have specific guidelines. The company might ask you to pack and secure the furniture in a certain way. Check out the airline’s website for restrictions on weight and dimensions. Moreover, you will need to label each box and list all the items inside. The company is allowed to open and inspect your boxes, so be as detailed as possible.
Shipping furniture cross-country by shipping containers
If you plan on moving many items cross-country, shipping containers are a great solution. The company will give you a container, which you will have to pack up yourself. If you have any heavy or bulky items, ask friends and neighbors for help. Many companies will give you as long as a month to pack your belongings, depending on how much you pay. Later on, the company will pick up the container and drive it to your new home. You are also responsible for unloading it.
While many other methods of moving base the amount you pay on the weight of the load when you rent a shipping container the price of your move only depends on the distance. The containers are most often very large and can fit many heavy items. For this reason, this might not be the best option for shipping furniture cross-country if you only have a few pieces.
Less Than Truckload shipping
This type of shipping is considered to be the cheapest way of shipping cross-country. It is especially convenient if you don’t have many items. Less than a truckload or LTL means that your shipment will be combined with those from other customers. The company is able to load different shipments onto one truck traveling to the same or close-by location. So you are essentially ‘splitting’ the cost of the move with other people. However, if you need your furniture to arrive on a specific date at a specific time, this might not be the best option. These trucks will have to make many different stops and can, therefore, be quite unreliable when it comes to delivery.
Shipping furniture cross-country doesn’t have to be hard
You might be feeling overwhelmed with all the organization necessary for a cross-country move. However, hiring reliable professionals will make your transition easier and help you get rid of the stress. When you are shipping furniture cross-country, you need to know that your items are safe and handled properly. This guide has given you the best options and solutions, but you should do deeper research into these methods.
