6 Tried & Tested Strategies for an Easier Long Distance Move

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Any kind of move can be stressful. A lot of people and families dread the moment they have to move to a new place. And as if moving locally wasn’t hard enough, having to move long-distance makes things a whole lot harder and much more stressful. Not only does the distance make your new home much less accessible for planning but you have to hope and pray that all your stuff will make it through hundreds of miles of wear and tear.

Long-distance
moving is no joke at all and if you ask anyone who’s done it before,
they can tell you that it is a major undertaking that needs a lot of
preparation beforehand. Luckily, you can get the fast track on some of the most
valuable tips and strategies to make your long-distance move much more bearable
with less pulling of hair.

1. Do Your Homework

The key to any move is planning, but moving long-distance takes a whole lot more of it than just moving across town. And there’s nothing more important than making sure you have all your ducks in a row before you even start to begin any other step in the move process.

Of course, since your new home is probably a
couple of hundred miles away, things can get more complicated. That’s why
whenever you get the opportunity to visit your new location, it’s critical that
you don’t waste any time and make sure you’re prepared and planning what to do
already even before visiting.

Since you are going to need it when you
arrive, it’s best to get all the details of your new home down pat. This means
literally every nook and cranny of your new place needs to be explored and
measured, especially the size of doorways and angles of the hall because you
don’t want to end up with furniture stuck outside your new place just because it
couldn’t fit through the door.

You probably have no idea when you can visit
again, so it’s best to make sure you get all you can with the very first trip
so you won’t waste time and money having to go back and forth to check things
over.

2. Familiarize Yourself with Your New Home

Moving long-distance means moving to a whole
new world. Sure it’s still within the country, but things in your new
neighborhood can be vastly different from what you’re used to. Not to mention
the city itself is a whole new place, especially if you’re moving across
states. You can be in for a culture shock.

If you can’t do everything in one visit try to at least schedule some time to explore the new place you’re going to call home. Get to know what are the pros and cons, where are the grocery stores, the nearest schools, hospitals, and so on. In this day and age, you can also do all of this online, of course, it’s not the same as in person, but at least you’ll have a mental idea of what to expect when you arrive.

Get to know your new home.

3. Secure Important Documents

Moving to a whole new city or state means you
won’t be able to visit your regulars anymore unless you’re willing to spend
hours on the road for a check-up. So it’s vital to make sure you got all your
important documents secured and changed over if necessary.

Medical records, academic transcripts,
insurance, and anything else that needs to be secured. You don’t want to have
to plan a drive back to your previous town just because you forgot to pick up
your child’s report card. If you need to have things transferred to a local
branch in the new location, make sure to get that settled way ahead of time as
well.

4. Get the Best Value

Expensive doesn’t always mean quality, and
cheap doesn’t always mean you’re saving. But the point is getting professional
help is the way to go. You can always try one of the new hybrid moving trends
such as mobile storage or rental trucks, but still, make sure you do your
homework.

It pays to be very picky in this area because
we’re talking about your life here, it may be just a bunch of personal items
for others but to you, it’s much more than that. So going cheap isn’t the best
route, but don’t always spring for the most expensive service either. Do your
homework in this area as well and check to see what options are available to
you. No matter where you’re moving or how far you can find the best value for
your money that fits your budget just right while also giving you peace of mind
that your belongings will be taken care of.

5. Organize and Declutter

Now that you’ve decided on how you’re moving,
it’s time to prepare for the actual move. If you took the first step seriously,
then you’ll already have all the measurements of your new home ready so you can
start checking off the furniture you know you can bring, and what you may not
be able to get through the door. For these items, you can take the opportunity
to declutter and get rid of them rather than trying to get some special service
to have them delivered to your new home.

Decluttering is an important step in any move and for long-distance relocations, it’s a perfect chance for a completely fresh slate. There are many options as well for decluttering and not all of them have to be painful to your heart and wallet. You can donate items that you think are still useful, or even have a garage sale and make some money back from all the expenses of having to move. You can even consider salvaging old items for new uses in your new home, by disassembling and recycling you not only save space in the truck but you add a new flavor to your new home.

Pack the stuff you need and let go of what you don’t.

6. Don’t Procrastinate

Last but not least, the most important tip is
not to procrastinate. As soon as you decide to move long-distance whether due
to work or other reasons, you need to start getting ready. Make sure your
family is on board as well, because moving long-distance is not a one-man show
and needs the cooperation of every angle family member, including the pets.

Pack what you can and start having each family member get organized with their areas of responsibilities so that come moving day, the jobs have been delegated and you’re not carrying the burden all on your own.

Long-distance moving is a big endeavor, but it
doesn’t have to cause balding or advance your aging because of all the stress
and hassle. As long as you plan, strategize, and prepare yourself and your
family for the move then you can minimize any biting of nails and pulling of
hair.

7 Things You Need to Do Right After Moving Across the Country

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Moving across the country is a huge deal! Follow the tips below, and you will feel settled in at your new home in no time.

1. Find Your New Doctor

You never realize how many things you are connected to in your home city until you have to move away. Though a doctor’s appointment probably isn’t the first thing on your mind when you just moved cross-country, finding one in your new city ASAP will make things easier on you when you actually need it.

The same goes for dentists, eye doctors, gyms, hair salons, and vet. You can either research these professionals in your neighborhood or ask your new neighbors or co-workers for their recommendations.

2. Register Your Car

Once you arrive in your new state, be sure to register your car there. States usually require you to register vehicles between 10 days and a month after you move, so make your trip to the local DMV right away. You might need to switch to a new driver’s license, too.

register-car

3. Explore Your New City

One of the fastest ways to acclimatize yourself to your new city is to explore. Go on walks around your neighborhood and then the rest of the city in order to get a feel for the area. You will get a sense of how locals do things and start to orient yourself with the landmarks and layout of your new home.

Exploring on foot is also a great way to stumble upon places that can become your new haunts. Cafes, restaurants, shops, medical offices, the list goes on. There is no better city guide than your own two eyes!

4. Unpack Everything

Moving a long distance can be exhausting and overwhelming to the point that you would rather relax in your new home instead of unpacking. However, don’t leave those boxes for too long! Putting everything in its place can help you feel more at home in your new house.

Not having piles of boxes cluttering your space can also relieve some of that post-move stress. Plus, if you unpack right away, you won’t have to hunt for things you need!

5. Update Your Address

When you move, make sure to get your mail forwarded from your old home to the new one. You should also change your address on things like your credit cards, magazine subscriptions, and other companies that send you frequent mail.

If you don’t have a permanent address in your new city yet, you might want to forward your mail to a loved one’s house for the time being.

changing-home-address

6. Make New Friends

Having to leave your support system is one of the scariest parts of moving. That’s why it’s important to try and make new friends right away when you arrive at your new home.

Introduce yourself to neighbors, join a club, or get friendly with new coworkers for an easier transition.

7. Acclimatize Your Pet

Moving cross-country is jarring enough to people, but it’s extra tough for pets. They don’t know what to make of it! To ensure your pet gets acclimatized to your new home, let them explore the house and show them extra affection.

Try to avoid leaving them alone for a long time if you can. Just like humans, pets take time to feel at home after a move!

Thrift Shops That Accept Household Goods Donations in San Francisco

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Reduce And Refresh

Whether you’re moving or simply doing a declutter of your current living space, it makes a difference to the community to know what to do with all that extra stuff. San Francisco has plenty of thrift store sites that accept used goods. Their efforts benefit charities as well as build a sense of community within their neighborhoods. So when you need to reduce, let others reuse, recycle, and refresh.

Here’s the list of many thrift stores around the San Francisco area.

Thrift Shops Around San Francisco

  • Buffalo Exchange
  • Monkei Miles
  • Community Thrift Store
  • Goodwill
  • Out Of The Closet
  • Crossroads Trading
  • Handsome Oxford
  • Shop Relove
  • Stuff

What They Accept And How They Help

Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange has benefited many local charitable efforts including animal rescues, schools, shelters, and the environment. They are a used clothing boutique with vintage and modern clothing.

Location 1: 1555 Haight St. Phone (415) 431-7733

Location 2: 1210 Valencia St Phone (415) 647-8332

Monkei Miles

Monkei Miles is a specialty children’s clothing shop with styles ranging through the decades.

Location: 1523 Irving St. Phone (415) 650-3031

Community Thrift Store

Community Thrift Store accepts everything from jewelry to furniture and benefits 200 local charities. The bonus is that you get to choose which charity your donations will go to.

Location: 623 Valencia St. Phone (415) 861-4910.

Goodwill

Goodwill has a couple of stores in the area.

Location: 1669 Fillmore St. Phone(415) 354-8570)

Goodwill accepts most gently used items from clothing and jewelry to furniture, electronics, and household items like bedding and kitchenware. Their efforts for providing training and job opportunities for the disadvantaged is well known.

Out of the Closet

Out Of The Closet provides charitable support directly to those suffering from the effects of HIV. They offer free pickup of larger items and accept many kinds of things like clothing and kitchen supplies.

Location 1: 1295 Folsom St. Phone (415) 558-7176.

Location 2: 1498 Polk St. Phone (415) 771-1503.

Crossroads Trading

Crossroads Trading provides a variety of buy/sell/trade opportunities for eco-conscious people decluttering their households. They accept clothing and personal accessory items.

Location 1: 1901 FILLMORE ST. Phone 415-775-8885

Location 2: 1519 HAIGHT ST. Phone 415-355-0555

Location 3: 630 IRVING ST. Phone 415-681-0100

Location 4: 2123 MARKET ST. Phone 415-552-8740

Handsome Oxford

Handsome Oxford specializes in men’s clothing and accessories. They support landfill reduction as well as the building of communities.

Location: 646 Hyde St. Phone (510) 673-0776.

Shop Relove

Shop Relove believes in reducing excess clothing and the over-dependence on landfills. They provide a boutique clothing experience with a celebration of all aspects of personal style. Their specialty is all kinds of vintage and contemporary clothing with the accessories that will round out a look.

Location: 1815 Polk St. Phone 415 800 8285

Stuff

Stuff is a collective thrift experience with over 60 sellers available in a spacious and well-lit site. They accept everything from large furniture to the most delicate jewelry. They are strong believers in green living and reducing landfills while repurposing great items for the next fresh style.

Location: 150 Valencia Phone: 415-864-2900

5 Strategies for Having a More Eco-Friendly Moving Experience

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While you may eagerly be looking forward to many of the benefits of relocating to a new home, you may also be concerned about how relocation affects the environment. Relocating to a new home is a major endeavor that can generate a huge amount of waste. Simply think about times when you have moved in the past. You likely had huge piles of waste for curbside pickup services to remove, or you may have hauled at least a few loads of junk a dumpster. While you may still need to throw some things away while relocating, you may be surprised by how significantly this waste can be reduced when you follow a few helpful tips for a greener move.

1. Donate to Charity

One of the primary causes of waste related to a move is the elimination of clutter and junk around the house. To avoid being a packrat and toting unneeded or unwanted items to your new home, you may toss numerous items out. However, any items that are still in good or even decent shape may be donated to charity rather than tossed in the trash. Many charitable organizations that accept these types of donations may even travel to your home to provide a pickup service. This makes it very convenient to donate unwanted items.

declutter

2. Use Linens Wisely

Your linens need to make their way to your new home, and you may initially be inclined to pack towels, sheets and more in boxes. A smarter idea, however, is to use these household items protective materials for your picture frames, vases and kitchen dishes. When you run out of linens, you may even use some of your old t-shirts and other apparel for this same purpose. By doing so, you can minimize or even avoid the use of packing paper and bubble wrap.

3. Recycle Boxes

Any local or interstate moving companies will tell you, moving boxes are a necessity when you are relocating. Many people will purchase new boxes, and they will toss their boxes out after the move. Relocating rarely results in severely damaged boxes, so you may be able to pick up quality used boxes from someone else in the community who has recently moved in. In addition, you may be able to donate your boxes to other people after you get settled into your new home.

4. Think Beyond Boxes

Keep in mind that boxes are not the only moving containers that you can use. If you intend to keep items in storage most of the year, such as is the case with holiday décor, invest in durable storage bins rather than boxes. You can also use empty containers around the house to pack things. These containers may include laundry bins and baskets, gym bags, suitcases and more. This can dramatically reduce the number of boxes that are needed.

recycle

5. Pack Your Kitchen Last

Many people will pack their kitchen weeks before the move. By doing so, they create a situation where disposable plates and utensils are needed. They may also rely on fast food or microwavable food. All of these activities can result in unnecessary waste. A smart idea is to wait until the last minute to pack your kitchen and keep essentials out until the last day.

Relocating will inevitably generate some waste. However, you can see that you can dramatically reduce waste during a relocation when you follow these helpful tips. Many of these tips can also help you to save money as well.

How to Make Your Household Greener as You Move Into a New Home

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Packing up for the big move? Now’s the perfect time to make your household a little greener. Here are a few easy ways from our friends at Cheap Movers San Francisco, source of affordable moving services in San Francisco:

1. Seal up the cracks

Before you move in, take some time to add a bit of extra insulation and seal up any cracks or drafts in your new home. This is much easier to do when you don’t need to move the furniture around to get easy access, and it can drastically cut your energy use for heating and cooling.

2. Consider your lighting

Did you know your paint choice can make your home more energy efficient? By choosing light colors in areas that receive less direct light, you can make the most of natural lighting and avoid having to use additional lamps or fixtures for much of the day. And speaking of fixtures, take a look at the bulbs already in place throughout your new house. Wherever possible, swap out lingering incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent or LED bulbs.

3. Count your [energy] stars

ENERGY STAR appliances and fixtures are rated not only for their purchase price but also for the cost to operate them over time. Designed to use less water and electricity, they have a lighter impact on the planet without sacrificing convenience and function. If you’re moving into a new home, consider upgrading your appliances to ENERGY STAR models. Need help getting started? Check out this guide to the most energy efficient appliances available.

4. Manage the trash

Moving house often comes with a major purge of belongings. While it’s good to get rid of things you don’t need, be sure to think about how you’re disposing of them. Make sure any hazardous waste, such as batteries, some leftover household chemicals, and fluorescent light bulbs, are taken to an appropriate drop off point to be disposed of safely. For other household goods, if they’re in good repair, consider donating them to a San Francisco thrift shop or holding a yard sale instead of letting them take up space in a landfill.

5. Ditch the Styrofoam

Styrofoam takes a very long time to decompose. In fact, some scientists don’t think it ever properly decomposes at all, simply breaking down into smaller and smaller bits of foam rather than into its component substances. So when it comes to packing up the fragile items in your home, don’t rely on foam filler. Instead, check with local libraries and schools to see if they have old newspapers you can use. Wrap fragile items individually, and use loosely balled paper to take up space and offer padding in boxes.

Making the transition from your old home to your new one a bit more eco-friendly doesn’t require anything special in the way of time or materials. There’s no magic bullet that will immediately make your home the greenest on the block. But with a bit of planning and a forward-thinking attitude, you’ll find that the biggest impact can come from making lots of small changes. Where will you start?