Interstate Moving Tips

The expert team at Stop & Move has gained much insider knowledge of the moving process over the years. There’s all sorts of variables and tiny details that affect the quality of a move - and many hints, tips, and tricks that we utilize to help make our moves as smooth and pleasant as possible. Here, we provide you with precious moving advice and resources that you won’t be able to find anywhere else.

The expert moving coordinators at Stop & Move have prepared a fantastic list of various ways that you can save your precious cash on your interstate move. Here’s some of our best tips:

Donate old books

Books are some of the heaviest items to transport around. Get rid of excess volumes from your library, and consider mailing the bulk of your remaining collection rather than bringing them in the truck with you.

Garage Sales

Make a neighborhood sale of your excess junk that you don’t want to bring with you - you will be surprised how much money you can make!

Charity Donations

Itemize every item donated to local charities and hold on to a receipt, which can help you qualify for a tax deduction!

Don’t bring food

It’s really not worth it to transport any canned food. Just have a major feast before you leave in order to reduce the weight of all those cans.

Rugs

Unless you have a particularly valuable rug, just leave them, as they are quite heavy - and you can always replace it after your move.

Never bring aerosols

Aerosol cans can explode and put all of your belongings in danger. Never bring any aerosol cans - including deodorant, shaving cream, hairspray, cleaners, or insecticides - with you on your move.

Eliminate unused hobby equipment

If you have an untouched foosball table or exercise bike with cobwebs from years of neglect, don’t extend that neglecting another state. Just sell or donate them.

Sell appliances

If you have appliances, consider selling them rather than going through all the effort of packing and transporting them - they can reap quite a profit!

Unplug in advance

Prevent temperature change based wiring damage to appliances by unplugging all electronic tems 24 hours before loading them into the truck.

Arrange to transfer all valuables

Make sure to carry important documents, jewelry, stocks, bonds, or other precious, irreplaceable items on your body during your move, or in a secure bag in your car - rather than in the truck.

Be in touch with your utilities

Arrange to discontinue your electric gas, telephone, and water bills, and have them connected in your destination city, so they all work properly when you arrive.

Change magazine and newspaper subscriptions

Ensure that you get all of your valued reading at your new location - as you won’t likely get issues that are mistakenly delivered to your older abode

Homeowner’s Insurance

See if you can apply your current insurance plan to your new residence, or reassign it to the future owners of your old place, or get a partial refund, OR have pro-rated payments.

Use Newsprint rather than Newspaper

Newspaper ink can run; instead, use unprinted newsprint, which can be easily bought.

Give items breathing room

Give delicate items a little bit of breathing room rather than tightly packing it in densely - and this includes clothing inside drawers, that can warp under pressure.

Linens

Use your linens to help pack delicate items rather than packing them all together, separate from the rest of your belongings

Make an immediate use box

Designate a box for items that you will need right away at your new location, and label it ‘unload first’ clearly, in huge letters

Keep an Inventory

Make a detailed inventory of all the items you are moving, according to labeled boxes for their designated rooms, so upon unpacking you can check off that all your belongings properly arrived.

Fitted Sheets

Keep fitted sheets on mattresses to help protect them from rips and distortions

Pack Practically

Put all heavy items on the bottom of boxes, and fill it up with lightweight items on top. Use smaller boxes for heavier items like books and cookware.

Keep electronics in original packaging

If you have the boxes your television or stereo may have arrived in, repack it in the same box - which is meant for custom form fitting shipping safety.