If you’ve found your new home, but it’s situated across the country, then you should expect that some extra challenges can come with that move. You’re going to need to put in a little more preparation and know what problems people making such moves often come up against. Here, we’re going to look at a few of those problems, and how you can work around them.

Finding you can’t take everything with you

First of all, you want to start packing away the things you’re not going to need in the near future. Take the time to really itemize everything that you want to take with you when packing. Making such a long move can be demanding, and the more that you have to bring with you, the more you’re going to have to pay, and the bigger the vehicles you need will have to be. You should think about whether there are some items that you don’t necessarily need with you, or others that you might be able to put in storage if, for instance, you want to sell them.

Not thinking about what to do with your car

For those who are driving their own car from one house to the other, you don’t need to think too much about this point. However, if you’re planning to take a flight to meet your movers on the other side, or if you’re even taking the DIY approach and driving the moving van yourself, then you need to think of a different plan for your vehicle. You can find movers who are willing to do it for you, but there are also options like a concierge service who will drive it in your stead.

Forgetting to protect your belongings

If you’re responsible for moving your belongings from one space to the next, then you also need to think about how you’re going to stop them from shifting and getting damaged during the trip. Look at some of the packing goods you might be able to buy from places like your local stationary or office supply stores. Goods can shift a lot during the move and if you don’t take the time to protect them, it should be no surprise that some don’t end up in as good a condition as you would like. Otherwise, rely on professionals like cross-country movers if you’re not confident. They bring the experience and expertise to ensure belongings remain safe and secure.

Don’t feel like a stranger on the other side

Make sure that you have taken the time to visit and spend some time in the area that you’re moving to before the big moving day. You can get a lot more comfortable, quickly identify local services you might use, and even say hello to the neighbors so they’re better able to greet and welcome you when you arrive.

With the tips above, you should have a better idea of some of the major challenges that can arise when making a long-distance move. Most of them can be solved with long-term planning, so don’t put off thinking about it for too long.