If there is one thing I am good at, it is moving across the country. And if there is one thing that I am better at, it’s chaotically moving across the country in an extreme time crunch. In 2018, I had two week to schlep my belongings from Chicago to San Francisco. Then, I schlepped the same belongings back to Chicago during the pandemic. And THEN I picked everything up once again to move to New York City in a hectic weekend. So – I’m here to impart my best tips for moving across the country so you don’t make the same mistakes I did.
Without further ado, here are my top tips for moving across the country.
9 Tips for moving across the country
Budget for your cross-country move
I recommend budgeting $10,000 for your cross-country move. Now listen, you will likely not spend nearly close to that amount. But you will want to have a little extra cash on hand just in case of emergency or sudden fees. Moving across the country is NOT cheap – and little items can quickly add up if you’re not paying attention. The average move costs anywhere from $2,000 – $8,000 USD depending on how much furniture you’re bringing with you and how far you are going.
Set a realistic timeline for your cross-country move
If you’re planning a cross-country move, you will want to start thinking about logistics at least four weeks before your move date. The earlier the better. When it comes to the timeline, you’ll want to figure out your exact move date, and back into it. Make sure you give yourself enough time to pack up your current home.
I cannot stress the timeline step enough. Take it from someone who never gives herself enough time to move and immediately regrets it every single time.
Try to do a ‘preview trip’
If you’re able to, I highly recommend doing a preview trip to your future city. This is a great time to explore the city and narrow down the neighborhoods you would like to live in. Unless you’re looking to put in an offer on a house, a weekend is more than sufficient for a preview trip.
A great hack is timing a preview trip with your move so you can potentially find an apartment before you even set off. This is the best case scenario. You’ll want to head to the city roughly one month before you move so, for example, if you are planning to move on June 1st, try scheduling your preview trip for the last week of April or the first week of May. Moving becomes infinitely easier when you are assured that you already have accommodation in your new city. Seriously. This is one of the best tips for moving across the country.
Secure accommodation in your new city
Zillow and Apartments.com are great places to begin your apartment hunt. If you are moving to New York City, then you will want to check Streeteasy.com.
Understand your budget for rent and your non-negotiable features (ex: close to public transportation, etc), and set up a saved search for new apartments on the market. You’ll want to visit as many of these apartments as you can during your preview trip, so create a bookmark folder and reach out to the landlords ahead of time.
Depending on the city you are moving to, you will want to make sure you have all of your personal information on file so you are ready to submit the rental application papers as soon as you find a place that you like. In NYC and San Francisco, where apartments are extremely competitive, you’ll need:
- A copy of your W2 or your previous year’s tax return
- Your latest pay stubs
- A screenshot of your current bank statement
- Your previous rental history summary
- A screenshot of your credit score
- Two forms of photo ID
If you’re looking to buy a home, this process will need to kick off well in advance. Here is a great guide for finding a home in a new city.
A great time to Marie Kondo your apartment
One of the best hidden blessings about moving across the country is that it is the best time to declutter your home. The best rule of thumb? If it’s going to annoy you to pack and lug across the country, you don’t need it.
I recommend embarking on the full Marie Kondo “sparking joy” journey category by category. Begin with clothes, move onto books, then papers, then miscellaneous, and finally – sentimental items. After you finish with your items, move onto your furniture. Do you need that crusty old couch? Or can you find it a new home?
When you have your items sorted out, take the following steps:
- Try to sell your items. Post your furniture on Facebook Marketplace, bring your clothes to consignment shops like Buffalo Exchange or Crossroads Trading, and lug your books to a used-book seller
- Donate- Any remaining items can be donated. Goodwill and The Salvation Army are great options. You can also post items as ‘Free’ on Facebook Marketplace. I’m sure they’ll garner a lot of attention!
- Dispose – We hate sending things to landfill. I recommend doing a bit of research up front for companies that will take old items that are too broken in to donate.
Be critical here. What is worth shipping across the country? What are the most meaningful items that you cannot live without? These are the things that should accompany you. Old socks? Maybe not.
Figure out how you are going to ship your items
This step, right here, is absolutely the worst. You’ll have to figure out how to ship all of your items. The method you choose will depend on how much effort you want to put in, and how many items you are shipping.
I’ve laid out a few options below:
- Full service movers – This is the most convenient option, but it is also the most expensive. Movers come to your current home, pack up your belongings, load them on a truck, and ship them across the country.
- Rent a Pod – You receive a POD at your current accommodation, load that pod with your items, and a driver will pick up the loaded pod and ship it to your final destination. You’re on the hook for ensuring you ordered the correct size.
- U-HAUL – You’ll pick up the U-Haul in your current city, load it with your items, drive to your next location, and drop off the U-Haul in your next city. U-HAULs are cheaper, but you’re on the hook for all logistics here.
- The Greyhound Bus – You might be thinking “WHAT!?” And you are correct. The Greyhound lets you ship items in their luggage compartment. This is how I got the bulk of my items from Chicago to San Francisco for under $400. The downside is that you don’t have much say as to when your items ship to you. You’ll get them when Greyhound has space.
- Wing it – The cheapest option is to wing it. Pack everything you can into checked suitcases, maybe ship 1-2 boxes via UPS, and rebuild your entire life when you land in your new city. This could be a great option if you’re younger, don’t have expensive furniture, or are planning to move to a furnished apartment.
Label your boxes ahead of time
Make sure you pack your items by common theme. Kitchen items should be in the same box. Clothing in another. Sporting equipment in a third. And so on. “Random Junk” is not a good box label.
Your future self will thank you. This method makes unpacking SO much easier.
If you are planning to send some of your boxes to storage before bringing it to your new accommodation, add a ‘STORAGE’ label onto those boxes.
Quick note: do not itemize your boxes. Boxes change hands a whole bunch of times over the course of a cross-country move. You don’t want your box labeled “diamond jewelry and solid gold bars” to go “missing”.
Figure out how you are going to ship yourself!
If you have a car or are planning to rent a U-Haul, then this part is easy. Unless you are moving across international waters, the easiest way for you to reach your new destination is to drive. The added benefit here is that you can take a whole bunch of your items in the car with you. Really pack those boxes in there to minimize the costs of shipping the rest!
If you’re driving to your new destination, you will need to ensure that you plan your route well in advance – especially if you are moving across the country. Make sure you know the cities that you will stop in to spend the night, and give yourself enough days to make it to your destination in time for your move in day.
If you do NOT have a car, then you will most likely need to fly to your end destination. Here is my hack: FLY SOUTHWEST. This is not sponsored, by the way, but Southwest is absolutely the way to go. Why? Because they let you bring two (TWO!!!) 50 pound checked bags, and a carry-on, AND a personal item with the purchase of a ticket. SO much of your life can fit in two, 50lbs bags. It’s absolutely the cheapest option. Check out their website for flight details. Maximizing luggage space is one of the best tips for moving across the country.
Explore your new neighborhood
The best gift you can give yourself the moment you land in your new city is to being exploring the area on foot. Take a stroll around the neighborhood and look out for cool places to check out. Pop into cafes, find the library, locate grocery and convenience stores, and be on the lookout for cute parks. As you’re walking around, drop pins on your Google Maps for locations you want to check out later.
This is also a great time to get the hang of the public transportation and roads in your new city. Take the time to practice getting from your new accommodation to your office, if applicable. Locate the bus and train stations near you – and learn the routes.
Facebook Marketplace will be your best friend
Facebook Marketplace is the best way to find furniture for your new accommodation on a budget. Every single time I’ve moved, I’ve used Facebook Marketplace to get 90% of my items. I’ve found West Elm bookshelves for $100 a pop and an $800 coffee table for just $75.
Facebook Marketplace is absolutely a ‘waiting game’. You’ll need to be patient to find the items that you like. But the payoff is HUGE.
The existence of Facebook Marketplace means you can be more brutal in leaving large furniture items behind. Shipping furniture is easily the most expensive part of a move. If you can leave items behind, I assure you that new ones will await!
Close out of your old location…
This is a step I always forget!! Make sure you close out of your old location. You’ll want to alert your bank that you are moving, and route your mail to your new address. Disconnect your utilities, gas, and internet. Stop any subscription services you might have had, and hand off the keys from your old accommodation
Gosh. One other stage of this step is a sad one. Saying Goodbye. Make sure you connect with all of the people who made your old home so special. Spend your final week traversing your old walking routes, visiting your favorite locations, and eating in your favorite restaurants.
I recommend keeping a journal of this time. It’s heavy.
…And set-up in your new location
Okay! You’re in the final stages! Now all that is left is to set up in your new location!
- Transfer over your vehicle registration to your new state
- Head to the DMV to update your license
- Change your voter registration
- Set up the internet
- Set up utilities and gas, if applicable
- Start unboxing
- Start exploring
Moving is such a heavy and stressful experience, and it takes time to really get set-up. Expect to feel a bit in-transition for the first few months. Be kind to yourself during this time – you don’t have to have it all figured out!
That’s all, folks!
Hopefully these tips for moving across the country are helpful as you begin planning your next adventure. Moving across the country is an exciting, yet daunting, endeavor. Whether you’re relocating for a new job, pursuing a fresh start, or seeking new adventures, I wholeheartedly believe that beginning in a new city is one of the best growing experiences.
Do you have any tips for moving across the country? If so, drop a comment below!
If you recently moved and are looking to get settled, check out my guide to making friends in a new city here.
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