5 Tips for Long-Distance Moving

About Tori Thurmond

Tori Thurmond combines her creative writing background with her marketing experience in her role as the Content Specialist at Brookdale. When she's not writing, she's probably spending time with her two cats or knitting.

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Birthdays, holidays, sporting events, and graduations are just a few of the exciting milestones you will likely get to be a part of when you decide to move closer to your kids and grandkids. Making a move to live closer to family is such an exciting step, but it can also be a stressful one. Take a look at these five tips to aid in a smooth move that will hopefully lead to less stress and more time with your family.

1. Give yourself enough time.

Big life events can be easy to put off. It’s easy to get overwhelmed thinking about everything that needs to be done to prepare and sometimes it’s challenging to know where to start. However, it’s important to give yourself time. Moving, especially moving far away from where you currently live, is a big transition.

When do you need to be out of your current home? How long will it take to close on or make arrangements for your new home? How long will it take to pack up your possessions? These are a few of the important questions that will help you determine your moving timeline. The last thing you want is to be rushed into finding a place that isn’t right for you or having to frantically pack up your possessions.

2. Stay organized.

This step may be easier said than done, we know, but having a plan to stay organized may help reduce the overall stress of moving. Packing one room at a time and labeling boxes as you go is one simple way to reduce chaos. Not only will you generally know where everything is by packing this way, but when you arrive at your new home, you or your movers can know exactly where each box or piece of furniture needs to go.

Are there items you need to wait until the last minute to pack? Or are there things that you only use seasonally that would be easy to pack up first? Maybe things have gotten a little disorganized in the years you’ve been in your current home. It happens to the best of us. However, moves are a great opportunity to start fresh and find new ways to organize your space. The important thing is that you find an organization system that works for you, so you can stay organized from the time you start packing until you’re settled into your new home. You’ll be unpacked and ready to have your family over for a visit in no time!

3. Start a moving folder to keep important documents.

Whether you’re buying, selling, ending a lease, or starting a new one, there’s going to be paperwork. And lots of it. Keeping up with documents during a move can be a challenge as things are being packed and shifted around. Consider purchasing a folder or binder specifically for moving documents. That way, when someone asks for that leasing agreement or inspection form, you know exactly where it is. Many companies have moved towards digitizing documents, so you can also create a specific digital folder in your e-mail for your documents or print out these documents if that’s your preference.

4. Ask family and friends for help.

One of the hardest parts of moving can be trying to pack everything yourself. It usually takes longer than you expect, and it seems you always need one more box than you planned for. That’s why it’s so important to ask for help! Host a packing party where you invite your friends, neighbors, or family members to help you get ready for this transition. Being around loved ones may also help this process feel less overwhelming. See if you can plan a time for the family you’re planning on moving near to come for a visit to help you pack. They’re sure to be excited about having you close by and will want to do what they can to make the transition easier for you.

If you need additional help packing, there are moving and downsizing services that specialize helping seniors make these transitions. Just make sure to read customer reviews and ask for others’ recommendations when possible before deciding on the company that’s right for your needs. You can also ask your preferred moving company if they offer any discounts for seniors.

5. Allow yourself to rest.

It’s normal to want to get settled into your new home immediately. You want to get unpacked and have everything feel like it did in your last home, but you’ve just been through a big change. You’re living in a new area and are now closer to the people you love! Take some time to get acclimated and explore. Have your family show you some of their favorite places or take a couple of days to take care of yourself. You have time to set up your new home the way you like it, but after getting the basics in order, take some time to enjoy being close to your loved ones.

To help make your transition a little easier, we’ve created this moving checklist. Download your moving checklist here!