Understanding long-distance moving costs and logistics

There are many reasons to make a long-distance move, whether for a new job, retirement, or to live out the dream of moving to the countryside. In order to formulate a foolproof cross-country relocation plan, it is important to understand the possible charges and logistics involved in a long-distance move.

"The semigration trend has gained popularity ever since the pandemic," notes Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. Whatever the reason for moving across provinces, Goslett advises homeowners to do their research and planning thoroughly to ensure that the journey is as trouble-free as possible.

"Moving homes is complicated on its own. Moving across long distances only adds to the possible complications. The last thing you need when moving to an unfamiliar environment is to have your furniture lost or damaged in transit - or to come up short on cash to pull off the move in time," Goslett warns.

To budget accurately, he advises collecting quotes from a few reputable, professional long-distance moving companies. "In addition to how much there is to move and how complicated the move will be (e.g. up flights of stairs, etc.), the price of having professional movers assist will also be influenced by the number of people in the moving team and the distance between your point of departure and the new home," he explains.

When considering quotes, keep in mind that good furniture removal companies should always do the following:

• Conduct an onsite (or virtual) check to investigate what is involved in packing and unloading your household at both your current residence as well as at your new home.
• Do a detailed inventory of everything that will be moved, including an estimate of the number of boxes and cartons that you might need.
• Provide a written quote. Before signing off, read the small print carefully. For example, there might be a premium on the cost of the move if it occurs over the festive season or school holidays.

For those who are considering more budget-friendly options for a long-distance move, be sure to choose an option that does not lead to more expensive complications down the road. "Depending on your circumstances (like what car you drive and how far the move is), doing a long-distance move on your own might not be the cheaper option," Goslett cautions.

Before committing to this option, Goslett advises that homeowners ask themselves the following questions:

• If you hire just a trailer, can your own vehicle tow it? Or will you need to hire a vehicle for the move?
• Apart from the hiring cost, what is the cost per kilometre for petrol/diesel? Remember: fuel consumption increases with a heavy load as the engine has to work harder to move all that extra mass.
• What will it cost you to hire crates, or buy boxes and wrapping to pack your belongings?
• Does the hiring company have a depot at your destination so that you can drop off the truck or trailer?
• Do you have the ability to move, lift, carry, load and offload all your goods or will you need to hire extra help for the heavy lifting?  

Those who are moving more than a day's car travel away might have other costs to factor in. "Will you be driving with the moving company, or will you need to book air travel for you and your family? If you are driving, are there friends or family who you can stay with along the way? If not, remember to add the cost of accommodation to your budget," Goslett recommends.

If you're contemplating a long-distance move to a new town, and don't know where to start, contact your nearest RE/MAX office. "As area experts, a RE/MAX Agent is likely to have a list of recommended suppliers in the area and can show you around when you are house hunting to help you become more familiar with your surroundings," says Goslett.

To make sure you don't miss anything important, TheSpruce suggests that start with a checklist to help set your priorities and keep track of the tasks that lie ahead. These may include everything from setting up utilities and noting local emergency numbers to final accounting of your moving expenses.

1. Clean your new space before you unpack

Whether your new home is an apartment, an old home, or a brand new house, one of the best ways to make it feel like it's truly yours is to give it a thorough cleaning. If possible, clean everything especially the kitchen and bathrooms before you start unpacking.

2. Arrange furniture

One of the great things about moving is the chance to start over in a new place, and by using floor plans, you can create a unique space that works well for you. With the help of some great online tools, creating that perfect new space is even easier. If you can learn in advance what the layout of your new home will be, you can plan the furniture arrangement before you move to make sure everything will fit.

3. Start unpacking and organising closets

If you're like most people and you really don't like to unpack, then getting all that stuff out of boxes can be a nightmare. So it`s a good idea to create a plan to get it done; otherwise, it may never get done. You'll end up having to sort through boxes six months from now. The first rule of thumb, then, is to get organised.

Another important step in unpacking, and one that is often overlooked, is to take a home inventory. You want to make sure that all your items made it to your new place without damage or loss. This is particularly important if you hired movers and may need to make a claim for lost or damaged property.

When you finally arrive in your new home, there's that initial excitement and relief that the hardest part of the move is over. But this enthusiasm can take a downturn when you survey your surroundings and see nothing but boxes, endless boxes! The solution? Start organising, bit by bit. If necessary, run out to the nearest home store to purchase closet organisers, racks, and storage bins. You'll feel better with each item put into its new place.

4. Set up utilities and services and start a list of emergency numbers 

Moving to a new city, town, state/province, or country means setting up utilities in another area where your current suppliers may not provide service. If this is the case, disconnecting and reconnecting utilities can take a bit of time and juggling to ensure that your lights, heat, and other services are functioning. Make a list of all utilities and services you had at your previous location to help you keep track of services you still need to sign up for.

The point of an emergency contact list is that it's there when you need it. Now that you're in a new location, you need a new list with local phone numbers and addresses for the police department, nearby hospitals, the fire department, and other emergency services. Don't wait until you need them in a hurry.

5. Collect your moving receipts 

For any home move, it`s a good idea to keep all of your receipts for moving expenses, just in case you`re able to write off your move. If you haven`t done that yet, now`s the time to gather your receipts and documentation and make notes about what each item is for as well as any additional information that may be helpful at tax time.

6.  File an insurance claim

If you purchased moving insurance, and some of your items are missing or damaged, you should submit a claim as soon as possible. Under most moving contracts, the mover must acknowledge receipt of a damage claim within 30 days, and they usually have four months to either deny the claim or offer a settlement. In the meantime, there may be a limit on how much time you have to get the issue resolved.

7. Lodge a complaint with movers

If you had problems with your movers, it's a good idea to lodge a formal complaint. This not only helps ensure that the company responds to your problem, it will also help others who are in the same situation as you by informing them of your complaint.

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Whether you're moving out of your house with your roommates or with your partner, the need for landing on the necessary habits of better planning never dies.

Here is a list of things you should apply when you start living independently.

1. Bring changes to your lifestyle

Living in your parent's house is different, as there's no burden of responsibilities on your shoulders. But when you decide to live alone in your own home, a bunch of duties pops up. But don't worry; if you keep your lifestyle on track, there will be no milestone that you can't achieve.

2. Take a look of your finances

One of the most critical parts about leaving your house for the first time is to deal with your every-day increasing expenses. All you've to do is to plan and finance your future life. But the question that knocks out your head is how you're going to do all this? Make a budget to figure out your expenses. Buy everything ranging from your utility needs to furniture should be in your budget.

The best way is to note all your expenses for the month on a notepad and spend your money accordingly. Plus, keep water, petrol, and electricity in control as it also influences the budget.

3. Choose the best location

The choice of location for your future house will influence your troubles a lot. No doubt it's relatively easy to compromise with your needs, but still, you've to buy reliable real estate where all your needs are on your doorstep. 

4. Find yourself a permanent Job

Taking a brave decision to move out of the house for the first time isn't appropriate unless you have a steady job pushing you up financially. As you're going to face millions of problems economically and emotionally, only a permanent job resolves all your matters. It's the best advice to have a steady job before move out of the house.

5. Always have a plan B

Not everyone who's moving out of the house is the one who gives a potential setback to the upcoming problems. There're chances that you may get fail in building yourself up. But don't bother about it much; having a plan B when moving out of college is the only thing you can do to save your living.

6. Go for renters insurance

The unfortunate time comes without informing. Thus, the best way to push yourself up in such circumstances is to have renters insurance. Choose the policies which have low monthly payments or those that offer full replacement coverage.

Stand On Your Own

Shifting in your house by moving out for the first time seems like a daunting task. But you shouldn't get confused after reading the tips we've talked about above. Adopt them in your life and see your development in days.