The Ultimate Long-Distance Moving Timeline

You've signed the papers. You've marked your move-in date. The clock is ticking, and you know it's time to get started on your big move. But how? Where? When? That's exactly what this long-distance moving timeline is built for — a week-by-week plan that breaks a big job into manageable steps. By kicking off your efforts at least two months before the move, you'll have plenty of time to prepare everything you need.

Wondering where to get started? Read on for the long-distance moving timeline you’ve been looking for.

Building Your Long-Distance Moving Timeline

Eight weeks may sound like a lot of time, but it goes fast once quotes, paperwork, and prep work enter the picture. Use this long-distance moving timeline checklist to work through each week's tasks, from organizing paperwork in week eight to your final walkthrough on moving day.

Get organized in the beginning to make your long-distance move easier and less stressful.

Week 8: Create a “Move File”

There's a lot of paperwork involved in planning a big move — like vendor quotes, reservations, receipts, and other important information. Think of this file as a living moving checklist: It holds all these pieces of information and becomes your North Star as you start your journey to your new home. You may want to keep both paper and electronic copies on hand.

Some of the quotes you’ll need might include:

• Packing and loading companies
• Vehicle shipping companies
• Carpenters, painters, locksmiths, plumbers, or roofers whom you’ll need for maintenance or repairs to make your new home move-in ready.

Now’s the time to gather personal and family records that you’ll want to keep with you during the move, including:

• Medical, dental, and veterinary records
• School records
• Printed bills that will need to be addressed after the move
• Legal and financial documents

• Birth certificates and passports
• Addresses and phone numbers of family and friends
• Insurance documents

Gather what you can right away, and for those items that you can’t find, request copies so you have everything in hand by moving day.

This is also a good time to start researching your new hometown. Reach out to the local Chamber of Commerce for a new resident packet, which will include valuable information to get you settled in your new community.

Week 7: Shop for Moving Options

There are so many ways to get your stuff from point A to point B, and this is the time to start researching options and getting quotes. The first question to ask yourself: What do I really need?

Full-Service Movers

If you don’t mind a strict moving schedule and you’d rather have professional help from start to finish, hiring a traditional full-service mover that will pack, load, drive, unload and unpack your belongings might be the way to go. This is typically the most convenient option, but also the most expensive.

DIY With a Rental Truck

Another option is to rent a truck and drive yourself. This is often the cheapest option, but it also involves the most effort on your part. If you have a vehicle or two, you’ll also have to figure out how to transport them to your new home. Towing a car behind the truck is always an option, but it can be nerve-wracking.

PODS Portable Moving Containers

Using PODS to move cross-country means loading and unloading at your own pace and built-in storage options. Plus, you don’t have to worry about driving. This option is particularly useful if you need temporary storage during your move. You can keep your loaded container at a PODS Storage Center until you’re ready for it. After all, sometimes it makes sense to stay with friends or family, or to get a short-term rental in your new city before settling on a permanent home.

You can save on moving costs by scheduling your move during the off-season.

Week 6: Schedule Your Moving Solution

Once you've completed your research and made your decision, it's time to schedule your moving service. Summer is the busy season for moving, so movers and trucks can get booked up quickly. By scheduling in advance, you can ensure you have the help you need when you need it.

Tips on Scheduling Moving Service

• Schedule your move during the off-season (October through April) to save on moving costs.
• Book your move for the middle of the week (and the middle of the month) to take advantage of savings.
• Turn your PODS move into a hybrid move by hiring local packing and loading help.

Week 5: Get Organized, Start Packing, and Prepare for Your Moving Sale

One of the best moving tips is to declutter. The less stuff you have to pack and move, the cheaper your move will be (and the less time you’ll waste packing and unpacking things you don’t even want). Step one is to figure out what you’re going to pack, sell, or donate. Identify an area in your house to pile up the donation items and encourage everyone in the family to add to it. For the moving sale, create a sale pile in each room — this will help keep your sale more organized and easier to price. Packing up an entire house can be daunting, but you can make the process more efficient by reading up on the art of packing. Start with a room you don’t use very often and see if you can pack it up completely. The feeling of accomplishment will get you motivated to tackle the next room!

And don’t forget to take some breaks. This is hard work.

Week 4: Start Taking Care of All the “Little” Things

Look through your financial accounts and see if you need to update or change anything. If you’re banking at a local credit union, start shopping for your new bank or credit union in your new town and set up an account. Read up on primary-care medical providers in your new town that take your insurance. There’s often a waiting list for new patient appointments, so the sooner you choose a doctor and get on their schedule, the better.

While the packing continues, call your insurance company to get a list of what is and isn’t covered during the move so you can decide if you want to sign up for additional moving coverage. It’s also a good time to schedule connection appointments for power, water, sewage, cable, internet, telephone, and waste disposal for your new home, and schedule the disconnection of all these services for your current home for the day after you move out. (Phew, that’s a lot of phone calls!) Don’t forget to submit a change-of-address form online.

Save time and money during your move by decluttering unwanted items and hosting a moving sale.

Week 3: Host a Moving Sale

If you’re selling lots of furniture, consider holding your moving sale in the house. It’ll be easier to showcase your stuff, and you don’t have to lug everything out into the yard. But be careful: Moving sales draw big crowds, and they’ll be milling through your house looking for deals. Save everyone time and frustration by sectioning off the areas you don’t want shoppers entering and clearly labeling what is and isn’t for sale.

On the final day of your sale, start making big deals to get rid of as much stuff as possible. Put whatever doesn’t sell into the donation pile and drop that stuff off right away so it’s out of your way, and you can focus on your other tasks.

Do you have the newspaper delivered or have magazine subscriptions? Be sure to update your address online or with their customer service — these won’t be updated automatically with your change-of-address form.

Week 2: Take Care of Odds and Ends

Get excited! You’re one week closer to moving day. If you’re driving your car long distances, now is the time to have it serviced so it’s ready for the trip. Do you have things in your house that people have lent you? Time to return those items and say goodbye in person.

For prescriptions, if you use a major pharmacy chain, it’ll be pretty easy to transfer your account to the store near your new home (it can usually be done right in the store’s app). If you need to switch pharmacies altogether, make sure you have enough meds on hand to keep you covered during the move and beyond. Then transfer your prescriptions to a pharmacy in your new hometown so you can easily order refills when you get there.

Now is also when you want to grab groceries ahead of next week. If you’re looking for quick and healthy meals while navigating the chaos of moving, we’ve got you covered.

Week 1: Finish Packing

By now, most of your boxes are already packed. Now’s the time to finish up and start packing the essentials that you’ll need on hand during the move. Pack your clothes and personal items, and make sure you have a purse or a backpack that can hold all of the essentials: Credit cards, your moving file folder, and your phone and/or tablet chargers.

The Day Before

Some appliances require preparation prior to being moved. Be sure to empty, defrost, and clean your refrigerator and freezer. And drain the oil and gas from your power equipment, like mowers and gardening tools.

For those things you’ll be using until the last minute, pack them in a box labeled “load last.” Make sure it’s placed last in the moving truck or container so you can access it easily when you need it at your new home.

Moving Day

You’ll want to oversee the movers, provide guidance, and ask questions if you’re not sure about how they’re packing the truck or container. Don’t seal up the moving truck or container until you’ve done a walk-through of each room, opening built-in cabinets and closet doors. Look on high shelves, behind doors, and in every appliance that’s staying in the home to make sure you didn’t leave anything behind before closing up.

Feeling stressed? Take a moment on the big day to breathe and relax your muscles with yoga poses!

Before you lock up and head out, leave a note (and maybe even a welcome basket!) for the folks moving into your home. Give them your contact information and new address; they’ll be more likely to forward any mail the post office overlooks.

Long-Distance Moving Timeline — FAQs

Q: When should I start planning my move?
A: For a long-distance move, most people start about eight weeks out. That gives you enough runway to handle paperwork, compare moving options, pack in stages, and update your accounts and services without scrambling in the final days.

Q: How far in advance should I book PODS?
A: Service dates are subject to availability, so it's best to book as soon as your move dates are set — earlier if you're moving during the busy summer months. Local moves can be scheduled directly through your my.pods.com account; long-distance moves are scheduled with PODS' Customer Care team by phone or chat.

Q: How long does a long-distance moving timeline usually take?
A: Most planning timelines run 6 to 8 weeks from the time you start preparing to moving day. The actual transit time for your belongings depends on the distance between your old and new home.

Q: What's the best way to organize a long-distance moving timeline checklist?
A: Work backward from your move-in date and break tasks into weekly chunks, starting with paperwork and moving-option research, then packing, then final logistics in the last two weeks. Keeping both a paper and a digital copy of your moving house checklist helps if one gets misplaced.

Q: Do I need to be present when my PODS container is delivered or picked up?
A: No. You don't need to meet the driver for delivery or pickup, though your container should be unlocked, empty, clean, and accessible when it's picked up.

Q: Is storage included if I move with PODS?
A: One month of storage is included in the cost of every PODS move, whether you keep the container on your property or have it moved to a local PODS Storage Center.

Q: Can I store my things if my new home isn't ready yet?
A: Yes. You can keep your loaded container on-site or have PODS move it to a Storage Center until your new place is ready, then have it delivered when you are.

Q: What should I pack last when moving long distance?
A: Pack a box of items you'll need right up until moving day — chargers, toiletries, medications, important documents — label it "load last," and place it so it's the first thing accessible when you arrive.

Load your PODS portable moving container right in your driveway.

How PODS Helps With Long-Distance Moving

PODS makes moving long-distance flexible with multiple container sizes, built-in storage options, and pay-as-you-go billing.

PODS Container Sizes

When using PODS to move cross-country, you can choose from two container sizes or mix and match to suit your needs. A PODS 8-ft. container is about the size of a 10-ft. truck and accommodates a space up to 500 sq. ft. (perfect for a studio apartment move). The 16-ft. container is similar in size to a 20-ft. truck and can hold furniture and belongings for a 1,200 sq. ft. space, or a two-bedroom home. For larger moves, you can use two or more containers.

Built-In Storage Options

A month of storage is included in the cost of every PODS move, so you don’t have to rush. You can load your container in your driveway and keep it there for as long as you need, or have the loaded container kept at a PODS Storage Center until you’re ready for it. This is especially useful if your closing dates don’t line up.

Pay-As-You-Go Billing

PODS billing is pay-as-you-go, no deposit is required, and payment isn't due until seven days before container delivery. If you need your container for longer than a month, you can simply extend the rental.

Using PODS To Move Cross-Country

Eight weeks, lots of coordination, and a whole lot of work. With the help of this long-distance moving timeline, you’ll surely tackle every major task of the move. Before you know it, it’ll be time to settle into your new home!

Make your long-distance move flexible with PODS portable moving containers — load and unload on your own schedule instead of a mover's. One month's storage is included in the cost of every move, so you have options if your new home isn't quite ready when your belongings are. PODS can even refer you to local packing and loading services if you'd like help with the heavy lifting.

Call PODS at 877-350-7637 for a free long-distance moving quote.

_{*This article was written on behalf of PODS Enterprises, LLC (“PODS”). PODS does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of any information contained in this article and disclaims any liability for reliance upon the content herein.}