Long distance moving can be a difficult and stressful time, but it certainly doesn’t have to be. You should be excited to be moving to a new place, or perhaps even living on your own for the first time. There are many tips and tricks to help you figure out how to make long distance moving as pain free as possible. Here are just a few to help with your long distance move.

You will probably have an initial urge to hire long distance movers, especially if this is a cross country move. However, resist this urge and consider whether or not it is necessary for the amount of stuff you have to move. A long distance moving company may cost more money than it is worth. Cross country movers may take weeks to transport your stuff and be difficult to reach in the process. So, if you do not have a whole bunch of stuff to move, you may want to consider handling the move yourself.

Of course, you can use a long distance moving company in any capacity that you choose. There are many types of hybrid moves that will allow you to utilize your moving company in just the way you want. Of course, there is the ever-popular full-service move that has the long distance moving company handling everything from packing to transportation for you. This is the most convenient, but as mentioned above, may not be worth it. Then there are the hybrid moves, where you hire the moving company to do only certain things, such as only packing, or only loading the truck, or only transportation. The most recommended form of the hybrid move is to pack everything yourself, then have the movers load everything into a truck which you then drive to your final destination. This way, the long distance moving company can handle the most strenuous part of the move for you. Of course, there’s always the option of doing the entire move yourself if you are really strapped for cash.

After you have decided whether or not you want to hire a long distance moving company, it is time to start packing. This will be an absolutely ideal time to toss out as much stuff as possible. That outfit you haven’t worn in years? Donate it! Those skis you never use? Give them to your brother that lives up north. However, resist the urge to toss everything that you think you do not want. Make sure you don’t go throwing out any sentimental items or priceless heirlooms in the rush to get everything packed as fast as possible. But do get rid of the things you won’t use in your new home. If moving to a warmer climate, consider donating some of your cold-weather clothes.