An interstate move is an opportunity to make a fresh start in a brand-new location. It’s the perfect time to reevaluate your belongings and downsize as necessary. However, a long-distance move is also a significant logistical challenge, especially if you’ve never organized one before. For example, how do you figure out what to pack first? What if you go to the effort of wrapping and boxing everything, then realize you need to get your hands on something you’ve already packed?
As Chattanooga’s moving authority, we’ve assembled this guide to help you decide what to pack first when moving to another state.
1. Items in Storage
If you keep any belongings like seasonal decor or fine china in a storage facility, your attic or basement, those items can make an excellent starting point for your packing project. After all, you might already have them neatly put away in boxes, and you probably don’t have to worry that you might need to use them during your move.
During your pre-move decluttering process, take time to go through these belongings and donate anything you no longer want or need. You’ll be glad you did when you have fewer things to load onto the truck for your interstate move!
2. Decorative Items
While belongings like artwork, group photos, wall hangings and knickknacks may have sentimental value to you and your family, they usually don’t serve a practical purpose in your daily lives. That’s why you can confidently put these possessions on your list of things to pack first. Then, you can take your time carefully wrapping, boxing and labeling them to ensure they arrive intact at the other end of your interstate move.
3. Out-of-Season Clothes
Despite being in the South, Chattanooga experiences all four seasons. If you’re planning your interstate move during the summer, you’ll have no need for your bulky winter coats, sweaters, scarves, hats, socks and gloves. In winter, it’s unlikely you’ll want to wear shorts, sandals, tank tops and swimwear. Packing out-of-season clothes first makes sense because you may already have them neatly organized, folded and put in plastic totes, wardrobe boxes or protective garment bags.
4. Extra Sheets
Most of us keep at least one spare set of bed linens, either for guests or to rotate for your use. If you’re planning an interstate move, it’s unlikely you’ll need to change your sheets very often during the process, so you can safely pack them away, using them as extra cushioning for fragile items.
5. Books and Records
Even the most avid readers and audiophiles probably won’t have much downtime for reading or listening to music while organizing a relocation to another state. Packing books and records first ensures you have enough time to do a thorough job, so you don’t have to worry about these precious items getting damaged en route to your new destination.
How to Streamline Your Interstate Move
Planning a move to another state involves a lot of variables and tricky decisions, which may leave you feeling overwhelmed. The good news is that hiring experienced, professional movers can be more affordable than you think! At Fox Moving and Storage of Chattanooga, we’re happy to suggest ways to save money on your move, and our considerate, highly trained team is available 24/7 to provide a free estimate. Contact us today to learn more!