Turn Moving the Family Across Country Into a Budget-Friendly Road Trip

Are you planning a cross-country move for your family? Maybe you are looking for ideas to make the best use of your travel time while professional movers transport your belongings?

One of the major concerns working families have about moving across the country involves time. Moving companies typically require days and sometimes weeks to load belongings and transport them thousands of miles. If you enlist a professional moving company to wrap fragile items and pack them securely as well, that could add an extra day or two to your moving timeline.

Rather than hole up in a stuffy hotel room while waiting for the moving trucks to arrive at your new home, it may be worthwhile to make good use of the time. The great American family road trip might be precisely what you and your loved ones need to bond before immersing yourselves in a new home and community.

Prepare for the Big Day

When moving day arrives, the last thing most people want to deal with is overwhelming last-minute decisions. That’s why it’s essential to conduct a thorough review of your household goods long before the big day. Consider purging unused or rarely used items and:

  • Sell items on Craigslist or a local platform
  • Donate items to charity
  • Hold a yard sale
  • Give away things to family or friends
  • Put items at the curb with a “Free Stuff” sign
  • Discard any lingering items

By lightening your moving load weeks in advance, you’ll have adequate time to run through a moving checklist and ensure your plan remains on schedule. 

Part of this process can involve mapping out the family road trip.

How to Travel the Country Inexpensively

A successful family road trip generally requires some outside-the-box thinking. Many people would run a Google Maps search that indicates the fastest route from Point A to Point B. Although that may seem logical at first, you’re not necessarily trying to get there as quickly as possible. Consider this moving hiatus a way to see as much of the big, beautiful country as possible in one week. These travel suggestions may shine a light on road-tripping.

  • Check for non-commercial attractions
  • Set your travel route to maximize leisure enjoyment
  • Consider camping at national or state parks
  • Stop for a night of skiing or another family activity you all enjoy
  • Pack a cooler with food that you can grill outdoors
  • Stay at budget-friendly motels if it rains
  • Turn off electronics and enjoy each other’s company
  • Spend a day at the beach or a lake along the way

What’s truly important is taking time out of the hustle and bustle of daily life. Communicate to your employer or employees that family time is precious and should not be interrupted with anything short of a crisis. 

Making it Home

When you hire a reputable, experienced long-distance mover, you can be sure that your household belongings will arrive safely at your new home.

Do you need a quote? Contact us today. We will provide you with a free quote. Let us help you with your long-distance move.

 

A Step-by-Step Guide for Moving Out of a Rental and Getting Back Your Security Deposit

When you live in a rented or leased apartment or home, getting your security deposit back can be one of your biggest concerns when you decide to move. 

The average price that a renter will pay for a security deposit is one to two times the cost of one month’s rent. Therefore, you could be anticipating a fair amount of money that you could use toward paying for your move. Here are a few tips, so you can get your security deposit back once you make your residential move.

1. Go over your rental/lease agreement.

Hopefully, you retained a copy of your lease and a receipt for your security deposit when you moved in. Go ahead and retrieve these documents and take a look at your lease agreement. Find out what stipulations are given in the contract that could affect the portion of your deposit returned. Most property owners will clearly state in the lease what actions could affect the return of your security deposit.

2. Be sure to give the property owner adequate notice.

Giving your landlord a notice allows them to prepare for you to leave the property. Most property owners will prefer a 30-day notice before you plan to vacate, but even earlier is better. Remember that some landlords will keep a portion or all of your security deposit if you don’t give proper notice.

3. Tend to any damages you may have caused during your occupancy.

Your landlord can keep portions of your security deposit to pay for any damages you may have caused, but this can apply to even minor damages, such as:

  • Missing electrical outlet covers
  • Broken toilet seat
  • Crayon marks on walls/flooring
  • Missing cabinet handles
  • Broken glass in a window

Repair any damages you may have caused, even the small ones, before you move.

4. Remove all of your personal belongings.

As you are packing and preparing to leave the premises, be sure you gather all of your belongings. Some landlords will specifically charge you if they have to hire someone to remove the personal belongings from the house after you leave. Junk removal can also be detracted from your security deposit. A few pointers to remember:

  • Take care of all trash on the property
  • Avoid leaving anything inside cabinets or closets
  • Check the garage for tools or other objects
  • Clear out the basement, attic, cellar, or any outbuildings on the property

5. Clean the property.

If you leave the property in disarray, the landlord can keep your security deposit to cover the costs of cleaning the property. Therefore, pencil time into your schedule to ensure you place a good cleaning before you go.

6. Gather proof of the property’s condition.

You may have taken pictures of the property when you moved in. Retake pictures now that you have cleared and cleaned the property. You can show these images to the landlord to document the condition at the time of move-in and move-out —  in the event there are disagreements about any damage you may have caused.

Work with Professional Movers

Get everything out of your rented place and to your new home with the help of pro movers. If you are preparing to relocate, reach out to us to discuss a free moving quote today.