How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Move

Key Takeaways

Start planning at least 90 days before your move date
Always get a binding estimate — not just a quote — from licensed movers
Decluttering before you move directly lowers transport cost (movers charge by weight or cubic feet)
Pack a 2-week essentials bag that travels with you, not the truck

Long-distance moving requires more preparation than a local move. Unlike a local move (same day, same city), a long-distance move involves advance scheduling, binding contracts, detailed inventories, and transit times ranging from 1 day to 2+ weeks. Starting your preparation 90 days out gives you the time to do it right.

90 Days Before: Research and Hire Licensed Movers

The most important thing you can do 90 days before a long-distance move is hire the right mover. Long-distance moving fraud is real — the FMCSA receives thousands of complaints every year about movers who hold shipments hostage for more money.

How to verify a mover is legitimate:

Confirm they have a valid USDOT number at FMCSA SAFER
Verify their MC (Motor Carrier) number for interstate authority
Get at least 3 binding estimates (not non-binding estimates)
Check their Google and BBB reviews
Read the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Protect Your Move guide

Book your preferred date whenever you are ready — we accommodate last-minute and advance bookings. Call 1-800-326-2099 to check availability.

60 Days Before: Declutter Your Home

Long-distance moving is priced by weight or cubic feet (CF) — not distance — so every 1,000 lbs you can leave behind directly lowers your final bill. A 3-bedroom home typically weighs 7,500–10,000 lbs fully packed — trimming 10–15% of that through a serious declutter is one of the highest-impact things you can do before move day.

Use this decision framework for every item:

Keep: Items you love, use regularly, or can't replace
Sell: Furniture, appliances, and goods with value (Facebook Marketplace works well)
Donate: Usable items you don't need (Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity)
Discard: Worn out, broken, or expired items

Rule of thumb: if you haven't used it in 12 months and don't love it, don't move it.

30 Days Before: Begin Packing Non-Essentials

Start with rooms you use the least: seasonal storage, guest rooms, basement or garage, home office supplies, decorative items, books.

For every box you pack:

Label the top AND one side with room + contents ("Kitchen — Baking Supplies")
Number boxes sequentially and record contents in a spreadsheet (useful for insurance claims if something breaks)
Never pack boxes heavier than 50 lbs — they're harder to carry and more likely to be dropped
Fill boxes completely — half-full boxes collapse under other boxes

1 Week Before: Prepare Your Essentials Bag

Pack a bag (or dedicated suitcase) with everything you'll need for the first 2 weeks at your new home. This travels with you — not in the truck. Include:

2 weeks of clothing and toiletries
Important documents (passports, birth certificates, financial records, lease/deed)
Medications and a 30-day supply if possible
Phone chargers, laptop, and work essentials
Children's and pets' essentials
First-night supplies: toilet paper, basic kitchen items, one set of bedding per person

Moving Day: What to Do When the Crew Arrives

Be present the entire time the crew is loading. Don't leave.
Walk through every room with the crew lead before anything is loaded — note pre-existing damage on the inventory form.
Do a final walkthrough of the entire home before the truck leaves — check closets, attic, garage.
Confirm the delivery window in your bill of lading before signing.
Get a copy of the signed bill of lading — this is your most important document.

Related: Read What Affects the Cost of a California Move to see every factor that goes into your estimate, and our guide to verifying a California mover's license.