Tips for Long Distance Moves

When my husband got a promotion and we had to move from Missouri to New York, I was clueless as to where we should even start. I had so many questions that went unanswered, I made a lot of mistakes, and I learned a lot of lessons. Here are a few tips I picked up in our 24 hour journey across the United States in a U-haul, with two cats.

Change of Address: The minute you know your new address, go to the post office and file for a change of address. Sometimes it takes a while for all of your mail to be redirected. Once you get to your new home, call your credit card companies, bank, cell phone server, and other billing services and tell them your new information. This will help prevent lost mail.

Belongings: Once you realize you are moving, look into the cost of moving vans. Add this with gas, food, and hotels along your way. Then compare the cost of selling everything and purchasing new items once you get to your new home. Sometimes it is cheaper to sell, especially with the current gas prices.

Hotels: If you are pulling a trailer behind your moving van, you most likely will not be able to back the vehicle up. There is a warning against this inside most moving vans and backing up with the trailer can prove to be difficult. Because of this, you want to make sure that any hotel you pull into has a way for you to turn around or leave the parking lot without backing up. In our situation we pulled into a hotel parking lot and thought that there was a way to turn around. After unsuccessfully attempting to back up, despite the warnings, we found ourselves unhitching the trailer at 2 AM in the pouring rain. It took an hour to get the car off the trailer, the trailer off the moving van, and then put everything back.

Cats: Traveling with dogs is not easy, but it is easier than a long road trip with a cat on board. The main fear when traveling with a cat is that they will escape from the car. If your cat runs away, it could be hours before you catch him or get him down from a tree. To avoid this, there are a few things you need to bring along on your trip. The first is an animal carrier. If you do not want your pet roaming freely in the vehicle, this is a must. Even if your cat is allowed to be out in the car, a cat carrier is a safe place to put him or her when you are getting in and out of the vehicle. This will ensure that your cat does not slip through the door when you aren't looking.

The second thing you will need is a small harness and leash. This is great for letting your cat out of the vehicle if needed. Make sure that you get a harness that goes around their body. Cat's can easily slip out of a collar, but the harness is more secure. No, most cats do not like having the harness on, but if you are driving a long distance they will just need to deal with it for the trip.

The third tip I can give you for traveling with cats is to avoid truck stops. They are loud and cats will be frightened by all of the noises and activity. Instead, if you want your cat to have a chance to get out of the vehicle, find a quiet park somewhere. This experience will be much better for them.

Remember, you will need food, water, and somewhere for them to use the bathroom. If you cat is not accustomed to riding in a vehicle you may find that they do not eat, drink, or use the bathroom until you arrive at your destination.

Music: Music can really help keep you awake while driving and most moving vans only offer a radio. If you want to listen to your favorite music on this trip, be prepared. If you have an Ipod make sure the batteries are charged and your play lists are full.

Laptop: If you have a laptop, carry it with you in the cab. It takes up a lot of room, but it can come in handy. If you get lost along the way, pull over into a hotel parking lot. Usually the more popular chains offer free internet to guests. If you are lucky, you can access this internet from their parking lot. You will be able to easily pull up a map and use the hotel address as a guide as to where you are. Your laptop can also be used to play music, movies, and games to make the trip by go faster.

Sleep: Do not try to load the moving van and leave in the same day if you are moving a long distance. Packing the moving van is hard work and could leave you tired. Try to get a few of hours of sleep before leaving.

First Night: When you first get to your new home, unpacking the moving van may be the last thing on your mind. Designate a box or suitcase for items that you need for the first night. Pack this very last so you can easily get to it. You might want to consider putting in towels, toiletries, plates, a chance of clothes, sheets, and an air mattress.