How can I ship my belongings to another state?

Have you been stressing over questions like, “How can I ship my belongings to another state?” If so, you can take a deep breath. We’ve created a guide specifically for you!

How Can I Ship My Belongings to Another State?

Although it may be possible, it’s never smart to move on a whim. There are too many important factors to consider. As you go about the planning process of moving from state to state, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to research and prepare. Think of it as a gift to yourself: Such freedom will help prevent rushed decisions, mitigating your stress and saving you money in the long run. Before we can dive into your options, there are three preliminary steps you should take to help you make the healthiest decisions.

Know Your Budget

One of the most important factors to consider when moving is your budget. Naturally, a small budget will limit your options, and a larger one will give you more choices to consider. With that in mind, understanding what you’re willing and able to spend is key—it will save you from wasting time on options that are beyond your means.

Factors that will very likely impact the cost of shipping services include:

• Shipment delivery times – The more expedited the service, the pricier the shipment. A single-day delivery will cost far more than one that takes a week to transport. Therefore, it would be best to send your items ahead of you with plenty of time to spare, or time it so your items land a few days after your expected arrival.
• Total shipment size/weight – The more items you move, the more it’ll cost. It may be worth taking stock of what household goods and pieces of furniture you need to bring and what might be cheaper to buy in your new location.
• Shipment service – Some shipping services offer extra services such as loading, unloading, packing, and unpacking. Amenities are great, but remember that they come with a higher price tag.

Declutter

Long-distance relocation is not cheap. One of the easiest ways to cut moving expenses is to simply bring less with you. Your prep time is your chance to declutter your life before piling unnecessary items into moving boxes. Before you pack, run a thorough inventory of all of your belongings. If you don’t love it or use it, lose it!

As Moving.com advises:

You can probably find a way to justify keeping just about anything if you set your mind to it. To keep yourself accountable, set some concrete goals for how much you want to get rid of and then stick to them… A minimalist move doesn’t have to be all or nothing. If it’s too overwhelming to think about completely decluttering your life before a move (or if you just don’t have time to go through your items so extensively), you can do just a little bit and still make a difference. There are so many benefits to simply having less stuff, and easier, less stressful moves are a big one.

Naturally, if you’re considering ridding yourself of furniture and other larger items, there will be more planning necessary; you can’t just throw them out in the street! Also, the more items you have and the larger your house, the more time-intensive the process will be. That said, it helps to split your belongings into categories:

• Books
• Clothes
• Documents
• Electronic items
• Furniture
• Holiday décor
• Home décor
• Kitchen accessories
• Outdoor gear
• Picture albums
• Toys

Ship My Belongings to Another State

Now that we’ve reviewed the initial groundwork, it’s time to review your shipping options. Want to know “how to ship furniture?” Worry not, we’ve got you covered.

• Hire a moving company – If money isn’t an issue, the premium option for a state-to-state move is to hire professional movers. But why is this the ideal choice? Well, according to Forbes:

People move an average of once every seven years, whereas a moving company does it every day. Hiring a professional moving company means giving the physical and mental heavy lifting to practiced hands. Professional moving companies know how to properly wrap furniture, how to handle tight stairwells and door frames, and how to properly pack a truck to save the most space and keep the furniture safe during transportation.

Per National Van Lines, “Professional movers can cost upwards of $7,500, depending on the size of your house and the number of belongings. It usually costs around $1,000 per room, and that includes a full-service experience from planning to moving day.”

So, if you have the financial means, a moving company removes the guesswork and frustration from the moving process. You tell them what needs shipping and then arrive at your new home with everything already in its place.

• Ship your things – If you don’t have a lot of possessions, especially heavy ones, your best option may be to ship your household items using a service such as UPS. Now, this may not be the most cost-effective shipping method for furniture, but it’s fantastic if you’re traveling light.
• Rent a Pod – In recent years, a popular long-distance shipping method has been portable moving containers. This is a cost-effective mode of transportation, particularly when compared to a professional moving company.

It’s simple:

• Select the size of the pod you need
• Choose how long you’ll need it
• Load it up with your belongings
• Container company picks it up
• The container is shipped out to your desired destination

Generally speaking, a long-distance pod will cost approximately $2,000 to $3,000 per month.

• Hire a moving truck – If you have time and want to save money, you could load up a moving truck and drive it across the country yourself. There’s no doubt that this will save you money upfront, but there are cost factors to consider such as:
  • Truck rental price
  • Distance traveled
  • Insurance costs
  • Fuels costs
  • Time spent

In addition, you’ll be in charge of loading up and unloading the entire truck. If you choose to do it yourself, be sure you’re going to be able to handle (or have friends with you!) the heavy lifting.

• Hire a freight trailer – Although this method requires that you handle loading and unloading yourself, renting a freight trailer would save you from having to make the drive. Essentially, a company will drop off a large trailer for you to load up. Once you’ve finished, they’ll grab the trailer and drive it to your destination.

Start Shipping

From decluttering your belongings to renting your extended stay taking care of the details, there are a handful of actions you can take to ease your moving pains. By taking these proactive measures, you’re able to control your situation and then select the best shipping/moving method for you. There’s no need to stress.

Do your legwork and leave yourself ample time, and your move will be a breeze!