If you’re planning to make a move across the country, you might think that it’s similar to moving right down the street or even to another state. Moving across the country often requires more planning and more supplies. It also requires more time for driving and ensuring that your belongings make it to your new home. There are a few mistakes that you can avoid making to ensure that your move goes off without a hitch.

1. Not Staying Organized

Before you move across the country, you need to go through your belongings so that you can get rid of the things that you don’t need instead of letting them take up space in your vehicle or the moving van. You’ll also save money on storage fees if you go ahead and get rid of things that are broken or that you can do without.

Make sure you take the things from your storage unit that you know you’ll need right away, downsizing if possible to save money. When you begin organizing, you should pack items so that they are associated with different rooms in your home instead of just throwing everything in one box.

This will make it easier to sort through everything when you get to your new home.

2. Not Considering Your Furniture

Unless you’re getting a moving truck to haul your larger pieces of furniture across the country, then you’re going to need to make arrangements for these items.

You should also think about the size of your current home compared to that of your new one because you might need to downsize the furnishings that you have or purchase a few more items when you get unpacked to fill up empty space.

3. Buying At One Time

When you move to another home, you might think that you need to get everything at one time. While there are essentials that you’ll need to have, such as beds and something to sit on, there are things that you can shop around for until you find just what you want.

Another option is to rent furniture until you’re ready to make a final purchase.

4. Not asking for Help

Moving across the country can be a challenge. You’ll have to drive a longer distance, and you’ll likely have to drive when it’s dark. It means packing everything that you have in your home and saying goodbye to your family and friends.

Before moving, seek help from people you know so that you can also say goodbye to them. You should also look into hiring a moving company to help with getting your belongings across the country.

If you don’t want to hire movers, then consider renting a moving truck that you can pack on your own. Most companies will let you return the truck to a location in another state that offers the same services as long as you call ahead.