How to prepare for a cross-country move?

Moving across the country is a great adventure and quite a big challenge at the same time. You need to move to a (very) different part of the country, meet new people, adopt a new way of life and before all of that you need to pack all your belongings, have them transported to your new home and then unpack all the boxes. All this can be pretty hectic and overwhelming, so here are some tips on how to prepare for a cross-country move. Here’s how to save money, save time and keep your smile! Continue reading “How to prepare for a cross-country move?”

The Best Big Cities to Move to This Year

It`s natural that people`s wishes and preferences change over time, meaning that those living in smaller cities often choose to move to bigger places in search of a new job, higher quality of life, and new opportunities. However, it`s not easy to decide about the best big cities to move to since you need to take care of a couple of factors into consideration, including safety, affordability, schooling, transport, healthcare, etc. Of course, factors depend on your age and whether you plan on moving with your family or by yourself.

Living in a bigger city has numerous advantages. But there are certain aspects you need to consider, especially when it comes to affordability, as cities like New York and Los Angeles are extremely expensive. Still, you can live in a bigger city as long as you do thorough research on the subject, and we`re here to help. So, if you want to learn about the best big cities to move to this year, check out the following text below.

The Best Big Cities to Move to This Year

 

  • Denver
  • Austin
  • Phoenix
  • Minneapolis
  • Portland
  • San Diego

Denver

Denver, with a population of about 716000 residents, is known for being The Mile High City. It offers the best of both worlds. Denver is a place where the urban jungle meets the outdoors. So, if you choose to live here, you`ll have all the amenities of a bigger city with lots of parks and green areas to enjoy. Also, Denver has a great culture, arts, food, music, and especially sports. Another important benefit of moving to Denver is its amazing economy. Compared to New York, it`s affordable as long as you research the neighborhoods and explore all the available options before deciding on the best one.

Denver, CO

Austin

Austin, Texas, has a population of about 1000000 residents. It is known for numerous things like the capital of the state. Did you know that this area was inhabited as early as 9000 BC? It means the city has a very rich background. Austin was called Waterloo and attracted more than 20 million residents every year. According to a 2021 study, Austin is the 4th best city in the country for millennials. The weather is very appealing. Austin is famous for its health and wellness culture and possesses lots of parks and green areas. This is very important for sports enthusiasts. The city offers more than 250 gyms, 220 parks, many lakes, 30 swimming holes, and walking and hiking trails.

Phoenix

Phoenix, the seat of Maricopa County, has a population of more than 1600000 residents. It represents a popular destination for all ages and social groups. The city is the capital of Arizona and offers a very affordable cost of living. It also has a rapidly growing infrastructure, many employment opportunities, and a thriving nightlife. In recent years, more and more Californians are moving to Phoenix. This is because of a very appealing housing market and other aforementioned benefits. Plus, another reason why Californians are choosing to settle here is the similar weather.

Phoenix, AZ

Minneapolis

Minneapolis is the biggest city in Minnesota and the county seat of Hennepin County. It’s one of the most unique places on our list. Although it`s a big city with a population of more than 400000 residents, the nature here is miraculous and not typical for an urban area.

Minneapolis has stunning blue lakes, a very thriving art scene, towering skyscrapers, cuisine joints, and entertainment. Besides being a very popular metro area is frequently ranked as one of the best and most affordable places on our list. Most areas in Minneapolis are considered very safe. This is a very important factor, especially for young families that are considering moving here. Furthermore, Minneapolis is known for being the home of Mississippi, the very popular Mall of America, and breathtaking St. Anthony falls.

So, if you are looking for an unconventional place that looks miraculous, contact your long distance movers Brooklyn and head straight to Minneapolis.

Portland

Portland has a population of more than 650000 residents and is very attractive to new movers. Located in Oregon, it is the biggest city in the state. It is well-known for being a scenic and very vibrant city. Portland has an abundance of green spaces, including mountains, forests, and parks. By driving an hour to the west, you will get to the ocean in no time, while by driving an hour to the east, you`ll be in the mountains. So, you can see that living in Portland allows you to enjoy the diversity and all the perks of a small town even though Portland has more than 500000 residents. People are very welcoming, and you`ll make friends in no time.

Portland is known for lots of artists, cyclists, vegans, hipsters, and eco-activists. It`s a very laid-back city with very good neighborhoods and a small-town feel.

Portland, OR

San Diego

Californians will be very pleased to know that if you consider Los Angeles expensive and overcrowded but don`t want to leave the state, San Diego is your best bet. With a population of 1415000 residents, it is renowned for its idyllic climate and is the second-largest city in the Sunny State.

San Diego represents one of the best cities to move to on the West Coast, with more than 70 miles of coastline. Furthermore, the neighborhoods are very affordable, and the city offers top-notch cuisine, which is very important for food lovers. The crime rate is lower than the national average, making San Diego one of the safest and largest cities in the country, which is very beneficial if you are thinking about hiring your Brooklyn movers and moving with your family to San Diego.

Pros and Cons of Moving to a Cold State

We’ve all heard planet about moving to sunny states but how about deciding to move to a cold climate instead? If for any reason, you must relocate to a cool and fresh area, you may wonder if there are any benefits to it? The answer is – absolutely! There are many pros of living in a cold state and we’ll list only a couple of them in the following text. On the other hand, each climate has its drawbacks as well so we’ll cover the cons of moving to a cold state as well. Carry on reading to learn more about the pros and cons of moving to a cold state.

Packing For Moving To A Cold State

Pros of moving to a cold state

You may be skeptical about cold weather benefits but there are quite a few of them. Here are the ones we found to be the most common.

Winter sports and outdoors

Moving to a cold state is a great way to enjoy the snow and its charm to the fullest – anything from snow angels to skiing and snowboarding can bring you joy. The great thing is that you can choose any type of winter sport and the best part is that you’ll be able to so often. If you’re worried about how you will get used to being outdoors in cold – you’ll get there much sooner than you might think. People who live in cool areas are used to low temperatures so they’ll have outdoor events and as much fun as people living in warm states. Winter festivals are a thing!

Amateur Nordic Skiing

Keeping a cool head

Another great thing about living in a cold climate is that cool temperatures tend to help with having your thoughts clear. A short walk can do miracles when you’re trying to keep your head cool, especially if you’re dealing with a lot of stress from an extremely busy schedule and you need to gather your thoughts.

No pollen allergies

If you have trouble with those nasty pollen allergies, you may find that moving to a cold state is the perfect thing to do. You should stay free of polled-related allergies in winter so you may want to put your medications away, at least until you travel for vacation. That’s because pollen counts don’t exist in low temperatures or snow so you can enjoy your time outdoors without itchy eyes and a runny nose.

A Bee Collects Pollen

Low temperatures don’t attract insects

For those moving to a cold state from hot and humid areas, this will be a game-changer – low temperatures are just not appealing to insects (Miami, we’re looking at you). If you, like most people, hate annoying insects, then moving somewhere cool and fresh will save you all the trouble. Plus, mosquitos and ticks are also known to spread the diseases but you won’t have to worry about that when you’re a cold state resident.

Burning more calories

Here’s a pro of moving to a cold state that many people will find thrilling – our bodies work harder in low temperatures in order to keep the core temperature, resulting in burning more fat. Of course, it will not give you a miraculous weight loss, but it’s still nice to know that your body will burn more calories after you move.

Healthy Walk In The Late Fall

Quality of sleep

Another benefit of living in a cold state has to do with sleeping. As some studies show, the quality of sleep is better in low temperatures than it is in warm climates. So, if you’re having trouble sleeping, you should greatly improve your quality of sleep once you move to a cold state.

Immune system boost

It is also suggested by some researchers that cold weather can affect your immune system. Although you’d expect to catch the flu in cold and dry air, you may find that your immune system is much more capable of fighting that flu off. Of course, you should always take care of your health and pay regular visits to your doctor – don’t expect your move to a cold state to be an excuse for not having health checks.

People Hiking in Winter

Cons of moving to a cold state

Now that we’ve covered some of the most important pros of moving to a cold state, it’s worth noting that there are also some cons to it. Here are some of them.

Shorter days

This is not necessarily always the case but you will usually get less daylight when living in a colder state. Shorter days affect some people in a way that they feel less productive and lazy so keep this in mind when deciding to move to a cold state.

Higher utility bills

Low temperatures also mean more electricity or gas for your heating system so don’t be surprised if you get a higher utility bill once you start being a cool state resident.

Utility Bills and a Calculator

Driving and traffic

One thing is for sure – driving in bad weather is no fun. You’ll probably have to use winter equipment for your car if you’re moving to a snowy state and you may have to deal with icy roads − which is always a challenge of its own. Besides being annoying and slowing you down, driving in bad weather is also risky so you must always be extra careful when it comes to poor weather conditions traffic.

 

Hopefully, this simple list will help you decide if moving to a cold state is the right thing to do. Living in any climate has its pros and cons so a decision about whether living in the cold weather is the best one depends on your personal preference. Wherever you decide to move to, you will benefit from hiring professional long-distance movers Brooklyn to assist with your relocation. If you’ve made up your mind and you’re about to move to a cold state, go ahead and contact Dorothy and Martha Moving. We’d be happy to answer all of your questions and help you move your things safely to your new home. Contact us for the best free moving quotes in Brooklyn.

9 Cheap Ways to Move Cross Country

Although moving requires a lot of time and energy, one of the most critical necessities is simply money. Conducting the proper budget that will cover all expenses should be the first task on the moving list. However, even with adequate preparation and planning costs when moving across the country, the long-distance moving costs are pretty high and can go up the roof. So if it’s your first time moving and you want to save up as much money as possible, consider reading the following text, where we’ll explore the 9 cheap ways to move cross country.

 

A moving truck on the road in a long-distance, cross-country move

1. Declutter

It has become quite a habit to pile up stuff in this busy era even if we actually don’t need them, meaning they don’t have a purpose. However, for some, it’s tough to throw away items they acquired over a long period of time. There are a couple of options to reduce the costs or even make money — one of them is decluttering.

Decluttering home before the move will reduce the number of items you will need to pack or even ship if required.

Instead of simply throwing away things that you consider unnecessary, there are ways to make money and increase the moving budget.

Read the tips for holding a successful pre-move garage sale and follow them for throwing a garage sale where neighbors and locals can purchase the items, which can work in both ways. Also, a couple of online platforms can serve this purpose, including Amazon, E-bay, Craigslist, or even certain Facebook pages and groups.

When talking about clothes, if they are in proper condition, there are numerous specialty stores for selling your belongings, including second-hand stores.

2. Donate

If you are a different type of sport and like giving to the community, another option for decluttering your home prior to the move is to donate unwanted items before long-distance relocation. You can donate your items to charities and unprofitable organizations to put the unneeded things to good use.

A big and a small box on a seesaw

3. Portable Containers

User reviews state that renting a portable moving container is an excellent option if you are considering moving cross country, especially if you want to avoid hiring professional service movers. Renting a portable moving container is much cheaper than hiring a moving company. These containers have a dual purpose, including portability and using it as a storage unit.

The cost of renting a portable container depends on the length of time you plan to use it and the unit’s size. The only thing you need to do is load your belongings and leave the rest for the company to handle. If you pay an extra fee, they will also load and unload your belongings.

4. Packing Supplies

Before you start moving, it’s essential to pack up your belongings properly, which will require you to obtain the right kind of packing supplies. Make sure to explore all the available options at the time, and even ask the local grocery stores and retailers for boxes, bubble wrap, box stores, etc. Also, don’t forget to ask family and friends for help and used boxes. Buying the whole amount of items from the ultimate packing supplies list is quite costly and it is a significant impact on your budget, especially if it’s a tight fund.

Packing Supplies - Tape, Boxes, Packing Paper

5. Moving Truck

If you decide to move by yourself completely, one of the main pieces of advice is to rent a moving truck since it’s the cheapest option as long as you choose a reliable company. The main expenses when hiring a moving truck include fuel, the agreed rate, and maybe insurance. However, keep in mind renting a moving truck will leave you to do absolutely everything on your own, including packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking.

So if it’s your first time moving cross country and you plan on moving by yourself, it might be a good idea to find a good professional moving service to help with the whole process.

Man Loading The Moving Truck

6. The Right Date and Discounts

You might not know this information, but the price of the move depends on the moving date you choose. For instance, moving in the spring or summer will present quite a cost, especially if you book close to the moving date. So, try to book the moving date ( if you are hiring professional help) a couple of weeks or even months in advance.

Also, if you are a part of the military, the AAA, or similar communities, it’s sure you’ll have some discounts because of your membership.

Besides, certain companies offer to pay for moving of their employees, at least in some percent.

7. Cutting Your Expenses

Although getting an insurance policy doesn’t sound like saving up money, it can relieve you in the long term significantly if some valuable items get damaged. As mentioned before, don’t hesitate when it comes to donations. Ask a couple of moving companies for offers and choose the best one. Use shipping agencies if you want to avoid dealing with bulky pieces like furniture, etc.

Cut your expenses and find out about cheap ways to move cross country

8. Ask Family and Friends for Help

One of the best ways to save up money is by asking family and friends to help with packing, loading, unloading, and unpacking, especially if you are moving heavy objects. Don’t forget to clear the path of any obstacles to avoid the risk of injury — the reason why it’s important to make a good plan before you start loading objects.

9. Hire a Professional Service

If you have no prior experience with moving and can’t find a pair of extra hands to help, consider hiring a professional moving company. Here, at Dorothy And Martha Moving, we can take care of the whole process ( packing, loading, unloading, unpacking) for the right price. If you want to save up an additional amount of money, book the moving date in advance and look for discounts and vouchers.

Keep in mind there is a wide range of fraudulent companies posing as certified moving companies that can lose, misplace, or damage your belongings. To avoid any complications, make sure you choose a certified company with a reputable service (customer reviews are the best parameter).

Packing musical instruments – tips and tricks

The first thing you need to know about packing musical instruments is that they are not the same. Copper musical instruments should be packed quite differently than wooden ones. Some of them need to be disassembled before transportation, while others only need to be prepared. And there are different things that you need to pay attention to. And although there are many types of musical instruments, all of them must be very well protected. If you are moving or just want to pack your instruments for storage Brooklyn, here is what you should do. Continue reading “Packing musical instruments – tips and tricks”

Questions to ask movers before long distance relocation

Are you planning to move long distances? If you are moving to the other side of the country or to several states, moving long distances can lead to several problems. To make sure that your successful long-distance move is as smooth as possible and that you chose the right moving services Brooklyn, there are a few questions to ask movers and have answers to before moving. Continue reading “Questions to ask movers before long distance relocation”

Guide for shipping furniture cross-country

So, you are about to move. And not only are you moving, but you are moving to a whole other state. We all know how complicated moving long distance can be. Relocation is never a simple task. Some people find it difficult to move just down the street, but you are one of those bold individuals that find moving cross-country a piece of cake. However, there’s so much to think about and so many plans to make. How long will it take to move? Will you be able to settle to a new environment? How does shipping furniture cross-country even work? There are so many questions and dilemmas on your table. But not to worry. If you follow our simple guide, moving your furniture long distance will be a no-brainer. Continue reading “Guide for shipping furniture cross-country”

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