It is a common act for Americans to pack up all of their belongings and simply move to a new residence, and some people may move as many as 10 to 12 times in their life. This is no simple job, but long distance movers and other moving companies may lend the right trucks, trailers, crews, and packing material to make a local move or a long distance move work out. Americans often stay in their same city or county after they move, but in other cases, long distance movers may be hired for a longer trek to a new residence. Someone moving from Maryland to Florida, for example, will certainly require long distance movers, and going from Kansas to California will also call for long distance movers to get everything there in good shape. How often do Americans move today, and why? And what are the strategies to make a move smoother and easier?
Americans and Relocating
It is rare for someone to live in the same residence all their lives. A person may move for college, for example, moving out of his or her parents’ residence and going to a dorm, apartment, or something similar. Young adults rent their living space more often than buy houses or condos, and they are prone to moving often due to needs for jobs or college. In some cases, moving is simply a part of a young adult figuring out his or her life. In other cases, a family may move because an employed parent gets a new job in a new city or county, and the entire family will relocate to be closer to that employer. In other cases, a given town or area is deemed substandard for the kids’ education, so parents may move somewhere with better schools to offer.
It has been determined that the average moving household is a couple aged 18-34 with one or two kids, and as Americans age, they tend to move less often. Older Americans may not like the hassle of moving, and they have enough money saved to afford a residence that they like. More often, older Americans hire remodeling contractors to remake their homes rather than move to a new one. Back on the topic of moving, movers tend to relocate to a new residence during the summer or late spring months, and moving is relatively rare during winter. December ranks as the least popular month for moving, possibly due to the proximity to Christmas and Hanukkah and how ice and snow may make moving risky on the roads. It could be said that summer is the “season” for moving. But come rain, snow, or sun, moving may involve the same basic steps. What are they?
Moving Out
When a household has decided to move, one of the first steps to take, aside from determining where the new residence will be, is trimming the household’s inventory. Moving is a fine time for taking stock of what a household possesses and shedding the excess, from clothing to furniture to kitchen ware to kids’ toys. Unwanted items can be sorted out, then either thrown away, donated, recycled, or moved to a self storage unit at a convenient location. Old clothes can be donated at charity centers, along with other linens and kids’ toys, for example. Some households even have proper trash packed in them, such as stacks of old newspapers or damaged items. Professional help may be needed in some cases.
After that, the household may look up reliable moving companies in their area which can handle the distances that will be involved. This will be important, since some moving companies may only have the vehicles and skills for a move within the same city, rather than a whole new state. Previous customer reviews are a good way to determine reliable and trustworthy companies over the others, and a company’s website may be visited for further information. Once a good company is found and hired, the client may arrange for the moving day and finding a route to the new address. Crews will help load packed boxes and furniture into trucks and trailers, and use padding and straps to help prevent items from jostling around or falling over. Items can be packed closely together, too.
