So, you are at that stage of your interstate move when the quote is signed, the survey is done, and a date is circled on the calendar. A professional crew is going to walk through your front door to pack up a lifetime’s worth of belongings any day now.
That day goes a lot smoother when your home is ready for it.
At FastPAC Forwarding, we’ve been helping families move across the country for over 125 years, and if there’s one thing five generations of experience has taught us, it’s this: the best interstate moves are well-organized ones. A little groundwork before your crew arrives means faster packing and a lot less stress for you.
Here’s exactly how to get your home ready.
Why Preparation Matters More for Interstate Moves
Interstate moves are not forgiving. Your household goods will cross state lines and possibly sit in storage for weeks if your new home isn’t ready. That means:
- Every item you ship costs money, so what you decide to bring (or not bring) has financial impact.
- Certain items are prohibited or restricted from being packed in the liftvan.
- There’s no quick trip back home if you forgot something important in a box headed across the country.
Getting your home organized before your movers arrive is a critical part of making sure your shipment moves efficiently and arrives intact.
Step 1: Start Early
Interstate moves have many parts to coordinate: documentation, arranging shipping schedules, and coordinating packing, loading, and final delivery at destination or into storage if your new home is not ready. Your FastPAC Move Coordinator will walk you through a timeline specific to your move, but as a general rule, you’ll want to begin preparing your home 6-8 weeks before pack-out day.
This gives you time to declutter thoughtfully, gather documentation, and make decisions about what’s coming with you. Rather than making rushed calls the night before your crew arrives.
Step 2: Declutter
Every item you ship interstate adds to your shipment’s cost. Before the movers do a walkthrough, go room by room and sort belongings into four categories:
- Ship interstate: items you need and want at your new home
- Place into storage: seasonal items, sentimental pieces, or things you’re not ready to part with but don’t need right away
- Sell, donate, or gift: furniture, appliances, or goods that may not be worth the cost of interstate freight, or that won’t suit your destination (climate or local availability, for example)
- Discard: worn-out or unusable items
A good rule of thumb: if you haven’t used it in a year and it isn’t sentimental or seasonal, it’s a strong candidate to leave behind. Downsizing before the pack-out not only saves money, but it also makes for a fresher start in your new home.
This is where FastPAC’s guidance comes in handy. During your pre-move survey, your coordinator can help you understand which items make sense to ship interstate versus which are better sold, stored, or replaced at your destination.
Step 3: Learn What You Can’t Ship
Every professional move, whether it’s local or long distance, has common categories that require special attention, including:
- Firearms, ammunition, and weapons
- Certain foods, plants, and agricultural products
- Batteries, aerosols, and flammable materials
- Electronics containing lithium-ion batteries
- Alcohol
- Biological material including human and pet remains
Sorting these out ahead of time is one of the best ways to avoid surprises on moving day. FastPAC’s team provides specific guidance in its Domestic Guide To Moving so you are well informed.
Step 4: Set Aside Your Essentials
Before pack-out day, set aside the items that fall into these categories and should never end up in a liftvan:
Important documents. Marriage and birth certificates, passports, medical records, financial paperwork, and your moving contract should travel with you personally.
A “first week” bag. Pack a suitcase with a few days’ worth of clothing, toiletries, medications, chargers, and anything you’ll need immediately.
Valuables and irreplaceables. Jewelry, heirlooms, and small high-value items are best carried with you.
Keep all of these physically separated in a locked room, a car trunk, or in another secure location so there’s no risk of them accidentally ending up in a box.
Step 5: Create an Inventory and Take Photos
Before your movers arrive, walk through your home with your phone and photograph or video higher-value items like furniture, electronics, art, and anything you’re especially attached to. This gives you a clear record of each item’s condition before it’s packed, which is invaluable if you ever need to file a claim.
If you haven’t already, this is also a good time to review your transit protection coverage with your FastPAC representative, so you know what’s protected and at what value.
Step 6: Make Life Easy for Your Crew
Your movers are professionals, and a little preparation on your end helps them work faster, safer, and more efficiently:
- Clear pathways. Make sure hallways, staircases, and doorways are free of clutter so your crew can move quickly and safely.
- Confirm parking and access. If you’re in an apartment building or a home with limited street access, arrange parking or loading zone permits ahead of time, and flag any building rules (freight elevator hours, HOA requirements, etc.) with your Move Coordinator in advance.
- Do laundry and empty appliances. Clean out and defrost your refrigerator at least 24 hours ahead, empty your washer/dryer, and make sure dishware is clean and ready to pack.
- Advise your Move Coordinator about anything unusual you intend to move. Your crew will handle furniture disassembly, but let them know in advance about anything unusual like wall-mounted TVs, custom shelving, or complex electronics setups.
- Third-party specialty services. Some items require the services of a professional third-party specialist, such as jungle gyms, pool tables, etc. Your Move Coordinator can arrange for third-party services on your behalf.
Step 7: Plan for Kids, Pets, and Yourself
Moving day sees a lot of activity in a short window. If you have young children or pets, arrange for them to be with a friend, family member, or sitter while your crew is working. It keeps everyone safer and lets your movers focus entirely on the job.
And don’t forget to plan for yourself. Have snacks, water, and a phone charger on hand, and try to build in a little flexibility to your schedule for the unexpected. Your Move Coordinator will keep you informed throughout, but pack-out day always moves faster when you’re not also racing the clock on other errands.
Step 8: Do a Final Walkthrough
Once the truck is loaded, walk through your home one more time to make sure nothing was missed. Your crew will typically do this with you.
How FastPAC Makes This Process Easier
Preparing a home for an interstate move can feel like a long list of tasks on top of everything else you’re juggling. But as a BBB-accredited, family-owned mover with more than a century of experience, FastPAC helps you handle preparation as part of every move we manage:
- Your dedicated Move Coordinator is your single point of contact from your first survey through delivery day, guiding you through exactly what to prepare and when.
- Our pre-move survey identifies your inventory early, so there are no surprises on pack-out day.
- Our moving guide and resources help you understand the moving process.
- With EliteCARE, our enhanced white-glove and onsite move management service, you have extra support and oversight on the ground during pack-out itself. This service is available at an additional cost. As your Move Coordinator for details.
Ready to Get Your Home Prepared for the Move?
A smooth long-distance residential move starts with a plan. Whether you’re two months out or just getting started, FastPAC’s team is here to guide you through every step of preparing your home, so your movers can do what they do best: pack, protect, and deliver your belongings safely to your new home.
Get your free, no-obligation moving quote or connect with a FastPAC Move Coordinator today to start building your personalized moving plan. With FastPAC Forwarding, you’re never navigating a cross-country move alone.
