What to Expect During an Interstate Move
Moving to another state is one of the biggest transitions you’ll ever make. Whether you are relocating for work, family, or a fresh start, the process of shipping your entire household across state lines can be overwhelming. But knowing what to expect during an interstate move and having the right team in your corner makes all the difference.
With over a century of experience in handling interstate moves, we’ve concluded that an informed mover is a happy and stress-free mover. So, in this guide, we will walk you through what a door-to-door interstate move looks like, from the very first phone call to the moment your furniture is placed in your new home.
Step 1: Getting a Quote and Consultation
Every interstate move begins with a conversation. You’ll share basic details about your move, such as where you’re moving from, where you’re headed, roughly how much you’re moving, and your ideal timeline.
At FastPAC Forwarding, once your information is submitted, our team of experts reaches out to schedule a formal survey of your home. There are no automated price generators or vague estimates. A real person reviews your situation and guides you through your options from the start.
Step 2: The Home Survey
Before any pricing is finalized, a thorough survey of your home takes place. This can be done virtually, via a guided video walkthrough, or in person. It all depends on your preference and location.
During the survey, we’ll cover the following:
- The overall volume and estimated weight of your shipment.
- Special items that need custom packing and handling, such as pianos, artwork, antiques, and vehicles.
- Packing requirements for fragile or high-value belongings.
- Access considerations, including stairs, elevators, narrow hallways, and parking restrictions.
- Storage needs, if there’s a gap between your move-out and move-in dates.
When moving with FastPAC Forwarding, the home survey step is more of a consultation rather than an estimate because our team explains the full process, walks you through service options (full-service vs premium), the benefits of containerized shipping vs traditional van line moving, and answers every question you have before you commit to anything.
Step 3: A Transparent, Itemized Estimate
Once the survey is complete, a detailed estimate is prepared and reviewed with you line by line. Your estimate may include transportation costs, packing and unpacking services, any specialty services (like shuttle vehicles or long carries), accessorial charges, and insurance options.
FastPAC Forwarding’s approach is to identify and disclose every potential service requirement during the evaluation, so there are no surprise charges later. You’ll know what you’re paying for and why before a single box is packed.
Step 4: Booking and Pre-Move Coordination
Once you accept the quote, we introduce you to your dedicated move coordinator. They become your single point of contact from this moment through post-delivery.
Your move coordinator handles the logistics behind the scenes to ensure everything goes smoothly. Their duty includes confirming your preferred move dates, coordinating the moving crew, third-party specialists, and most importantly, making sure everything runs smoothly.
If you are moving with FastPAC Forwarding, you also receive access to our digital move management platform. An all-in-one place to communicate with your coordinator, securely upload required documents, track your shipment’s progress, and stay informed at every stage.
Before packing day, your move coordinator provides a full move timeline, a packing schedule, insurance forms, and guidance on prohibited items.
Step 5: Packing Day
At this stage, a trained crew will arrive and start the process by protecting your home first. They will lay floor coverings, pad the doorways, and do a full walkthrough with you before packing.
Packing for an interstate move requires a higher level of care. Your belongings may travel hundreds of miles across the country. FastPAC Forwarding uses enhanced packing techniques designed to protect your belongings through every stage of that journey.
Our professionally trained crews use high-grade materials and proven packing techniques to prevent shifting, crushing, and breakage during transit. From fine furniture and fragile items to everyday household goods, everything is packed to withstand far more stress than a typical domestic move. The result? Fewer damaged items, greater peace of mind, and a move that arrives exactly as it should.
Next, each item is carefully packed and loaded into wooden lift vans that offer superior protection compared to standard cardboard and moving blankets that are loose-loaded into a moving van—potentially with several other shipments. You receive a detailed inventory, numbered, labeled, and organized by room, for you to review and sign.
Step 6: Loading, Shipping, and Transit
At the next stage, your shipment is transported directly to your destination in the most efficient mode of transportation for a direct date-specific shipment to your destination.
Throughout transit, your move coordinator monitors your shipment. They keep you informed of progress so you don’t have to.
Step 7: Delivery and Unpacking
Before your delivery date, your move coordinator contacts you to confirm the address, access details, and any specific requirements like parking permits and elevator reservations. You’ll also receive a call the day before and the morning of delivery to confirm everything is on track.
At your new home, the delivery crew sets up equipment to protect your floors and walls before they begin unloading. Every item is placed where you direct. You check the items off against the inventory and note any exceptions. First, they will lay down rugs and proceed to place larger furniture items exactly where you want them. If full unpacking services are requested, the crew will proceed to do so, and remove all packing debris from your home.
Step 9: Post-Move Follow-Up
A reputable moving company doesn’t disappear after delivery, so FastPAC Forwarding’s move coordinator will follow up with you post-move. They will confirm that all services were completed to your satisfaction and to help initiate any claims if something was damaged in transit.
Where FastPAC Forwarding Makes a Difference
As you can see, an interstate move involves many steps, and every step requires expertise, communication, and accountability.
What sets FastPAC apart is the way we handle the process and structure it around you. This is made possible with the help of your dedicated move coordinator, pricing transparency, digital tools that keep you informed, and professional crews. And of course, the follow-through that continues even after delivery.
Ready to Start Planning Your Interstate Move?
Understanding the process is the first step toward feeling confident about your move. The second is choosing the right partner to manage it.
FastPAC Forwarding combines personal attention with more than a century of professional interstate moving experience, so you can focus on your next chapter while we handle the details. Reach out to our team for a free quote and consultation.
