Settling In After a Long Distance Relocation: Tips and Tricks

We break it down for you with realistic relocation tips from pro movers that have been doing this for over 30 years. We also give you our key tips to settling in as a family in a new location. Best of luck from iMoving.

Settling In After a Long Distance Relocation: Tips and Tricks

Settle In Like a Pro

Settling into a new home after a long-distance relocation can be both challenging and rewarding. The transition to a new place, especially when moving far from your previous home, is really more than just unpacking boxes.

Here are some iMoving local tips and tricks to help you ease into your new life with your family and make the move as smooth as possible: 

1. Prioritize Unpacking Strategically

  • Start by unpacking the essentials first—things like the kitchen main dishes, toiletries, and basic clothing that makes sense in this season. 
  • Set up your favorite rooms such as the bedroom and kitchen to create a sense of normalcy and a safe space for the kids. 
  • Take your time with other less critical rooms and arrange them according to your needs later on. 
  • Creating a comfortable basic living space will reduce stress on the entire family and help you feel settled in more quickly. 

2. Explore Your New Area As A Family

  • Take the time to explore your new surroundings as soon as possible. If feasible, do a weekend trip to your new town to find your favorite spots ahead of time and have something for everyone to look forward to.
  • Visit local grocery stores and find the one for you, coffee shops should be a part of the schedule, parks for the kids, and other fun things you love in yor old location should be found asap in the new spot to settle in. This will help you feel more connected to your new community. 

3. Connect with the Community

  • Building new connections locally will help ease the sense of loneliness.
  • You can find community by trying out going to local events, join sports groups,or look up local communities on Facebook for your area. 

4. Get Into a Routine

  • Creating a new daily routine similar to your old one will provide a sense of stability and normalcy despite the changes of the move. Keep up familiar routines as much as possible, if you are a runner, go for that morning run, if you love your evening beer, find that bar. This is key to adjust and feel more comfortable in your new home.

5. Personalize Your Space

  • Adding your personal touches to your new home will make it feel more like yours. Decorate with your favorite items, photos, and art that bring you feelings of joy. Let the kids decorate their new rooms to have them get excited and feel settled. It creates a sense of ownership and makes the new environment feel more inviting and personal. 

6. Be Patient and Forgiving

  • Adjusting to a new location takes time no matter who you are. Be patient and nice to yourself and your family as you adapt to the changes. It’s normal to feel uncertainty during this period, so give yourself time to acclimate and keep your expectations realistic. 

7. Enjoy the Process 

  • Try to enjoy the process of settling into your new home. Look at it as a new family adventure and get excited for the opportunities that come with relocating. Take the time to appreciate the new and fun experiences and things that your new location has to offer.

Long Distance Relocation Tips

Here are some essential tips for a long-distance relocation to help ease the transition:

1. Plan Ahead: Create a detailed moving timeline and checklist. Stick to your timelines and make sure you are packed up on time to avoid unnecessary stress.

2. Schedule movers and book any necessary services in advance.

3. Purge: Declutter by sorting items into categories: keep, donate, sell, or goodbye.

  • a) You can host a garage sale or donate items to charity whatever you want just get rid of them. 
  • b) Pack Efficiently: Use quality packing materials and boxes.
  1. You can get moving boxes from local stores or ask a friend who moved before your dates.
  2. Pack room by room and clearly label each box with its contents and room. 
  3. Wrap fragile items carefully and use packing materials to fill empty spaces.
  4. Update Your Address: The USPS makes it simple.
  5. Arrange for utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet) to be connected at your new home before arrival. Schedule disconnection of utilities at your old home when you have the final readings and are actually out of your old place.
    • Prepare an Essentials Kit: Pack a box or bag with essential items you’ll need immediately.
    • Create a Moving Day Family Plan: Organize a moving day schedule, including timing for loading, travelling, and unloading.
      1. Ask for help with pets and children if you need it. Don't forget to schedule in play times to keep stress levels to a minimum 

4. Book Your Movers

5. Set Up Your New Home

  • Prioritize unpacking essentials and setting up key rooms like the kitchen and bedroom.
  • Take your time organizing and decorating other areas to make the space feel like home. Let the kids help.

Wrapping Up That Relocation

By following our iMoving classic settling in tips, you can make your transition to a new home smoother and more enjoyable for all, this will allow you to embrace your new surroundings and create a fun life in your new location. Relocating is a huge task for any family. Keep expectations realistic and enjoy the adventure!


Frequently Asked Questions

iMoving offers a wide range of car transport options to get your vehicle from point A to point B if you aren’t planning to drive it yourself.

You can only drive one car at a time, and you probably don't want to shove a bunch of moving boxes into your expensive vehicle and up its kilometerage when possible to avoid it.

Our auto transporters have you covered with this extra VIP service that can be simply booked on our platform. If this doesn’t work for you, try and find a car dealer that offers this service including insurance.

Your personal inventory home list will help you settle on a binding quote with actual number and a tally as well as be your own personal insurance policy if anything were to happen to your goods.

This list which should include pictures of all the items is your proof if your TV shows up at the new home with a giant crack that it was the moving company’s fault.

You don’t have to take our word for it as we are clearly biased. Trust the thousands of happy customers we have helped move over the last 30 years.

You can read their reviews of our marketplace and we can even set up a call for you with a former client if you want to hear it from them directly.

All the moving companies on our marketplace are vetted by our talented team who check their accident records, DOT registration, former claims against them, and their overall performance.

We even go as far as using secret shopping techniques to check in on their customer service manners and ensure our clients are getting the respect and service they deserve!

Moving can be stressful for all involved, but the more everyone feels like a decision-maker, the more they will feel in control of their stress. Involve them in small decisions such as decorating and exploring the neighbourhood together.

The same goes for moving with a pet, taking them on many walks in the area, and positively associating the new house and neighborhood for them with treats and lots of love is a good start. This will take some stress off them.

This depends if you are looking to move during the down season, aka the winter months, to save money, or looking to move when the weather is nice out and before the new school season starts.

It all depends on your priorities and budget in order to best answer this question. If you are moving with kids, be sure to check out registration dates for schools and move ahead of time, as you’ll need a local address in order to register your kids for classes.


Rachel Kaplan

Rachel has spent the last few years writing for moving companies while actually moving across the globe. After many years of moving between many states in the US, she moved abroad to try the remote work life. She’s a pro at moving all her things with her dog and hundreds of plants. Thankfully she’s a minimalist so moves aren’t too much of an issue.

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