Most of the core information you get about moving and what to expect is the same regardless of your moving situation. However, between local and long-distance moves, the finer details tend to differentiate the two dramatically, and if you don’t know what to expect, you can end up making some big mistakes.
To help prevent that, here’s a guide for moving locally vs moving long-distance and what you should expect for each situation.
What to Expect Financially
Financially, there’s a big difference between moving locally in Los Angeles and moving from a long-distance location.
Right off the bat, it’s cheaper to move locally, and this is for two reasons.
First, there’s far less travel involved. The moving company doesn’t have to transport your property as far, and that lets them lower prices, and if you’re doing it yourself, you spend a lot less on gas and rental truck fees trying to transport everything.
Another reason that long-distance moves are more expensive is because you still need to maintain your basic needs while you’re on the road. While a local move can be done in a day with minimal disruption to your daily life, a long-distance move can take you a full day or two just to get to Los Angeles. You still need to eat, sleep, and stop regularly to take care of yourself. All of those things raise your costs in one way or another.
How much your price will increase will depend on the distance of your long-distance move. A cross-country move is going to be the most expensive, and as you lower the distance, you can expect the overall price to drop dramatically.
You can also decrease the cost of your long-distance move by mitigating your expenses on basic needs while you’re traveling. It likely won’t be a massive cut, but it will help you save some money.
Time Comparison for Local and Long-Distance Moves
This is another factor where local moves are the clear winners. With much less travel to worry about, it doesn’t even matter if there are multiple trips that need to be made to transport everything. You can typically have all your items loaded, transported, and unloaded within a few hours to one standard business day. Especially if you’re hiring a professional moving service because they want to get the job done as quickly as they can to move on to another client and continue completing jobs.
In comparison, a long-distance move requires you to load up your belongings, drive as long as it takes to get to your new Los Angeles home, and then unload everything. If it’s a particularly long drive, you might even end up needing to stay somewhere overnight to continue the trip safely. If multiple trips are required, it’s not likely that your move will be a one-day affair. Even with a professional moving company handling all your transport needs, they typically don’t operate 24/7, and downtime will extend the duration of the moving process.
Differences in Pre-Move Preparation
There is one main difference between packing to move locally and moving long-distance. When you move long-distance, you need to spend more time attempting to downsize.
Think about it. If you’re going to move across the country to LA, you really don’t want to have to make multiple trips back and forth, and renting multiple moving trucks isn’t any cheaper. You want to do your best to get everything you’re taking with you to your new home in one trip.
Unfortunately, that means you might end up having to make some drastic decisions such as selling off large pieces of furniture, donating or selling a lot of the belongings you don’t need, etc.
You usually need to do a little bit of this for a local move, too. You don’t want to immediately clutter your new home with junk you never use. However, it’s a much more prominent need with a long-distance move. The longer the move, the worse it is, too.
Maintaining Your Pets
Prepping your pets for the move is the same with either situation, but the actual experience you’ll have during the transport phase is different.
With a short-distance move, there likely won’t be any problems. You’re only on the road for an hour at most, and you can simply make a space for your pet in the vehicle that is both safe and comfortable.
On the other hand, that’s not possible with a long-distance move. You’ll need to stop regularly at places where your pet can relieve themselves, stretch, and get some fresh air just like you have to do for yourself.
You also have to consider how they’ll be taken care of if you need an overnight stop for really long-distance moves. Many hotels and similar options don’t accept pets.
The best way to handle this is to plan out your journey ahead of time and know when the best time is to handle these issues along the way.
Also read: 8 Tips for Moving with Pets in Los Angeles
Vehicle Requirements
One thing many movers forget about while dealing with the stress of a big move is what their vehicle is going to go through.
With a local move, you more or less take a short drive just like when you go to see a local attraction or anything else. It’s no big deal, and you don’t need to take any extra precautions unless you’re using your car to transport some of your stuff.
With a long-distance move, even if haulers are taking care of your belongings, you have to consider the wear and tear that a long-distance journey puts on the car. Are your tires in good condition? Are there any issues that might pop up with the core mechanical parts of the car? Are you going to be going through areas that require you to think ahead and bring items for various climates?
You can deal with this by either having your car shipped to your new home while you fly or using another method, or you can figure out what you’re likely to deal with, get your car inspected, and hit the road confidently.
Handle Your LA Move with Man with a Truck
Choosing the right moving company is essential for a smooth and successful relocation. Whether you’re moving locally within Los Angeles or embarking on a long-distance journey, Man with a Truck is here to make your move easy and stress–free. We take pride in safeguarding your belongings with the utmost care, allowing you to focus on settling into your new space.
As a trusted name in the moving industry, our skilled team is committed to delivering exceptional service, from meticulous packing and secure transport to careful unloading at your new location. We recognize the value of your possessions and handle each item with the highest level of respect and attention.
If you need a dependable moving partner to ensure a safe and efficient move, look no further than Man with a Truck. Contact us today for a free quote, and let us make your next move your best move!
