Both local moves and long-distance moves come with their own challenges. You cannot avoid any of them. Regardless of whether you are planning a short or long-distance move, you will have to plan for both of them in advance. You will also have to chart out a budget for your move before you start packing. Also, your previous experience with both these moves is going to dictate how easy or difficult they turn out to be for you.

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There is also a certain degree of stress involved that might be common to both. But we also need to talk about a few points of difference between the two that you must understand. 

1. Planning The Move

A local move is easier to plan. Because it is short and very much manageable, you can get it over with probably within less than a week. 

When you are planning a long-distance move, you might want to consider any local as well as regional, or national holidays and festivities that might fall in between the moving days to avoid any traffic jams and delays. You will also have to make room for any unexpected diversions that might happen on the highway. It is typically advised to start planning for your move with the local and long distance movers at least a month in advance.

2. The Time Taken To Pack

The time you will take to pack for your local move is going to depend upon how many items you need to move. The entire packing should be complete before the end of the day.

However, if you are packing for long distance relocation, you might want to add a few extra layers of padding to your items. This may increase the total amount of time taken to pack your cargo by at least one or two more days. 

3. The Total Cost Of The Move

If you are thinking about moving locally or within the city, the company is going to charge you an hourly rate. This turns out to be quite affordable and given that you will not need their mode of transportation or service for very long, it becomes quite practical. The hourly rate is also going to depend upon how many movers are assigned to your property. 

When it comes to moving long distances, several local and long distance movers will usually charge a flat rate. This covers practically every cost associated with the move including the fuel and any diversions as well. They will also take into account the square footage of your home and the weight of your items and cargo that have to be transported, including the distance that they will travel. The final amount will be all-inclusive of all these expenses.

4. Safety Of Your Cargo

When you are moving locally, you do not have to pay so much attention to the safety of your cargo. You know that a few of your friends are going to help you out and a lot of your boxes will be transported via your own vehicle. You can also forego labeling some of the boxes because you are certain that the level of risk involved is manageable. 

But when you are moving long distances, you might want to label each one of your boxes with your name, relocation address, and the contents of the box. You might also want to add in a layer of extra padding for added safety. This is because several companies might choose to ship your boxes with the belongings of other homeowners in a shared container. You might also want to include your contact number on your boxes. 

5. The Applicable Insurance Plan

The insurance plan that is usually applicable for local moves is very simple to understand relocation or trip transit insurance. This insurance plan can protect your belongings from mould and mildew, natural disasters, mechanical and electrical accidents, and a few more risks that are involved in local moves.

On the other hand, when you are dealing with interstate moving companies to shift your stuff to another state, you might want to consider rental truck moving coverage in addition to other plans that give your entire cargo complete protection. It also includes medical and life insurance for you and any passengers travelling in the truck. There is also supplemental liability coverage for any possible accidents that your cargo might be in. Insurance companies also allow you towing device insurance that covers any mishaps as a result of your cargo being lifted, loaded, and unloaded.

6. Time Taken For The Move To Complete

When it comes to a local move, you can reach your destination before the cargo reaches and start preparing it for their arrival. 

On the other hand, it is quite obvious that the time taken for a long-distance move to complete will depend entirely upon the distance that your cargo has to travel. This means that you will have to consider the speed and the various stops that the cargo truck might make in its transit to keep a track of your belongings. If you want to time your arrival with that of the cargo truck, you will have to start planning in advance and be in touch with the interstate moving company throughout the process. 

7. Intrastate And Interstate Move

An intrastate move is one that you make within the borders of one state. It is quite often referred to as a local move but many companies consider the number of miles traveled to put it in the local move category. For instance, if you are traveling over 200 miles to a city within the same state, it might be considered a local yet long-distance move. 

However, if you are moving from one state to another, it will be considered an interstate move regardless of the miles traveled. But then again, it will depend entirely upon the pricing policy of the local long-distance movers that you have chosen.

Finding A Reliable Moving Company

These were a few points of difference that you might want to consider before choosing a local or a long-distance moving company. Remember to go through their reviews on the internet. Find people who can vouch for their reliability and professionalism. In the end, if you notice any unprofessional conduct on their part while they are in the middle of packing, it is never too late to say no.

Want to hire a professional moving company? You can call us at  1300 CBD MOVERS.