Planning a big move across the country requires a lot of preparation in order to make your moving day a breeze. However, mistakes can be made along the way that will make the move unnecessarily difficult. Here are some problems you'll want to avoid when moving a long distance.

Mistake #1: Take Everything With You

It can be tempting to start packing up all of your belongings for a long distance move without thinking much about what is coming with you. Unfortunately, this can end up costing you more money in the end. Many long distance moving companies charge you by the weight of the contents that they are moving, so there is a direct cost involved with every single item that goes onto the moving truck.

You should consider purging your belongings before you move to your new place. Put items into groups of things that you want to donate or throw away, and get them out of your home before you pack your first box. You could also host a yard sale to make some money off of the things that you don't want anymore, which can go towards your moving costs.

Mistake #2: Not Getting Insurance

There are two types of insurance that you can get to cover your belongings as they are in transit. Be default, you are given very basic insurance that values items by the weight rather than their actual value. This can make it impractical to use the insurance to replace high-end electronic devices that were damaged in the move, since you are only given cents per pound, which is not nearly enough to pay for a damaged flat screen TV.

Your belongings will be in the moving truck for many miles, which means things are more likely to get knocked around and damaged. Consider purchasing the insurance that will pay for the complete cost of the damaged item, which will give you peace of mind during your move.

Mistake #3: Underestimate Your Packing

Don't make the mistake of waiting until the day before your move to pack your belongings. Chances are that it will take longer than you anticipate, so you'll need to get a couple days head start on packing to make sure everything is boxed up the day before your movers come. You should even disassemble large furniture so that it is ready to be moved in smaller pieces on the moving truck.

For more tips on going through a long distance move, speak to long distance movers.