Planning Your Long-Distance Solano County Move
Start planning at least eight weeks before your move date. Long-distance relocations involve more coordination than local moves, so give yourself a generous timeline. Create a moving checklist that covers everything from transferring utilities to updating your address with the DMV, banks, and insurance providers.
Get a Detailed In-Home or Virtual Estimate
For any long-distance move, an accurate estimate depends on seeing your belongings firsthand. Turner Moving & Storage will conduct an in-home or virtual survey to assess the weight and volume of your shipment. Be wary of any company that quotes a binding price over the phone without seeing your inventory — that’s a common red flag for moving scams.
Understand Your Valuation Coverage Options
Federal regulations require interstate movers to offer two levels of liability coverage: released value protection (included at no extra cost but covers only 60 cents per pound per item) and full value protection (the carrier is liable for the replacement value or repair of lost or damaged items). For a long-distance move, full value protection is strongly recommended.
Declutter Before You Pack
Every pound counts on a long-distance move because pricing is based on your shipment’s weight and the distance traveled. Go room by room and sort items into keep, donate, sell, and discard categories. Hosting a garage sale or listing items on Facebook Marketplace a few weeks before your move can lighten your load and offset moving costs.
Know What Movers Can’t Transport
Long-distance carriers are prohibited from transporting hazardous materials, including propane tanks, gasoline, paint, pesticides, and certain cleaning chemicals. Perishable food, plants, and pets also need separate arrangements. Ask your moving coordinator for a complete list of non-allowable items well in advance so you can plan accordingly.
Keep Essential Documents and Valuables With You
Pack a personal essentials bag that travels with you. This should include important documents (passports, birth certificates, medical records, the moving contract), medications, chargers, a change of clothes, and any irreplaceable valuables, such as jewelry or family photos.
Verify Your Mover’s Credentials
For interstate moves, confirm that your moving company has an active USDOT number and MC (Motor Carrier) number, which you can verify through the FMCSA’s database. For moves within California, the carrier should hold a Cal-T number issued by the California Public Utilities Commission. Turner Moving & Storage, as a Wheaton World Wide Moving agent, carries the credentials and insurance required for both local and long-distance relocations.
Label Everything and Create an Inventory
Number every box and keep a corresponding inventory list — either on paper or using a moving app. For long-distance moves, this inventory is essential for tracking your shipment and for filing any claims if something goes missing or arrives damaged. Color-code boxes by room to make unloading at your new home much faster.
Communicate Your Timeline and Expectations
Long-distance moves typically operate within a delivery window rather than a single guaranteed date. Discuss the expected pickup and delivery window with your moving coordinator upfront, and confirm how you’ll be updated on your shipment’s progress during transit.
