National Van Lines has decades of experience helping families move across the country, which means we’ve had plenty of time to confirm what works for our customers – and what doesn’t work! Choosing the right long distance moving services can help you avoid common moving misconceptions, such as assuming that all moving companies offer the same services, and that packing up everything on your own is always the best use of your time.
We’ve written this guide to educate you about the most common mistakes consumers make when they’re planning their long distance move. This advice can help you stay more organized and prepared for all the details coming your way, especially when you are moving across state lines for the first time.
| Moving Mistake | How to Avoid It |
|---|---|
| Assuming all moving companies work the same way. | Check what a company actually specializes in, not only on its ability to cross state lines. |
| Trying to pack an entire household on your own. | Weigh the real cost in time, money and strain against using professional packing services. |
| Leaving your mover in the dark about your situation. | Share your complete situation, including timeline needs, special items, and anything else that could affect the move. |
Moving Mistake 1 – Not Choosing a Moving Company That Fits Your Needs
As you start to research moving companies for your long distance move, you’ll first notice that all reputable companies are federally licensed to move you across state lines. We all have a unique registered MC number with the U.S. Department of Transportation, and must follow the same rules and regulations. At first glance this might make it appear that we all offer the same services.
However, different companies ultimately focus on different kinds of moves. For example, some of our peers in the moving industry have the ability to move freight (such as shipments of materials and finished products for manufacturers). This is just part of daily operations for some companies, but that also means that their focus will be split up between people moving to a new house, and goods being shipped to a company unrelated to the move.
Besides the type of move, different moving companies will offer different services that you can add on to your moving event. For instance, when a moving company is licensed to go across state lines, that doesn’t mean it can provide all the services you’ll need for your individual move. That’s why it’s worth taking a few extra minutes to check out your moving company’s website to see if they offer the services you’ll need.
At National Van Lines, we’re proud to be strictly focused on the “people side” of moving. Whether that’s helping a military family successfully complete a PCS, or moving a civilian household to a new home several states away, our services reflect those needs.
| National Van Lines Service | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Custom Crating | Protective wood crating for high-value or oddly shaped items such as artwork, mirrors or electronics. |
| Storage-in-Transit | Secure, temporary storage when a moving date and delivery date do not line up. |
| Specialty Item Handling | Special attention and equipment to handle items like antiques and wine collections. |
| International Moving | Coordination for relocations outside the United States, including customs and documentation support. |
| Military Moves | Moves coordinated around military timelines and requirements. |
| Corporate and Employee Relocation | Managed relocations for businesses moving employees long distances. |
Moving Mistake 2 – Assuming You Need to Pack Everything Yourself
Moving, especially long distance, is a process that takes both good budget planning and time. One way that many customers think they can help with the process and save money is by packing their items themselves. While this is certainly a valid path, it can ultimately cause you more stress and more money than you may have calculated.
First, it helps to think about packing in two different categories.
- Materials – Moving boxes and packing supplies are quite easy to source at places like The Home Depot and Lowe’s. However, the larger your home is, the more boxes you’ll need. You’ll also need to consider extras like bubble wrap, good quality tape and moving blankets to keep all of your items secure and safe.
- Time and Labor – Especially when it’s you by yourself (or a few family members) packing household goods into boxes, it can take much longer than you expect. We recommend thinking about this in terms of the hours you’ll spend on packing up the contents of your home. ConsumerAffairs reports that packing a studio apartment alone could take up to 20 hours – that’s half of a typical work week!
When you add up the dollars and hours you’ll spend on packing your home yourself, it becomes easy to see why people choose professional packing and unpacking services in the first place. According to National Van Lines’ own data, between January 2025 and August 2026 roughly 60% of our customers chose our packing and unpacking services and paid, on average, between $600–$1400, all depending on the size of the home and the weight of the final shipment. Our customers have told us directly (and in reviews) that this help makes the entire moving experience that much better.
“We had a great experience with our movers, and had five of them packing and loading. Our house was completely packed, loaded and ready to roll by early afternoon. We could not have had a better experience.”
– Marianne C., National Van Lines customer
Moving Mistake 3 – Not Providing Enough Information to Your Moving Company
A successful long distance move means that you’re getting your belongings to your new home safely, securely and efficiently. Part of this is to give your moving company the full picture of your household and your unique situation – essentially anything that might affect the moving process.
So how do you disclose all pertinent information? The main way to share this information is through the moving survey. At National Van Lines, our MovePro coordinators most often do this via your smartphone or tablet. Learning how a virtual moving survey works can help you understand the information your mover needs before building your quote. This helps us estimate the weight of your shipment, and that’s a big part of how we determine the final price.
But still, the items being loaded onto the truck are only part of the story. Do you have young children or pets to look after, or an elderly family member who needs extra care as you complete the move? Is your current home in an unusual or hard-to-reach place that demands expert logistical attention? These are all details that can affect the timeline of your move, especially when the truck is being loaded or unloaded.
As you plan your move and get quotes from moving companies, take a moment to reflect on your “moving story.” What information and details do you have that could help your moving company understand your unique move even better? Because you deal with certain things so often, some valuable info may be easy to overlook. It helps to make a list in a notebook or your smartphone that you can easily add to. At National Van Lines, we want to discuss these details to better personalize your moving plan.
Move With Confidence When You Choose National Van Lines
Even though it’s a big process, moving long distance doesn’t have to be complicated. The moving mistakes you learned about in this guide can be remedied by open communication and a willingness to trust the moving pros. When you’re ready to start getting a custom plan together for your own move, know that we’re here to help. Call 800-323-1962 or get a free moving quote from National Van Lines today to get your journey started.