Long distance moves are challenging because you have to preserve the packing and make sure the belongings are safe for prolong period. State Wide Relocation has cautiously developed this page to help you and guide you throughout your packing process. if you opt to pack your possessions all by yourself ,then get hold of some good packing materials such some good quality tapes, crates, cartons etc  which you can arrange from various shops, neighbors, friends and directly from moving companies. But avoid using paper and plastic bags as these material do not last long and isn’t strong enough to protect your belongings.

There are several horror stories about moving companies. There still exists moving companies who are engaged in fraudulent activity, so avoid being a victim and adding another scam story. All you have to do is be little alert and active during the move. Here are 24 moving mistakes to avoid :

1) Moving to a new town without prior investigation. "The most disastrous problems arise if you move someplace you haven't researched first and find out it's a [bad] fit for your family," says Shari Steiner, co-author of "Steiner's Complete How to Move Handbook." So if you're faced with the perfect career opportunity without a lot of notice, look for solutions that give you time to look before you leap, says Steiner. "Go get started on the job for a few months ahead of time before you burn your bridges," she says. "You can do it in stages, you can do it rationally."

2) Not timing your move. Want a cheaper, easier move? Avoid (in this order) moving during the summer, the very end or beginning of the month (when people like to start a new lease), and the exact middle of the month, says Mike Shaffer, chairman of the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA). Instead, look for dates around the seventh or twenty-first.

3) Appointing movers at the last minute. Allow some quality time to movers to plan and get ready for your move to avoid the obstacles which can delay the moving process. The approximate time required to chalk-out a move varies with different mover and the time of the month or year which also can be a prominent factor for processing the move. The usual planning period taken by the mover is one to two months but some movers can be ready to move with a two weeks notice. But crucial periods can take more time.

4) Accepting the price you're quoted. Instead, dicker. You don't have to accept the first price you're offered, says Shaffer, also the chairman and CEO of Atlas World Group Inc. And if you're moving during an off-peak time, you'll have more bargaining power, he says.

5) Less-than-reputable companies have been known to low-ball the estimate to get your business, then pad the bill on the back end. Or the low bill could be a sign that you might not be getting a professional crew, or that the company will subcontract your job to another firm. If the estimate is substantially lower or is calculated by anything other than weight, that should be a red flag, says David Sparkman, vice president of communication for AMSA.

6) A verbal estimate is enough. Always ask for written document for the estimated price and also check the worth of that document, if you really can produce it as a circumstantial evidence when required. Ask whether it is all you have pay after the completion of the move or there can be more additional charges?

7) You can afford to forget about the stairs in your house and more furniture in the attic or storeroom.  Disclose every detail about the move. Mention the room situation if it is reached through stairs and provide a vivid description about the possessions required to relocate. A crystal-clear description will give an absolute perfect estimate.

8) Extra coverage for loss and breakage is not required. For an interstate move, the default compensation rate for breakage is 60 cents per pound. That means that 60-pound TV that cost $350 is worth about $36. And a typical homeowner’s policy won't cover broken items, says Jeanne Salvatore, vice president of consumer affairs for the Insurance Information Institute. You have these options, according to the AMSA: • Full Value Protection: If your item is lost or broken, the moving company can choose either to pay you what it would cost for a new item, replace the article with something similar or pay you the repair cost. Prices for this extra coverage will vary. • Released Value Protection: This is what you get if you don't pay for additional coverage. If something is lost or broken, the moving company gives you 60 cents per pound. • Some companies will also offer true insurance, provided by a third-party insurance carrier, to cover loss or breakage during the move. Again, prices will vary, and if you have a claim, you'll deal with the insurance company, not the moving company.

9) Don’t ask when or how the company wants to be paid. Payment is due when your goods are delivered. And some companies don't take personal checks for a long-distance move. "Be skeptical" of firms that require a hefty deposit or deal only in cash or other forms of "off the books" payment, says Jason D. Rhodes, president of MovingDirect.net, an online service that helps consumers find professional movers.

10) All moves are same. Moves are compartmentalized in to different categories. Each category of move is different from the other. The federal protection law varies from state-to-state. It might be so that the state you are traveling to does not abides laws strictly, therefore if you hire a movers from that state, it can prove to be dangerous because you and your goods are under constant threat. So hire a well-known mover from your state who also organizes out of state moves.

11) Believe whatever the company tells you without verification. Do not trust the company blindly. Research on the company’s background or past records.

12) One office of a national company is just the same as another. A company might have several branch offices but service of every branch may not be of same quality. Judge the local office by its own credit because performance may vary from branch-to-branch.

13) Hire a mover based on the online estimate. These days, a lot of scamsters use beautiful Internet sites to give the look of legitimacy, says Rhodes. Avoid trusting online estimates. Make sure the estimator physically visits your home/office and gives a calculated estimate and also make a note of the whereabouts of the local company office. Verify the license and insurance of the company from state and federal government sites.

14) Moving yourself is cheaper than hiring a professional. That might be true but if you accumulate the entire expenditure invested on your move inclusive of traveling cost and time spent, then you will realize its always better to hire a professional than taking the pain all by yourself.

15) Behave rude and insensible. There can be little delay or negligible change in plan which is beyond control. Don’t get in a row for these petty matters. Be little adjusting or rather understanding because unpredictable situational hindrance may occur any time.

16) Ignore if the name plate or the identity proof of the company differs from the originally contracted brand. On the final day of move if you find your original movers or the moving van/truck bears a different name-plate, beware; it might be possible that you are dealing with a different one, though you have verified the license. There are probabilities that you are dealing with a subcontracted company.

17) Not getting a dolly. It doesn’t matters whether you’re moving yourself or just in the process of rearranging stuffs after the completion of a move, the money you spent to rent or purchase a dolly will pay for itself in bypassed back strain and missed ER visits.

18) Ignoring computer backups. Before moving make sure you do not forget to back up the computer data. According to Myurply`s Law, When you move, your life becomes a study.

19) Don’t look out for No1. pack up a bag overnight and stuff it in with some extremely needy commodities likes brush , paste, few light clothes, underwear, soap because if the move takes long and your belongings gets delayed due to some uncontrollable affair, then you can be prepared to do without them for few days.

20) Somehow complete the move. Cancel the move immediately if you find that you are not getting what you have been promised. If the move is urgent, then call or visit the company and resolve everything on-spot.

21) You may forget your move for April 15. Save all your moving receipts to for the tax return. Check with your accountant to see if your time and distance qualify for getting a tax deduction.

22) Tipping movers not required. No, it's not included in the bill, but neither is the tip at a nice restaurant. "It's up to the consumer," says Rhodes. "Whatever you think is fair, whatever is appropriate for the work that was done."

23) Act helpless. If  you find that by the time your belongs reach the new destination – all are broken or mostly damaged or the bill is more than the promised estimate, then bring it under the notice of your moving company and they will immediately take measures to resolve the issue. In some cases the matter can be overlooked by the company, then you always have the option to take help from the small claims court. For interstate move these matters are taken care of immediately with the AMSA at a low-ball price. But if you are unfortunately victimized by hijackers who asks for a healthy ransom-call the police without delay. "Police departments are becoming more and more aware of this problem," says Rhodes. Even though it may be technically a civil matter, he says, "a lot of times, the police will step in."