We moved by air and automobile this summer. Here are 9 unexpected facts

This summer, both Gabi Stevenson and Pauline Villegas of Insider made long-distance migrations.

Gabi (left) went to Philadelphia via U-Haul, while Pauline (right) moved to New York via airline.
Gabi Stevenson/Insider; Pauline Villegas/Insider

Gabi migrated from Grand Rapids to Philadelphia using a UHaul trailer hitched to her car, whereas Pauline flew from Los Angeles to New York City.

In varied ways, Insider’s writers learned to negotiate summer weather, apartment organization, shopping difficulties, and delivery delays, despite using different modes of transportation.

Here are nine things that Gabi and Pauline learnt on their cross-country move by vehicle and plane, as well as the lessons they will take away from their experiences.

Gabi soon realized the significance of measures for a successful move-in.

Once Gabi realized the significance of measurements, she carried a measuring tape everywhere she went.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider

Gabi was unable to take precise measurements of her new apartment, so she requested her partner to check around and take photographs for her.

She realized the importance of accurate measurements for moving preparation. Although Gabi intended to purchase old furniture from Facebook Marketplace or thrift stores, she realized that her apartment building’s tiny passageways only permitted unassembled furniture in thin cartons.

Throughout the remainder of her move-in week, she measured everything from the height of a lamp to the opening of her refrigerator. To guarantee she did not lose the written list, she also kept records on her phone.

Despite being mostly a night owl, Gabi now loves an early start.

Unpacking the car under the streetlights of the city after a hard day was not enjoyable.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider

During the week of Gabi’s move-in, she underestimated the amount of work on multiple occasions. She ultimately returned from shopping excursions late at night and unloaded her car onto the city’s pavements in the dark.

She chose to conduct errands in the morning so she wouldn’t have to unpack or do heavy lifting in the evening, despite being more busy and productive at night.

Once she adopted an earlier schedule, her moving days became more structured and productive.

Gabi was astonished by the amount of effort required to properly pack a UHaul trailer.

Gabi structured her UHaul in a manner that made sense for her move, despite the appearance of chaos.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider

The day after Gabi packed all of her stuff, she was ready to load them into the trailer and hit the road, but her mother reminded her that they needed to organize according to what they would need to access first.

Gabi and her mother placed hangers, luggage, blankets, and an inflatable mattress in the back of the trailer so they could access them without having to unpack everything first. Additionally, she suggests utilizing towels, blankets, and jackets to wrap fragile objects and reduce trash.

The fact that Pauline’s apartment is a five-story walk-up made hiring assistance a necessary.

The bed Pauline purchased from TaskRabbit was from Ikea and had to be carried up five flights of stairs.

Pauline Villegas/Insider

Since Pauline’s apartment building lacks an elevator, it got increasingly difficult to move suitcases and huge boxes as the days passed. When her Amazon couch and Ikea bed frame arrived, she hired a TaskRabbit to assist her lug them up five flights of stairs before assembling them.

During the moving process, Pauline and her roommates hired TaskRabbit and the Geek Squad from Best Buy.

Pauline was unable to bring all of her stuff because she moved by plane, so she shipped boxes to her apartment before she left.

After several weeks, Pauline’s jackets, books, and shoes were delivered.

Pauline Villegas/Insider

Pauline packed three suitcases before understanding that because to their size, she would have to ship heavier items. Before leaving Los Angeles, she packed five boxes filled with clothes, shoes, coats, and books. If she had known at the beginning of the packing process, she would have arranged her possessions differently.

When her goods finally came weeks later, she had to rearrange her closet to accommodate everything. Even though everything wasn’t as structured as Pauline would have liked, the initial moving procedure went considerably more smoothly for Pauline and her mother, who helped her relocate.

7. Gabi and Pauline discovered that waste accumulates rapidly during a move. To reduce tension, they recommend gradually withdrawing funds.

During Gabi’s (left) and Pauline’s (right) moves, trash accumulated as a result of several online purchases and packed items.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider; Pauline Villegas/Insider

During their move, Pauline and Gabi observed that plastic, cardboard boxes, and other rubbish quickly accumulated. Each reporter experienced difficulty disposing of their trash and realized that the ideal approach is to take it step by step.

Gabi’s rubbish was stacked in her room until the end of her move, when she discarded everything. She wished she had disposed of the goods piecemeal rather than all at once, as it was quite inconvenient to make multiple journeys up and down the stairs.

Pauline also encourages clearing out the garbage after completing each project or work, so that you may celebrate your success in a clean, orderly environment.

During their individual moves, Gabi and Pauline endured extreme weather, from summer rain to dense humidity.

The rain, heat, and humidity impeded Gabi’s (left) journey to Philadelphia and Pauline’s (right) relocation to New York City (right).

Gabi Stevenson/Insider; Pauline Villegas/Insider

The initial portion of Gabi’s journey was marked by heavy rain and clouds, but by the time she reached Philadelphia, the sun and heat had taken over. She advises customers bringing an air conditioner to their new home to pack it in a readily accessible location so that it may be installed immediately.

Pauline observed that the heat and humidity in New York slowed down her traveling procedure. Since her room lacked an air conditioner, she was required to order one immediately and wait for it to arrive before she could finish her relocation.

In the July heat, transporting boxes and possessions up five flights of stairs was difficult. She suggests taking frequent pauses and pre-ordering a cooling system to counteract any heat waves.

The reporters were reminded to be patient by the small obstacles that arose along the process, as substantial changes take time.

Both Gabi (left) and Pauline (right) understood that it will take time to complete their places.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider; Pauline Villegas/Insider

Patience appears to be the only thing you can control throughout a relocation. After several weeks since the initial relocation, Gabi’s artwork remains unhung. It’s a reminder that everything will take time to come together.

Since Pauline transported her clothing to her apartment, her wardrobe was bare for weeks until her jackets and shoes arrived. Patience and staggered delivery dates assisted her in focusing on one task at a time, despite her initial haste to complete everything. Now that all of her wardrobe is in New York, she can begin painting her apartment walls at her leisure.

Gabi and Pauline overcame many of the obstacles of moving on their own, but they learned when to ask for assistance.

Gabi (left) and Pauline (right) are still acclimating to their new cities, but are eager to continue exploring.

Gabi Stevenson/Insider; Pauline Villegas/Insider

Pauline realized that by taking things one step at a time, she was able to accomplish a great deal, despite the fact that large transitions can initially appear intimidating. If she could redo the procedure, she would have been more organized in preparation and would have developed a packing list beforehand.

Gabi discovered that regular meals, water breaks, and an early bedtime were three of the simplest ways to maintain composure during a stressful move.

For her upcoming relocation, she intends to order all necessary items in advance.

Both reports were pleased to have assistance during their moves, whether from relatives, roommates, or professional help. For any future relocations, Gabi and Pauline are aware that teamwork increases productivity and makes the experience ultimately rewarding.