We moved across the country this summer, one by plane and one by car. Here are 9 of the most surprising things we learned.

Gabi moved from Grand Rapids to Philadelphia with a UHaul trailer attached to her car, while Pauline relocated to New York City from Los Angeles by plane.

Although they used two different modes of transportation, Insider's reporters both learned to navigate summer weather, apartment organization, shopping troubles, and shipping delays in different ways.

Here are nine things Gabi and Pauline learned while moving cross-country by car and by plane — and the lessons they'll both take away from their experiences.

Gabi wasn't able to take exact measurements of her new apartment — she asked her partner to look around and take pictures for her while the previous tenant was still living there.

She learned how important proper measurements are in order to plan for an effective move. Although Gabi planned to buy used furniture on Facebook Marketplace or at thrift stores, she discovered the narrow hallways in her apartment building only allowed for unassembled furniture in thin boxes.

For the rest of her move-in week, she measured everything from the height of a lamp to how far her refrigerator door opened. She also kept records on her phone to ensure she wouldn't lose the written list.

On several days during Gabi's move-in week, she underestimated how much there was to do. She ended up returning from shopping trips late in the evening and unpacked her car onto the city sidewalks in the dark.

Although she's more active and productive at night, she decided it was best to run errands in the morning so she didn't have to unpack or do any heavy lifting in the evening.

Once she switched to an earlier schedule, she found that her moving days were more organized and efficient.

By the time Gabi packed up all her belongings, she was ready to put them in the trailer and get on the road the next day, but her mom reminded her that they needed to organize based on what they'd need to access first.

Gabi and her mom put items like clothes hangers, luggage, blankets, and air mattress in the back of the trailer so they could get to them without unpacking everything else first. She also recommends using towels, blankets, and jackets to wrap up fragile items and cut down on waste.

Pauline's apartment doesn't have an elevator in the building, so moving suitcases and large boxes became increasingly difficult as the days went on. When her couch from Amazon and bed frame from Ikea came in, she hired a TaskRabbit to help carry the items up five flights of stairs before putting the items together.

Throughout the moving process, Pauline and her roommates hired TaskRabbit and members of Best Buy's Geek Squad for help.

While packing, Pauline filled three suitcases before realizing she would have to ship heavier items due to their size. She packed five boxes filled with sweaters, shoes, jackets, and books before she left Los Angeles. Had she been aware at the start of the packing process, she would've organized her belongings differently.

Once her belongings arrived weeks later, she had to restructure her closet so that everything could fit. Planning ahead of time to ship heavier items made the initial moving process much smoother for Pauline and her mom, who helped her relocate, even if it wasn't as organized as she would've liked.

After realizing that a dresser she purchased on Facebook Marketplace was missing a piece of wood, Gabi visited several Home Depot and Lowe's locations to buy plywood.

When she arrived, she found there weren't available employees who could operate the store's saw. The Guardian reports that the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect workforce shortages in the US, so she'll cut the piece of wood herself.

For Pauline, the limited space and five-story walk-up made her furniture options limited.

After finishing the couch and kitchen table, Pauline and her roommates built their smaller Amazon and Ikea furniture on their own. She discovered that building items like, tables, desks, and cabinets without outside help sped up the moving process.

Although it took more time and effort to borrow tools and measure everything themselves, Gabi and Pauline learned that in this ever-changing economy, it can be beneficial to handle household projects on your own.

While moving Pauline and Gabi found that plastic, cardboard boxes, and miscellaneous trash piled up quickly. Each reporter had trouble disposing of their garbage and learned the best method is to tackle it incrementally.

Gabi's trash pile was stacked inside her room until she threw it away at the end of her move. She wished she disposed of the items bit by bit instead of all at once since it was a huge pain making several trips up and down the stairs.

Pauline also suggests taking the trash out after every build or task is accomplished so you can celebrate the win in a clean, organized space.

Gabi drove through lots of rain and clouds on the first leg of her trip, but the sunshine and heat took over once she arrived in Philadelphia. For those bringing an air conditioning unit to their new space, she recommends packing it in an easily accessible place so it can be installed immediately.

In New York, Pauline noticed that the heat and humidity slowed down her moving process. Since her room didn't have an A/C unit, she had to order one quickly and wait for it to arrive before she completed her move.

Taking boxes and belongings up five flights of stairs proved to be tough in the summer humidity. She recommends taking lots of breaks and ordering a cooling system ahead of time to combat possible heat waves.

During a move, patience seems to be the only thing you can control. Weeks after the initial move, Gabi's artwork is still not hung up. It's a reminder that it'll take time for everything to come together

Since Pauline shipped clothes to her apartment, her closet remained empty for weeks before her jackets and shoes arrived. Though she was initially in a rush to get everything done, patience and staggered delivery dates helped her focus on one thing at a time. Now that all her clothing items are in New York, she can start decorating her walls at her own pace.

Big moves may seem daunting at first, but Pauline learned that a lot can be done when you take things one step at a time. If she could do the process over again, she would've been more organized in the preparation process and made a packing list ahead of time.

Gabi learned that regular meals, water breaks, and an early bedtime were three of the easiest things she could do to keep herself level-headed during an emotional move. For her next move, she plans to order anything she needs ahead of time.

Both reporters were happy to have help during their moves, whether it was from family members, roommates, or hired hands. For any relocations in the future, Gabi and Pauline know that teamwork enhances productivity and makes the experience rewarding in the end.