Your Out Of State Moving Checklist

If you’re preparing to move out of state, there are several things you’ll want to take care of. Go through this list and make sure you stay on track throughout your move.

1. Set A Budget

Moving can be costly, especially when you’re traveling a long distance. That’s why you’ll want to think carefully about what you’re able to spend on your move. If you set a budget right away, you’ll be able to look at options that are within that budget.

2. Visit The Area You’re Going To Be Moving To

If you’re planning on living in a brand-new state, you’ll want to get to know the area a little better. If possible, you should schedule a trip to this area. During your visit, you’ll be able to explore neighborhoods, check out local businesses, and get a better sense of where you want to live.

3. Secure Housing

It’s best to have your housing figured out before your move. Many landlords won’t rent to you unless you’re able to visit the unit in person, so you may want to look at housing options during your trip. If you can’t make a trip to your new home, you’ll want to ask someone in the area to look at housing for you.

4. Set A Moving Date

After you know where you’re going to live, you’ll need to set a date for your move. While you may not have a lot of flexibility over your moving date, it tends to be cheaper to move in the late fall and the winter. Late spring and early summer are the most expensive times to move. Moving at the right time can help you stick to a tighter budget.

5. Find A Dependable Moving Company

Moving out of state can be difficult, and you shouldn’t try to do everything independently. Instead, you should hire a moving company that has plenty of experience with long-distance moves. This is easy, just hit a search query moving services near me over Internet and you’ll get plenty of options. The right movers will be able to transport your things to your new home safely.

It’s a wise idea to look at a few different options before hiring a moving company. Call different companies and ask for quotes. You may want to consider other, cheaper options as well, like moving containers. In most cases, however, you’ll find that working with a moving company is your most cost-effective option.

6. Clear Out Your Closets

You’ll spend significantly more on your move if you try to bring everything with you. Before your move, you should go through everything with you and decide what you want to get to your new state. If you have older furniture that will need to be replaced soon, you may want to sell that furniture. It could be cheaper to buy new furniture after you arrive.

7. Start Packing

Packing for an out-of-state move can be a long and complicated process. Ideally, you should start packing early on. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to load up everything you own into boxes.

Packing is just one step of the process. After you arrive at your new place, you’ll need to do a lot of unpacking. That’s why it’s so important to keep your things organized while you pack them up. You should pack items by room and clearly label every box that you pack. You may even want to use color-coded stickers so that you can see where a box belongs with a glance.

8. Cancel And Transfer Utilities

As the date of your move draws nearer, you’ll need to think about canceling utilities and memberships that you have at your current home. If you forget to cancel service, you could be stuck with some bills later on. In some cases, you may be able to transfer utilities to your new address.

9. Have Your Mail Forwarded

You’ll also want to make sure that you don’t miss any of your mail. Visit the post office and arrange to have mail forwarded to your new address. You should do this at least one week before your move. This will give the post office ample time to hold items scheduled to be delivered to you.

10. Make Sure People Know You’re Moving

Make sure you let people know that you’re going to be moving. While you may not want to have a going-away party, you will want to make sure that your friends, family, and co-workers are aware of your moving date. You may like to send out a group text or email so that you can notify a lot of different people at once.

11. Pack A Suitcase

While most of your things will be packed up in boxes, it’s also a good idea to pack a suitcase for your move. Your briefcase should contain everything that you need for the next few days. That way, even if you don’t get everything unpacked right away, you’ll be able to access essentials like clothes and toiletries. You can also use your suitcase if you need to stop in a hotel while you travel to your destination.

12. Settle In

After you’ve arrived, it’s time for you to get to know your new area! You can get a driver’s license for your new state, make some friends, and even register to vote. It can take time to adjust to life in a different area, but before long, your new state will start to feel like home.