Although it’s natural to be scared when doing something for the first time, moving to a new state is one of those experiences that guarantee pursuing that dream is worth all the trouble. No matter how hard it might be to leave your support system, people you love, established routines, and places you know like the back of your hand, the chance to start anew makes it all worth it.
With all aspects of the move covered, relocating thousands of miles away will be an enjoyable experience
With our advice, you won’t have to fear the unpredictability of the relocation process. It will teach you about some of the vital preparatory steps that will ensure you pull through all the challenges of the move easily.
Every Relocation Requires Thorough Planning
How to move to a different state is not an easy question to answer. However, having a master plan – or any kind of plan, really – will surely help. Even the most spontaneous person in the world is not fond of unpleasant surprises, but facing them is the most probable scenario if you leave such a massive endeavor to a pure chance. Planning every detail, predicting potential obstacles, doing research, and understanding the scope of your move are only the first steps down the road. Yet again, without them, it would be impossible to start at all.
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Make a Detailed Packing Plan – It’s One of the Crucial Things to Do When Moving to a New State
If you don’t want to guess the best-sized boxes for your belongings or the correct number of them you need to box it all up, one of the things to do before moving out of state is learning how to do a home inventory. It’s one of the packing strategies that will keep you organized and calm during the relocation process. Going over the list will give you a clear idea of tasks to come, making sure you have a packing schedule to stick to. Keep in mind that you can purchase cheap relocation supplies to protect your possessions with the utmost care and pack them the best way possible.
Get Rid of Unnecessary Stuff in Your Home
Decluttering should be part of your moving to a new state checklist because no matter how tidy you are, accumulating stuff is quite natural after living in one place for years. Even though it might seem like an overwhelming task to dispose of the things you’re used to having around, can you imagine bringing them all with you to the future home? With a successful garage sale, you can even make a proper future apartment shopping list. Also, donating unwanted items and some old unwanted appliances to those who need them more is a thoughtful way to declutter and help someone along the way.
With a proper plan, there's always a plan B
Core Things to Consider When Moving to a New State and Choosing the City
How to move to a new state without doing proper research on your future city? Be certain you know where you’re going, not just in terms of culture and entertainment. Other aspects of livability, such as the quality of life, green areas, crime rates, employment, and educational opportunities, are of great importance when replanting your roots.
Choose the Best Neighborhood for Yourself
A happy home doesn’t necessarily mean an attractive location, but one which is most convenient for you. Finding a good fit means finding a community with the amenities you need, the things you wanted at your old place but didn’t have. Is it vital for you to be close to good schools? What about parks and recreation areas, are there some nearby? Would you like to be at the center of events or away from the noise and crowds? When creating a list of the things your future home should have, make one for the neighborhood, too.
Dig into the city you're interested in to know if it's right for you
Take Some Time for House-Hunting
Whatever your reasons to move are, you don’t want to miss any of the house-hunting tips that could help you find a home without a hassle. You can check the market yourself by browsing real estate websites, but our warm recommendation is to hire a knowledgeable realtor. A good one will help you understand if this is a good moment for you to buy a house or if it may be wiser to consider renting for the time being. Guidance is all you need sometimes, and this is too big of a task to go through alone.
Hiring a reliable real estate agent is the way to go
Look for Employment Opportunities
No matter if you’re moving out of state alone or with a family, job hunting should be on your priority list. Having it lined up is a huge relief since finding a job in a new city can be pretty intimidating. Besides rolling up your sleeves and researching the job market, try using sites like LinkedIn to stay up to date with job openings. However, if you’re relocating for a job that you have already secured – congratulations! Your employer might be willing to cover most of the relocation expenses, and a portion of your paperwork will be the company’s responsibility.
Don't leave your future career to chance
Consider Hiring a Professional Long-Distance Moving Company
When it comes to cross-country moving, deciding to do it on your own could quickly turn into a nightmare. It’s enough to get stuck with one task to lose track of time entirely. With so many professionals on the market, finding hassle-free movers is a challenge. Doing a quick search by googling “long-distance movers near me” will definitely narrow down your list. However, you should also compare moving quotes and look for other quality indicators to avoid relocation scams. Needless to say, cross-country moving services are the final deciding factor you should pay attention to. If your relocation specialists don’t offer the professional packing services you want, keep on looking.
Think of Renting a Storage Space if You Need One
There are many creative storage ideas to organize the items you’d like to keep with you because giving them away or selling them is not an option. That china collection you inherited from your grandma is not something to give up easily. It holds too much of a sentimental value. And these bulky pieces of furniture you’re attached to take up too much space.
If you need more time to think about the things that won’t fit into your new place but you don’t want to say goodbye to, consider finding a mover that offers storage services or renting a self-storage unit. Remember that renting costs will differ depending on a few factors, mainly on the number of belongings and the duration of the rental period.
Getting professional help is the only way to facilitate the process
Know How Much You Have to Pay for a Fresh Start
To be ready for an adventure of such magnitude as relocation means planning your relocation budget to the tiniest details. Moving from one state to another usually comes with a lengthy expenses checklist. Go through it to calculate the approximate cost of the whole process:
- Packing supplies
- Truck rental
- Hired labor
- House-hunting expenses
- Temporary accommodation if needed
However, if hiring long-distance movers, you can expect the cost to range from $1,000 to $5,000. It’s also important to remind you to save the receipts you get because some of these expenses are tax-deductible. Since you are the only one who gets to decide which services you need, do not skip creating a checklist for moving out of state.
How Much Should You Save to Move Out of State?
If you are wondering what to do when moving to a new state, saving up to have financial peace of mind is the best way to deal with the fear of relocating to another city. However, there’s never a precise answer regarding how much money you should save to move because it mostly depends on the overall cost of living at the destination. If you don’t have a job lined up, save enough to be able to support yourself for the first three months. Don’t take this task lightly – not having the means to support yourself during and after the move can cause a lot of issues down the line. We’re sure you wouldn’t like to find yourself wondering What is the cheapest way to move out of state at the last minute.
Save up enough money will allow you to move with a cool head
Gather All the Essential Documents
Relocating thousands of miles away can turn your life upside down. No matter how small the task is, it can become a critical issue if it slips your mind. That’s why organizing important papers and having them on hand during the move is vital. Keep in mind that this is among the most common things people forget to do when they move, so make a note to yourself to set all your personal, financial, and medical records aside, as well as other relocation essentials, before a problem arises. If you are moving out of state with a child, gather all the school documentation needed in a timely manner.
To learn how to organize your paperwork and access it easily, check out the video below.
Who to Notify Checklist
Sure, friends and family are part of the answer, but there’s also a list of institutions to contact. By informing them on time about the change of address, you’ll avoid one of the most notorious relocation mistakes. To make it a bit easier for you, we made a list:
- USPS
- IRS
- DMV
- Voter registration
- Social Security Administration
- Financial institutions
- Utility providers
- Insurance
- Shopping websites, memberships, and subscriptions
Take Some Extra Time for Friends and Family
Breaking the news to the people you love is one of the most emotional things to do when you move to a new state. Although excitement and joy will likely prevail, saying goodbye to a close friend is always rough. Still, with all the technological advances nowadays, staying in touch will be a piece of cake. If you are planning to throw a packing party, let them help pack your belongings while searching together for apps that will help you stay in touch.
Do not forget to inform all the important people about the change of address.
It’s an Emotional Rollercoaster, but You’re There to Enjoy the Ride
Of course, it takes guts to make such a big decision as relocating far away from home. And it takes a lot of effort, time, and self-reliance. Sure, you’ll face obstacles and who knows how many surprises along the way. And you’ll grapple with an emotional whirlwind and decision-making. But the game plan is yours to make, and now you know exactly how to do that.
