Moving To Another State? Here's How To Prepare

Are you planning to move to different state or new city? Moving to a new state is a lengthy process that takes plenty of forethought and preparation, from gathering your stuff and looking for a place to live to meet new acquaintances.

But, if you know all the things that need to be done while moving well in advance, the task won’t seem as daunting. With the help of our moving checklist, you may move to a new state with ease and convenience.

Tips for Moving Out of State

Making a decision to move out of your state might have seemed extremely difficult, but that’s just the beginning. It's time to start hammering out the specifics and making preparations for the big move. As a resource, we've compiled the most critical moving-out-of-state steps and peppered in our best advice for a less stressful transition. Let's get this started!

Visit Your New State and City

Before migrating to a new state, we strongly suggest that you visit the location you’re planning to move to at least once. You'll have a better idea of where you're staying and which parts of town are worth checking out.

Make sure you bring a guidebook or visit the town's visitors center to get pamphlets, maps, and suggestions. Make use of the hotel's concierge to get recommendations. Research and reviewing websites about your new location and state may also provide you with a wealth of knowledge.

We also suggest checking out some of the city's lesser-known hotspots and hangouts if you have time.

Research the Schools

Do you have children of school age? Your migrating out of state agenda should include a high priority for investigating the educational options in your new location or state. If you're considering enrolling your kid in a public school, do some research to find out which areas are home to the schools you're considering.

Notify Schools of Your Move

Notifying your child’s current school is a necessary step in the process. It is important to transfer data as soon as possible when enrolling your children in a new educational institution. Medical records and proof of vaccination may also be necessary papers to give to the new school. Ask the new school for something like a list of required subjects and any extracurricular activities it offers.

Budget for Your Move

Moving costs money. If you're relocating because of your job, you may be able to make use of a relocation budget. Selling and purchasing a house (or putting down a deposit before you can get your existing one back if you're renting), spending on movers, truck leases, petrol, temporary storage, pet daycare fees, and other unforeseen expenditures may pile up if you don't prepare ahead.

When planning a relocation, take a look at your finances and see if your company will contribute any money toward the cost if you’re moving due to a job. Set up a portion of your income to be used in the event of an emergency.

It’s important to note that you can save money by moving yourself if you have the time, but it's far simpler to hire movers to perform all the hard lifting, packing, and cleaning. Having a binder or folder to organize all of your notes, documentation, and receipts is also beneficial.

Find a Place To Live

Ideally, you'd prefer to locate a new home to live in before you leave your current residence. For maybe the first 6 months, unless you're familiar with the neighborhood, we suggest renting to gain a full experience of the area.

Hiring a respected realtor to showcase your houses in your preferred communities is the best way to discover a safe, affordable place to call home. When relocating to a new state, it is critical to hire a good realtor.

If you're looking for a home, a skilled real estate agent will be able to help you. As well as knowing the market, they should be able to assist you with any paperwork or issues that may arise.

Transfer Your Utilities

Be careful to notify your utility company of your impending relocation well in advance of the actual move. Utilities involve cable and internet service as well as water, sewage treatment, gas, electricity, and a satellite television system. Arrange a transfer and perhaps an installation date if you already have a residence in your new state.

Forward Your Mail and Driver’s License

Ensure your mail, as well as accounts, go with you when you relocate out of state after you've worked out how to do that. When it comes to changing of address with the US Postal Service, go to their website first.

There you may legally alter your address with the USPS and choose the conditions and duration for which your mail will be redirected. While the USPS does a fantastic job of transferring mail, you should also update the location with everybody who distributes your mail and with whom you have such an account.

Arrange a Car Shipping Service for Your Vehicles

A car shipping service will be necessary if you don't intend to drive your vehicle on your long-distance move. Hiring a licensed driver, or engaging an auto transport business are all viable choices for exporting a vehicle. When employing a transport firm, it is possible to transport an automobile in an open-air or enclosed container. Regarding the cost, generally, it is more expensive per mile to ship shorter distances.

Hire a Reputable Moving Company

When moving to a new state, hiring a moving company to help you out is best. If you employ a moving company, be sure it's reputable and trustworthy.

We suggest calling three to four moving firms to get a price estimate. Before providing you with a price, movers should evaluate your things in person or by video. Take caution when receiving an online estimate without seeing your items, or when receiving a quotation that seems to be too good to be true. You should not overlook these two red signs.

Choose a Moving Date

As soon as you've found a location to call home, you'll need to decide on a moving date. Think about moving at the right time of year to save money. This is because movers are far less busy and automobile shipping trucks are more readily accessible throughout the week and in the middle of the month. You should also avoid moving over holidays, long weekends, and the weeks surrounding college move-in and move-out when movers are in great demand and their prices might skyrocket.

Order Moving Supplies

You're going to need a lot of moving goods, such as moving boxes, foam pouches, bubble wrap, and tape. Check out a packing calculator to get an idea of how many boxes you'll need. Order your moving goods at least a month ahead of time so that you may begin packing as soon as the day of the relocation approaches. You will also need to determine how to effectively ship your plants without destroying them.

Pack Strategically

When you're moving, a good opportunity to go through your belongings and determine what is worthwhile packing, shifting, and unloading is when you're moving! Are you hiring movers to pack your belongings, or are you doing that task yourself? Either way, you'll want to put a few clever ideas to work before you start packing.

Old clothing and kitchen appliances you haven't used in years, things you stored in the attic for no apparent reason, or even a box in the cellar that has been there since your previous move are all excellent candidates for charity, sale, or disposal. It's important to purchase moving boxes, packaging paper, plus labels as soon as you've whittled your belongings down to what you'll need for the move.

Make Travel Plans

Will you be moving on the day that your furniture and possessions are placed on the truck? Or will you need a hotel room for a few days before you travel? These are plans you’ll want to have in place well ahead of time so you’re not scrambling at the last moment. Some movers suggest making a hotel reservation for the night of your planned move just in case something goes wrong with your closing or the movers have a problem with the truck; if this offers you extra peace of mind.

Pets can be an additional challenge, depending on where you’re moving. If you’re flying to your new home, you’ll need to make arrangements for your pet’s travel. Some cities have restrictions on the number or type of pets you can have or require quarantines before bringing the pet into the state. Check with your new state to make sure you know how to relocate your pet with your family.

Turn Over Your Keys and Codes

The last step before you depart is to transfer ownership of your house to its new occupants or your landlord. Your former house is now a distant memory and you've finally finished the process of moving out of it. If you're working with a realtor to sell your house, you may put your trust in them to take care of the paperwork. To avoid the risk of products being misplaced in the mail, we do not suggest shipping the key.

What To Do Next

Moving to a nearby state or cross-country isn't simple, but if you're patient, scratch one item off your moving-to-another-state checklist at a time, and keep everything in one place, you'll be able to settle into your new home with the satisfaction of knowing you're starting over.

Moreover, it’s important to make crucial decisions well in advance, for example, will you be hiring a moving company? Is open-air shipping or enclosed shipping better for your car? You need to determine these things with sufficient time to prepare for your move.

Carvaygo recognizes how stressful relocating may be, which is why we strive to make the automobile shipping procedure as simple as possible. No matter where you decide to relocate, Carvaygo can assist you by transporting your automobile from your previous residence to your new residence.

Sources:
How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Car? (2022) | ConsumerAffairs
How to Ship Plants | thespruce.com
Things to Buy for a New House & New Home Checklist for First-Time Homebuyers | The Neighbor Blog

Three simple steps to get your FREE quote
Carvaygo Quick Quote
1
Vehicle Info
2
Transit Info
3
Contact Info
Enter a 4-digit year.
Enter a 4-digit year
<< Back
It seems you want to move a Classic Car. To treat her right and get an accurate quote, you will need to talk to one of our Customer Service Representatives at 888-444-2612.
Enter the Make and Model of your vehicle
<< Back
i.e., fender flares, lowered suspension, oversized tires, etc.
Up to 4 images with size max of 4MB each
<< Back
We’re just trying to get to know you a little better. Your answer will not impact your quote amount.
<< Back
<< Back
Enter a city and state.
<< Back
Enter a city name.
<< Back
<< Back
In order to provide a quote, we need your valid phone number.
We do NOT sell Personal Information to third parties.
<< Back
In order to provide a quote, we need your full name.
Enter your first and last name.
<< Back
Enter your email address.
<< Back