8 Steps to Make Your State-to-State Relocation Efficient and Stress-Free

Moving to a new state used to be a rare thing that people only did if they had to for work, but nowadays, Americans are ready to explore new states and enjoy all that this big country has to offer. If you are planning on moving soon and you have never moved to a new state before, there are some things you need to do to make the move easier. Whether you’re moving from California to New York or Alabama to Maine, follow these eight steps to make your state-to-state relocation efficient and stress-free.

Plan Ahead

The minute you learn that you will be making a big move, you should start preparing. Having a solid moving plan from the beginning will help things run more smoothly and keep you from feeling overwhelmed as you count down the days. Start by figuring out what order you want to start packing up your house and write down concrete dates when you want to have certain tasks completed. This way, you won't end up with a packed moving schedule in the last days before you move. 

Hire Reputable Movers

Hiring a moving company is the best thing you can do for your stress levels when moving to a new state. Oftentimes, long distance moving companies are a must as no one family can move all of their things in their car. When looking for a moving company, ask your friends and neighbors if they have any recommendations as first-hand experience is always the best way to get reviews. 

You should also look on the websites of different moving companies in your area to double-check how far they are willing to go for your move. Some moving companies only work within a certain amount of miles of their state, so it is important to make sure the ones you want are long-distance movers.

Make a Budget

Moving can end up costing a lot of money if you do not plan ahead. If you are moving not only your household but also your cars, do research into car shipping to see how you can get a deal if you are shipping more than one car across state lines. If you are moving for a job, look into whether or not your company offers to pay for some or all of your moving costs. This can save you thousands. 

You should also budget how much you are willing to spend on movers and moving supplies. Some moving companies offer boxes and tape included and even send in movers the day before to load everything into boxes for you. If you are looking for this kind of full service, then see if moving companies offer moving packages for a better price than individual services.

Declutter Before You Pack

Dedicate a whole weekend to decluttering in the weeks before your big move. This will guarantee that you are not going to pack duplicates of anything or pay to move things that you are just going to throw away or put directly back into storage spaces once you get to your new home.

Update Important Documents

Doing this step before you move is the best way to make sure that all of your documents are ready to go as you settle into your new home. Notify your bank, healthcare providers, and any subscription services you get delivered to your home address about your intent to move. Remember to give detailed information about your new address so that things don’t get lost in the mail and you can set up new services in your new state.

Pack Strategically

One thing you will want to avoid when moving is to accidentally packing essentials and then having to spend extra money to buy replacements because you cannot access the boxes where you packed them. When you start putting things into boxes, make sure they are things that you are certain you will not need for the next week or even month as you slowly unpack everything in your new home. 

Another method for strategic packing is to pack per room. This means do not throw bathroom items in with kitchen items. This will only end in chaos as you start to unpack later on. If you pack per room, then you can tell the movers exactly where to put each box so that you can easily take things out and put them away without having to wander around the house. You should also always have a permanent marker in your pocket so that you can label every box on all sides. This makes it easier for movers to see where they need to put boxes if you are not there to tell them. 

Do Research Into Your New State

Once you decide where you are going to move, it is worth spending some time to research the interesting things about that state. This will get you and your family more excited about the move and make it easier to adjust once you get there. Although the states are all in the same country, each state has its unique features, customs, and culture that make it an interesting place to live. If you have kids, get them involved in the research as well so that they can feel important and involved in the move. 

Prepare for the Move-In Day

Even before you leave your old house and state to go to your new location, you should be preparing for move-in day. This means calling utility companies to shut off utilities in your old home and turn them on in your new one. It also means preparing overnight bags because you will likely not have everything unpacked after the first day. Each member of your family should have at least one suitcase full of essentials so they can live out of it for a few days as you settle in. 

Relocating to another state does not have to be a disorganized mess when you follow these eight helpful steps. With the help of movers, planning ahead, getting your documents in order, and educating yourself about your new state, your move will be efficient and you will feel settled in no time.

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