zenduck.me: Moving to a New State Guide Checklist and Tips

Moving to a new state can sometimes feel as if moving to a different country altogether.

But how to plan a move to another state when the very thought of having to organize and execute an out-of-state move can give you the chills?

With so many things to do before moving to a new state, it’s no surprise that most home movers get really worried about whether they will be able to manage the preparation period on their own.

As it turns out, good planning in the form of an exceptionally detailed checklist for moving to a new state should always keep you on the right track.

Also, proven cost-saving techniques when moving from one state to another will not only help you stay within the reasonable limits of your personal moving budget, but they will also enable you to remain in complete control of your finances.

The following Guide to Moving to a New State is exactly what you need to complete your out-of-state relocation with a smile on your face. Read it and you’ll learn all the important things to do before moving out of state, plus the most essential things to do after your state-to-state move is complete.

Checklist for moving to a new state

The moment you learn of your imminent residential move is the moment you will find yourself in need of a detailed moving to a new state checklist to keep yourself organized during all stages of your cross-country move.

Moving to a different state altogether requires greater efforts from you, and even a few sacrifices along the way to bring the relocation adventure to a successful end.

Planning is often the key to a successful outcome in most activities. So, when it comes to moving hundreds or even thousands of miles away to another part of the country, planning to move to another state suddenly feels like it is everything!

A house move is a big challenge in itself, so the happy end depends on your involvement in the process and your readiness to get things done the right way.

And while some tasks seem like no-brainers, you will soon find out that having a complete state-to-state moving checklist at your disposal will keep your mind focused and your actions organized.

• ASK yourself this: Is it really time to move out? Maybe it is, or maybe it isn’t. Check out these 10 signs it’s time to move to a new city in a new state and see if that’s what you’re feeling inside as well.

• VISIT the new-state city in advance to get a taste of what to expect after the move. That may not always be possible but if it is, don’t miss your opportunity to do so.
• RESEARCH the cost of living, housing costs, and career opportunities in your destination state, and in your new city in particular.
• SECURE a good place to live by exploring your renting and purchasing options. Choose what’s best for you and your family.
• THINK about securing a job first unless the reason you’re moving to a new state is a job offer in the first place.
• SET a moving budget to meet your moving expenses head-on. How much money have you saved up to move?
• SECURE top-rated state-to-state movers to guarantee yourself a smooth move from start to finish. Do this by filling out our quick Moving Cost Calculator.
• RESEARCH the interstate movers that have contacted you and read movers’ reviews online. Then, ask friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors for good recommendations (click here to read moving reviews).
• CONDUCT a more thorough research on your out-of-state movers. Are the professionals properly licensed by the Department of Transportation to operate throughout the country? Check to see if they have a valid USDOT number.
• LOOK for good ways to cut your moving costs.
• DISCUSS with your movers the additional moving services – what type of services you really need and how much each one will cost you.
• COMPARE carefully the received relocation offers, including the additional services, and make your choice. Don’t base your final decision on the proposed price alone.
• REQUEST all the move-related paperwork in advance in order to avoid unpleasant moving day surprises. Never sign any blank or incomplete documents.
• START working on the tasks in your personalized and prioritized moving calendar the moment you’ve selected your relocation partner. There’s no such thing as starting your moving preparations TOO EARLY.
• CREATE a detailed home inventory to know exactly what you will take with you and what you will leave behind. Learn how a moving sale or donations to charity can help your cause tremendously.
• PACK! Did somebody say PACKING? Packing up and moving to a new state is always more complicated than you think. The packing job will be the most arduous and time-consuming one in your personal packing timeline, so get down to it immediately.
• REMEMBER to prepare a few Open First boxes to help you survive until you have access to your belongings once again. Your absolute essential items should never leave your side when moving to a different state.
• DECIDE what you will do with the items that you are not allowed to move to another state for safety reasons. Here you will find all you need to know about the so-called non-allowables, including good ideas about how to get rid of them.
• TAKE care of your pets and plants. One of the things to do before moving to a new state is to decide how to transport your pets (read on to learn more about this) and move your plants so that you guarantee their safety.
• LEARN how to pack up your home in exactly 60 steps!!!

• PAY attention to the little details when moving to a new state. Did somebody say pre-move organization? Obtain the required documents and certificates from your family physician and vet, as well as your child’s or children’s school records.
• CANCEL your current subscriptions to utility providers and services prior to moving day. Arrange for the disconnection of the main house utilities (water, electricity, gas, Internet, etc.) and transfer them to your new home.
• CHANGE your postal address shortly before moving day to keep receiving your mail without any problems.
• COMPILE all your copies of the paperwork and keep them safe in a special binder for references and possible moving tax deductions.
• DECIDE whether you will move to a new state in your car (have it serviced at an authorized service station) or whether you will have your vehicle transported safely by a reputable auto transporter. Should you select the latter option, learn how to ship a car to another state.
• SPEAK with your children about the upcoming house move and how it will influence their foreseeable future.
• GET ready to greet your Big day in style. Take a look at what essential things to have on Moving day.
• THINK a few steps ahead. When preparing to move to a new state, have some cash handy on Moving day to tip your movers if you end up being satisfied with their work.

Must-read: The greatest MOVING CHECKLIST of all time

How much does it cost to move to a new state?

Our moving to a new state guide continues with the issue that will be troubling you the most when you’re facing a long-distance move across the country – the final price you will pay in the end.

And that, of course, is perfectly understandable as no one wants to see their savings disappear due to a scheduled interstate move.

The average cost of moving to a new state is between $2,200 and $5,700.

Basic move (no extra services included)	$2,200 – $5,700
Packing (extra service)	$500 – $4,000

It’s important to keep in mind that the price YOU are going to pay for your own move will depend on a number of critical factors (explained below) such as the move distance, the number and weight of the items for transportation, and the number and nature of the additional services required to complete the relocation job.

For comparison, the cost of a local move will be calculated on an hourly basis.

To get a more precise idea about the cost to move to another state, here are the approximate prices to move from one state to another depending on the size of the home that is to be vacated:

Home Size	Shipment Weight	Move Distance	Approx. Cost
Studio / 1-bedroom	1,800-3,200 lbs.	1,000 miles	$1,500 – $3,200
2-bedroom	5,000-6,000 lbs.	1,000 miles	$3,500 – $5,200
3-bedroom	9,000 lbs.	1,000 miles	$6,300 – $7,800
4-bedroom	> 9,000 lbs.	1,000 miles	$8,000

Here are the major factors that will influence the cost of moving to a different state:

Distance

When relocating to a new state, the exact distance from your old home to your new residence does matter as far as the price of your out-of-state move is concerned. This should come as no surprise, and neither should the direct ratio between distance and price.

And, even less surprisingly, you can’t really lower the moving price by shortening that move distance either.

Weight

The number and weight of your household items will have the greatest impact on how much you will pay for their transportation. So, what to consider when moving to a new state?

Do consider decreasing the number of possessions you are taking with you. To make this happen, your best bet is to create a complete house inventory and then decide to take only the things you will use in the near future.

Moving experts advise that if an item has not been used in over a year, then it’s not really needed and should not be moved from one state to another.

It’s relatively easy to figure out that each additional service will add to the final moving price. In addition to being extra careful about what household items you move with you, one of the best pieces of advice on moving to a new state is to pay special attention to those extra services that you will be offered by your long-distance mover.

A few examples of such extras include:

• packing and unpacking,
• disassembly and re-assembly of big furniture,
• hoisting of furniture (if at all necessary),
• shuttle services,
• temporary storage of household items,
• post-move disposal of packing supplies, and so on.

IMPORTANT: The case-by-case nature of a state-to-state move makes it fairly impossible to calculate the moving price on your own. In reality, only your interstate movers can do that for you with any kind of satisfactory accuracy after an in-house survey.

What to do when moving to another state: Top 5 pre-move tasks

The above checklist when moving to a new state should get you completely ready for the upcoming interstate move. Nevertheless, now we will take a closer look at the 5 most important things to do when moving to a new state:

1. Find the best interstate movers

By now you should know perfectly well that moving to a new state is a difficult job that should be left to trained and experienced professionals. In other words, your cross-country move is definitely not the right time to prove to your friends and to yourself that you can move all by yourself.

The truth is that there are many top-rated national moving companies that offer excellent moving services that have been specifically tailored to meet the requirements and expectations of their customers.

Starting from 1) free pre-move in-home surveys and issuance of accurate moving cost estimates, 2) through professional packing and unpacking, disassembly and re-assembly of large furniture, and handling of bulky or super-heavy household items, and 3) all the way to safe temporary storage, custom wooden crating for extremely valuable things, or even hoisting of extra big household items through windows or balconies.

No matter how you look at it, the success of your interstate move depends on selecting the professional relocation partner that’ll be the right one for you.

Find the best interstate movers with these 20 questions and answers.

2. Declutter your home

One serious mistake when moving to another state is to pack and move everything you own without sorting it out first. But why is this considered to be a judgment error?

Moving over great distances is an expensive affair and each item you choose to take with you will increase the overall price of your interstate move. This is especially true when the items in question are big and heavy – for example, furniture pieces.

The thing is that the more things you decide to move to the new place, the heavier the shipment will become as a result. And then, all of a sudden, you’ll have to pay more money to cover the higher transportation costs.

So, what can you do to keep your moving costs to a minimum? It’s easier than you think: inventory your entire home, go through all of your belongings, and get rid of the ones that are just not worth moving to the new home for one reason or another.

How to Declutter Your Home Before Moving

3. Pack whatever you can by yourself

While you’re preparing to move to another state, one thing you must decide very early in the relocation process is who’s going to pack up your things: you or professional packers.

In an attempt to save money on your long-distance move, you should seriously consider packing your possessions by yourself. As long as you have enough time until the move-out date and you have people who are willing to give you a hand, it makes sense to handle the packing task without having to rely on professional packing services.

First of all, gather the necessary packing materials in advance so that you don’t interrupt the house packing process later. To save even more money, try to get your hands on free moving boxes that are still in good condition and can be reused safely.

And secondly, start packing as soon as you can to give yourself a good head start. In most cases, you’re recommended to begin sorting and packing the rooms you use less frequently – for example, storage areas such as the garage, basement, attic, and closet.

Nevertheless, you should still leave the things you’re not sure how to pack to the pros.

Packing Timeline: What to Pack When for Moving

4. Change your address

The fact that you’re moving to a different state means that your postal address is going to change as well. The place where you’ll be living after the move is complete will have a different address, meaning that unless you remember to change it with the United States Postal Service (USPS), you will stop receiving your mail.

And this is not something you would want to ever happen, is it?

Make sure you initiate the change of address (COA) procedure prior to your move-out date so that no important pieces of mail get lost in the meantime. The good news is that you have 4 options when it comes to changing your address before moving to another state:

• Online. The most convenient option of them all.
• In person. Just visit the nearest post office to complete the task.
• By phone. Follow the pre-recorded instructions to change your address.
• By mail. Download, fill out, and send a COA form to the USPS.

Follow the link below for more details.

How to Change Address When Moving

5. Тransfer the utilities

Moving to a new state means that your current home utilities will need to be disconnected so that you don’t keep paying them after you move away. Also, the new home utilities will have to be up and running in the destination place – either a house or an apartment – on the day you’re expected to move into it.

Contact your current home utility providers and schedule the effective disconnection of the services you’ve been enjoying until that moment – electricity, water and sewage, gas, cable TV, Internet, telephone, waste removal, etc.

Then, go through the list of utilities and see if there’s a service you can go without after the move. After all, why should to keep paying for something that you don’t really need, right?

Before your move-out date, get in touch with the new service providers and arrange the reconnection of those house utilities in the new place. If you’re a renter, your landlord or building manager will help with this task. If you’ve bought the new-state place you’ll be living in, then the real estate agent should assist you.

How to Transfer Utilities When Moving: 10 Easy Steps

What to do when moving to a new state: Top 5 post-move tasks

And now that you know the major principles of how to move to a new state, let’s focus our attention on what you should do once the cross-country move is complete.

So, here are the top 5 things to do after you move to a new state:

1. Get to know the new home

The logic of residential relocation is hinting that if you have followed the steps to moving to a new state, then you will also find yourself in a new home. And that alone opens up a brand-new world of essential tasks for you to take care of one by one.

The immediate period after a house move can be rather overwhelming and confusing for most people, so it’s never a bad idea to have a detailed list of things to do after moving into a new house.

One of your very first tasks? Take an exploratory tour around your new home, locate your fuse box and main water valve in case of emergencies, look for signs of pre-existing damage or pest infestation, check for possible problems, and make sure your residence is as secure as possible against unauthorized access and forces of nature.

21 Things to Do After Moving Into a New House

2. Get a job

Moving to a new state with no job secured is a fairly risky endeavor, which means that you should turn it into a risk-free one as soon as you can.

Job hunting is never much fun but it’s a thing you should do to survive in the town or city you just moved to. Start working on your resume, prepare recommendation letters from previous employers, and use the Internet (The Department of Labor is an excellent first stop) as your aid in helping you find a decent job.

Do in-depth research on the areas you’re interested in as a professional – and qualified for, of course. If you happen to have friends or acquaintances in the city or town you just moved to, see if they can help you with some tips so that you can narrow down any job postings that are suitable for you.

3. Look for healthcare providers

Your recent move to another state means, among a score of other things, that you will have to find a new family physician for all members of your family, including a licensed veterinarian for any pets you may have taken with you.

The type of healthcare provider you choose – a primary care doctor or a specialized doctor – will largely depend on your long-term medical needs.

Start your hunt for a new specialist with the help of recommendations from your old doctor or friends, and make sure you have all the necessary documents and medical records to sign up with your future healthcare provider.

4. Register your car

Should you happen to be wondering Do I have to register my car when I move to a new state?, you should wonder no more because registering a car after moving to a new state is a must-do task.

The bad news is that you can’t do that online, so you need to find time in your busy post-move schedule and head down to the local DMV office and take care of that job. It’s not a good idea to postpone your car registration either as different states impose different deadlines (for example, Florida only gives a 10-day window for vehicle registration).

At the DMV office, you’ll be asked to present a car insurance policy bought from the state you just moved to and a bunch of other documents such as a title in your name, a certificate for a passed emissions check, and so on.

Contact the DMV office in the new state before you visit it to learn what other paperwork you will need to complete the registration.

How to Register a Car in Another State After Moving

5. Unpack

Just a quick glance over the endless piles of freshly delivered moving boxes is enough to give you a good idea of what’s ahead of you.

Unpacking!

It’s like packing but with some good news glued to it – unpacking after a house move is generally faster and you can finish it on your own terms. However, even though moving day is already behind you and you won’t have to feel stressed out to fit into a tight schedule, you should still get down to the time-consuming job of unpacking without too much procrastination.

Where to begin the unpacking process? Which rooms to unpack first? What unpacking mistakes should you avoid at all costs?

Check out the complete and unabridged room-by-room Unpacking Checklist to make it all work like a charm.

10 Important Things to Do After You Move to a New State

Bonus tips for moving to a new state

Is moving to a new state a good idea?

It’s nobody else but you who can answer this question with a good degree of accuracy.

There are plenty of reasons to move to a new state: from the number one reason to relocate to another part of the country (employment), through downsizing, retirement, changes in marital status, health issues, tragedies, and all the way to simply pursuing a dream.

If you feel like it’s time to move to a new city in a new state, then you should take notice of the following bonus advice on moving to a new state.

• No money. One thing is certain – moving to a new state with no money is no joke. Before you even attempt to do the impossible, you need to re-evaluate your options and choose the path that will best work for you. In reality, there are several good options for you to choose from – find all of them in our unique 5-Step Survival Guide on how to move without money.
• Alone. Moving to a new state alone is another relocation scenario that is not particularly fun to do. On top of that, if you happen to be moving to a new state without knowing anyone there, that may further complicate things. So, how are you supposed to cope with that challenge on your own? Luckily, we happen to have a few good answers: Moving to a New City Alone: challenges and solutions!
• Children. If you’re planning on moving to another state with a child or children, be ready for a real challenge regardless of their age group. Moving house is tough as it is, even without any additional stress factors, right? Our Guide on moving with kids will help you survive your cross-country move with special emphasis on the safety and well-being of your little angels.
• Pets. Pets can be great but when it’s time to move to another state altogether, they can easily become just another thing to worry about. Whether you’re moving with dogs, cats, birds, fish, or other types of pet animals, then it’s your duty as a pet owner to make sure their immediate needs are met and that they make it to the new home in good health. Follow the relevant links above to learn what you should do to keep your lovely pet happy through all stages of the long-distance move.
• Side effects. The side effects of moving to another state cannot be successfully predicted as each individual and each family will feel the impact of that big change differently. Some people tend to breeze through the adjustment period after a house move while others have it much rougher for a long time until they can feel right again. Stress, anxiety, and fear of moving to another state can all take their toll on a person’s psychological equilibrium. However, the trickiest period comes right after the move is over in the form of a true phenomenon known as separation anxiety. Be sure to know how to identify and cope with relocation depression before things get out of hand.

Top 20 tips for Moving From One State to Another