How to Move Out of State: Don’t Forget the Small Things

You’re moving. And not only are you moving, but you’re moving out of the state. So, you’re wondering: how exactly should you go about doing this? 

That’s a great question and one that we can answer in detail. So, without further ado, here’s how to move out of state. 

Get Rid of the Things You Don’t Need

First and foremost, you need to lighten your load. As such, you need to start getting rid of the things you don’t need. 

Those t-shirts that you’ve outgrown? Donated them to the thrift store. 

That stuffed animal that you won at a carnival and keep stashed away in your closet? Do away with it, through any means necessary. 

The less you bring with you, the easier the move will go. Not only will you have less to pack (and therefore less work to do) but you’ll also need less room (and therefore won’t need to pay as much for moving services). 

Sell Your Possessions on Craigslist

To help fund your move, you should consider selling some of your possessions on Craigslist. If you have pieces of furniture that you can do without (like coffee tables or futons or etc.), you could make a few hundred dollars simply by selling them online. 

You’ll also free up a lot of space in the moving truck, meaning you won’t have to pay as much for moving services. 

Now, this doesn’t mean that you should sell everything you have. You should still keep your most prized possessions. But if there are things you’re on the fence about, there’s no doubt about it: you should sell them. They can always be replaced with newer models at a later date. 

Find a Moving Company

Unless you’re a minimalist, you’re likely going to need a moving company to help you move your possessions. If so, start making calls now. You don’t want to wait until the last second, as you might have trouble finding a good mover on short notice. 

Call around to several movers in your area, and obtain an estimate from each. To find movers with out-of-state services, search “out of state moving” on Google. 

Make sure to read up on each company. Peruse customer reviews and look at star ratings. We recommend choosing companies with a 4-star rating or higher. 

Note, if you have any special moving needs, make sure to look out for companies that serve those needs. For instance, you might need to move a large number of fragile items. Some companies are better equipped to accommodate that than are others. 

Research the New Area

Moving to a new area can be scary. The main reason for that is the uncertainty of it all. You don’t know where the bad neighborhoods are, you don’t know what there is to do, and you’re not sure of the area’s overall vibe. 

This is why, before moving, you need to do your research. Use a site like city-data.com to look up information on your new location. Not only will you receive a bevy of generalized information, but you’ll also find discussion forums where current and past residents discuss their thoughts on the location. 

You can ask questions, get a feel for different parts of the area, and form a pretty good idea as to what you’re heading into. 

Make Sure to Have an Apartment Waiting for You

Moving all of your things to a new state is a huge endeavor. It’s both costly and time-consuming. As such, before you start packing things into a moving van, you want to be 100% sure that there’s an apartment waiting for you. 

Keep close contact with your landlord in the weeks leading up to the move. Make sure you’ve paid all of your deposits. And, most importantly, make sure you’ve signed and received a copy of your lease. 

The last thing you want is to move 500 miles only to find that you don’t actually have anywhere to put your stuff. At that point, you’ll be paying thousands of more dollars just so that you can bide time until you find a place to live. It’s much more affordable to make a few calls to your landlord so as to ensure that you have a place set up. 

Make Sure You Have a Job Lined Up

Not only should you have an apartment lined up in your new city, but you should also have a job lined up in your new city. After all, you’re going to need to make money so that you can pay your bills. 

Before packing things into the trucks, ensure that you’ve received an official job offer. Make sure to keep in contact with your future employer until the day of the move. Remember: these things sometimes fall through. 

Thinking about moving to a new place without a job lined up? Just know that it’s risky. We would only recommend doing so if you already have a large nest egg saved up. 

Establish a System of Local Service Providers

Moving to a new state means new dentists, new doctors, new utility companies, and more. It’s almost like starting a new life. 

And while you could wait until you’ve moved before you discover many of these individuals, we recommend discovering them before the move. This will keep post-move stress to a minimum and will allow you to put your full focus on exploring your new surroundings. 

Finding new service providers can usually be accomplished through a Google search. But if you’re looking for medical providers, in particular, consider using the MedPro Systems® Databases. It offers information on whether or not a particular medical professional is licensed. 

Now That You Know How to Move Out of State . . . 

Now that you know how to move out of state, you might be searching for other such tips. If so, you needn’t look much further. Our website has tons of tips for you to peruse. 

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