Relocating Out Of State

Posted by Gregg Camp on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at 2:46 PM By Gregg Camp / June 14, 2022 Comment

Are you planning to move out of state? This is no easy task. Generally, when you are planning to cross the state line, it seems like there are too many priorities on your checklist to accomplish. There is no doubt that moving is hard, and it seems the farther you go, the harder it becomes. Interstate moves are characterized by a set of challenges that make them more complicated. Whether you are relocating to another state to take up a job or you want to move closer to your family, or you want to change the environment for some personal reasons; whatever may be your reasons, out-of-state moves require proper planning.

Craft a Plan for Moving
Create a high-level master plan of how you’ll organize your move. Figure out how much money you can spend while moving out of state. Can you transport any of your belongings in your own car or rental truck, or will you leave everything to professional movers? If you’re planning a DIY move, you’ll want to look into the cost of renting a moving truck.

Make a list of any friends or family members who could help you with moving out of state. If you’re driving some of your belongings yourself, how much time do you have to reach your new home? Will you take out a moving insurance policy? The key to this first step is to prepare the big plans first so you don’t get bogged down in the nitty-gritty details down the line.

Get Rid of Stuff Before You Move
Take inventory of everything that you’ll bring to your new place, being sure to focus on the things you really need, like your dishes and a bed frame. Moving out of state can get very expensive very quickly, so you’ll want to keep costs under control by only moving these necessities.

Secure Housing and Employment
While it might not always be possible, moving out of state after you have a job lined up will take a huge load off. How do you find a job across the country? If possible, reach out to friends and family who live in your new area. You can also use job sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor to find openings and LinkedIn to leverage your network.
Housing is another essential worth locking down before moving out of state. It may not be your dream home. Hey, it might even be your cousin’s couch, but long as you have somewhere safe to sleep for a few weeks, you’ll be much better off than waiting until you arrive in your new area.
If you have kids, it’s a good idea to narrow down school districts or specific schools before moving out of state. If you’re able to choose your location based on the schools, even better.

Budget Everything-THIS IS SO IMPORTANT!
Hey, moving locally is expensive, never mind moving out of state, so you’ll want to save money wherever you can. Whether you’re using recycled packing materials or scheduling your move on a day with lower moving estimates, sticking to a budget will be a big help as you’re moving out of state.

Decide Between a Professional or a DIY Move
The most common deciding factors between hiring a professional moving company and taking on a DIY move are cost and convenience. Once you have your budget ready to go, you’ll be able to decide fairly quickly whether you can afford to hire a moving company or if a DIY move is a better option.
But the budget isn’t everything. Consider the distance of your move and how long it’ll take you to get from point A to point B.

Now that you know just what to do when you’re moving out of state, you can confidently take on the move and have energy left over to celebrate!