Moving to a new state is no small feat. Whether it’s bordering your home state or a total cross-country move, there are plenty of little details to think about before you can pack up and jump into a new, exciting chapter of your life. The United States is a huge country spanning about 3,000 miles from coast to coast — so, if you’re gearing up for a big move, feelings of stress and anxiety come with the territory.
With proper planning, you can wipe your worries away. Hopefully, you’ll have given yourself a few months, or at minimum a couple of weeks to schedule your next steps in your big move. It’s vital to examine and hammer down a plan at this time. From your expenses to what pieces of clothing and furniture you’re able to part with, there are plenty of things to consider every step of the way. In this post, we will go through what you need to know to make your move to a new state as painless and as streamlined as possible.
Tip #1: Decide on your mode of transportation
You have two main options when it comes to traveling from state to state: hiring a truck and packing up whatever fits, or starting with a blank slate and buying new stuff at your final destination for relocation. The method in which you move completely depends on this choice, so choose wisely and think it through.
For those planning on opting for the clean slate, starting fresh option, buying a plane ticket, or hopping in your car is your only requirement. A checked bag or a packed car will likely be enough to carry your essentials from point A to point B.
If you’re like most people who desire to bring larger items, like furniture, with them you have a few options to choose from. Here are a few of the most common methods, as well as the amounts you can expect to pay along the way.
Option #1: Professional movers: This is the easiest but most costly option. Whether you need Bay Area movers to help you get to Oregon or Boston moving services to get you to New Hampshire, the options are out there, you just need to research. Enjoy the convenience of professional help, but do be aware that professional movers come with fairly high costs that might affect your budgeting.
Option #2: Rent a truck: Truck rental service providers offer sizable moving trucks that can be used to transfer your belongings from state to state at more affordable costs than professional movers. You’ll do all of the heavy-lifting, but you’ll also save a good chunk of money.
Tip #2: Create a budget
Moving isn’t always as inexpensive as you might think. You’re going to need to stash away enough cash to save for your move to cover the costs of purchasing boxes, renting a truck, and more. Creating a budget will make your move run seamlessly without any introduction of any unnecessary expenditures. Bear these costs in mind when planning out your budget:
- Cost of a rental truck
- Boxes, containers, tape, markers, scissors, packing materials
- Cleaning costs
- Food
- Cost of professional movers
- Gas
- Plane ticket and luggage fees
- Lodging
- Cost of shipping goods
Tip #3: Sell old belongings
Try your hand at selling things that could potentially bring more money into your pockets before you dump all of your no-longer-necessary belongings. Apps and websites such as OfferUp, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace make it super simple to create a listing and sell it to interested buyers. You’ll be quite surprised to see how much demand there might be for your couch, old desktop computer, or outdoor plants.
Tip #4: Make sure your new home is ready for you
More critically than any other aspect of your state-to-state move is making sure your new space is prepared for your arrival is an essential step. There’s nothing more exhausting than going through all the motions of your move only to discover that the old renters are still in your new home, or that the final details on the house are not yet complete. Triple-check that you’re good to move in so you can gain get the peace of mind you need when embarking on your journey.
Do you have any state-to-state move experiences? Any tips we missed? Let us know in the comments below.