How to move state

If you’re moving state to be closer to family, retiring, or moving for a job, here are our top tips to help you make the process as simple as possible.

Before the move

Create a checklist

You can’t beat a good list, and creating an ultimate moving checklist will help you keep everything in line and organized throughout the whole process. A big move can quickly creep up on you, and you’ll soon find that you have much less time than you originally thought. So, with a to-do list in hand and a few months to play with, you can ensure your move is as successful as possible.

Write down all the things that need to be done and try to assign them in a week-by-week list. You could also organize jobs by order of importance so that you don’t waste time on trivial jobs when bigger things need to be done.

Create a budget, put money aside

There are a number of costs involved in moving, so it’s good to keep a little money in your savings so that you’re always prepared. Keeping a moving budget will ensure you have enough for everything you need and don’t overspend if you don’t need to.

Get rid of unwanted items

Depending on how far away you’re moving and how much space you’ll have at the new place, it’s likely you’ll need to get rid of a lot of clutter and potentially sell a few items. If you’re downsizing, it might be worth selling some things online, and all extra money can be adding to the moving budget.

When it comes to decluttering, a general rule of thumb should be that if you haven’t used it within the past 12 months, it can go. If you sell things on eBay rather than on Facebook marketplace, you might need to find a professional furniture shipping company, as shipping eBay items yourself can become complicated and expensive when not done correctly. Plus you don’t want to have to refund the customer because the item is broken when it arrives!

After the move:

Find a job

If you’ve not moved state with a job in place, you’ll need to get that sorted as soon as possible. Moving to a new state can be really exciting, but with new experiences, places to see, and restaurants to try, you’ll need a nice little income to get you started. It’s worth looking into the cost of living in your new area so that you can gauge what type of salary you’re going to need.

Get the car registered

If you take the car with you, you’ll need to re-register your car at the nearest DMV office (as it can’t be done online. You could even call them before the move to find out what documents you need to have with you for registration. States generally require you to register your car within 10-30 days.

Go exploring With so many new things to see, try, and eat, it’s time to get familiar with your new surroundings. Head out, have fun; the unpacking can wait till later!