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Things to Do Before Moving Out of State

Are you moving out of state and searching for tips to make a move go as seamlessly as possible? Check out these tips from our moving experts here at all state to state. We've been helping people move their cars with ease, and now we're here to help you with your out-of-state move. Get helpful moving tips from our professional team, and switch states stress-free.

Secure a Job and a Place to Live Before Moving Out of State, Not After;

Securing employment and housing before moving to a new state will take major stress out of your move and your first few weeks of settling in. In most cases, you will have to pay at least one visit to your new state in order to find your job and your new house or apartment. This is a good thing. You want to be confident in your choice to move to a new state before totally uprooting yourself. 

Draw Up a Budget:

Speaking of money, all smart movers make budgets for their moves. Following suit will help you stay on top of your finances and eliminate (most) unwanted surprises. Don't just assume that you will pay for various parts of the move one-by-one as they come up. That's a slippery slope and will no doubt lead you to spend way more money than envisioned. Do some online research and see how much a typical out of state move will cost. This will help you make a realistic and manageable budget. It will also help you create your master moving plan.

Draft a Master Plan:

To go along with the master budget for moving out of state, a master plan that includes answers to questions like: how much of your stuff can you transport on your own? Are you and your family going to be traveling by car with your goods, or on a plane? Are you going to be taking out a moving insurance policy? If so, what kind? Which of your cars are you going to need to ship, and which ones are you going to drive yourself? When is the latest possible date that you can have your stuff delivered to your new house? Addressing and answering these questions before you actually attempt to move out of state will help you to put the enormity of the move into perspective. 

Understanding Delivery Spread Before It Leaves You in a New Place Without Your Stuff:

If you've never moved out of state before, you have probably never heard of delivery spread. No, the delivery spread is not the new hottest condiment for sale in supermarkets. The delivery spread is the range of dates that moving companies give you covering when they expect to deliver your goods. Moving companies give you a delivery spread of when they'll be dropping your stuff off at your new place, so these dates reflect door-to-door service.

Get Rid of Things You Never Use:

With most of the planning out of the way, it's now time to pack. A big part of packing is purging. Depending on how much time you have given yourself to pack up your life, you might be able to sell some of your unneeded items on Craigslist, eBay, Letgo, or other second-hand sales platforms. 

Pack Smart So You Can Unpack Smoothly:

Like your overall move, your packing process should have a plan. Planning ahead will streamline the packing process and reduce headache from start to finish. Start with your supplies. Make sure you buy boxes of the same sizes (or same two sizes), so stacking is simplified. Also, be sure to buy a lot of large, bold-tipped markers to mark all of your boxes. There are few more frustrating things than having to spend hours rummaging through boxes and shuttling them from room to room because they were labeled incorrectly or not labeled at all. 

Decide Whether You're Going to DIY Move or Hire Professional Movers:

One of the biggest decisions that you're going to have to make as you move out of state is whether you want to hire professional movers or if you want to attempt the do-it-yourself method of moving. There are pros and cons to both methods. Each individual move is unique, so we can't give you a hard-and-fast rule on whether you should hire movers. Preferably, if you have it in your budget, it is a good idea to hire professionals to move your things. There's a far greater chance of all of your stuff getting from point A to point B safely and intact if you hire professionals to take care of your cross-country move rather than trying to handle it all yourself. Reputable movers have extensive experience helping people safely and efficiently transport their goods. They know what they're doing, and they can save you a lot of stress and strain. 

Hire Movers You Can Trust:

If you've decided to hire movers, you want to be sure to choose the right ones. Do your research, talk to friends who have been in your shoes before, read reviews on reputable See if the moving companies you're considering are incorporated through 

Consider Shipping Your Car:

Most of us will hire movers to transport the stuff inside of our homes, but many will also need to hire a company to transport cars when moving out of state. Certain moving situations require that cars travel on their own, not driven by their owners. If you're in one of these situations, you need to work with a company you can trust to transport your car safely, efficiently, and affordably. If online reviews for a vehicle transportation company keep mentioning issues with lateness, unprofessionalism, poor customer service, or damages to vehicles, then it's best to steer clear of that company. Communication and transparency are other factors to look for. Good vehicle transportation companies will be able to give you a quick and accurate quote for the transportation of your vehicle.

Update Your Address:

Moving states is a major change, and you need to make sure all relevant institutions know about that change. Make a list of every single company or government branch that you'll need to notify and make sure to do so several weeks (or months) in advance of your move. (Sometimes, the red tape takes a while to unravel. You want to give yourself a good cushion so everything is ready to go when you arrive at your new home.) Have questions? A phone call is better than an email, and an in-person visit is best of all.