Moving Out of State: 10 To-Dos to Cross Off Your List

Moving to a new state is a fun and exhilarating experience. But, you may hit constant roadblocks if you are not prepared. Fortunately, our out-of-state moving checklist provides you with helpful advice and tips to make your out-of-state move easier.

Before you begin your move, there are all sorts of factors to consider. What is the most efficient way to spend your time before the move? Are you going to hire a mover? Do you already have a new mailing address, and do you need one? Will you get a rental truck, and what items and furniture are you taking with you?

These are just some of the questions to consider before moving out of state. Our checklist covers the most critical items to examine before embarking on your new and exciting journey.

Moving Out of State Checklist

1. Visit Your New Home

Check out your new state and the city or town you will be living in before committing to a move. There is nothing worse than moving your family and all your possessions to an unfamiliar place to realize you hate it. Take the time to get to know your new home before you commit to moving there.

2. Start Networking

While visiting your new state, check out some local meetups and gatherings that engage your interests and start to build new social circles. You can also check out online social media groups that cater to your new city or town. Finding new people and activities that interest you and your family is a great way to get fired up to move.

3. Locate Housing

Have your new housing lined up and ready to go before you move. If you have kids, check out the local schools and find the neighborhoods you think will allow you and your family to thrive.

Compare listing prices, and if you are renting, get a feel for what you can expect to pay each month.

If public transportation is a concern, find an area with easy-to-access public use buses or trains. If you have any pets, make sure you find pet-friendly housing before your move. Get all your pets up to date with shots and vaccines before you move to avoid any housing issues.

With a new home in mind and familiarity with your new city or town, moving there is much more thrilling and appealing.

4. Build Your Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a crucial resource to have on hand, especially with the unpredictable nature of an out-of-state move.

Many unforeseen expenses could arise throughout the move, including unexpected costs related to weather delays, truck rentals, and vehicle breakdowns. Fortunately, with an adequate emergency fund, you have the resources to deal with any of these problems and not lose any sleep over them.

5. Notify Your Employer

Once you find your new home and visit it, notify your employer that you will be moving. Your employer may have programs to assist with moving costs, especially if you are staying within the company. Understanding what expenses you can expect to receive reimbursement for helps you immensely plan accordingly.

6. Think Ahead

Start planning every facet of your move, from everything including the cost of professional movers and rental trucks to packing supplies and their prices.

The more you list out and prepare for every aspect of the move, the fewer unforeseen problems you have to anticipate. Take this time to form a cohesive moving plan, start gathering packing supplies and discuss the move with your family and loved ones.

7. Transfer Utilities & Insurance Policies

Don't forget to transfer those utilities before moving into your new house! You'll need them when you move in, and you won't want to be stuck without power or internet after you've moved in. So make sure you get everything set up before you move in.

An often forgotten tip: make sure you update your homeowner's insurance & auto insurance policies.

8. Change of Address

Your new mailing address affects more than just your zip code. It also reflects a change in your taxes, and if you are moving to an area like Arizona or Washington, you may no longer pay income taxes. But, you will still pay federal U.S. taxes. If you move halfway through the year, plan on paying taxes for both states you lived in throughout the year.

9. Trim the Fat

Moving is an opportunity to get rid of all the useless items you may have been lugging around for years. Any household items or furniture you do not want are not worth taking with you. Unwanted items add expenses to your overall moving cost and are not worth taking.

Trim down your possessions and only take what you want. Take your unwanted possessions to a donation center for a tax credit, or sell them on a second-hand marketplace for extra cash to help with the move.

10. Start Packing!

If you aren't hiring a full-service mover or packing service, thoughtfully pack all of your items, especially the fragile and valuable ones, because they are in for a long journey, and anything can happen. Get all the supplies, like packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape, and any other packing materials you think you need to pack up your household. The better quality of your packing materials, the better chances your items have of surviving the move.

The sooner you start packing, the better. Begin with your off-season clothes and get them squared away before moving on to other items. Next, tackle the garage or basement to pack away seldom-used things in storage.

Now it is time to prep the rest of your belongings, including your furniture and decor, for the big move. Have all your possessions ready to go when the movers show up. The longer it takes the movers to get everything on the truck, the higher the price. So, having everything ready to go saves you considerable money in the long run.

11. Essentials and Irreplaceables

An essentials box to store all of your vital documents, like tax forms, driver's license, a vehicle title, vehicle registration, immunization records, and any other critical documents, is a must for any out-of-state move. An essentials box can also store social security cards, birth certificates, liability insurance documents, and tax forms.

Keep other valuable items like family heirlooms, fragile keepsakes, and prescription medication with you at all times. These items cannot be lost and should not go on the moving truck. Make sure these items stay with you in safely packed and looked after containers.

Plan Your Move Today

Moving out of state can be a frightening experience. But it is also an opportunity to start a new sensational chapter in your life. Our moving guide takes the uncertainty out of moving, so don't be afraid to start your new electrifying adventure.

At North American Van Lines, our movers have the knowledge, skills, and expertise to assist you through every phase of your new and exciting journey. Give us a call today at 800-228-3092 or contact us online to start your future now.