Whether you’re moving down the street or across the country, it’s no secret that packing up your entire life and relocating can be a stressful experience. And though it can feel like the further the distance, the more intense the move, the truth is that any move can be made simple if you go about it the right way.
After all, almost 5 million people move to a different state successfully every year. If you’re moving to another state in the near future, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together a few tips that will help make even long-distance moves a stress-free process.
1. Start Planning Early
It’s essential that you start planning as early as possible regardless of the distance of your move, but this is especially important for those moving out of state. A lot goes into a move, and it all takes longer than you think it will, so plan ahead.
Create a master plan and checklist on your phone or in your planner, as long as it’s something that you carry with you everywhere. When you think of something you need to do, add it to the list right away.
By starting early, you relieve yourself of a lot of potential pressure. Instead of rushing around trying to organize everything at the last minute, you can take your time taking care of things and ensuring that you’ve done everything you need to do.
2. Declutter Before Packing
Before you begin filling boxes, it’s wise to pare down your belongings. This can be a lengthy process, but you started preparing well in advance of your move, so you don’t have to worry about that.
In each room of your home, create three piles of belongings and label them as follows: pack, donate, and purge. You can also create a “sell” pile if you have time to hold a yard sale or list your unwanted items online.
Go through each item that you own and ask yourself two questions. Does this item bring joy into your life and is this item worth the weight it will add to your load. If the answer to both is yes, put it in the pack pile.
Remember that the more things you bring with you on your move, the more expensive the move will be, so be as ruthless as possible during this process.
3. Gather Your Supplies
As you go through your home (it’s okay if it takes a few days or even a few weeks), start gathering your moving supplies. Before you go out and buy a bunch of moving boxes, do your best to collect them for free.
Many people will list their moving boxes for free online when they’re finished with them. If you can’t find any such listing, don’t be afraid to visit your local grocery stores and other retailers. They receive shipments all the time and are more than happy to get rid of their unwanted boxes.
You’ll also need to pick up some strong packing tape and a way to clearly label your boxes. You can do this by placing color-coded tape on each box, or you can simply use a marker to write which room the box will go in once you arrive at your new home.
4. Spend Time in Your New Town
If at all possible, it’s never a bad idea to spend time in your new town before moving there. Get a feel for the town or city and everything that it has to offer.
By finding your new favorite restaurant, park, or other attraction before you move, you’ll add excitement to the move and make your new city feel like home much faster.
If you have kids, take them for a walk around town, show them their new school, and talk to them about how much fun you’re going to have once you’re there. This will help to ease not only any anxiety they might be having about the move but also your own.
5. Track Your Budget
It’s an unavoidable fact that moving is expensive. And when you’re moving to a new state, that price tag becomes even higher. This is why it’s important to build and track your budget as you go through the process.
Write out how much you plan to spend on each aspect of your move, from the materials to the rentals to the gasoline it will take to get to your new home. Sticking to your budget will be a huge help in keeping moving costs to a minimum.
6. Decide Between a DIY and Professional Move
Continuing with the topic of budget, the next decision you need to make is whether you’ll move your belongings yourself or hire a local moving company to help you. This is in the budget category because hiring movers is more expensive than going the DIY route.
That said, that extra expense can be worth it when it comes to moving heavy furniture or packing up a large home. There’s no shame in hiring help and there’s nothing wrong with doing it yourself. It comes down to personal preference and budget restrictions.
If you can’t afford to hire movers, give friends and family a call! Offer to provide lunch (and maybe owe them a few favors) in exchange for their help.
7. Pack an Essentials Box
Last but not least, you need to set a box aside early in the process for your essentials. When you’re moving out of state, you need to keep your important documents in a safe, easily accessible place.
Pack your passports, vaccination records for school, military documents, birth certificates, social security cards, and tax information in one box or container. You should also carry this box in your car with you when you move. That way, you can take your time unpacking knowing that you have all of the essentials close at hand.
Simplify Moving to Another State With These Tips
Moving to another state is always going to come with a level of difficulty and stress, but if you go about it the right way, you can make your move a positive experience.
The best thing to do is to start as early as possible. You want to give yourself as much time as you can to go through your belongings, make arrangements, and pack. If you’re used to rushing through a move, you’ll be amazed by what giving yourself a few weeks can do.
Looking for more tips and tricks for making moving a breeze? Be sure to check out our blog!
