Moving Out of State Checklist

02.03.2023

If you want to leave the state for the first time in your life, be prepared to get busy for several months. No one says that it’s going to be an easy journey, but with some tips acquired, you can actually make a plan and move more quickly, cheaply, and efficiently. The moving is a thing that is only a tiny bit of the entire operation. Preparing things, creating checklist for relocating to another state, hiring a moving company, and settling things down take much more time than you may expect. Here we prepared some tips on how to make a moving out of the state checklist so you can adjust it to your needs. What should be done then?

Moving across country checklist

Relocation of you and your backpack is much simpler than delivering all the furniture from your old house. That’s why you should think first about whether it’s going to be a DIY move (moving things on your own) or using the services of local movers. The advice here depends on how much you experienced in the field of moving - have you ever moved on your own? If so, how many things did you take with you? Did you move furniture? Any fragile pieces? Do you have a truck? Because if you have the entire home full of stuff it’ll be necessary that you have one. And one of the most important questions: can you afford it? Gas costs money, as well as packing material. You may overpay if you want to do a big DIY move. Another and probably more crucial part that will be taken from you is time. It's especially related to people who have jobs and need to show up in the office. Do you have the time to pack, load and unload the furniture in your new home? That’s why a lot of people use the services of moving companies. 

What else can you do to make the move simple? For example, here is an approximate to do list for moving out of state: 

1. 1. You can visit the state you plan to settle down in. If you have a specific apartment or house in mind already - great! You may ask the owner to look at it in real life. Don’t forget to ask about how you are going to live around. You are not obliged to become friends with your neighbors, but the surrounding people should be adequate and quiet at least. 




2. 2. Research about surroundings, you’ll need to know how to get from point A to point B, or where to find the best restaurant in your area. If you can’t visit the city now - Google Maps street view will help you to get a basic understanding of the chosen neighborhood. 




3. 3. Don't be afraid to ask the locals online or offline questions about whether this or that part of town is safe, where you can take your family for the weekends or what are the best schools or kindergartens in the city. 
   




4. 4. Set a budget right in your “relocating to another state” checklist. It’s better to think about moving when you already have some money for this occasion. This is how you’ll know precisely what you can or cannot afford, which services of a moving company are available for you and so on. Be aware that most likely you’ll be paying taxes for both states - new and the old one for almost a year. There is an option to not pay income taxes, but it depends on the state you moved in. 




5. 5. Create “moving to a new state checklist” - a  list of things you should take with you, we mean everything. Yes, you will spend a lot of time making a list and writing down some furniture and cloth pieces, but it’ll be easier to pack everything once you have it on paper or in an excel document. 




6. 6. You’ll also need to take care of your pharmaceutical prescriptions and find a new doctor in the state you’re moving in, add your basic medicine to your moving to a new city checklist. It’s better to collect any needed medicine from the pharmacy before you move. If you have pets, don’t forget to look up where are the best vet clinics in the city. Thankfully, we all got Google today, so most clinics, schools, universities, and stores have feedback and are rated. 




7. 7. Choose a moving day with a moving company. Usually, it’s better to choose the date in the middle of the month, probably in November - May, because this is the time when moving companies are the least busy. 




8. 8. Once you figured out the date, it’s time to look at your packing list and start thinking about which items you should pack first. If you feel that you don’t need some things and will never use them, then why should you take them with you? It’s better to donate them to those who definitely need them. As for the rest of the pieces you’re going to take with you, it’s better to pack non-essential items such as decorations, winter or summer clothes (depending on the season), plushies, and so on, your can already cross them out of your “moving from one state to another” checklist. In one or two days before the move you should probably pack all the essential items such as toiletries, medicine, food, etc. 




9. 9. If you have a gym membership or didn’t return some books, it’s time to do it. Cancel all the appointments, and memberships, give back lent money, and just make it done. 




10. 10. If you have a car, it’s better to decide now if you want to ship it or just drive all the way to a new city. Calculate if shipment in your area will be less expensive than driving it on your own. 




11. 11. Before you move, it’s better to tell your friends and family about your intentions, if you feel that there is a need for them to know of course. Who knows what kind of help will you need by moving to another state? If you have kids, they can babysit them, if you need to stay at night somewhere in the middle of the road, you can spend less on hotel rooms and dropping off at your grandma's house. Or maybe you’ll need psychological support, then ask a friend to go with you for a couple of weeks to the new place. 




12. 12. If you need storage space it’s better to book it before the move, but before that, you’ll have to check on how much exactly you’re going to take with you. 




13. 13. Don’t forget to give all your service providers like banks, accountants, and a lawyer your new address. 




14. 14. If you have renter’s insurance, don’t forget to transfer it to a new place. Also, you should probably notify your landlord about the intentions several weeks before the move. Telling that you’re going to leave is probably written in your rental agreement, so check it out.




15. 15. If you have only one week before the move it’s better to start acting. Defrost your freezer, clean the oven and toilet, and so on. Or, you can call a cleaning company if you have extra cash for it. 

On a moving day, you should prioritize your own well-being above everything. No matter if you are traveling by plane, car, or train, you should be nourished and hydrated. If you have any pets just remember that they can get nervous as you do, so it’s better to not travel separately. Get enough sleep, pack the essentials, and your personal bag, and check the entire house again. You should always look at your moving to another city checklist. Maybe you forgot something to pack? You’ll probably have another opportunity to get it back. 

Once you are in your new home after the long road all you can do is eat and get some sleep. Just remember, that you will have to probably update your insurance, and car docs, get your kids (if you have any) emotionally prepared for a new school, unpack all the stuff, and make your new home comfy again. And yeah, it’s a new state, so there will be some time required to get acquainted with the surroundings, law, and new neighbors, or maybe you’ll need a job. But it’ll all be fine, almost everyone has gotten through it. 

Finch Moving can make your move easier. Just check out how many things we can do for you: packing your things in the boxes, loading them into the truck, and unloading and carrying the boxes to a new place. Finch can do anything related to moving. If you have something on your mind, feel free to ask Finch Moving and start a new life in a different state with us.