Moving Out of State: 6 First-Time Steps

Moving out of state for the first time can be both exciting and overwhelming. There’s the thrill of exploring a new place, meeting new people, and starting fresh, but there are also the logistical challenges of organizing, packing, and adjusting to a new environment. Moving involves multiple layers of preparation, and each one plays a crucial role in making the transition as smooth as possible.

By taking the right steps, planning effectively, and knowing what to expect, you can reduce stress and make your first out-of-state move successful. Here are six essential steps to guide you through the process, complete with expert tips and detailed advice for every part of your journey.

1. Create a Moving Plan

The foundation of any successful move, especially one out of state, is a detailed moving plan. Without proper planning, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and forget important tasks. A moving plan helps you stay organized, manage your time wisely, and keep track of the numerous moving parts associated with a long-distance relocation.

How to Start Your Moving Plan:

• Set a Timeline: Your first step should be establishing a timeline for the entire move. Once you have your moving date set, work backward to establish deadlines for key tasks like booking movers, decluttering, packing, and transferring utilities. A typical timeline for an out-of-state move may begin three months in advance to ensure you have enough time to tackle every aspect.

• Budget for the Move: Moving out of state can be costly, so creating a realistic budget is critical. Your moving budget should include everything from hiring movers, purchasing packing supplies, to travel expenses for you and your family. Remember to budget for incidentals, such as meals on the road, potential repairs, and last-minute purchases.

• Make a Checklist: A comprehensive moving checklist is your best friend throughout this process. Break down your move into categories like packing, notifying utilities, changing your address, and hiring movers. This checklist will keep you on track and ensure nothing is overlooked in the chaos of moving.

Advanced Moving Plan Tips:

• Start Early: It’s never too early to begin preparing for your move. Ideally, start three months in advance, especially if you need to hire movers, sell or donate items, and make travel arrangements. Early planning also gives you more time to tackle unexpected issues, like delays in closing a home sale or obtaining a rental.

• Use Moving Apps: Consider using apps like Sortly, Moving Checklist Pro, or MoveAdvisor to help manage your move. These apps offer features such as inventory tracking, packing checklists, and reminders to keep you on schedule.

• Plan for Contingencies: Always have a backup plan for unexpected circumstances like bad weather, delayed movers, or packing taking longer than expected. Add a few buffer days into your moving schedule to accommodate delays or mishaps. This will help keep stress levels low when the unexpected arises.

• Create an Inventory: For insurance purposes and general organization, create an inventory of your belongings. This will make it easier to track what you’re moving and help you determine if you’ve lost or damaged anything during transit. Use spreadsheets or inventory apps to keep things neat and easily accessible.

2. Choose a Reliable Moving Company

Hiring a reliable moving company can make or break your out-of-state move. Trusting a company with your belongings is a significant decision, and it’s essential to choose one that will handle your items with care, arrive on time, and avoid unexpected fees.

Steps for Choosing a Moving Company:

• Research and Compare: Begin by researching moving companies well ahead of your moving date. Look for movers with strong online reviews and ratings. Websites like Google Reviews, Yelp, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) are great resources for finding trustworthy companies. Compare quotes from at least three different companies to ensure you’re getting a fair price.

• Verify Licensing and Insurance: Moving companies should be licensed and insured. For interstate moves, they need to have a U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number, which allows them to operate across state lines. Insurance coverage is essential to protect your belongings in case of damage, theft, or accidents.

• Ask About Services: Many companies offer additional services such as packing, storage, and vehicle transport. If you have fragile items, oversized furniture, or require long-term storage, inquire if these services are available. This will help you decide which moving company best fits your needs.

Additional Tips for Selecting Movers:

• Watch for Hidden Fees: Some moving companies may add extra fees for services like handling stairs, long carries (when movers have to walk a long distance between your home and the moving truck), or disassembling furniture. Always ask for a detailed breakdown of the fees to avoid surprises.

• Request an In-Home Estimate: For more accurate pricing, request an in-home estimate from the moving company. An estimator will visit your home, assess your belongings, and provide a more precise quote. This method is more reliable than online estimates, which can sometimes understate costs.

• Read the Contract Carefully: Before signing a moving contract, read the fine print thoroughly. Understand the terms, including the timeline for delivery, your payment schedule, and any cancellation policies. Make sure every detail is in writing to protect yourself from misunderstandings or disputes later on.

• Consider Specialty Movers: If you have valuable items like pianos, artwork, or antiques, consider hiring movers who specialize in handling these items. Specialty movers are trained to handle delicate and high-value belongings with extra care, reducing the risk of damage.

3. Declutter and Organize

Moving out of state is the perfect time to declutter your home. The less you have to pack and move, the easier—and cheaper—your move will be. By decluttering, you also give yourself a fresh start in your new home, free of unnecessary belongings.

How to Declutter:

• Sort Your Belongings: Begin the decluttering process by going room by room and sorting your items into four categories: keep, donate, sell, and discard. The goal is to reduce the amount of clutter you bring to your new home. Be realistic about what you use regularly and what you can live without.

• Organize a Garage Sale: Selling your unwanted items through a garage sale or online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist is an excellent way to make extra money to cover moving expenses. Advertise your sale online, and if you’re selling online, take quality photos to attract buyers.

• Donate to Charities: If you have items in good condition that you don’t want to sell, consider donating them to local charities like Goodwill, The Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity. Donations are tax-deductible, which can also help you during tax season.

Advanced Decluttering Tips:

• Declutter by Category: Instead of decluttering room by room, some find it more effective to declutter by category. Start with clothing, then move on to kitchenware, books, electronics, and so on. This method helps you focus and prevents overwhelm.

• Digitize Important Documents: Scan and digitize important paperwork to cut down on the physical clutter. Use mobile apps like CamScanner or a home scanner to create digital copies of important documents like tax returns, medical records, and contracts. Store these documents in the cloud or on an external hard drive for easy access.

• Hire Professional Organizers: If decluttering feels like an insurmountable task, consider hiring a professional organizer to help you sort through your items. Organizers can assist you with decision-making, provide tips on what to keep, and offer creative solutions for storing belongings you want to hold onto.

• Set Decluttering Goals: Set weekly or daily goals to stay motivated. For example, commit to decluttering one room per week or one category per day. This keeps the process manageable and prevents procrastination.

4. Pack Strategically

Packing is often one of the most time-consuming parts of moving, but with the right approach, it can be more manageable and efficient. By packing strategically, you ensure that your belongings are well-protected during transit and easier to unpack once you arrive at your new home.

How to Pack Efficiently:

• Gather Packing Supplies: Ensure you have all the necessary packing materials, such as boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, furniture covers, and markers. You may also want to invest in specialty boxes for fragile items like dishes, mirrors, and artwork. Having the right supplies ensures that your belongings are secure during transit.

• Label Everything Clearly: Label each box with its contents and the room it belongs to. Include details like “fragile” or “this side up” to help movers handle your items with care. Clearly labeled boxes will make the unpacking process much smoother.

• Pack a Separate Essentials Box: Pack a separate box with essential items you’ll need immediately after the move, such as toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, important documents, and chargers for electronic devices. Keep this essentials box with you during the move so you don’t have to rummage through boxes to find what you need right away.

Advanced Packing Tips:

• Use Clothing and Linens as Padding: Save money on bubble wrap and packing paper by using your towels, sheets, and clothing as padding for fragile items like dishes, picture frames, and electronics. This helps protect your belongings while reducing the number of packing materials you need to buy. Plus, it consolidates your packing, so you’re not left with large boxes of unused linens or clothes.

• Pack by Room: Instead of randomly packing items, organize your boxes by room. This strategy ensures that when you arrive at your new home, each box can go directly to the room it belongs in, saving time and effort during unpacking. Label each box clearly with the room name, and consider using color-coded stickers to make sorting even easier for movers.

• Create a Box Inventory: As you pack, create a detailed inventory of what’s in each box. This can be as simple as numbering the boxes and jotting down the contents in a notebook or on your phone. Having an inventory will make it easier to locate specific items without having to open every box.

• Use Clear Plastic Bins for Important Items: For things like electronics, important paperwork, or items you’ll need to access immediately, consider using clear plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes. These bins make it easy to see what’s inside without opening the container, and they offer extra durability.

• Pack Heavier Items in Small Boxes: One common mistake is packing heavy items like books or cookware in large boxes, which can make them difficult to carry. Instead, pack heavier items in smaller boxes to keep them manageable and prevent injuries for movers or yourself.

• Seal Liquids Separately: If you’re packing any liquids (cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc.), place them in sealable plastic bags to avoid spills that could damage other items. Additionally, pack liquids upright and label the boxes clearly so they’re handled with extra care.

5. Plan Your Travel Logistics

In addition to coordinating your belongings, you need to consider the logistics of moving yourself and your family to your new home. Whether you’re flying, driving, or shipping your car, having a clear travel plan ensures everything goes smoothly on moving day.

Travel Logistics to Consider:

• Decide How You’ll Travel: Depending on the distance of your move and your personal preferences, you’ll need to decide whether to fly or drive to your new state. If you’re driving, plan your route in advance, including any rest stops, gas stations, or overnight accommodations if the trip spans multiple days. For flyers, book your flights early to secure better prices and seating options.

• Arrange Vehicle Transport: If you’d prefer not to drive your car to your new home, arrange for a vehicle shipping service to transport it. Vehicle transport can save you from the wear and tear of a long-distance drive and reduce stress, especially if you’re moving with multiple cars. AmeriFreight offers door-to-door vehicle shipping options for a hassle-free experience.

• Book Pet Travel or Boarding: If you’re moving with pets, consider whether you’ll bring them with you or make separate arrangements for their transport. Some moving companies offer pet transport services, or you may need to book a pet-friendly hotel along your driving route. If flying, research airline requirements for pets in advance, and make sure you have the appropriate carriers.

Additional Travel Tips:

• Prepare for Long Drives: If you’re driving to your new home, pack an emergency kit for your car. This should include a spare tire, jumper cables, a flashlight, basic tools, snacks, and water. You should also have an up-to-date GPS system or smartphone app to help you navigate unfamiliar areas.

• Arrange Lodging for Long Moves: If your move requires an overnight stay, book affordable lodging in advance. Consider budget hotels, motels, or even camping if you're a fan of the outdoors. Apps like Airbnb and HotelTonight can help you find last-minute deals on accommodations.

• Coordinate With Movers: Ensure your arrival date aligns with when the movers will be delivering your belongings. If there’s a gap between your arrival and the movers' delivery, you may need to stay in temporary housing or a hotel until your household goods arrive.

• Plan Meals for the Trip: If you’re driving long distances, pack non-perishable snacks or simple meals for the trip. This helps you avoid costly restaurant stops or fast food, and ensures you have access to food even in remote areas.

• Know the Road Rules in Your New State: Each state has slightly different traffic laws, speed limits, and regulations. Be sure to research driving laws specific to your new state, such as requirements for seat belts, mobile phone usage, or turn signals. This helps you avoid fines or accidents as you adjust to your new location.

6. Settle In and Update Your Information

Once you’ve arrived at your new home, the process of settling in begins. Beyond unpacking, there are several important steps you need to take to make your move official and ensure you’re set up for life in your new state.

Key Steps for Settling In:

• Unpack the Essentials First: Start by unpacking the most critical boxes—your essentials box, kitchen items, bathroom necessities, and bedroom basics. Prioritizing these items allows you to start living comfortably right away, even if it takes a few days to unpack the rest of your belongings.

• Update Your Address: Notify the United States Postal Service (USPS) of your change of address to forward your mail. You should also update your address with your bank, credit card companies, insurance providers, subscriptions, and utilities. Don’t forget to notify any schools, employers, or healthcare providers of your move.

• Transfer Utilities and Services: Set up utilities like electricity, water, gas, trash collection, internet, and cable at your new home. Some services may require advance scheduling, so try to arrange these transfers before you move in to avoid any lapses in service.

• Register Your Vehicle: If you’ve moved to a new state, you’ll need to register your vehicle and obtain a new driver’s license. Each state has different requirements and deadlines for registering vehicles, so make sure to familiarize yourself with the specific laws in your new location. Many states require you to complete this process within 30-60 days of your move.

• Locate Local Resources: Take some time to explore your new neighborhood and locate key resources like grocery stores, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and banks. If you have children, research local schools, daycares, and playgrounds to ensure you’re prepared for their needs.

Advanced Tips for Settling In:

• Meet Your Neighbors: Building a sense of community in your new neighborhood starts by meeting your neighbors. Introduce yourself when you have the opportunity and participate in local events to create connections. Neighbors can also be a great resource for learning about local services, events, and amenities.

• Join Community Groups: Consider joining local Facebook groups or community forums to get a feel for the area and connect with fellow residents. These groups often share valuable tips on local businesses, events, and services. Some may even host social meetups, providing a great way to make friends in your new state.

• Check Out the Local DMV: Research your new state’s DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) requirements, as you’ll need to register your car, update your license, and possibly get new vehicle tags. Some states require additional documentation or inspections, so plan ahead to avoid delays.

• Explore Your New Environment: Take time to explore your new state, whether it's hiking trails, beaches, or urban attractions. Discovering local gems helps you acclimate faster and makes your new home feel more familiar. You’ll also be able to find new spots for hobbies, recreation, and dining.

Conclusion

Moving out of state for the first time is a major life transition, but with careful planning and thoughtful execution, it doesn’t have to be stressful. By creating a detailed moving plan, choosing a reliable moving company, decluttering and packing strategically, and coordinating your travel logistics, you can streamline the moving process and minimize unexpected challenges. Once you arrive at your new home, settling in, updating important information, and exploring your surroundings will help you feel at home faster.

Whether you’re moving for a new job, a fresh start, or to be closer to family, following these six essential steps will ensure a smooth transition. And if you need help moving your vehicle, consider working with a trusted transport service like AmeriFreight to handle the logistics of your car relocation. With the right tools and resources, your first out-of-state move can be a successful and exciting new chapter in your life.