The anticipation of moving is both exciting and stressful, often producing a profound effect on soon-to-be movers. To help with this process, we’ve put together some helpful tips in this blog you can use as a moving to another state checklist.
Whether planning to lug items across state lines on your own or enlisting the help of professional movers, read on for helpful reminders when moving to a new state.
A Checklist for Moving to a New State
In the following section, we’re providing itemized lists in chronological order that should help when moving to a different state, whether you’re buying or renting. Though we strived to make this moving to another state checklist as exhaustive as possible, note that unique situations could require extra (or fewer) steps and change the order in which you tackle the list – for best results, print this page or copy to a doc and add to it as needed!
Laying the Foundation for Moving to a Different State (8-12 weeks before):
1. Explore the destination. When possible, visit the location where you intend to relocate and explore. This firsthand experience helps establish realistic expectations and provides a foundation to get your bearings while figuring out where essential businesses are located, like grocery stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, etc.
Scope out areas where you might want to plant your feet and try to speak with people in the area to learn what you can. This is also an excellent time to figure out commute times, provided you know where you’ll work and live.
2. Gather online intel. If you discovered a location during your visit or already know where you’d like to live specifically, take advantage of online tools like Walk Score, AreaVibes, and Neighborhood Scout to assess factors like walkability, livability, safety, and school systems. At the very least before moving to a new city, try out Google Maps to get a bird’s eye view of an area and start from there. Explore forums and social media groups (hint: see if there’s a subreddit for your area) where residents share insights and experiences.
Remember that many take to these forums to complain, so take some information you encounter with a grain of salt.
3. Make a moving budget. Moving to a new state will involve expenses even if you plan to do the heavy lifting yourself. Create a detailed budget to ensure financial clarity and include moving costs associated with the move itself (e.g., the fee for professional movers, gas money if you’re doing it yourself, containers for your items, utility and security deposits, etc.) to make sure you won’t come up short.
It’s also a good idea to consider cost-of-living adjustments, accounting for things like potential tax differences (sales and property taxes), cost of goods (hint: check groceries you would typically purchase and compare), and other expenses you might incur.
4. Find leads for employment. If you’re not moving to a different state for a new professional role, try to at least secure leads beforehand, if not an actual job. Should you find that your move will drain your finances and leave you without employment, it might be best to hold off until you’re better prepared financially.
Gearing Up for the Move (4-8 weeks before):
1. Healthcare, pets, and children. Ensure the smoothest possible transition for your family members and yourself by locating healthcare providers and schools. Getting these matters ironed out before you move can help save headaches should a medical or veterinary provider not be accepting new patients or if a school is unable (or unwilling) to take on a new student.
Keep in mind, if you plan to rent, not all locations accept pets, and most that do will require an additional security deposit.
2. Arrange for moving help. Compare moving companies thoroughly, or make sure you have reliable help lined up well in advance before moving to a new city. Obtain quotes from multiple providers, check online reviews, and choose the one that best fits your budget, needs, and desired level of service. Consider insurance options the moving company offers for added peace of mind or with providers like U-Haul if physically moving household affects yourself.
If a friend or family member is helping you move to another state, make sure you have arrangements for them to return home safely.
3. Organize your documents. Create a dedicated file or binder for crucial documents like moving estimates, receipts, contracts, insurance information, and possibly this blog if you took our suggestion and printed it to use as a moving to another state checklist.
Things can go wrong, and receipts or other documentation is handy should some element of your move fall through. This will be especially helpful if your employer offers moving assistance, as they’ll likely require proof of your expenses.
4. Plan for furniture. Once you’ve selected a home to purchase or a spot to rent, you’ll want to understand how all your items will fit in the new place. Measure your items, especially larger items like furniture and appliances, to determine how they can be arranged in a new space.
Anything that won’t fit and is in good repair can usually be sold using services like Facebook Marketplace and other social platforms. Large items that need to be discarded often require a special arrangement with your local waste service, so make sure to follow protocol and avoid potential fines.
5. Satisfy conditions for professional licenses. Depending on your profession, you may need to update your licensing to be able to perform services legally in a new location. It’s one of those legal things to do when moving to a new state that’s easy to forget, but is absolutely essential. For some roles, a job that requires no licensing in your current area might not be the case for a new location, so make sure to get this figured out well in advance.
6. Obtain and forward documents for schools. If you have children, notify their current schools and obtain the necessary records for enrollment in schools in your new city. Research educational options in your chosen area and check with the administration to understand their requirements.
Moving Day & The Surrounding Days
1. Prepare to vacate. When selling a home and moving to a new state, you’ll want to ensure that all major systems are in working order and that everything appears as nice as possible. Of course, buyers can always request additional accommodations like flooring or paint allowances, so keep this in mind while navigating this process.
When vacating a rental, clean and repair everything to the best of your ability. Make sure to schedule a final walkthrough with your landlord so you can verify the condition of the property and reclaim your deposits when applicable.
2. Pack your items. Naturally, you’ll want to pack everything you own carefully, ensuring fragile items are well secured. While some professional movers will pack items, it’s usually best to at least pack valuable or irreplaceable items yourself, just in case. Packing something like a suitcase with your most essential items is also a good idea, should some unseen issue surface white.
If moving to a new city or moving to a new state is temporary, consider purchasing durable plastic containers, as these can be reused for relocation efforts in the future. Even if you plan to stay permanently, these items can be helpful for items you’d like to store.
3. Get a final confirmation from the movers. Double-check details with your chosen movers to avoid last-minute surprises. Understand that weather can cause delays, especially if you’re moving to a different state during winter with heavy snow or substantial ice. At the very least, it can slow the process down.
In some cases, professional movers can either be delayed or arrive early if you’re not the first (or only) move scheduled for their day, so make sure your contact information is correct so they can keep you up to speed.
4. Make arrangements for utilities and mail. Ensure a seamless transition of utilities and mail forwarding by scheduling service disconnections at your old address and initiate mail forwarding with the post office well in advance. Also, update your address with all important institutions, like banks, credit card companies, and delivery subscriptions.
Sometimes, when moving to a different state nearby, the same power company might service your new area, meaning you’ll simply need to schedule a transfer to the new address.
5. Double-check everything. You’ll surely check to verify all your items made it safely but also follow up with other matters. Have someone walk through your old residence to check for any missing items, and possibly clean up any messes made during moving. Perform a final check to ensure your information is updated with financial institutions and any delivery or subscription services.
Once you’ve gone through this moving to another state checklist and verified everything is in order, you can start unpacking your belongings and settling into your new home!
