Moving to a new state can be exciting, but there are also several challenges that come with such a huge transition. You’ll have to manage your finances and organize the logistics of moving to ensure that relocating is as easy as possible.
It’s important to have a few strategies on hand for your move so you can have a stress-free move and make this significant change in your life a positive one for you and your family. Here are a few to keep in mind.
Figure Out How Much You Can Handle Yourself
Before you start the moving process, you should see how much of the move you can handle yourself. Consider how much packing you have to do, the amount of heavy lifting involved with moving your furniture, and transportation to get your household items from one state to the next.
Remember that moving to a new state means you’ll have to think about each element of the move individually. Can you realistically load all your items in the moving truck yourself? Will you be driving all your furniture to your new state? Would it make more sense to pay a moving company to handle this for you? These questions can help you determine how to organize your moving budget as well. Whether you decide to hire full-service movers or simply want movers to pack your belongings so you can transport them, coming up with a strategy that works for your family can make this major move more manageable.
The American Moving and Storage Association shares that a full-service move can cost over $5,000 if you’re moving out of state. If you pack your goods yourself and hire a company to move your furniture, you can save about $2,000. If you handle all the moving tasks yourself, you’ll spend between $800 and $1,500. While this price may seem appealing, you may find that hiring movers can put your mind at ease and free you up to take care of other important tasks related to your move.
Decide Whether You Want to Rent or Buy
If you’re moving to a new state, it may be better to rent your new residence. This can be helpful if you haven’t had a chance to get a feel for your new community before the move. Once you move into your new place, take your time to get to know the neighborhoods and learn your surroundings. Determine which factors are most important to you when it comes to a residential space. If you’re not getting all these things in your rented home or apartment, take note of what you want in a home you want to own. If you rent your residence, you’ll have six months to a year to prepare for your next move in a new state. During this time, you may find that you like another area of the city better or want to close to certain schools and local attractions.
If you prefer to purchase a home in your new state, you may want to arrange to visit the house in person before your official move. For instance, if you’re moving to the Logan area, you can check out Logan Utah real estate to find homes that are the right size and style to meet your needs. While looking at pictures online and even taking a virtual tour can be helpful, taking a physical tour of your new home will let you know if the house has enough spaces and amenities for you and/or your family.
You may also want to consider renting out your current home as you prepare to move to a new location. This can provide additional income to help you get settled into your new place.
Make a To-Do List
There’s a lot to think about when you’re relocating, which is why you need a to-do list. Write down all the utilities you need to cancel before you move and whether you need to change your bank. Write down all the list of services like cable and internet service that you can transfer across state lines. Fill out a change of address form with the post office so all your mail is forwarded to your new address.
The more you plan, the smoother your move to a new state will go. Organizing your move can also help you save money during and after the moving process.
