Did you know that on average, 3 million people move to a new state every year? That means that if you are thinking about making an interstate move, although you may feel completely lost, people do it all the time! You’ve got this. That being said, there are some tips that you can follow that will make this move much easier for everyone.

Moving to a new state can be a hard task, but moving to a whole new country is a challenge most people undertake only once in their lives. If the prospect of moving to another state has you feeling overwhelmed, here are some tips for moving to a new state:

6 Tips for Moving to a New State

You can take much of the stress off of a move like this by simply being prepared.

Begin With the End in Mind

Before you start packing everything up and moving across the country, think about what your dream place will look like when you get there. What climate do you prefer? Do you like mountains or rolling hills better? What kind of city do you want to live in? Thinking about these questions before making any major life changes may help put it all into perspective for you—there’s no point moving to your ideal location if it turns out not actually be what you want after all.

Research Ahead of the Move

Before you pack up your family and head toward your new state, it’s important to do a significant amount of research into where you are going. You want to be prepared for what’s to come when you get there. Moving to a new place itself is a change, but if you are unprepared for what the area is like, it can make it even more difficult.

Here are a couple of examples of some of the information that you should be looking up about the state in which you are moving to:

• What is the climate/average temperature?






• Is there sales tax?






• What are the average housing costs?






• What are the schools like?

Find a Builder or Realtor

Depending on if you are buying a home or building a home, you will definitely need to find your builder or realtor a few months before the move. You do not want to move to a new state without knowing where you are going to live, so this is an important one!

Since you are new to the area, finding a realtor that is an expert in the region is important. They’ll know the right places to look, whereas you might find that you don’t know which neighborhood is right for you.

Plan Ahead

Make a plan for your move and start organizing early. This will help you avoid any last-minute stress and ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Cost

Once you are settled on the ideal location, it’s time to determine how much moving is going to cost—it may be more than you think! Here are a few of the costs you can estimate ahead of time:

• Get quotes for moving services






• Use a road trip planner to estimate your travel expenses for the drive over. This should include estimated fuel costs, hotels, food, etc.






• Move in costs for your new home






• Any deposits that may be needed for utilities, etc.

What Will Be Coming With You

Now it’s time to take inventory of furniture in your current house, along with appliances and other items that are important to you. If possible, try to only bring the essentials on moving day so everything else can get there quickly and safely.

Start selling or donating unwanted goods before moving or packing anything up. It’ll save space in moving vans and time once you get there, plus it makes some extra money while helping others!

Hire a Moving Company

There are many moving companies out there, finding the right one can make your move to a new state a much better experience. If you have ever moved before without the use of professional movers, you know that hiring someone else to move all the heavy stuff is a wonderful treat for you!

Make sure to ask your friends and family if they have any moving company recommendations. Be sure to look them up online, check into their business license and be sure to check out reviews from former customers. You definitely want to hire a company with a good reputation.

Make Sure to Have Your Documents Ready

Moving to a new state takes more paperwork than when you move within your own state. This is because you will need to update your drivers license, etc.

Be sure to pack up and securely store the following documents before you begin your move:

• Driver’s license and any other forms of I.D.






• Proof of Insurance






• Checkbook and bank documents






• Birth Certificates, Social Security Cards, etc.

Moving to a new state can be a big change, but with proper planning and preparation, it can also be an exciting opportunity. Keep these tips in mind and enjoy your new adventure!