How to prepare to move out of state: Moving checklist

Moving to another state in the country requires careful preparation and meticulous planning so that your out-of-state move can be crowned with the type of success you would love to achieve.

If you want things to go smoothly from start to end, you can’t just plan out the entire move randomly and act it out by improvising the preparation steps as Moving day draws nearer and nearer.

Actually, you can do it, but then you run the risk of facing the consequences of a chaotic, stressful, and overly expensive move to another state.

Remember that the easiest way to move out of state is to follow highly logical and consecutive steps to get you 100% ready for the upcoming interstate relocation. And then, when you know that you are well prepared for the big day, you will be able to reduce significantly the harmful levels of moving stress during that unique transitional period.

So, how to get ready to move out of state?

Pay attention to the following moving out-of-state tips arranged in 10 preparation steps to move out of state and be as ready for your long-distance relocation as ever.

1. Prepare a moving calendar

It’s not a coincidence that our moving out-of-state checklist kicks off with the very first and arguably the most important preparation task ahead of you – the creation of a relocation calendar.

Think of that calendar as a detailed out-of-state to-do list because that’s exactly what it is.

How you organize your pre-move time is crucial for the outcome of your relocation journey, so make the most of it.

Fill in your personal calendar with all essential tasks you can think of, then make sure you personalize them per your needs and prioritize them according to how many days you have until Moving day.

Must-read: Moving checklist: Interactive week-by-week moving timeline

2. Create a moving budget

Can you guess what the first page of your relocation calendar says?

That’s right – create a moving budget.

Having a realistic moving out-of-state budget at your disposal will enable you to monitor how your money is being spent during the different stages of your interstate move.

In most cases, the out-of-state moving company costs will be your biggest expense, but you shouldn’t forget to include all the non-obvious and even hidden expenses when moving to another state, such as additional services (packing, unpacking, disassembly, and reassembly of large furniture, temporary storage, etc.) and extra charges and fees (flight charge, long carry charge, extra stops fee, fee for handling of bulky items, etc.).

A well-made moving budget will help you track your expenses so that you can respond quickly and adequately if a task requires more money to complete than you allocated to it in the beginning.

See also: How to make a moving budget

3. Learn the cost of your interstate move

When you’re getting ready to move to another state, one thing that you must do at all costs is to learn the actual cost of your upcoming long-distance move in advance.

Why is it crucial that you know how much your state-to-state mover will charge you for the job of protecting and transporting your belongings to a place that’s located in another state?

• You will know how much you owe the moving company in advance so you won’t get an unpleasant surprise when it’s time to pay for the moving services.
• You will be able to set up your preliminary moving budget correctly, which in turn should give you greater control over your overall move-related expenses.
• You will know how much money you’ll be left with after completing the house move so that you can plan your post-move budget in advance.

How much do out-of-state movers cost?

The national average cost of an interstate move ranges from $2,363 – $4,930 (1-bedroom) to about $4,208 – $6,885 (4-bedroom) for a distance of 1,000 miles.

Use our Moving Cost Calculator to learn how much your state-to-state move will cost.

4. Find a reliable out-of-state moving company

What is the best way to move out of state?

Practice shows that attempting a long-distance DIY move will rarely end up being cost-effective due to the greater distance and the numerous hidden costs of self-moves.

Therefore, your best chance of finding the least expensive way to move out of state is to find reputable moving companies that move you from state to state.

Initiate the search for the best out-of-state moving company by asking friends or colleagues whether they can recommend a trustworthy and affordable state-to-state mover.

If you don’t get any recommendations for good movers, then use the quote at the top of this page to get in touch with reliable interstate moving companies that have been licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

And once you do, ask those professional moving companies to send their representatives to your home for an in-home survey of the things you have for moving. Remember that the only way to get accurate cost estimates is through on-site surveys from experienced moving experts.

Read also: What are the benefits of hiring reputable state-to-state movers?

5. Inventory your home for moving out of state

One of the most important things to know when you move out of state is that the distance to your new home and the weight of your household items will determine the price of your out-of-state relocation.

And since you will have no control whatsoever over the distance as a defining factor, what you can actually do to lower your moving cost is to get the number of the things you’re taking with you to a minimum.

Inventory your entire home to determine the present status and amount of your earthly possessions. Moving experts are unanimous that if you haven’t used an item in over a year, then you can easily do without it.

Save hard-earned money by moving only what you plan to use after the move.

6. Secure the right packing materials

When you’re getting ready to move to another state, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is who’s going to pack up your things – you or professional packers.

Needless to say, there are pros and cons in each scenario so you’ll have to weigh your options and choose wisely:

• Pack by yourself when you have enough time until Moving day, you don’t have any specialty items to protect, and when you know you can rely on your friends for packing assistance.
• Let your out-of-state movers pack up your things when there’s little time until your move-out date, you’re moving items that require professional packing care, and you don’t have any pals to help you out.

Should you choose the first option (DIY packing), the next step is to gather the proper packing supplies such as cardboard boxes of various sizes, packing paper, and bubble wrap to protect your prized possessions on the road.

Keep in mind that moving boxes will be your biggest expense when it comes to packing materials. Luckily, you should be able to get hold of cardboard containers without paying for them… as long as you have enough time to go looking for those free moving boxes.

Good to know: Where to get free moving boxes in your area

7. Start packing the right way

While preparing to move out of state, you shouldn’t forget about the most arduous and time-consuming task during a house move.

That’s correct – packing for an interstate move is never to be underestimated!

• Initiate the packing project as early as possible;
• Pack up your storage areas first and move to the rooms you use on a daily basis;
• Pack and protect your large and heavy household items first and then move on to boxing your smaller items;
• Make sure you pack a moving out-of-state survival kit for surviving the last days in your old home and the first ones in your new state residence;
• Pack your valuables separately and don’t even think about entrusting them to your out-of-state moving company.

Must-use: Packing timeline for moving – your packing calendar

8. Don’t pack items that are forbidden for transport

It’s important to know that your out-of-state movers will not agree to move any dangerous items (corrosive, flammable, and explosive) for safety reasons. You are not allowed to pack such hazardous materials because they can endanger people’s health during the move, or your items or the mover’s property.

Therefore, you must dispose of such potentially dangerous goods before Moving day.

In addition to dangerous goods, your state-to-state moving company won’t take perishable foods, pets, and plants onto their moving truck. So, use up or give away your perishables prior to the move-out date and find an alternative method of moving your pets and plants to your new residence.

Contact your interstate movers and ask for their full list of forbidden items before you begin to pack up your things.

Read more: What things not to pack when moving: List of non-allowables

9. Change your address and cancel subscriptions

Our moving out-of-state checklist continues with a series of pre-move tasks that will guarantee a smooth transition between your two homes.

While planning to move out of state, make a mental note that your address will be different the moment Moving day is over, so be proactive and change it officially in advance.

Head down to your local postal office to fill out a change of address form or do it online to save precious time. The other two ways to change your address when moving house is to do it over the phone or by mail.

As a consequence, your address change will trigger 2 other immediate tasks you should also take care of:

• Give your new postal address to close friends and important businesses and institutions;
• Cancel your current subscriptions and paid services, and consider transferring them to your new state home if applicable.

Important info: How to change your address when moving

10. Disconnect and reconnect home utilities

Obviously, you won’t be short of things to do before you move out of state during the preparation stage.

While some not-so-urgent tasks can wait until you reach your new house or apartment /finding a health care provider, registering your vehicle, securing your new home, etc./, others such as disconnecting the major utilities in your old home and re-connecting them in your new residence should be done at all costs, preferably a few days before Moving day.

Get in touch with your principal municipal service providers /electricity, power, gas/ and arrange for their timely disconnection and consequently their reconnection so that you don’t arrive in your new out-of-state home and find it in the dark.

Good info: How to transfer utilities when moving

See also: What to do after moving to a new state