Whether you’re starting a new job, moving closer to family, or looking for a change, moving states can be a daunting and complicated process. Ordering a new ID, updating your address, packing your belongings—the logistics can seem overwhelming.
But there’s also a sentimental side to moving, and it can be emotional to leave a place where you’ve created memories and friendships. So, how should you approach an interstate move?
In this blog post, the experienced movers from Green Wheels Moving & Storage discuss tips to help you prepare to move to a new state. We provide helpful planning advice, suggest some key characteristics of reputable movers, and discuss the importance of settling into your new community.
If you’re considering moving to a new state, this blog is for you!
Plan Your Interstate Move Well in Advance
When moving, the best thing you can do is give yourself time to prepare. Whether you’re hiring professional movers to disassemble your furniture and pack your boxes or you’re opting to manage the majority of the packing yourself, allotting adequate time to sort your belongings will help reduce your stress.
Anyone who’s moved recently can tell you that organizing, packing, and saying goodbyes always takes longer than anticipated. It doesn’t matter whether you’re moving out of a studio apartment or a multi-story family home—it’s essential that you start planning your interstate move early.
Declutter Your Belongings
A key part of preparing for an interstate move is sorting your belongings and deciding what you want to keep and what you can dispose of. Moving is an excellent opportunity to declutter your items.
If you’ve collected too many knick-knacks, noticed you don’t need that extra pair of boots, or simply don’t want to lug large items across the country, you can take the time to dispose of garbage and donate unused items to local shelters and community centers.
Decluttering will simplify your move, reduce the number of boxes you require, and give you a positive mental boost ahead of your next chapter.
Organize Your House Using Moving Boxes
Another step we recommend when planning your move is to go room by room, organize your belongings, and estimate how many boxes you’ll need. There’s no worse feeling than packing up the day before your move and realizing you don’t have enough containers to transport all your stuff.
Organizing your belongings room by room can also make the packing process more palatable. By breaking your packing down into smaller sections, you’ll understand the scope of your moving needs more accurately and be able to plan accordingly.
Manage Local Utilities and Subscriptions
The other significant part of planning your move is notifying local utility suppliers and managing subscriptions associated with your address. This means scheduling utility disconnections, informing your bank of an address change, and communicating with other service providers that you won’t use them anymore.
Create a Moving Checklist
Our team also strongly suggests creating a comprehensive moving checklist to ensure all your affairs are in order before switching states. This will help you stay on top of your commitments, prevent you from forgetting anything significant, and ensure your important documents are all together.
Your moving checklist doesn’t just have to be logistical—it can also involve sentimental things. If there’s a restaurant you’ve always wanted to try, a local tourist attraction, or a park you always visit, you should add those, too.
Your moving checklist will be particular to your needs but may look something like this:
- Hire a moving company and select a moving day.
- Put all important documents in a binder.
- Declutter belongings one month before moving day.
- Update address with banks, credit card companies, and other financial institutions.
- Confirm transportation for family and pets.
- Pack a suitcase with essentials for the first few days.
- Dismantle furniture.
- Perform a final walkthrough after the truck is packed.
- Hand over keys.
Hire a Reputable Long-Distance Moving Company
When moving across state lines, it’s essential that you hire a moving company you can trust. Professional movers will use commercial-grade equipment and techniques to keep your belongings safe and help you stay on schedule. Working with reputable movers will prevent you from doing heavy lifting, streamline your packing, and let you focus on the bigger picture of your move.
With so many moving companies offering long-distance services, it can be challenging to know who to hire. We recommend doing some research and partnering with a local company with the following:
- Licensing, insurance, and registration
- Background-checked staff
- Experience with interstate moves
- Packing, disassembly, and reassembly services
- Positive ratings and customer reviews
- Free estimates on packing and moving
- Communicative customer service
Invest in Moving Insurance
Investing in moving insurance is a commonly overlooked aspect of preparing for an interstate move. Your moving company should have either Released Value Protection (RVP) or Full-Value Protection (FVP) insurance. However, if you’re transporting any valuables, you may want to invest in a third-party policy to supplement the coverage of your movers.
Research Your New State
Finally, we recommend researching your new state and the community you’ll join at your new residence. This can involve finding your new bank branch and looking at the school you’ll enroll your children in, but it can also include researching local events and opportunities to get to know your neighbors.
Moving away from friends and family can be very emotional, so immersing yourself in your community and finding opportunities to build new connections can make the change easier.
Reach Out to Green Wheels Moving & Storage for Help Planning Your Move
Preparing for an interstate move can be a lengthy process, but planning each phase of the move and getting organized early can make your relocation simple and seamless.
If you’re considering an interstate move and are feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of the change, we invite you to reach out to the friendly team at Green Wheels Moving & Storage. As licensed, experienced movers, we can help you organize and plan your move down to the minute. We prioritize your satisfaction and have a proven track record of exceptional service.
Call (866) 406-6837 today and book a risk-free consultation with our team.