Moving into a new home or space is never easy. It doesn’t matter if the move is to a new neighborhood, city, or state. It will be a long and tedious process. Generally, the farther you move, the more exciting and scarier your moving process may seem. You have to make sure you have the proper budget to begin your moving process and a reliable transport system to help you with the move. Not only is the packing and shipping part scary, but settling in a new place, becoming familiar with the culture, and making new friends is all nerve-racking. To make your move to a new state less scary, here are eight things you can do before, during, and after settling in your new space.
1. Create A Moving Budget
Before packing and shipping, create a budget since moving is a substantial financial commitment. Discuss the budget with the person or people you’re moving in with, like how much money you want to spend on moving and eventually settling. Out-of-state moving is not cheap. Depending on the distance, it can cost a few thousand dollars or even more. Plan how much you are willing or able to spend ahead of the move. This includes buying packing supplies, renting transport, and paying for utilities. You should also include utility and rental expenses in the new state. Paying for services like Wi-Fi and electricity can be costly, not to mention the housing prices that vary from state to state.
2. Hire Movers
Every move is different; whether you’re moving to a new city or state, you may have to hire a moving company. Especially for long-distance moves, for instance, if you’re moving from Denver to Nashville, look for Nashville storage units that provide rental trucks and external storage units. It may be cheaper to rent a truck and drive it yourself. While some people do everything from packing to shipping themselves, others want full assistance with packing and moving. You can opt for a full-service move where the movers pack and ship your belongings or save money by driving the rental truck yourself. Some moving companies specialize in long-distance moves. To find the best option, get quotes from multiple moving companies and decide what’s within your budget.
3. Visit Your Destination Before Moving
It should come as second nature that you must visit the new state before you move. Try to make at least one or two trips to the new city. You can visit the town hall or recreation center and look for housing recommendations and general feedback on whether the place is worth settling in. Don’t limit your decision based on what the locals say. Roam around the new city, and visit neighborhoods and the city’s attractions to assess if it’s the right one for you. Depending on your needs, don’t forget to check out hospitals, libraries, and shopping centers, among other amenities. If you’re looking for places in California, here you can learn more about the best places to live in Orange County.
4. Research The City And Neighborhood Before You Move
In addition to visiting the new city, look at neighborhoods that you might be interested in. Look for hospitals, schools, and parks if you plan to start a family in the new city. Also, research the city and neighborhood’s crime rate, weather forecasts, and other demographics before you move. You want to ensure the new place is safe and sound for you to move in (although, naturally, you may still wish to read more about the various options out there for home security, just to be certain). When you visit the new city, ask locals for their opinions and check the internet for reviews. It may also help to see how navigable the area is. Does the move require you to invest in a car, or will you be okay traveling by foot or public transport? You may also want to check out the city’s rental prices, utility services, and subscriptions. This will help refine your budget and make the move less stressful.
5. Research Jobs
Researching beforehand is crucial if you’re moving to a new city because of employment. If you have already secured a job in the new state, check if your employer proposed to cover your living and moving expenses. Many large-scale companies and organizations offer job relocation allowances to employees. Make sure to check if your company is offering one. On the other hand, if you’re moving to a new city to find a new job, look for opportunities before you move. You don’t want to pack your life up and move into a new place without securing a job. Looking for jobs in overpopulated cities or even small towns may be difficult. They might not have a vacancy, or the market might be too saturated for you to land a good job. Before moving, you should research employment opportunities and relocation allowances in the new city.
6. Figure Out Your Paperwork Before The Move
The most boring and often overlooked part of moving is figuring out paperwork. This includes updating your bank information, canceling subscriptions, or renewing your driver’s license before moving. A non-exhaustive list includes updating your address with your credit card and insurance companies, revoking utility services, canceling gym memberships, and updating your voting registration. Apart from these, you may also have to prepare moving-related paperwork beforehand. The statement of your old lease and employment record, among other important documents, is what you need to prepare and organize before the move. While it’s better to keep everything in order before the move, some documents will have to wait until you move into the new state.
7. Declutter Everything Before You Pack
Getting a hold of your finances and organizing paperwork is essential when moving to a new state. But packing your belongings and preparing for the move are the most important and nerve-racking for many. Before you buy packing materials, declutter whatever you don’t need to bring to the new home. Old furniture that is too bulky to move around and ship, worn-out clothes, and little trinkets that will only hoard space are better off if donated or gotten rid of. Once you have decluttered, start packing. Some moving companies offer packing your belongings, whereas others only provide sturdy packing materials for you to pack everything yourself. Whatever you prefer, make sure to begin packing a month or a couple of weeks before you move.
8. Prepare For A Cultural And Lifestyle Shift
Although not directly linked with the packing and shifting process, socializing in the new city is crucial to adjusting to your new life. Before moving, take the time to understand the culture and lifestyle of the city. You want to know what the new city is like in terms of art, sports, food, music, and people. It’s better to assess the new city based on these criteria before you move. If you’re moving to a new city because of your job, you may have some ease making new friends, starting with your coworkers. However, look for new ways to meet and interact with new people, like signing up for a new gym or club membership or volunteering in the new community.
Conclusion
Moving to a new state is more intimidating than moving to a new city or neighborhood, especially if you don’t have any friends or family living there. Nevertheless, it is a new beginning and, hopefully, an exciting one. However, with proper planning, you can make your move to a new state less scary.
