Making the move and resettling in a new state can feel overwhelming, especially if you've always lived in the same city. It's crucial to recognize that areas can vary significantly, which might bring about challenges as you adjust to different weather, employment opportunities, and lifestyles.
That's where the power of preparation comes into play. It's not just about crunching the numbers and assessing the financial implications; it's also about weighing up educational prospects for your children. Remember, hold off on packing those suitcases until you're completely convinced that this move is the right step for you.
To streamline your journey, we've compiled a succinct checklist of everything you should mull over before making the move. Take your time to digest each point and ensure nothing slips through the cracks. Trust us, a methodical approach will save you heaps of time and spare your nerves in the long run." for the article "Your Step-by-Step Guide to Relocating to a New State.
Learn more about your new state
When you find a state that suits your personal preferences, make sure to perform your due diligence. However, don't stick with just lifestyle options and climate. While moving to Alaska isn't the same as moving to California, it might be the ideal option for your family.
You should always prioritize the financial side of things and long-term prosperity. In the end, there's no point in changing the state if you can't make it a permanent home.
Ideally, you need to analyze demographic and macroeconomic data. Here are a few things you should consider:
- Housing rates
Of course, it doesn't make sense to move out of state if you can't afford a house in a specific city or country. Among others, you should analyze how housing prices have changed in the last five years and determine the cause of the change.
Are the prices soaring? If so, this means you might have trouble long-term renting. Are they decreasing? This is an indication of a bad local economy. Ideally, you should find a country and city with a stable housing market. Alternatively, you can quickly buy a home in a city that is on an upward trend.
When it comes to housing rates, you should place special emphasis on house prices in specific cities. Even if the rest of the country has affordable homes, houses at your destination might be expensive.
- Demographics
Demographics are one of the most commonly neglected things. Nevertheless, they can tell you a lot about the prosperity of a region.
Basically, you should focus on states with a young population. These regions are usually much more productive, given that their people are still working. The situation should remain unchanged for several decades, barring large citizen migrations.
Young cities are also fantastic for young families. You will always have places to go out to, and there will be much more business opportunities.
Speaking of migrations, you should also check how the city and state populations have changed over the years. As you can presume, states that have a losing population are usually on a downward spiral and vice versa. You can get great data on Wikipedia, but also by visiting Worldometers.info.
- Finances and financial opportunities
As previously mentioned, demographic data in itself can tell you a lot about financial trends. However, you can also visit a few specialized financial sites to learn how business opportunities have changed over time.
You can also use Bankrate and NerdWallet to learn how much it would cost to live in a particular city or state. This analysis is critical if you're an intern or just starting your business. Whatever you do, make sure to compare future living costs with future income in the new state.
Even if you're not a financial wiz, you should learn more about the concepts of inflation and credit rates. See how these figures changed over time and whether they're trending upward. They can tell you more about what to expect from your paycheck. An excellent financial offer can quickly fizzle off when you consider the local prices.
Among others, you should also learn more about taxes. Everyone has to worry about income, sales, and property tax, while business people should also think about commercial taxation.
- Education
If you plan on having kids, you should also learn about the local educational institutions. This pertains to all levels of education, not only colleges.
Using sites such as The National Center for Education Statistics and GreatSchools.org is an excellent way to start your search. These platforms can provide you with a lot of insights about the state of the local education system.
Find the perfect city before moving to another state
If you have that option, you should check several cities before choosing the ideal one for you.
Young guys usually opt for larger metropolitan areas as they provide more entertainment value. Unfortunately, prosperous cities have a tendency to become gentrified, which ultimately drives the cost of living up. So, enjoying initial benefits can come back to bite you in the long run.
When choosing your next home city, there are a few things you should ask yourself:
- Can I survive in this city with my current paycheck?
- Can a slightly better paycheck cover my living expenses in the next few years?
- Does this city have a high crime rate?
- Does the town have good elementary and high schools?
- Should I rent or buy a property?
- Has the population decreased/increased over time?
Basically, you’re asking yourself the same stuff you asked when choosing a state.
Of course, priorities might change based on your personal preferences, age, and job. For example, well-paid software engineers have certain liberties that are unavailable to other professionals. Whatever the case might be, you should take into account the local economy and other metrics essential for single and family life.
We also suggest that you live a few months in the city to see how it fits you.
Find a job in your new home state
Most people decide to move to another state after having a job lined up for them. However, there are also situations when a person wants to relocate at all costs, even before securing a source of income.
You don't have to be a genius to understand this is a very risky proposition. Still, if you decide to go with such an approach, there are a few things you need to consider.
If you can’t secure a permanent position, you should definitely have $5,000 to $10,000 in savings for unpredictable situations. That way, if you have to jump between jobs, you can always have a financial cushion.
You should also think about various menial jobs that can get you through if going gets tough. Is it hard to find work in local cafes and grocery stores? Will it be a problem if you try something else?
Sites such as LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed are popular in all states, and they can be of great assistance when looking for a new job.
Buy or rent a house before moving to another state
Depending on your current financial situation and a few other factors, you might decide to buy or rent temporary housing. Whatever you decide, make sure to address your housing situation before leaving your former city.
You can visit sites such as Zillow to learn more about the current housing situation in the city. If you manage to secure a hefty long-term contract from your new employer, you might even consider buying. However, don't be too rash if you're not sure whether this place is the right choice for the family.
Ideally, you should visit the area to check the offers in person. Hire a local real estate agent to get you acquainted with the new city. Alternatively, if you can’t come by, you can always take virtual tours or rent a smaller apartment for a few months before figuring things out.
If you decide to buy a property remotely, you should hire local inspectors to check out the house. After that, you can finish the entire process electronically by signing and sending documents online.
You should also think about the timings. Moving expenses are lowest during mid-month because moving services are much cheaper during this period. Renting a moving truck is also cheaper during these few days if you decide to drive household items yourself. Always avoid holidays when relocating as prices are inflated.
How to move to another state?
Now that you've covered all the basics and found the right city to move to, it's time to call a transportation company.
Unfortunately, most people get confused at this point. You probably have lots of experience looking for jobs and dreaming about cities where you'd live, but what should be your priority when hiring movers? We've created a list of specific requirements that a company needs to fulfill:
- Start by reading online reviews
Most people hire movers once or twice in their lifetime. So, you probably have no clue about the latest innovations, trends, and prices within the industry. Clients also don't know much about the potential issues that might occur during the relocation.
You should read online reviews to learn more about the problems people have with movers. Focus on the ones with lower grades, as these reviews are usually looking to vent their frustrations. They talk about the issue in detail, which can be of great help to you.
- Check documents and licenses for long-distance moves
Of course, a service provider needs a valid, new driver's license to relocate all your stuff to the new address. But did you know that movers also need other permits?
For example, if you're making a long-distance move, the company will need a special license that would allow them to perform out-of-state relocation. Professional movers also have two or even more insurances that protect your belongings.
- Consider all the services
Nowadays, movers are trying to offer as many services as possible to entice potential clients. While you probably won’t need most of them, a few services are considered basic.
First off, if you're moving to a new state, you'll need to find moving companies that perform long-distance transport. Depending on your particular situation, you might also need packing and unpacking, as well as junk removal.
Keep in mind you can save money on some of these. For example, some companies don't mention packing and unpacking as separate services. Instead, they perform it as a part of the package.
- Don’t get stuck on prices
One of the most common mistakes people make is worrying too much about moving costs. Although this is something you should definitely consider, it shouldn’t be at the top of your list.
Simply put, reputable providers will always charge you more for their services. Sometimes, this is just a reflection of their experience and reliability. Of course, you might also find local moving companies that can do every bit as good of a job.
Whatever the case, you should always make sure that a business is good enough to transport your belongings in one piece. Everything else should be a side note, even if a price is well above your moving budget.
7 Tips on moving to another state
Now that you know what to look for in a moving company, it's time to share a few tips that will help you move to a new neighborhood:
1. Contact movers
Ideally, you should contact a moving company a week or two before starting your packing. These professionals can teach you about the process and the best ways how to handle things. This is especially important for long-distance moving, which is much more complex than a local relocation.
It’s especially important to hire movers in advance during the holidays. Things can get hectic during this period, given that most families tend to relocate in their free time. Among others, by contacting movers a bit earlier, you have more leeway for gauging the market and finding the cheapest option.
When you find the right people for the job, make sure to schedule a move-out and move-in date.
2. Categorize all belongings into several groups
Before you pull out the boxes and the packing tape, you need to categorize all personal belongings based on item type. Packing plates together is a no-brainer, but did you know it’s much better to pack wool clothes separately from cotton pieces?
Another fantastic approach is packing items according to rooms. For example, you can put together objects that will go into the living room. That way, when movers start moving in the boxes, it will be much easier to unpack later on.
3. Think about the important documents
When packing, you should create a system for categorizing all the documents. If you’re suffering from a chronic condition and need to find new doctors quickly, you should place medical records on top. On the other hand, school records might be important for a new employer.
You’ll likely have to place a few important documents and objects in your hand luggage. This goes without saying for credit cards, cash, etc.
4. Think about unwanted furniture
Most people like buying new furniture when relocating to a new address. Unfortunately, unwanted objects are often thrown away, even if they have a few good years left in them.
While you can always pay the moving company to throw away the junk, we suggest that you sell your old items. The same goes for clothing and all other thingies of that sort. Make a massive garage sale and invite all your neighbors. This would be an excellent opportunity to make some extra money and say goodbyes.
5. Confirm the appointment with the movers
No matter what, you should always contact movers one day before the actual appointment. This is important for several reasons.
First off, you can check if something has changed in their schedule and if they'll be running late. This step is crucial if you're facing bad weather or some other unpredictability.
Secondly, you can also call them to give instructions. For example, you can tell them where to park or where you've placed all the boxes. The confirmation call is also necessary if you need additional services, such as junk removal. That way, you can give them a heads-up and help them adjust their schedule.
6. Think about your kids/pets
Depending on the size of your old house and the amount of furniture, it might take some time for movers to pack everything. Kids and pets tend to get restless during the process, which can cause several issues.
For example, you don't want your children running around as movers are carrying large furniture around. Not only is this potentially dangerous, but it can also prolong the entire process. So, we suggest that you leave them with neighbors. Alternatively, one of the parents can take them out for ice cream.
7. Fix your forwarding
As the last step, you need to tell the post office you're moving to a new address. Set up forwarding so that your future mail doesn't end up in the wrong hands. Similar goes for your cable provider and all other services you need to cancel before moving out.
When you're done with all of that, don't forget to tip movers! Like with any other similar service, tips are not a part of the cost, and they should be calculated separately.
