Relocating is like one of those activities where you love how it ends, but you would avoid the process if you could. Moving interstate can be quite a hassle, especially since you’re uprooting base and moving elsewhere altogether. It can get pretty overwhelming with your head buzzing with checklists. To make this process easier for you, here are 10 tips that would definitely help out.
1.Do Your Due Diligence
Nothing cripples you more than a lack of information. Before your big move, it would be a great idea to get familiar with the area you’re moving into. Information ranging from locations of great restaurants to relaxation spots, good schools, and even where the shops are, just go over to the new area and drive around a bit to get a feel of the place. Ask the locals questions, have them tell you some remarkable facts about the city. In no time, you would have a budding sense of familiarity that would help when you finally move.
2. Start Packing Early
The last-minute rush would have you leave some essential items behind or forget to send out that important relocation notification. When you pack late, you put yourself under a great deal of pressure since you’re trying to meet up. Packing early also gives you sufficient time to separate what you intend to carry along and what you’re leaving behind. Relocating out of state is a pretty big deal, so you don’t have to bring items that you won’t be needing anymore to clutter your new place.
3. Settle Your Accommodation
There’s nothing as calming and reassuring as knowing that a home waits at the end of your trip. At least a couple of months before you finally move, you should have contacted a real estate agent about finding a home. Buying or not, you need someone with expertise in the housing market there, and realtors are your best bet. They can help match your requirements with actual houses; the key is to find a great realtor.
4. Get All Your Records In Place
You would be surprised at how much important stuff can slip your mind when you’re moving out of state. Using checklists is a great idea until you find that there are so many boxes to check. So, to stay on the safe side, pack up your essential documents in a box and label them accordingly. Some documents that fall in this category include:
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Social Security cards
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Health records
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Birth certificates
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Tax forms
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School records
5. Inform The Utility Companies
The last thing you want is to walk into a home with no electricity or gas after a long day of moving boxes. Avoiding this is pretty easy; all you’ve got to do is inform the new utility company about your coming. Also, you don’t want to have bills piling up in your soon-to-be-former home, so tell your current utility company so that they can turn off your electricity, gas, and cable a day after your departure.
6. Mail Forwarding!
You wonder why you haven’t gotten your check in the mail in ages and snap; you remember that you didn’t set up your mails to be forwarded. A couple of weeks before you move, notifying the USPS of your impending address change is essential. You can visit their website, USPS.com, and set the date you want to start forwarding your snail mail.
7. Preserve Receipts
Moving interstate costs a pretty penny, so you want to get as much of your money back. For items you donated, save your receipts for the following reasons:
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You can get a portion of the value of the items you donated to Habitat for Humanity or goodwill deducted against your income task.
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If you’re moving because of work, and your company is covering your costs, you need to submit receipts to get your refund.
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Relocating for work may also allow you to deduct your moving costs from your taxes during tax season.
8. Transfer an out-of-state Driver’s License
You will need a new license for that state if you want to drive. States typically require that you get a new license within a specific duration after identifying as a resident. Transferring your out-of-state driver’s license would require that you visit your local DMV. Although requirements depend on the state, these are the documents you would most likely have to provide:
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Current driver’s license
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Proof of your social security number
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Proof of residency (such as utility bills)
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Birth certificate (probable).
9. Engage the Services of a Top-Notch Moving Company
Relocation services are a dime a dozen, and getting a great one might be quite the hassle. A great way to choose might be asking friends around for recommendations or checking online reviews. Next, check that the Department of Transportation licenses them. If these criteria have been met, contact them for a survey, and subsequently, you would get a quotation. If it fits within your budget, then you’re right on track! You can check out other interstate movers until you get one that suits your needs.
10. Prepare for the Big Day
A day before moving is a good time to tick off the final items on your checklist. Here are some items to include:
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Make sure your car is in prime condition if you would be driving there. Have your fluid levels checked and oil changed. Also, ensure your tires are in great shape.
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Unplug the fridge and defrost the freezer; this may take up to 24 hours. Throw out or gift any perishables you won’t be taking along and get an ice chest for the carry-along.
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Do some cleaning. Since you’ve packed up your stuff, do some light cleaning or invite a cleaning service to do some deep cleaning.
Conclusion
There’s no disputing the fact that relocating out of state can be a lot of stress. But with these tips in place, you can rest assured that it would go like a breeze. Now, get to doing!