Planning a move takes a lot of patience and time. There are a lot of factors to consider in order to ensure the move goes as smoothly as possible. No matter what type of move you’re in the process of it, it’s common to feel stressed out.
However, when you’re planning a long-distance move, the stress grows even greater. To reduce stress and keep things organized, it’s ideal to have a moving-out-of-state checklist. On this checklist, you’ll have everything you need to move successfully out of state.
Continue reading the guide below for some of the best moving tips on this moving-out-of-state checklist!
Start the Planning Process Early
If you want to have a stress-free move, then you’ll want to start the planning and packing process as early as possible. Don’t wait until a few weeks before to start it. Instead, give yourself at least six weeks to pack and plan.
This way, you don’t feel rushed. If any surprises happen along the way, then you’ll also have enough time to sort everything out without having to stress out about it. Packing up and moving an entire home out of state is a big project to tackle. When you start early, it won’t feel as big of a project because you break it down into sections.
Pack Room by Room
To start packing your house for an out-of-state move, consider packing room by room. Start with one room and don’t move on to the next until you’ve finished packing it. This can help you stay focused and organized.
Another helpful tip is to start with the rooms you use the least. For example, you might want to pack up the guest bedroom first or the den. Save the most-used rooms for last, such as the kitchen and bathroom.
This will prevent you from needing to take certain items out of the boxes once you’ve already packed them, like pots and pans.
Label All Moving Boxes
As you pack up each room, do be sure to place a label on each and every box. The labels should tell you which room the box belongs to and a brief description of what’s in the box. Doing this will make it easier for you when it comes time to unpack everything.
It’s also beneficial to use some sort of color-coding system that works best for you. You can use different colors for different rooms or different colors for boxes that need to be handled with extra care. Create a system that works well for you.
Create an Essentials Box
As you begin to pack up your entire house, you’ll notice there are some items you can’t simply pack up and forget about until you arrive at your new house. That’s where the essentials box comes into play. A moving essentials box is a box or bag that holds all of your essential items in it.
Each member of the family should have their own essentials box. Think of all the items needed on a daily basis. These are the items to put in the box.
Generally speaking, you’ll want to include your toothbrush, toothpaste, medications, toiletries, and other important items in this box. Younger children might want to include their favorite toy or blanket they can’t sleep without, and so on.
Contact Utilities and the Post Office
During this hectic time, don’t forget to contact your utility providers and the local post office. You should let your utility providers know that you’re moving, your new address, and your moving date. This way, you’re not paying for utilities in a home you’re no longer living in.
If you can switch some of the utilities that would be ideal. Otherwise, make sure to contact the utility providers in your new state and have them set up and ready to go so when you arrive at your new home you have water, electricity, internet, and more. You want to contact the post office to put in a change of address with them.
After doing so, they can be sure to forward all of your mail to your new address.
Give Yourself a Moving Timeline
Because there’s so much to do and plan for, it’s beneficial to give yourself a moving timeline. Sit down and write out a schedule/timeline for yourself. When do you need to be finished packing?
How many weeks does this give you? What can your weekly packing/moving goals be to ensure you finish everything on time? When you create a timeline and stick to it, it breaks down the amount of work you have and gets you organized.
This is one of the best ways to not only finish your move on time but reduce associated stress as well.
Hire Professional Long-Distance Movers
The last tip we have for you to keep in mind is to hire a moving professional. A great moving company can pack up your entire house for you, transport your belongings with care, and even unpack them once they arrive at the new location. When you hire professional movers, you save yourself time, stress, and labor.
You can always purchase insurance for your items in case of any damages and you can have some peace of mind knowing your stuff is in the hands of professionals. They’ll know how to wrap and pack specific items to prevent damages and be as proficient as possible.
What’s on Your Moving-Out-of-State Checklist?
What items do you have on your moving-out-of-state checklist? Use our checklist given above as your own or use it as a guideline when creating yours. When you plan in advance and get organized, you can expect a stress-free move.
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