Moving Across The Country

Are you planning on moving across the country? Whether you’re moving out of Florida or moving to Florida, it’s finally happening. Life is taking you to a completely different state, and maybe even to the other side of the country. You’re changing your home, your job, and your friends. You decided to take the leap, and now you have to figure out exactly what that entails. So exactly how does one move across states?

First, relax. We know it may sound overwhelming and even intimidating to make such a big move, but you’re not alone. Thousands of people move across the country every year, and more often than not, their move is not nearly as scary as they thought it would be. With a bit of planning and a lot of communication, your out-of-state move will be the perfect start to your new beginning.

Check out our list of everything you need to know before your big move.

 

Start With Research

One thing you need to dedicate plenty of time to when you’re planning a big move is research. Depending on how much time you have before the move, you’ll have to start your research ASAP. If you are hiring a professional moving company, you’ll have to start researching:

You’ll have to make a list of the most important things to you and then work your way through the companies you’re researching by process of elimination.

 

Budget

One of the first things you want to establish before anything is your budget. You want to ask yourself questions like:

  • What’s a realistic amount I can personally invest in this move?
  • Can I/should I go into debt during this move?
  • Will my job be helping with my move?
  • Are there ways I can save money? (e.g., some moving companies offer discounts if you pay cash)
  • Can I start saving money for my move now?
  • Is any part of my move tax-deductible?

Having a set budget in place will force you to be extra careful about your moving expenses. You really don’t want to start your new life stressed out about your financial situation.

 

DIY Moving Across the Country?

DIY’ing your own move across the country can save you a ton of money. Of course, the trade-off is that you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting and logistical coordination yourself. With that said, it’s not unheard of for people to rent their own trailers or trucks to drive cross-country themselves. Some factors to include in your DIY move include:

  • Insurance for the truck rental
  • Gas
  • Tolls
  • Rental Fees
  • The difficulty of loading and unloading
  • Hours driving
  • Road Conditions
  • Weather conditions

 

Lighten the Load

When moving so far away, it’s typically recommended to purge as much as you can. Not only will purging give you fewer things to stress about, but it can significantly reduce the price of your moving bill. You can go as far as selling your more oversized furniture items, which can either help you pay for the move or buy some new furniture for your new home.

 

Shipping

An option that not many people consider is shipping all of their stuff to their new home. You’d rent a shipping container and “mail” your things to your new home.  This option comes with plenty of limitations, but it’s worth considering if hiring a professional moving company is completely out of the question.

 

Prepare for Changes

When moving out of state, you’re going to have a lot of things to juggle. It’s inevitable. You’ll have to mentally prepare for at least a few “plot twists” during the move. For example, suppose you hire a moving company. In that case, it’s not uncommon for the final bill to be a bit higher than initially quoted. Many people severely underestimate their belongings’ weight. They assume a certain weight and base the price on their estimate. When the actual weight of all their belongings is determined during the move, they’re surprised to find out it’s a lot higher than they thought.

 

Obsessive Over Contracts

No matter how you decide to move, other than DIY, chances are you’ll have a few contracts to deal with. We know it might seem like a pain, but you should always thoroughly review your contracts to avoid any big surprises.

From moving companies to car rentals, you must review every contract carefully. You might be surprised to find that you are strongly opposed to some terms of a contract. If this is the case with you, it’s better to find out sooner rather than later. Companies simply won’t do business with you until they have your signature. Even worse, some will hold your belongings hostage and won’t deliver them until you pay the rest of the bill. Make sure you know exactly what you’re agreeing to. If you don’t, you’ll be out of luck if anything goes wrong.

 

Don’t Stress Too Much

Many people each year end up in tears or panic attacks over a move. This does not have to be you. The idea of moving and the work it takes to move can seem overwhelming. After all, there’s plenty that can go wrong. However, if you follow these tips and take them one step at a time, the chances are that everything will run smoothly. Remember, tons of people move every year without a problem. There’s no reason that your move can’t go smoothly too.

 

Final Words on Moving Cross-Country

We know that moving across the country can be challenging, and coordinating an out-of-state move may seem like a near-impossible task. But if you remember anything from this article, remember to prioritize your needs. All you have to do for a successful move is make a list of your most essential needs.

We are fortunate enough to live in a day and age where we have almost every type of service available within the touch of our thumbs. So take advantage of that by deciding what your needs are, determining what you can work with, and then taking it from there.

We hope your move is as great as it can be. Check out our other blogs for tips on how to pack and things most people forget about on moving day.