Moving out of state takes a lot of planning and the sooner you start the better. There are a lot of things to consider and there can be a lot of travel and money involved. Here are some tips on how to have an easier out of state move.
1. Save money
One of the things you are going to need a lot of is money. You will most likely have to travel to your new state before moving there. It’s best to have a job and a place to live lined up before moving. To do so this you’ll need to go see the residence and go to job interviews which is much easier to do if you’re actually in the state. Even if you are comfortable renting an apartment online or can do your job interview over the phone, it’s still good to make sure you like the area and make sure that everything is legit.
If you want to move your belongings across states then that will cost probably a couple thousand dollars. If you are driving or flying there are travel expenses for yourself as well. There are cleaning expenses for your old apartment. There will be deposits and move in fees at your new place.
Wait, there’s more.
Depending on what state you move to you may have to register your car or get a drivers license within a certain amount of time or pay fees. (In the state of California it’s 10 days to register your car..) Go to the DMV website and see what the state requirements are.
Plus if you are switching jobs or won’t be working for a couple of weeks will you have income coming in?
The point is. Save lots of money. You will be glad you did.
2. Look up information about the area
Especially in big cities, look up information about the part of the city you are considering moving to. Safety, good schools, near scenic views, close to your new job, and anything else that is important to you. Check out this website citydata.com and search for the city you are moving to. You will find lots of information about the city. Also check out the forums to get information from people who actually live in the city.
3. Talk to the locals
When visiting make sure to talk to the locals and let them know you are moving to the city. Friendly locals will usually give you a few tips and tell you what areas are nice and which one to avoid. They will tell you what areas are overpriced, fun free stuff to do, and where to get the best tacos.
4. Research apartments and home
Go to one of the many online rental sites and search for apartments and homes in the city you want to move to. This will help you to narrow it down to a few good choices.
After looking online give them a call. Sometimes websites haven’t been updated so actually talking to the rental office is a better way to get an accurate idea of what is available. Ask them about pricing, availability, pet policy, and deposits as those things can vary. Let them know you live out of state and see how they react. Some apartments are more than happy to let you do an online application but others are more wary and prefer for you to go by in person.
Be careful before doing any online applications without actually seeing the place. I recommend going and doing at least one viewing before applying. This ensures your safety and also makes sure that you like the place and don’t feel scammed when you move in and it doesn’t look like the picture or isn’t there at all.
5. Get a job
It’s so nice to have a job lined up when you move. Unless you have a lot of money saved up it can be really stressful not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from and when it’s coming. If you can, transfer with your current company so that way you’ll have something when you get there and it’s basically the same job you have now just in a different place.
If that’s not an option, start applying for jobs online a few months before moving. Be honest and let them know you when you are moving on your application by putting your start date as your move date. If you get any responses try to set up a phone interview. If that’s not an option and the is job worth it, be prepared to travel for an interview. The closer you are to your move date the more aggressive you should get. A lot of people won’t hire you if you can’t start working for two months, but if you can start in two weeks, that’s usually reasonable.
6. Stay with a friend or family member
One of the best ways to move to a new city is to stay with a friend or family member for a little while. If this is an option for you it can make your move much easier. Maybe you put your stuff in storage while you move in with your friend and have some extra time to find a nice place and the right job. Or maybe you just go and stay with family for a week while you interview for jobs and check out apartments. It will save you money from traveling back and forth and on hotel cost. Plus it’s always nice to know someone who lives in the city you are moving to.
7. Research moving options
You’ve got to get your stuff across state lines some how. Depending on how much stuff you have, you might want to hire movers or maybe you prefer something else? There are multiple options.
If you have a lot of furniture and items that you need to move then you might want to invest in hiring movers. You can have movers drive your truck across state lines or you can rent a truck and do it yourself. Hiring movers can cost thousands of dollars depending on how far you are going. Renting a truck also won’t be cheap since you will be paying by the mile and you’ll have to pay for the gas as well.
If you are willing to part with a lot of your stuff and start fresh, then maybe packing up your car and driving there is the right option for you. You can sell your furniture or donate it. Only take things that you need and that are important to you. This is a good option for someone who is just starting in life or starting over. It’s a very freeing experience to start completely over in a new place, but keep in mind the money you save on moving cost you’ll probably use to buy furniture.
Another option is to ship your stuff to yourself. This is a good option if you have a lot of small items that you want to keep but don’t really have room for. It’s fairly cost effective but the cost can vary on the weight and size of the box so be aware of how much you’re packing. Also you’ll want to make sure you spend a little extra on nice boxes since they will get roughed up a bit during shipping.