Month: September 2022

Moving is always a bit complicated, whether moving to a different floor in your current building or a brand new home in the same town. But throw moving to another state in the mix, and the complexity level rises even more.

Luckily, getting organized well before starting an out-of-state move helps reduce stress. This checklist will help you manage so you can easily move to another state.

Make a Moving Budget

Moving can be expensive, but moving cross-country costs even more. One of the best ways to control expenses is to create a moving budget.

Plan ahead by making a moving budget that includes factors such as:

• Moving team
• Packing expenses
• Specialty packing and moving costs
• Gas
• Lodging
• Dining
• Airfare

Be sure to build in a contingency for potential cost overruns. This will help you avoid unpleasant surprise expenses.

Work with Reputable Movers

Working with professional movers will help your move be more cost-effective, especially on a long-distance move. A reputable mover will provide you with clear estimates up front, with no hidden costs. (If a mover won’t give this information, that’s a big red flag.)

Get quotes from several different companies before making your decision. A moving team that specializes in state-to-state moves may be the best choice.

Manage Paperwork

While it isn’t the most exciting part of a move to a new state, getting your paperwork in order is an essential element — and a key to keeping stress levels low.

Well before your move, take care of the paperwork and related tasks such as:

• Change of address forms with USPS
• Notify banks, credit cards, gyms, and subscriptions of your new address
• Cancel current utilities and set up new utilities
• Collect records from medical and dental offices
• Request any school transfer records
• Fill out new voter registration
• Transfer prescriptions
• Update insurance
• Register pets at the new address

Pare Down Belongings

Moving to a new state is the perfect time to go through your belongings and purge things you no longer want or need. After all, you don’t want to pay to move unwanted items, especially when a long-distance move is involved.

Starting a few months before moving day, set aside time — ideally, just a couple of hours at a time, so you don’t feel overwhelmed — to go through all of your belongings.

Separate everything into four categories:

• Keep
• Donate
• Sell
• Recycle/Trash

If you know the dimensions of your new home, keep them in mind when deciding what to keep. For instance, if your current couch won’t fit in your new living room, now may be the perfect time to sell it and get one when you arrive at your new home.

Call the Pros

Moving always comes with some stress attached. Moving to a different state is no exception and may feel much more complicated. Fortunately, planning and working through this checklist can reduce stress so you can have a smooth interstate move. Contact us for a free quote.

Moving can generate a significant amount of waste and use a lot of fuel. However, proper planning can make moving more eco-friendly. Moving can also be an excellent way to kick off a new eco-friendly lifestyle in your new home.

Here are some green household moving tips.

1. Pack Lightly

One way to reduce the environmental impact of your move is to move less stuff. First, make a written list of every item you own so that you avoid taking duplicates to your new home. Then sort through your clothes, towels, and kitchen appliances so that you only take those items you truly need and love.

Rather than throwing away items you don’t want, donate or sell as many as possible. CraigsList and Offer Up provide options for selling unwanted furniture and housewares. In addition, charities and thrift shops will accept donations. Responsibly recycle batteries and similar items appropriately.

2. Reuse Boxes as Much as Possible

Buy new boxes as a last resort. If you think you will move, save boxes from deliveries throughout the year. Also, check with grocery stores and bookshops to see whether they have sturdy, gently-used boxes you can reuse. Some movers can also provide used containers.

3. Use Alternative Packing Containers

Chances are, you have many packing containers throughout your home. Pack items in suitcases and totes.

Also, pack smartly. For example, you can put kitchen utensils and silver inside pots and socks inside shoes. The fewer containers you need, the less you’ll impact the environment.

4. Use Eco-Friendly Packing Materials

Before you buy packing materials, consider what you may already have. For example, towels, sheets, blankets, and clothes make suitable packing materials for all but the most fragile items. After that, consider using newspapers which you can easily recycle.

Buy bubble wrap only for fragile items that require it. When buying bubble wrap, look for an eco-friendly version.

6. Don’t Pack Up the Whole Kitchen Right Away

When you pack up the kitchen, leave a few plates and silverware for last-minute meals. That way, you can avoid using paper or plastic. Pack the last-minute kitchen items in a separate essentials box and take them in your car. You can also use them for the first few days in your new house.

7. Recycle Boxes After the Move

Offer your gently-used boxes to community members who are moving. Place a notice on NetxDoor or Marketplace.

Otherwise, corrugated cardboard moving boxes are recyclable. To recycle your boxes after the move, first, break them down. Then, store them in a dry place until recycling day. Wet boxes, or boxes with wet spots, cannot be recycled. If a box still has some moisture, cut the damp piece off so you can recycle the rest of the box. Then check with your waste management company on the best way to put your boxes out for recycling.

You can also recycle boxes in other ways. For example, you can donate boxes to a compost center, cut them up to make drawer dividers, or use one or two to make a cat playhouse.

Moving Made Easier

We can help with your upcoming relocation. Contact us today for a free quote.