Even though moving out of state is, in most cases, a representation of something new and exciting, most people’s hair stands on end when they think about it. Well, who could blame them – they have to prepare themselves emotionally and physically for this big step. Besides packing and heavy lifting, they must also find their new home, say goodbye to everybody and brace themselves for a big culture shock. Doing all of that is complicated and usually too stressful. However, moving does not have to be a nightmare! You just have to start with your preparations ahead of time and make sure you know what you are doing. We are also here to help you out! So, here are some must-know tips for moving out of state that will help you have a stress-free relocation.
Find Your New Home First
When it comes to preparing for a move, either local or international, it goes without saying that you must first find your hew home. This is especially important when moving out of state! Just think about it – if you did not have a home waiting for you there, you would lose a lot of your time, energy, and money on hotels and storage units. Thus, save yourself from those troubles and find a home that you plan to buy or rent before you actually move. Since you are moving to an unknown area, it would be best to hire a real estate agent. These kinds of agents will be able to find you your dream home in no time, and most importantly, they will be able to find you one that suits your needs and your budget!
Start Gathering all the Necessary Documentation
Another thing you must do before moving is to gather all the necessary documentation. This process usually lasts for weeks, or even months, so start ahead of time. Make sure your passport, ID, visa, driver’s license, etc., are all in order and far from the expiration date. Moreover, do not forget to get your and your children’s medical and dental records! If you take any medications, have the prescriptions translated to the language of the country you are moving to. Lastly, do not forget to get your banking records checked and start transferring your utilities.
Keep all your moving-related documents in one place!
Declutter Your Home
Before you start looking for the best removal companies you can hire for your international move, be sure that your current home is ready for relocation. If you followed our guide and made sure that your new home is waiting for you, this step will be much easier. What you can do is get the blueprints of your new home and measure precisely how much space you are working with. This will help you decide what to take with you and what to leave behind. Do not try to bring everything you own with you – it will end up costing you a fortune! Try to declutter as much as you can and only keep what is absolutely necessary for your new life. Here is what you can do with the items you do not need:
- Donate to a charity
- Give to friends and family members
- Sell online
- Sell on a yard/garage sale
- Recycle
- Throw away (if damaged or useless)
Find a Reliable International Moving Company
When it comes to interstate or international moving, you have two options – to organize a DIY kind of relocation or to hire professional movers. The first option is, of course, much cheaper, and the latter can break the budget. However, the first option will cost you a lot of your time, energy, and nerves. Moreover, when moving by yourself, there is a big risk of something going wrong – your belongings might get lost, damaged, or even stolen during interstate transport. So, if the safety of your belongings is important and if you want to save yourself from all of those bad scenarios, hire an international moving company. There are plenty of them around you! Just make sure you do all the necessary background checks before you leave all of your belongings in somebody else’s hands!
Prepare an ‘Essentials’ Bag
Once you chose your reliable nationwide moving company, you can expect them to handle all the moving-related processes. But, you can expect them to pack your ‘essentials’ bag. So, what is an ‘essentials’ bag? That is a bag that contains all the necessary items you need on your moving day and the day after. For instance, it should include all your documents, medications, electronics, food and drinks that can last for those two days, pet food, change of clothes, toys for your children, etc. This bag can save you from a lot of unexpected problems and troubles you can encounter during a move.
An essentials bag or box can be a life-saver when moving out of state. Alt. tag: A box on the bed.
Say Goodbye to Friends and Family
Before you leave, do not forget to say goodbye to all of your beloved friends and family members. This advice is pretty much straightforward, but still, many people do not do it and end up regretting it. This is because they think they will have time for that, but something moving-related happens, and before they know it, they have left without saying goodbye. Do not let this happen to you. If you do not have the time to say goodbye to everybody individually, consider organizing one big Goodbye Party. Call all of your neighbors, colleagues, friends, and family members, and say goodbye properly – you are moving out of state; who knows when will you see them again.
Brace Yourself for a Culture Shock
Last but certainly not least tip for relocating out of state is to brace yourself for a culture shock. Moving to a distant, unfamiliar place where you do not know anybody can be highly burdensome. So, make an effort to learn the language, as much as you can, before moving. Moreover, do research on the country, city, and even the neighborhood you are moving to. That will help you not only settle in but also fit in more quickly and easily. If you are moving with children, teach them about the notion of a culture shock and how to overcome it. It can be tough for children to understand the new culture, customs, and laws that are different from what they are used to, so do your best to explain what is going on.
Moving out of state is a challenging endeavor. However, good preparation will relieve you of some of the stress and help you get through the process more efficiently. Also, hiring assistance is probably the best thing you can do in this situation because it will allow you the time to say goodbye to the people you love and emotionally prepare for what is to come.
About The Author
Anita Sharma
Anita Sharma is a Master in English and European Literature currently works with many organizations as a freelance content writer. Apart from it, she has her own blogging website.
