Things to Arrange Prior to a Cross State Move

Share:

Things to Arrange Prior to a Cross State Move

Manuella Irwin · Apr 9, 2015

things-to-arrange-prior-to-a-cross-state-move

Your interstate move is drawing nearer and nearer and you start to worry that you won’t have enough time to get completely ready for the big day.

Relax.

We’re here to help you. Just take a long, hard look at all the things to arrange prior to a cross state move, and you’ll have nothing short of a stress- and trouble-free move to another state.

Create a moving calendar

The very first thing you should do when preparing for a cross state move is to create your own customized moving calendar with all the essential relocation tasks you will need to complete before moving day. Make sure these tasks are prioritized (complete the more difficult and time-consuming ones first) and are as specific as possible in order to best describe your short-term goals (for example, mark “pack garage” instead of just “packing”). This moving calendar will help you use your time wisely and keep the inevitable moving stress at bay.

Find reputable cross state moving companies

Finding the best cross state moving company for your upcoming relocation is not a walk in the park. Start the search process by checking the online reputation of various interstate movers – read genuine moving reviews and take a look at their overall performance ratings. What satisfied or dissatisfied customers think or say about the quality of their relocation services can guide you through your ultimate decision to trust a particular cross state mover with your valuable possessions. You can also reach out to your circle of friends and ask them if they can suggest or recommend a good company to take care of your move to another state.

Once you have shortlisted a number of interstate moving companies, you must check their USDOT number in order to verify that they were properly licensed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Request in-house estimation

Contact the few trustworthy moving companies you have singled out and request in-house moving cost estimation from each one. Do not settle for cost estimation prepared online or over the phone as it can never be as accurate as an on-site survey of your household items for moving and the possible challenges your home could present for the moving crew. After a moving expert has inspected your residence, you will be issued a written estimate of your interstate relocation costs. Not only should you ask for a binding moving estimate, but you are also strongly advised to compare its conditions (additional services and their rates) with the ones of least 2 (preferably 4) other estimates from different cross state movers before your final decision.

Book your interstate move

Having accepted a moving offer, your next step is to book your cross state move. Should you happen to have any flexibility in choosing your moving date, you are encouraged to take advantage of that luxury and select a date that may considerably lower your relocation expenses. Moving to another part of the country during the off-peak season (September – May) is a good way to cut down on your costs as most interstate moving companies tend to lower their rates in an attempt to attract more customers. Also, be mindful that weekends are generally more expensive than midweeks, as are the first and last weeks of each month. Understandably, the first day and the last day of a month are always the busiest and most expensive periods for moving house.

Get rid of unwanted stuff

You have found a reputable cross state movers and booked your interstate move. So far, so good. Now it’s time to optimize the number of items you have for moving and save or even earn some money in the process. Remember that more stuff for moving means more money out of your own pocket for their transportation and less living space in your new home. So, go through the rooms of your house or apartment and decide the fate of each and every item you possess. Sort out the things you’re taking with you (to be packed) and set aside all the stuff you no longer need or want for various reasons (to be sold online or at a moving sale, or given to charity or given away to friends).

Pack like a pro

Packing time is here and will be here for a long time. The most time-consuming stage when moving to another state is all about impeccable organization:

  • Get the necessary packing supplies from your moving company;
  • Start packing from the rooms you occupy less frequently, and never leave your storage areas/garage, basement, attic/for last;
  • All your packed boxes should be properly labeled with destination room, content and special handling instructions;
  • Prepare an essentials box with all the items you can’t live a single day without, and keep that survival kit with you;
  • Keep your valuables with you at all times and never give them to your movers.

Get ready for moving day

Moving day is almost at your doorstep. There are so many essential tasks left to be marked as done in your moving calendar:

  • Have someone to look after your children and pets on moving day and thus keep them out of harm’s way;
  • Get your child’s school record or arrange their transfer to the new school;
  • Go to your family doctor and dentist, and get all the required documentation for registering with health-care providers in the new state;
  • Take your pet to the vet’s office for a full medical checkup;
  • Call your utility companies and arrange for disconnecting the utilities in your current home;
  • Cancel all your current subscriptions (newspapers, delivery services, etc.) and memberships (clubs, organizations, etc.);
  • If you’re driving to your new home, have your car serviced and plan your relocation trip well;
  • Change your address at the local post office or online, and ask your favorite neighbor to forward your mail to your new address;
  • Make sure your phone is fully charged and operational;
  • On the day before moving day, go to bed early in order to have the mental strength and physical stamina to survive the most testing day when moving house.

Have a great cross state move!

 

Relocation expert Joshua Green contributed greatly to this post.

You might also like:

Moving into a new apartment or rental property can be both exciting and stressful. From packing up your belongings to coordinating logistics, there’s a lot to manage. However, one aspect that is often overlooked is what to expect on move-in day regarding the condition of your new unit. Surprisingly, according to recent surveys, a significant […]

Jessica Lee

 · Mar 12, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and or living in the communities. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight apartment communities whose […]

Jessica Lee

 · Feb 28, 2024

On ApartmentRatings, real renters have the ability to rate and review their apartment communities based on their experience touring and/or living in them. ApartmentRatings offers renters the ability to see what life is truly like at a community through a report card grade style format called epIQ. Every month we highlight a major city across […]

Jessica Lee

 · Jan 31, 2024