Moving to another state can be exciting or a huge hassle depending on how you handle it. If you’re like me, then you know the value of planning things out and leaving nothing to chance. That said, there are some things that you can’t expect but knowing a few basic facts can save you a lot of hardship. With this in mind, let’s take a look at five tips that will make moving out of state easier, safer, and less of a hassle.
Deciding What to Take and What to Leave
Moving to another state is a lot different than moving across town or somewhere within your current state. One of the reasons is that the more you have to take with you, the more difficult things can get. For example, if you’re moving your stuff yourself using a rental moving vehicle, you’ll use more gas the heavier it is. If you’re taking literally everything you own, this can get quite pricy.
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In any case, moving is a great opportunity to declutter your belongings and move into a more comfortable living space. This means making the choice of what you’ll be taking with you and what you’ll be leaving behind. For example, you may want to leave behind heavier items such as furniture and large appliances in order to make the move easier. This is an excellent strategy for lightening your load during travel.
Other items that make good candidates to leave behind include books, garage items, outdated appliances, and perishable food. You could even have a garage sale to get rid of the things you don’t need so that you have more money to buy replacements when you reach your new home.
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Cost of Living Difference
Most people move for work-related reasons these days and put little thought into the job market and cost of living differences. This is especially troublesome when people think they’ll be making more money but end up effectively making less due to higher living expenses in their new area.
The best way around this problem is to have a good understanding of the living expenses where you’ll be moving to. For example, if a job offer is promising to pay you more than your current job but the living expenses there are sky-high, then you may want to pass.
On the other hand, if you’ve already accepted the job and have initiated the move, then your best bet is to check the job market in that area and see about finding part-time work or even a better-paying full-time job. Alternatively, you could look online for work that you can do from home to supplement your main income if your new living expenses are getting the better of you.
Transporting Your Cars
This is a complex topic since there are many different ways to go about getting your vehicles to your new home. The most common is to just drive it yourself or have your family members do it. It really depends on how many vehicles you have in relation to how many people are making the move.
That said, it isn’t always practical to drive your vehicles yourself, especially if you are moving to a state that is very far away. In cases like this, it can be a much better idea to find a company that ships cars to move your vehicles for you. This will free you up to travel by plane or bus, or just get an Uber or Lyft driver to give you a ride if you can find one that makes long trips. Either way, you’ll have greater peace of mind knowing that your vehicles are being shipped with full insurance coverage by professional vehicle transporters.
Familiarize Yourself with the Law
Moving to a new state means that there will be new state and local laws to follow. This can cause major problems if you are ignorant of these laws and accidentally violate them. For example, in your state, it might be perfectly acceptable to take a shotgun into the woods behind your house and start blasting squirrels. On the other hand, this could be a felony in your new state. Knowing these laws will keep you from receiving hefty fines or jail time.
Alcohol and drug laws are also a big deal these days. With certain substances now being legalized, it pays to know whether or not you can use them in your new state if you’re into that sort of thing. Likewise, states tend to have wildly different laws regarding the selling and delivery of alcohol. You could literally be breaking the law in some states just by picking up some alcohol for a friend and delivering it to them for a small fee. Knowing these laws will help keep you out of trouble.
Staying Safe During the Move
Another way that moving to another state is a lot different from moving somewhere nearby is safety, especially if you plan on turning the move into a road trip. Always make sure that someone knows where you’re going and when you’re supposed to arrive before the move. This way if something goes wrong and you go missing, a search party will be sent out sooner and your chances of survival will increase.
Another safety tip that’s a bit less serious but still important is to avoid trying to lift heavy objects that you can’t handle. Many people injure themselves every year trying to lift heavy objects while moving and suffering a torn muscle, slipped disk, or serious knee injury. If you’re not confident in lifting something on your own, don’t even try. Get help or call the pros to do it for you.
Furthermore, you’ll want to keep children and pets away from moving furniture and large items when you move. If something slips and falls, the last thing you want is your pet or kid getting smashed under it. Likewise, you don’t want your children or pets getting in the way and causing something to beak either. I know that moving something from one location to another seems about as simple as it gets, but the only people that should be involved in moving your items are people who actually know what they’re doing.
Stay Smart and Put Safety First
It can be a lot of fun to move to another state but things can go sour very quickly if you ignore basic safety and common sense. The best way around this is to make a plan and stick to it. Also, observe all safety measures both when moving items as well as when traveling, and don’t forget to read up on the economy and laws of the area you’ve moving to. The more thought you put into your move, the easier and safer it will be and that’s the bottom line.