50 Things to Do When Moving to Another State: The Stately Checklist

Moving to a different state is usually a much more complicated and challenging endeavor than moving locally within the same state or simply moving just across town.

A successful interstate move requires impeccable organization and strategic planning from Day 1. The thing is that one wrong move could ruin your chances of having a smooth out-of-state relocation without enduring too much stress and without going way over your preliminary budget.

In reality, the key to success when moving to another state is to know exactly what you should do throughout the preparation period. What’s more – being aware of your major role on Move day and during the critical phase right after the move will guarantee a problem-free transition between the two homes.

So, what should you do when moving to another state?

Remember the number 50 because it will be your lucky interstate number.

This moving to another state checklist, featuring exactly 50 all-important tasks, will help you organize a perfect interstate move from beginning to end.

Moving to another state: BEFORE the move

Here’s a detailed list of what to do when moving out of state:

1. [Alabama] Make sure you’re moving to another state for the right reasons. The top 3 reasons for people moving to a different state are 1) moving for a job, 2) moving for education, and 3) moving for retirement. What’s your reason for moving to another state? [Why People Move]
2. [Alaska] Come up with a personal out-of-state moving strategy in order to guarantee a successful end to your interstate moving adventure. Start planning your long-distance move as early as possible to give yourself more time to prepare and to lower the overall stress of moving. [How to Plan a Move]
3. [Arizona] Decide on a beneficial move-out date in order to save additional money on your state-to-state move. If at all possible, move during the off-peak moving seasons when moving companies lower their rates. Also, moving out on a weekday that falls somewhere in the middle of a month should lower the cost even more. [Best Time to Move]
4. [Arkansas] Understand why organizing a DIY move when moving to a different state is a bad idea. The greater the distance between the two homes, the riskier it is to move house without the assistance of professional movers. DIY moving costs can quickly become overwhelming as well. [Movers or DIY]
5. [California] Get free quotes from the best interstate movers in your area to get a pretty good idea about how much your out-of-state move will cost you. Ask the pros to visit your home in person for a visual survey that will conclude with accurate cost estimates.
6. [Colorado] Examine the received estimates very carefully and pay close attention not only to the quoted price of moving to another state but also to the add-on services required and their respective rates. Choose the quote that you think is the best one in terms of price and conditions.
7. [Connecticut] Research the out-of-state movers to pick the right moving company for your out-of-state moving needs. Read moving reviews and testimonials written by people who have used the services of those movers so that you can compare their online reputation and their level of professionalism. [Moving Reviews]
8. [Delaware] Book your move as soon as you’ve chosen a worthy interstate moving company to work with. Do this early enough, especially when moving during the peak moving season – the summer period – because that’s when the demand for high-quality moving services reaches its peak. [How Soon to Book Movers]
9. [Florida] Create your own personal checklist for moving to another state with the purpose of organizing your time in the best possible way. Feel free to use many of these tips for moving out of state but be sure to also add personalized entries that reflect your unique set of circumstances. [Greatest Moving Checklist]
10. [Georgia] Understand how the cost of moving to another state is formed so that you can try to save money in the process. The price will be calculated based on the move distance, shipment weight, and additional services performed by the interstate moving company.
11. [Hawaii] Create a budget so that you can have better control over the moving expenses. Consult the moving budget frequently so that you don’t overspend on your interstate move – after all, your primary mission is to spend as little money as possible when moving to another state. [Moving Budget]
12. [Idaho] Figure out what additional services you will need from your state-to-state movers. Professional packing is the most common extra service offered by the best out-of-state moving companies, but you can also request furniture disassembly and reassembly, temporary storage, and even unpacking. [Extra Moving Services]
13. [Illinois] Consider requesting the add-on service of professional packing from your interstate moving company. As a rule, you’ll need to hire professional packers when you have very little time to pack up your things by yourself or have too many items to move, including specialty items. [Professional Packing Services]
14. [Indiana] Think about whether you’ll need professional car shipping services when moving to another state. This is usually the case when you’re either flying to your destination or you own a second car that needs to be transported to the new state. [Car Shipping Services]
15. [Iowa] Get free car shipping quotes from the most reputable car transportation companies in your area. You need a car shipper that comes highly recommended by people who have used their car transportation services before. The years of experience of the car hauler should play a major role in your decision.
16. [Kansas] Prepare your car for transport so that when the car shipping company arrives to pick it up, your vehicle is 100% ready to be loaded for transport by the pros. The easiest way to prepare your car for shipping is to follow a detailed car shipping checklist. [Car Shipping Checklist]
17. [Kentucky] Research the schools in the new state and in particular the ones in the city or town you’re moving to. This is a must-do task when you’re moving with school-age children. You’ll also need to arrange the transfer of your kids’ school records to the new school.
18. [Louisiana] Research the health care providers in the destination place so that you can find a new family physician, a dentist, and a vet for your dog, cat, bird, or another type of pet when you arrive there. Ask your current doctors for good recommendations.
19. [Maine] Arrange for the disconnection of your current home utilities – electricity, water, gas, phone, cable TV, Internet, central heating, etc. Also, get in touch with the utility service providers in the new state and see to it that your new place has all the proper utilities before you move into it. [Transfer Utilities]
20. [Maryland] Change your address with the United States Postal Service (USPS) roughly 2 weeks before you move out of state. To avoid troubles such as losing important pieces of mail in the meantime, remember to change your address with the USPS either online, in person, by phone, or by mail. [Change Address]
21. [Massachusetts] Take your dog, cat, or bird to the vet’s office for a full medical checkup before the move. Discuss with the animal doctor if your pet will need to be mildly sedated during the car trip to prevent any problems. Also, while there, request your pet’s immunization records.
22. [Michigan] Inventory all the items in your home by going from room to room and making a detailed list of all your possessions. The house inventory list will help you decide which items to take with you and which ones to leave behind. [Moving Inventory]
23. [Minnesota] Pare down the number of things you’re moving with you simply because the cost of moving to another state will be based on the total shipment weight. Get rid of all items you don’t really like and don’t intend to use in the foreseeable future. [Declutter Your Home]
24. [Mississippi] Consider organizing a moving sale for all the items you don’t plan to take with you to the new-state home. A successful garage sale prior to moving away will help you get rid of all unwanted items and enable you to earn some cash to cover some of the moving expenses. [Moving Sale]
25. [Missouri] Move all items that have a high sentimental value for you such as antique furniture or family heirlooms passed down from generation to generation. For example, you can’t just leave the grandfather clock that’s been in your family for more than 100 years.
26. [Montana] Think twice before moving large and heavy furniture with no sentimental value. Oftentimes, it’ll be more expensive to move furniture to another state than to buy brand-new one after the move. This is especially true for IKEA furniture and IKEA-like furniture that are rarely sturdy enough to survive a house move. [What to Do With Furniture]
27. [Nebraska] Start packing up your things as early as you possibly can simply because the packing process will be the most time-consuming task on your moving checklist. You should double the time you think you’ll need to pack your things properly (understand safely) for moving.
28. [Nevada] Follow a packing timeline that will keep informing you which items you should pack and when so that you can achieve maximum packing efficiency. By using a good packing checklist, you can rest assured that the house packing process will stay under control from start to finish. [Packing Timeline]
29. [New Hampshire] Get hold of the required packing materials in advance so that the packing process goes smoothly without any unpleasant interruptions. You’ll need plenty of cardboard boxes of various sizes, as well as a good amount of wrapping paper and bubble wrap to protect your fragile items.
30. [New Jersey] Reduce the overall cost of moving to another state by not paying for the moving boxes you use. Yes, it’s quite possible – provided that you have enough time, you can get free moving boxes from friends, online, or from the big retail stores in your area. [Free Packing Supplies]
31. [New Mexico] Pack a few Open-First boxes – containers full of absolute essential items that you will move with you while the rest of your belongings are being transported by the cross-country mover you’re working with. Your essentials boxes will help you make it until you get reunited with your stuff in the new home. [Essentials Box]
32. [New York] Use a sufficient amount of padding materials such as soft packing paper, bubble wrap, and furniture when you’re packing fragile items such as glassware, china plates, porcelain items, electronic devices, furniture pieces, and so on. Keep in mind that since you’re moving to a different state, your things will spend a lot of time on the road. [Pack Fragile Items]
33. [North Carolina] Do NOT pack any items that interstate movers are forbidden by law to transport. Such hazardous goods include flammable, combustible, or corrosive items that pose a threat not only to the environment but also to the people involved in the move and the rest of the items in the truck. [What Not to Pack]
34. [North Dakota] Ask your friends to help you pack up your things if you notice that you’ve fallen behind schedule according to your packing timeline. You can organize a packing party where you can try to have fun together with your pals while boxing up your stuff. [Friendly Help]

Moving to a different state: MOVING DAY

Here’s a detailed list of what to do on the day of the move when relocating to a different state:

35. [Ohio] Do all in your power not to leave any major move-related tasks for Moving day. In the best-case scenario, you will finish the packing job the day before the big day, leaving only a few minor things to take care of before your out-of-state movers arrive.
36. [Oklahoma] Start your move day early to give yourself more time to prepare adequately for the most stressful and unpredictable day of them all. Sleeping in on Moving day is usually a bad idea unless you’ve scheduled a move late in the afternoon or even in the evening.
37. [Oregon] Wear clothes and shoes that are appropriate for the occasion. Pick clothes that are made of breathable fabric and won’t restrict your movements in any way. In the wintertime, be sure to wear clothes in layers. Also, choose a toe-closed pair of footwear with rubber anti-slip soles – sports shoes are a safe choice.
38. [Pennsylvania] Keep young children and pets away from the packing and moving epicenter in order to guarantee the safety of your loved ones. If necessary, ask a relative or a friend to look after them in a room away from the action so that you can focus fully on your interstate move.
39. [Rhode Island] Welcome your cross-country movers at the pre-arranged time and let them do their job. Make sure you stick around in case they have any questions but the movers should be experienced enough to know exactly what to do. Provide easy access to a bathroom, and be kind enough to offer refreshing drinks and even snacks to your hired workers.
40. [South Carolina] Consider preparing some money to tip your interstate movers if you end up being really satisfied with their work. You don’t have to tip movers but tipping them is a good way to reward their efforts and to show your appreciation and gratitude for a job well done. [How Much to Tip Movers]
41. [South Dakota] Do one final walkthrough around the place when your state-to-state movers depart. Make sure everything looks fine and that you haven’t forgotten anything. Check whether all windows and doors are closed and locked up securely, and that the electricity, water, and gas are turned off. [Moving Day Checklist]

Moving to a new state: AFTER the move

Here’s a detailed list of what to do after moving to another state:

42. [Tennessee] Start unpacking as soon as your interstate mover delivers your belongings to the new place. Open up the essentials boxes first, then unbox the cartons that will help you set up the bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen. The good news? You can unpack at your own pace since you won’t have to worry about any deadlines. [Unpacking Checklist]
43. [Texas] Make it your top priority to find a job after moving to a new state. That is, unless you have moved to a different state because of a new job. After all, job-related relocation is one of the most common reasons for Americans to move from one state to another. [Moving Without a Job]
44. [Utah] Find a good school for your school-age children when moving to a different during the summer break. Get trustworthy recommendations and do school tours to pick the best school in the area. If you’re performing a midyear move to another state, then you must have already chosen the proper educational institution for your kids. [Find a New School]
45. [Vermont] Find a new family physician shortly after moving to a new state. But before you do, make sure you know what type of physician you need – a primary care doctor or a specialized doctor. Get recommendations for a good doctor from friends, work colleagues, or your former physician. [Find a New Doctor]
46. [Virginia] Register your car in the new state soon after the move is complete. Various states have different deadlines for out-of-state car registrations – from 10 days to 30 days. Visit the local DMV office to register the car in the new state and to transfer your driver’s license. Do all this early to avoid fines. [Register Your Car]
47. [Washington] Change your voter registration when you do find some free time after moving to another state. Because your postal address will change with the interstate move, you will need to re-register your voter registration in the state you just moved to. The voter registration deadline is usually 2-4 weeks before an election.
48. [West Virginia] Go and say Hi to the new neighbors while you’re having a break from unpacking. This is not something you have to do but introducing yourself to the folks next door is a sign of good manners. Besides, one of your new-home neighbors might become your next best friend.
49. [Wisconsin] Keep in touch with your best friends after moving to a new state. This is especially crucial in the very beginning when you’re likely to feel the negative effects of relocation depression (aka separation anxiety). Luckily, it’s very easy nowadays to stay in touch with the people you love despite the great distances. [21 Things to Do After Moving]
50. [Wyoming] Write a review about the interstate moving company whose services you’ve just used. And since others will be able to read your customer review and your overall performance rating of your mover, you will be helping those people on the move to pick the right out-of-state moving company for their relocation needs. [Write a Moving Review]

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