Interstate moving can be challenging and time-consuming. Relocating your entire life to a new state is a big personal step and demands a lot of planning. If you plan to relocate to another state, you are probably wondering, How do I make painless moving. Luckily, we know the best moving hacks there are to make this process less stressful.
Here we will list the best moving tips and hacks that you can quickly implement during your relocation. We will discuss packing hacks and moving tricks and give you the answers to all the relocation questions you may have. You will become an expert in a matter of minutes.
Prepare Yourself for the Move
To be fair, this is not a hack but a crucial step in every relocation — something you will need to do to have a stress-free move. The first thing you need to do is to set your relocation date. If you are relocating your family to another state, you will need to sit down with them and talk about the best day for this task. This will be beneficial to your kids, as they would feel included in the whole process.
When relocating with kids, one of the biggest challenges people face is their anxiety and depression because of this significant change. So, involve them in the whole process as much as you can. This way, they will attune to the idea of relocation sooner. After you set your relocation day, create a checklist for relocating to another state. Here are some of the things your list must include.
Know Your Budget
The biggest question is how to move out of state on a budget? Well, as you know, the devil is in the details. First thing first, it would be good to start planning your budget as soon as you set a date, preferably even before that. Make sure to include some “money on the side” when you arrive at the new city (at least save money for one month’s expenditures). Your budget must include:
- Money for the trip,
- Renting or buying a new place to live (be aware that everybody will ask for a deposit and paying in advance),
- State to state movers,
- Packing supplies and materials,
- Car shipping.
If you wonder, “How can I move cheaply,” It depends on how much time you have to do some of the things listed above on your own. This is the only way for you to save some money. But people usually decide to hire professional moving services because they calculate that it will be cheaper to pay professional movers than to ask for a week out of work.
Use Your Long Weekends to Check Your New City Out
As part of your preparation for the long-distance moving, it would be advisable to visit the city you plan to live in to get a grip of the city vibes. Of course, if your budget doesn’t allow you to do so, you can find a lot online. When you need to seek info on the cost of living, best neighborhoods, schools, or housing prospects, check out online services such as the Niche.
Still, some prearrangements, such as buying a house or renting an apartment, are better done in person. As you know, these processes can take a lot of time, so start your online research and plan your trip to a new city accordingly. If you’re moving out for the first time, ask your friends and family to give you some advice about what do you need to rent an apartment.
Transfer Your Utilities on Time
After you set a relocation day and found a place to live, the next step is to transfer your utilities, like electricity, heating, and the internet. Do this one week before your move, so you have everything up and running when you arrive at your destination. Also, call your post office and forward your mail to a new address.
How Can I Make Moving Easier?
One of the best hacks to make moving easier is good organization and planning, so it would be good to create your relocation schedule. If you go through all the tips for relocating out of state found online, you will come across the same advice. And here are a few more:
- Important belongings should go with you,
- Create a full inventory of your home,
- Pack in stages,
- Backup your computers,
- Put heavy stuff in small boxes,
- Ask your friends and family for help,
- Stop hoarding your groceries.
If you are relocating with pets or with a newborn, arrange for a sitter on time. If the budget is tight, find someone from your family to keep an eye on them on a big day.
Declutter Your House Before Interstate Moving Company Arrives
You may know that the cost of interstate relocation can be high, and the most critical factors in price determination are the weight of your stuff and the destination. Try to move light and get rid of all the objects you don’t need or don’t want in the future. What to get rid of when moving, and what is the most practical way to do it?
Firstly, clear a space you will use as a makeshift storage room (such as the garage or the basement). If you don’t have any of those, prepare the room you currently use the least. When you are done, start decluttering other parts of your home. The second rule is to go room by room, categorize belongings you will bring with you and things you wish to get rid of in each room.
After this, you will have an easier time organizing a successful garage sale, or if there is no time for that, you can always donate your stuff. When we talk about how to downsize for a move, the golden rule is that you should throw away everything you haven’t used for two years or more. And if you wish to pay less for packing services, here are some items you will need to purge:
- Books,
- Heavy tools,
- Old and large furniture,
- Plastic food containers and damaged dishes,
- Magazines and comic books,
- Medications,
- Documentation,
- Old electronics and cables
- Canned food,
- Opened cosmetic bottles.
Best Packing Hacks for Moving
Now it is time to roll up your sleeves and do some work. You are probably wondering how to pack fragile items or electronics for relocation. But first, set some ground rules for packing. As with rooms, start packing the least used items early on. As we have mentioned above, you will need to clear your garage or basement to free up space for this process. If you are relocating in winter, pack your summer clothes first and vice versa.
Don’t Buy Boxes
If you are relocating your entire home, you don’t need to buy all the packing materials. Save some money and see where to find free boxes near you – ask at your nearest grocery or liquor store to spare you some. Another alternative is to hire movers for a full service. This way, you will receive all the materials while they will do all the heavy lifting for you.
Use What You Have at Home
If your budget is tight, you can use things in your house for packing and protecting your items. For instance, use garbage bags to pack your clothes, sheets, and pillows. You can use towels and newspaper instead of bubble wraps and packing paper to protect your fragile items. Use your socks to pack your glasses. Shred some old magazines or newspapers and use this instead of protective filling for your box.
Tips for Box Packing
It is essential to know how to pack a box properly, so your belongings are safe from breaking or other damages. First, secure the bottom of your containers with extra duct tape (for heavy objects) or clear tape (for every box). Put protective material on the bottom, like towels, blankets, or foam, when packing fragile items. Put large objects first, then the smaller ones, and make sure you leave a room for another layer of protective material on top. Check out this video for more tips.
Don’t Forget to Label Your Boxes
Proper box labeling is essential. Not only for your movers (it helps them know where to unload your stuff) but for your family too. It will be easier to get around in a new home if you know where your stuff is (and not open each box to see what is in it). This will maybe take up some of your time, but your unpacking will be more comfortable. Use a combination of labeling systems – color and writing. Assign each room a specific color, label your box in a corresponding manner, and write an inventory list. And, of course, label your boxes on the side.
Pack Your Essentials
Separate a couple of boxes on a side with your essentials – objects you will need right away after you settle in. This box should contain your bedding, glasses, dishes, and hygiene products. Other relocation essentials to bring with you are clothes, underwear for a couple of days, chargers, laptops, and everything else you need to use when traveling and when you get there.
Load Your Truck Like a Pro
If you hire state-to-state movers, loading and unloading of the truck will not be your responsibility. But if you decide to rent a truck by yourself, you should plan and do your loading in a certain way. Load big furniture first, then put a small object on top of them. Fasten your furniture with ropes or belts in your truck. When loading boxes, make sure you put a box with your essentials last so it can be unloaded first and ready for use.
Last-Minute Moving Hacks
How do you pack to move in a hurry? All you have to do is to be organized. When packing, don’t sort things out, and don’t iron your clothes. Put clothes in garbage bags as it is. Use towels, pillows, sweaters as protection for your breakables. All the small electric devices can go in one bag and be sorted later on.
If you have many trinkets, and we believe you have like everybody else, put them all in one Ikea bag, and don’t bother to sort it out now. Don’t throw away anything you haven’t double-checked and are positive you won’t use. This is one of the biggest mistakes people make when relocating. They throw away too many things they actually need.
If you don’t have time to pack your house properly, hire state-to-state movers for storage services. Many companies offer one-month free storage for their clients, so why not use this benefit and keep your possessions. They can ship your belongings to your new address, where you can do all the sorting without pressure.
Find Best Movers
If you don’t feel like implementing all of the advice that we gave you, you can always hire professionals to do this for you. Ask your friends and family members if they can give you a recommendation on which company to hire. It is always better to hire someone who is proven to be good. On the other hand, if you don’t have recommendations, go online and search for the companies.
Find at least three companies and ask them to give you a free quote for your move. You will be able to choose the one that best suits you and your budget. After this, ask them to give you an in-home estimation. This price will be most accurate if you prepare an inventory list before they arrive.
