26 Must-Know Tips For Moving To A State Alone

It is time to start planning for your move to a new state! Whether you are moving for the first time to a new state or you are a seasoned mover this article is here to help you plan and prepare for your solo move to your new home. Now, given that this article is for new adults, I assume you do not have the moving budget to hire a full-service moving company and are looking for the cheapest way to accomplish the said move. Therefore, I am going to explain how to affordably move to a new state while not sacrificing the quality. Regardless, the tips I will share should help make professional movers unnecessary.

So, with that said, let’s dive in and discuss 26 tips that can help you move to a different state and create a fresh start!

Determine A Schedule For Moving

With any big change, you want to start planning as early as you can. A great way to create a useful moving schedule for this exciting time is to work backward from your intended arrival date. This way you actively close the gaps between you today and you after the big move! So ask yourself “What day do I want to start this interstate move?”

For example, let’s say that my intended move-in date to my new location is August 1. Today is May 5, so I have a few months to plan and execute this move.

Once you have a date, this is when the real fun begins. When planning a move, I like to split my moving schedule into three main phases. I usually start the first phase about eight weeks from my intended move date. From there I do my best to complete the larger tasks needed for each phase and build up my momentum to tackle my to-do list or whatever new things arise.

Split Your Moving Schedule Into 3 Phases

The three phases of the moving schedule are decluttering and prepping, inventory and packing, and finally moving. Each phase builds upon the previous phase and allows for you to plan a successful move in as little as a couple of weeks. It’s the moving strategy that I’ve employed my whole life and I’ve found that it helps me minimize stress and maintain a good peace of mind during a hectic long-distance move.

Decluttering And Prepping

Decluttering and prepping is by far the most important phase which is why it is the first step. It usually takes a lot of time to complete this phase. However, when completed well it is the only true tough part of the moving process. To get started with this phase it is pretty simple – you want to declutter and prep your home for the move. This is a great time for you to call on a family member, best friends, or just good friends to help you prep to declutter your place. You could even incentivize them with whatever they can pack up they can keep. Do this until you feel you have gotten rid of enough things and then get ready for inventory and packing. Of course, you want to make sure that you declutter enough so that you don’t have to rent a storage unit long term.

Inventory and Packing

After you’ve finished decluttering and prepping, it is time to move on to the inventory and packing stage. This is where all the fun begins with packing supplies and figuring out how to best pack everything to maximize space and minimize damage. You’ll want to create an inventory list of everything you are packing and be sure to have a box labeling strategy – more on this later.

When it comes to the inventory list, the best way I’ve found to do this is to walk through your home room by room and write down all the items in each room. Start with the major items and then work your way to the smaller items. For example, if you are packing your bedroom, you might inventory your nightstand as a major item and then any decor as a minor item depending on the item’s size. Do this for each room. Be sure to be meticulous about this process and of course, if you discover items that you no longer use feel free to get rid of them. Once you have inventoried each room, get started on the preliminary packing.

Packing Tips

As you begin packing, remember, the goal is to have a seamless move to your new place. So pack with that in mind. As mentioned earlier, a good idea for packing is to have a box labeling strategy. I suggest taking a trip to your local hardware store or Home Depot and buying various colored duct tape. The different colored duct tape can represent a few different things. One way to use the tape is to have a certain color represent a certain room. This is a good strategy to use if you are moving into a new house. Otherwise, a good idea is to use the different colors to represent the immediacy by which you need certain items. This strategy gives much-needed flexibility to the packing process when you might have to prioritize certain items in your move.

Let’s say for example you don’t have the capacity to move all your items in one move session. So instead you prioritize the essentials, wants, and then luxuries as your moving strategy. Therefore, one tape color represents those things you will need immediately upon moving in. The wants are then things that you can survive without for a few weeks until you can move more items. Subsequently, the luxuries are those things that are merely additives – usually certain types of decor. I’ve seen a ton of different ways to pack a house on social media, so feel free to use it for packing inspiration if need be.

Making the Move

Once you have decluttered, prepared, and completed your inventory and packing, it’s time to make your out-of-state move. Now, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, the goal is to share tips so that you don’t have to pay for a full-service move. So, now that we’ve discussed the overarching moving schedule and its phases, let’s dive into some specific tips for making the move across state lines.

Research the cost of living in your new city

Researching the cost of living in your new city will give you a better understanding of how to develop your new budget, which we will talk about later, and of course plan for a successful move. There are various ways to research the cost of living, such as using online tools and websites that provide information on housing and other living expenses. If possible, a good idea would be to do a mini road trip and travel to the new city and visit the local grocery store or the coffee shops that you see yourself frequenting. Do some reconnaissance on your new neighborhood and get a feel for the prices of everyday items. You can also double-check the crime rates and make sure that your new address isn’t in an area that puts your safety in jeopardy – although a little stretch outside the comfort zone can be useful.

Assess your current financial situation

Assessing your current financial situation is one of the most important things to do before making a big move to a different state, especially alone. You want to have enough savings and income to cover the living expenses of your new life. Plus, you have to consider any surprise expenses that might arise during the move itself. So, take the time to get a financial snapshot of yourself in your current city. I’m talking about reviewing your bank accounts, credit cards, credit score, and any outstanding debts or loans.

Additionally, ensure that any employment opportunities you have lined up in the new state are going to pay enough to cover your living expenses. Very few things suck more than moving your life for a new job and then not being able to have a good experience in this new place because said job does not pay enough. So, please, do not skip this part of the process and be meticulous with it.

Seek affordable housing based on your budget

Of course a major moving tip is to seek affordable housing based on your budget. It’s really one of the first things that you should do once you have decided that you are going to move across state lines. You should have already assessed your financial situation and researched the cost of living for your new life. Now it is time to find that first apartment and make sure it is realistic based on your budget. You can read more about apartment hunting specifics at the linked post below.

Read More: Moving out of your parents’ house? Here’s what you need to know

Save up 3 months of costs before moving from your current home
Before you move across the United States, you should aim to have saved up three months’ costs of living based on the research you completed earlier – especially if you are moving to a big city. You can achieve this by developing a budget as if you were there already and then assigning money to that budget until it is fully funded.

Why do this?

Well, you are essentially creating a 3-month emergency fund for yourself. So if any unexpected problems arise after moving you do not have to worry about not being able to pay next month’s bills.

For example, If your monthly cost of living ends up being $2,200 then you need to save up $6,600. Now, if you are struggling already to put money aside note that this might be a wake-up call that you are not ready to move – at least financially.

However, if you must move and you are not able to adequately set aside enough money, be sure to save up three months’ rent at the least.

Learn the common moving and apartment hunting terminology

When it comes to moving to a new state, it is always a good idea to ensure you understand what information you need to have to apply for an apartment. What am I talking about? I am talking about things like do you have enough proof of income options, SSN card info, is your background check clean, how is your credit score, and more. All of this is important information that you should add to your moving-out-of-state checklist. You can check out this article below to read more on what information you need to have when applying for an apartment.

Read More: What Information Do I Need To Have To Apply For An Apartment?

Understand what amenities are important to you

Just how you need to have your own account information and financial info figured out before moving to a new state, it is always a good idea to do some research into the basic amenities that are common at your new location. Some words mean different things in different places. I that central A/C meant very different things in the northeastern part of the united states vs the northeastern. Little tidbits of information like this are especially helpful if you are moving from a small town to a big city. So definitely take the time to do your due diligence.

Understand your responsibilities as a tenant

It it is always a great idea to read your lease and any other rental agreements that you might sign when moving out of state. It is a great way for you to become more informed and understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Know the responsibilities of your landlord or property management company

Of course, you also want to know the responsibilities of your landlord and even your new neighbors. Now, this is usually much easier to do once you have decided on where exactly to live. However, a great way I’ve found it helpful to see what people say about apartment buildings, especially these large property management company-owned ones is to search them on social media or forums. A good example is Reddit. Oftentimes, you can find a certain property management company and see what people say about them. Of course, those online opinions are not the only opinions that matter, but they can help you get an understanding of what issues might be getting ignored by your potential landlord, especially when these larger companies own them.

Create a timeline for setting up utilities

Just how you should create a move-in timeline, you should plan out the setup of your utilities. So if your new house or new apartment does not have utilities already setup, do consider a plan to get that accomplished. In my opinion, this is usually the real heavy lifting because you have to go to through so many steps to get things set up sometimes – especially water and gas.

A great way to get an idea of the service providers in your area is to speak with your landlord. See what other tenants might have. Some buildings have exclusive contracts with certain providers so be aware of that possibility. You might not have a choice in who provides your internet for example however, if you do have options be sure to compare the service provider charges like hidden fees and things. You want to avoid those companies that add those unnecessary charges. Lastly, of course, be sure to set up payment reminders or automatic billing so you never miss a utility payment.

Make sure you have good cell service in your new location

I cannot tell you how many friends I have that live in apartments where they have trash cell service. So test out the call quality when you are touring a house or apartment. It would suck if you move all the way out of state and now can’t even call your family from your new place because of your cell service.

Find a moving truck rental company that offers one-way rentals

Using a moving truck service that allows you to drive your rental truck from one state and return it in another is key when making an interstate move, especially a long distance move. Having the ability to do a one-way rental will usually save you money and definitely time when driving those long distances. So do your research, You want to make sure that whatever rental truck company you use has locations in the place you are leaving and arriving. Additionally, you will want to research the requirements necessary for you to rent the vehicle. Of course, you are going to need a driver’s license, but maybe you will also need to purchase some extra liability insurance. So again do your research.

Check Out Your Local Library

I am a big fan of supporting your local library. It is a great way to get an idea of the people that live at your new location. Plus, libraries often have calendars of events that the library will be hosting as well as upcoming local events in the community. On top of that, this is usually true for both a small town and a big city. So no matter where you move, your library can be a great source to help you meet new people, find local clubs, and start building your new life.

Embrace the new environment

Embracing your new home is important for various reasons. You will need to build a new social circle in this different place so it will be important to have an open mind as you get to know this new place. Now, you might not find new friends right away, but that should not stop you from seeking out new people and new ways to explore and make your new home a special place. This is definitely where social media is your friend. Take advantage of it and use it to start building your new network. And remember that if you are ever lost, just open Google Maps and search fun things to do nearby. You might discover some of the coolest hidden gems, so don’t hold yourself back as you complete this move!