11 Tips for Moving Your Family to Another State

11 Tips for Moving Your Family to Another State

Research your new home

If you’re moving to a state you didn’t get to choose, say because you’re in the military or you took a promising job opportunity, you might not know what you’re getting yourself into. Take time to consult friends or search the internet for information about your soon-to-be home.

Slowly ease into the transition

Moving can be especially challenging if you have children. Make sure they know what’s going to happen and what to expect. If possible, ease them into things a little at a time. For instance, if you’re looking at Columbia houses for sale, consider taking the family on a few day-trips to South Carolina.

Pack sooner rather than later

Moving all your belongings is very time-consuming. The sooner you start, the better. Begin with items inessential for everyday life: books, photo albums, knick-knacks, etc. Even if you pack just one box at a time, working a little bit here and there, before you know it, you’ll have made serious headway.

Use this as a chance to declutter

Another way of saving yourself time and energy is to take advantage of the move by using it as an opportunity to throw away, sell, or donate items you no longer want or need. Why bother moving things if you just plan to get rid of them later anyway?

Make pre & post move checklists

Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed. Sit down and put together a list of all the things you’ll need to do before and after the move. Having an organized itinerary you can refer back to goes a long way towards reducing stress, chaos, and the chance of problematic oversights.

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Transfer your utility services

No one wants to spend the first night in their new home deprived of heat, water, or electricity. Prioritize the transfer of your utility accounts from your old house to the new one. Try to line up the end of one payment with the beginning of another.

Update your mailing address

Like with utilities, it’s a good idea to begin forwarding mail to your new address shortly before you make the move. Having an overlap helps prevent important mail from getting lost or delivered to an outdated address.

Get new licenses and IDs

Nothing cements a state as your official home like a new driver’s license and/or ID. It’s important to keep your old ones on-hand as long as they are valid, but that doesn’t mean you should wait until they expire to get replacements. Try to schedule a DMV appointment within a week of your expected arrival.

Bring some first-night essentials

Don’t pack everything away in boxes. Instead, keep some personal luggage close by that you can unpack quickly as soon as you arrive. Fill these bags with clean clothes, toiletries, medicine, money, phone chargers, important documents, and any other must-have items you want to have quick access to.

Decide on a moving company

Choose whether you want to handle the move yourself or entrust your belongings to a moving company. If you do the latter, look up customer reviews and ask for recommendations. Consider getting moving insurance if need be, but never hire a company you’re not completely comfortable with.

Take time to say goodbye

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Moving can be draining, not just physically but emotionally. It‘s hard leaving a place with so many memories attached to it. Don’t be afraid to talk with your family about how they feel. Before leaving, reflect on the chapter of your life that is now closing and look forward to a new one.

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