How to move to another state

Moving states: a step-by-step guide

1. Research moving companies

Before you start planning the “what” of your move, it’s crucial to plan the “how.” When moving, there are three main ways to get your belongings from here to there: hiring a moving company, using portable moving containers or doing it yourself.

» COMPARE: Moving yourself vs. hiring movers

Full-service movers

Full-service moving involves contracting out the entire process of your move to a professional company. Costs vary depending on which services the move includes.

Make sure your mover offers the services you need — Miyako of New York learned this the hard way: “They couldn't move a piano we were going to give to our friend so we had to hire another company just for the job — yet they took/kept a piano stool by mistake. Our friend has had no chair for a couple of weeks.”

A few additional services to consider include:

• Relocating specialty items (like pianos or antiques)
• Appliance disconnection and reconnection
• Packing and unpacking
• Stair or long-carry moves
• Assembly or disassembly
• Hoisting extra-large items
• Vehicle transportation

» MORE: How to move a piano

You can also pay for a partial move, where you only hire a moving company to handle some of the heavier or harder-to-move items.

Portable moving containers

You can rent a portable moving container if you don’t mind the heavy lifting. Like renting a moving truck, you load up the portable container yourself. But, instead of driving the vehicle to your new state, the moving company will pick up and deliver your container for you.

DIY move

Consider a do-it-yourself approach if you have access to a truck and a trailer or can afford to rent one for your move. This will be the most affordable option, but it will take a lot more time, energy and effort on your part. This can be a good option if you plan on selling most of your belongings before you move.

» LEARN: How to rent a moving truck

2. Set a moving budget

Unfortunately, even DIY moves cost money. Before packing your belongings, make a moving budget. Estimate how much money you may spend between now and moving in so you can create a plan for saving.

Hiring movers can cost upward of $8,000, while renting a moving truck may land closer to $1,000. Other factors to consider when estimating your total cost include:

• Packing supplies
• Hotel rooms
• Meals out
• Utility deposits
• Connection fees
• Deposits for a new apartment or house
• Junk removal, if necessary
• New furniture and decor
• Cleaning supplies
• Tips for movers

» CALCULATE: How much do movers cost?

Moving companies also charge other fees, like for stairs or heavy items, that you may also need to budget for. When getting a quote from one or multiple companies, give them as much information as possible so your estimate is accurate.

» MORE: What to know about moving quotes

3. Start saving for your move

While moving isn’t necessarily cheap, it doesn’t have to be wildly expensive. To help with your budget, implement a few smart money-saving tactics.

Sell anything you don’t need

The first thing you should do is declutter. Look for any items that don’t need to go to your new home, like that unused kitchen set that collects dust in your cabinets or furniture that doesn’t match your new decor. Sell whatever you can and donate the rest.

You should also take stock of what your new home and city are like to see if there’s anything else you can safely sell. For example, if you’re moving to a walkable city, you could consider selling your car for extra cash.

Cancel unnecessary expenses

You can cancel existing cable, security systems and gym memberships before your move, since they might not travel with you. Review your credit card statements to find recurring bills or payments you can cancel ahead of time and pocket the cash.

Dave Sayce, co-founder and director of Compare My Move, an online moving resource, told us that while you can wait to cancel these until after your move, it may become more of a headache if you wait. “Some of these memberships have a policy where you can only cancel in person, which opens up a real inconvenience after you've moved,” he said.

“If you are planning on canceling your memberships after you've moved, it's worth checking their cancellation policies to ensure that you can cancel over the phone or online. If not, remember to cancel them well in advance of your moving date,” Sayce continued.

4. Find a new job

If your relocation isn’t for work, consider applying for new jobs. Make sure to review the local living costs so you know how much money you should ask for.

If your job requires a license (e.g., if you’re a nurse or a lawyer), make sure your license transfers to your new state. Sayce says this process can take a while to research, apply for and implement, so get started well before your move.

5. Buy a new home

The general rule for renting is to sign your new lease at least a month in advance. If you’re purchasing a home, the standard closing timeline is 60 days, so you’ll want to start your home search at least 90 days in advance to have more time to find the right place.

Waiting too long to find a new place to stay can result in having to settle for something that isn’t right for you and your family.

A few things to consider during your home search include:

• Commute to work
• School districts/available day care options
• Crime statistics by neighborhood
• Walkability of neighborhood

Working with a real estate agent is an excellent way to get an insider's look at the market and area.

6. Visit your new city

Before the move, plan a trip to visit your new neighborhood. Vacationing in your new city also gives you time to meet for job interviews, sign necessary lease or mortgage documents and get to know your new digs.

It can also help you locate some critical facilities like:

• A new bank or a local branch
• A new primary care doctor
• Closest grocery stores
• Restaurant options
• Emergency services, like fire departments and hospitals

While you’re there, Sayce recommends talking to some locals. This can help you get to know what living in your new city is like.

“The most thorough way to research a new area is to have a conversation with someone who already lives there,” Sayce said. “Often, they will have insight into things you need to know but would never find on Google. For instance, there could be a park that is notoriously dangerous to walk through at night or a neighborhood watch group chat that you could be added to.”

7. Handle all paperwork

Now that most of the fun stuff is done, it’s time to dive into the details. Create a moving folder that can act as a central hub for all the paperwork you’ll need to keep track of, like your moving company contract, receipts, financial documents and personal records.

Complete all the steps below, then put that information in your binder too.

Schedule utility shut-off

Call your utility companies a few weeks before your move to let them know when you plan to move out. Whoever’s moving into your current place (buyers or renters) will call the same company to schedule their utilities for when they arrive.

Failing to call in advance may result in paying for utilities you aren’t using.

Notify health insurers

If you’re keeping the same health insurance plans, contact your providers before your move to ensure all your coverage transfers appropriately. If your insurance is currently through HealthCare.gov, you must enroll in a new plan regardless.

Contact USPS

Change your address with the U.S. Postal Service to set up mail forwarding and register to vote in your new state. You can visit your local branch in person or fill out the form online.

It can take up to two weeks for the change to take effect, so make sure to do it before your move to avoid any mail disruption.

» LEARN: How to change your address

Update necessary accounts

From credit card companies, to lenders to streaming subscription services, having your new address on your account can help you bypass any disruption or accidental cancellation from the company.

For example, Netflix’s new (as of publishing) rule requires subscribers to have a “primary location.”. If you don’t update it before moving, your account could be suspended or canceled.

8. Start packing

If you can, start packing at least a month before your move, if not two. Take stock of what you have, what you need and what you can get rid of. Here are a few other packing tips:

• Save clothes and toiletries for last: About two weeks before the move, start packing your clothes and toiletries. Keep out about two weeks' worth of clothes and necessities, similar to what you would pack for a two-week vacation.
• Make a meal plan using your food: Look at all the frozen food and pantry items you have left. Make a meal plan that uses up as much of that food as possible before it goes bad. If you know you won’t use something before you move, consider donating it.
• Create a plan for pets and plants: Most moving companies won’t move pets or indoor plants because they’re more challenging. You’ll likely need to move these yourself, so plan for that.

» MORE: How to pack for a move

9. Put together a moving basket

To make moving day easier, put together a day-of-moving basket. Think of all the things you may need during the move (and then some). That way, when you need something — either at your current house or when you move into your new home — you don’t have to dig through multiple boxes to find it.

Here are a few ideas for what to put in your day-of basket:

• Toilet paper
• Paper towels
• Body and dish towels
• Scissors
• Packing tape
• Painters tape
• All-purpose cleaner
• Broom and dustpan
• Sponges
• Hand soap
• Dish soap

10. Schedule utility turn-on

About two weeks before your move, call your new utility companies to schedule service. That way, your utilities will be ready when you get the keys. This includes the traditional city utilities like garbage pickup and water and everyday comfort items like internet access.

After a long day of moving, you’ll be thankful you did this step ahead of time.

11. Make final preparations

Start checking off any final to-do list items the week before the move. Whether you have a moving truck scheduled or are packing up, these items will ensure your last week before the move and your first week at your new home go as smoothly as possible.

• Take your car in for a tuneup if you’re driving.
• Refill prescriptions that may run out during the move (or shortly after).
• Defrost the freezer and unplug the fridge at least 24 hours in advance.
• Prep your home for movers by clearing a path or putting out protectors.

12. Move out

It’s finally time! On the day of your move, there are still a few final to-do items to take care of.

Confirm your movers

To avoid moving scams, take extra caution when the movers arrive. Check their IDs to ensure they work for the company you hired. You can also ask for your movers’ names before they arrive and cross-check that they’re correct.

Make sure you have a thorough inventory of your items. Then when your belongings arrive at your new home, double-check that everything is present and in the condition it was when you packed it.

Be wary of moving scams. Ensure not only that you work with a reputable company but also that the movers who show up at your home are in fact associated with the company you hired.

Do a final walk-through

After everything has been packed and loaded, walk through your home one final time to ensure you didn’t miss anything. Check drawers, closets, the garage and every nook and cranny. Once you leave, you likely won’t be allowed back into your property without the help of the new owner or landlord.

Clean your now-empty home

Whether you’re in a rental or your own home, you’ll need to clean it. For rentals, this can be the difference between receiving your full deposit back or losing quite a bit of money. If you’re selling your home, most contracts require leaving the house in “broom-clean condition,” which simply means cleaning up after yourself.

You can hire a cleaning company to do a move-out clean if you prefer to outsource this work.

13. Move in

Finally, you’re at your new home! As you unload the truck, take each box to the room it’s supposed to go to. This will significantly expedite your unpacking process.

Don’t feel pressured to unpack everything that night or even that week. You deserve a break after everything involved in moving to a new state.

» TIPS: 11 things to do when moving into a new house

14. Update driver's license and registration

While it may feel like all the hard work is done, there are a few final details to take care of, like updating your driver’s license and registration. Many states require that you update this information within the first 30 days of moving, although some allow up to 90 days, while others require it within just 10.

Double-check your new state’s requirements to ensure you follow state laws.

Every state has different insurance laws, so even if you stay with the same insurance provider, you’ll still have to change your policy when you move. Start by calling your existing provider to see if it can transfer coverage.

If it can’t, shop around for a policy that suits your needs and budget.

Once you have your new license and insurance, you can transfer your title and get a new license plate in your new state.

When you register your car, you’ll likely have to pay vehicle registration fees and any applicable state taxes, so be prepared for that cost.

What to consider when moving to a new state

Moving is always stressful, but moving to an entirely new state involves much more work than just moving across the street. Before you settle down in your new neighborhood, take some time to do your research and think through your decision.

Here are a few questions to ask when moving to a new state:

• What’s the job market like? Ensure there’s a lot of opportunity in your chosen field for all positions. Use resources like Indeed or LinkedIn to see open jobs, compare salaries and get a thorough understanding of work in your new state.
• What’s the cost of living? States like Oklahoma and Missouri have low living costs — use this information to understand what salary you need and what kind of house you can afford.
• What’s the housing market like? In some parts of the nation, finding a high-quality and affordable house right now is challenging. If that’s true for your new neighborhood, it may be time to consider renting.
• Are there different taxes to consider? Most taxes, like property and sales tax, are dictated by state rules. For example, Montana has no sales tax, so you should wait to buy furniture until you move in.
• What’s the weather like? If you’re moving from New York to sunny Florida, swap your puffer jackets for polo shirts. Take some time to research what type of weather you should expect throughout the year.
• What are the schools like? If you have or plan to have kids, not researching schools before moving is a mistake. School systems play a massive role in shaping children and families. Neighborhoods can vary in terms of opportunities, funding, athletics and more.

» COMPARE: Best long-distance moving companies

How to save money on a move

If you’re hiring movers, there are a few ways to save money, like preparing your space for the movers. Most moving companies charge per hour, so the cleaner and more organized your area is, the smaller the bill.

A few other ways to save money when hiring movers includes:

• Schedule during the off-season (Labor Day to April).
• Move during the week.
• Pack your belongings yourself.
• Compare quotes from multiple moving companies.
• Ask for a fixed rate.

Of course, the best way to save money is to avoid paying movers altogether and move yourself. If that’s the route you take, here are a few tips for saving even more money on your move:

• Ask around for free moving boxes from neighbors or stores.
• Use linens and towels as packing paper.
• Recruit family and friends to help.
• Host a garage sale.

Moving doesn’t have to be expensive, as long as you plan accordingly.

» MORE:  8 cheap ways to move across the country