Houston Moving Blog - Tips, Tricks, and Insider Info
September 11, 2018

10 Practical Suggestions for Relocating to a New State

By Julie DeLong, A-1 Freeman Moving Group 
 

Moving - Moving BoxesThere is a tremendous difference between moving across town and moving to a new state. You and your things aren't just making a simple jaunt from one house to another, you will be making a complicated trek that can take a few days and requires a lot of logistics. During this time period, it's all too easy to let something crucial fall between the cracks or mismanage your individual expectations of the move to Houston. We have seen a lot of interstate moves and can provide a couple words of expert advice regarding how to make sure that you, your things, as well as your life arrive in one piece without unwarranted inconvenience to your new house.

1) Review of Your New House In advance

To start with, recognize where you are heading. Investigating your new home is more than simply performing a tour of the home before purchasing or signing a rental contract. We suggest you combine internet investigation with a mini-vacation spent traveling about your new area and city, learning the lay of the land in Houston and the hometown companies you may want to call on. Moms and dads will likely be interested in the standard of the school districts, and pet owners will have to look into necessary pet licenses, if any. Additionally, you will want sizes of your new residence's doorways to make certain your furniture will make it through.

2) Pick the best Interstate Moving Service

Every interstate, state-to-state, and cross-country moving service is diverse. While many professional moving services can offer you the fundamentals you need to get things from one place to another, do not merely pick the first one that pops up within your local internet search. Look into pricing, services, and timing to locate a moving company who is going to deliver the moving experience to Houston you expect most within your moving budget. Make sure you check their online reputation with other people who have moved using the service to make sure you are hiring a highly rated mover recognized for their customer service.

3) Build a Strategic Packing Plan

Packing for an interstate move may entail equivalent standard tasks, but it feels completely different than a local residential move. Due to there being no multiple trips or going back for forgotten items, and due to the fact you'll need everything squared away quickly within the new home, create a extensive strategic packing plan. Pare down your things with giving possessions away, contributing things to charity, eBay sales or even a garage sale for people with far more belongings than you want to take and also, begin packing early. Mark every box clearly, and notify your movers if you'd like your rooms packed in any specific arrangement for easy speedy unpacking.

4) Organize Your Own Travel and Accommodations

While your long distance moving service to Houston will take care of moving all of the inanimate possessions, you, together with any household pets and indoor plants, will have to make your way within your motor vehicle. Most likely, you'll find yourself taking a lengthy road trip. Make sure to plan your cross-country excursion diligently incorporating regular rest stops, where you would like to eat, and where you'll stay. Book your accommodations far ahead of time and consider any additional people, pets, or plants which will be going with you.

5) Transfer Your Driver's License

While you will not likely get into trouble immediately for having a license linked to your old address, it's best if you get a new license provided by your new state of residence and carrying your new home address. Fortunately, it is increasingly simple to switch a currently valid license to a new state. A number of states can accommodate this request fully online, which is very convenient.

6) Utilities and Mail Forwarding

An interstate move signifies that mail sent to the incorrect home address will likely be exceptionally difficult and possibly also pricey to get forwarded to you. Make sure you officially change your address with the postal service and arrange for short-term mail forwarding so your letters and packages catch up with you successfully.

Following the same lines, make sure you do the total switch of utilities. Make sure to have the utilities of your past home shut off or transferred to a property manager or new owner. At the new property, be sure that the utilities are on and in your name prior to when you arrive. Preferably, it is also beneficial to have someone such as your realtor pop in and ensure the fridge is working. This allows you to get and stow groceries immediately after arrival.

7) Pack a Moving Bag for Yourself

Bear in mind, you may reach your end point ahead of the moving truck along with your belongings. This means you will have to exist out of suitcases for a short while, so your travel luggage needs to be effectively packed. It is important to have a variety of changes of apparel, toiletries, medicines, all your required financial information, and battery chargers for your personal gadgets packed. If at all possible, put all these belongings to one side before you pack the remainder of your personal belongings into boxes to ensure nothing critical is left behind.

Your moving bag should be part overnight-bag and part emergency bag, and it will surely help you be prepared to remain in-transit for as long as your road trip and truck arrival takes. Each individual moving together with you and every pet should also have their own moving travelling bag to ensure that everybody is appropriately equipped for a long adventure and a couple of days within a largely unfilled house.

Moving - Packing8) Pack Your Vehicle for a Road Trip

While you prepare to depart, one of the final steps is to ready your automobile for the long trip ahead. Create a list of the things you'll need as you go along including a navigation device and charging infrastructure to be sure you do not get lost and a whole check-up of your car to avoid unnecessary maintenance issues. You will also need to make sure that you and anyone moving along with you are able to get by comfortably in the car regardless of whether there are long stretches without places to eat or hotel accommodations. Load up lots of water bottles and road snack foods and think about including a couple sleeping bags to ensure that you can sleep in the new home before your beds arrive.

9) Look at Your Budget

No matter how watchful you have been up to this point, it is all too easy to go over budget over the move itself. Your road trip schedule ought to include pre-booked hotel rooms and a standard comprehension of in the places you will likely be stopping to eat and take restroom breaks along the route. Pay attention to your spending budget and keep an eye on just how much you spend while travelling. If money is limited, consider packing sandwiches in a cooler and buying your meals from supermarkets or little small-town watering holes. If you're making your moving excursion into a vacation with participating in sightseeing along the route, just be sure not to spend more than you meant to.

10) Stay in Contact with Your Movers

Finally, throughout an interstate move to Houston, make sure to keep in touch with your movers. While the majority of cross-country moves are uneventful and smooth-sailing, occasionally things go wrong and logistics will have to be taken care of. Perhaps your moving truck gets a flat, or maybe you're the one with the flat. You ought to maintain frequent connection with your movers to synchronize the arrival of your items and they may even have the ability to help you out of a road-trip disaster should an unusual problem take place. Be sure that you exchange contact numbers with your driver and talk about delivery plans prior to leaving the origin area.

Relocating between states is a large undertaking and one you should take on with all seriousness. When your items are in the hands of professional movers with your own transportation is carefully prepared, your move can feel a lot more like a fun road-trip holiday than a big logistical aggravation. Let us help you have a smooth and enjoyable interstate move to Houston.

 
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The Mickelson Family
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The Mickelson Family
Best. Move. Ever!
Very pleased with the overall respect and care the men gave to my possessions. Even mailing me very quickly the only thing lost in transit. Would recommend to anyone needing a long distant move.
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