{"id":13350,"date":"2023-10-13T20:45:17","date_gmt":"2023-10-13T20:45:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/?p=13350"},"modified":"2026-01-13T17:42:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T17:42:12","slug":"moving-out-of-state-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/moving-out-of-state-checklist\/","title":{"rendered":"Moving Out of State: 12 Steps For a Great Transition"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to see <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/moving-out-of-state-the-secrets-you-need-to-know\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">moving out of state<\/a> as a daunting task compared to a shorter distance move. And while it doesn\u2019t have to be a stressful experience, you\u2019d be correct in assuming that there\u2019s much more to keep track of when you&#8217;re moving out of state. But never fear! We\u2019ve put together the ultimate printable moving out-of-state checklist to cover the broad sweeps of just about any to-do list. Here are some of our best moving out-of-state tips.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#h-1-hire-movers\" >1. Hire Movers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#packing\" >2. Spread Out Packing<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#binder\" >3. Keep a Binder<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#memberships\" >4. Cancel or Transfer Location-Based Memberships<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#doctors\" >5. Visit Doctors Before You Go + Research New Ones<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#car\" >6. Ship Your Car<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#visit\" >7. Visit Your New Area<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#budget\" >8. Work New Home Expenses Into Your Budget<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#lifestyle\" >9. Evaluate Any Changes in Lifestyle<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#vote\" >10. Register to Vote<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-11-change-your-address\" >11. Change Your Address<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#information\" >12. Update Your Information<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/nav><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-885a1a8d wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/moving-out-of-state-576x1024.png\" alt=\"Graphic reading, &quot;moving blog, moving out of state: 12 steps for a great transition&quot;\" class=\"uag-image-13413\" width=\"406\" height=\"722\" title=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-hire-movers\">1. Hire Movers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike a local move, moving out of state will more likely than not require some level of <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/hiring-a-moving-company-what-type-of-movers-are-right-for-you\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">professional movers<\/a>. Therefore this is the first point on your moving out of state checklist. However, you do have options.<br><br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.moving.com\/tips\/what-to-expect-from-full-service-movers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Full-service movers<\/a>:<\/strong> These companies will load and transport your belongings in their own fleet of vehicles, so you don\u2019t have to lift a finger.<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Labor-onl<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/what-is-labor-only-moving\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">y movers<\/a>:<\/strong> As the name implies, these movers do not provide trucks or supplies. But they will do the heavy lifting for you so all you\u2019ll have to do is drive.<br><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/the-most-affordable-moving-truck-rentals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Moving truck rentals<\/a>:<\/strong> Complimentary to labor-only movers, moving truck rentals are also an option. With this, you can keep your move largely independent if you\u2019re more of a DIY-er, and the only thing you\u2019ll be outsourcing is the actual vehicle(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"packing\">2. Spread Out Packing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When you\u2019re moving this far, you\u2019re taking <em>everything<\/em>. Usually in one trip too. You will want to start the packing process early on. This will give you enough time to make packing decisions and coordinate how you will be moving your belongings. <br><br>If you have belongings you rarely use or don\u2019t anticipate using in the next few months, why not relieve some impending stress and pack them now? When you start early, you give yourself the freedom to space out your packing little by little so it feels less overwhelming. Slow and steady wins the race!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"binder\">3. Keep a Binder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For something as big as an out-of-state move, a simple <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/the-quintessential-printable-moving-checklist-you-need\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">checklist<\/a> might not be enough to keep track of everything. That\u2019s why we recommend a whole <a href=\"https:\/\/www.lifestorage.com\/blog\/moving\/how-to-organize-a-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">binder<\/a>!<br><br>Here, you can have multiple checklists, budgets, and timelines, as well as space to keep track of important documents. Here\u2019s a great resource on how to construct one of these binders. A moving binder will help you stay organized and on track!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"memberships\">4. Cancel or Transfer Location-Based Memberships<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not everyone thinks of this one! If you have any subscriptions to local services or memberships with local businesses, be sure to cancel them before you move unless you want to be paying for a gym 500 miles away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"doctors\">5. Visit Doctors Before You Go + Research New Ones<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two parts to this step: first, schedule appointments with any doctors you think you\u2019ll need to see before you go. If you\u2019re nearing yearly checkups or periodic vaccinations, it\u2019s a good idea to get those out of the way so you won\u2019t be overdue.<br><br>Before you move out of state, you\u2019ll want to have researched health professionals in the area according to your needs. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moving.com\/tips\/how-to-find-a-primary-care-doctor-when-you-move\/#:~:text=Ask%20new%20friends%2C%20neighbors%20and,find%20more%20than%20one%20recommendation.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Finding new doctors<\/a> can be tricky. So, it\u2019s smart to get ahead of the curve and already have something set up (or at least have some options) before you move and are thrown into the chaos of settling in. The medical world is smaller than you think. Asking your current providers if they know anyone in the area might be worth your while!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"car\">6. Ship Your Car<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re traveling to your new home via plane and you have a vehicle you want to keep, you\u2019ll need to hire a company to <a href=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/how-to-ship-a-car-across-country-during-a-move\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ship your car cross-country<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"visit\">7. Visit Your New Area<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This may or may not be within your budget, but if you\u2019re able, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/how-to-explore-a-city-youre-considering-moving-to\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">visiting the area you\u2019re moving to<\/a> well in advance is a great way to feel prepared going into your move. You could use the opportunity to pick out houses or apartments, or simply canvas the area if you already have one in mind.<br><br>Get a good sense of community. This might feel more abstract than simply looking at houses, but being familiar with the culture you\u2019ll be moving into is a great way to ease you into the new environment. Social media, reviews, and local news are great outlets to do this.<br><br>If you can\u2019t visit in person, worry not! There are plenty of ways to research remotely. You might even find a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Facebook<\/a> group for residents in the area. The internet and news outlets are also excellent resources to help you get a feel for an area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"budget\">8. Work New Home Expenses Into Your Budget<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/home-improvement\/moving-services\/how-to-create-a-moving-budget\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">making a moving budget<\/a> is a no-brainer. But what you\u2019ll also want to consider is what it will cost to get started in your new home! Factoring this into your overall expenses can save you a lot of stress post-moving.<br><br>For example, when you move to a different state <a href=\"https:\/\/taxfoundation.org\/data\/all\/state\/2022-sales-taxes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">sales taxes<\/a> will differ. Grocery stores might be more or less expensive. You might be paying for a bus or train pass when you didn\u2019t before. Research all these things and set aside some money to settle into your new area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"lifestyle\">9. Evaluate Any Changes in Lifestyle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To piggyback off of my last point, you\u2019ll have to consider and prepare for any anticipated changes in your lifestyle. As I said, grocery stores (and stores in general) could have different prices. But how far is that store to begin with? Maybe you\u2019re able to walk or maybe you have to drive. Find out if it\u2019ll be different than what you\u2019re used to.<br><br>You\u2019ll also need to look at this regarding the larger area. If you have children, for example, you should research a decent amount about the school system in the area. Know if it\u2019s a walkable city or not. Also, consider the weather. Will you need to invest in a new wardrobe? Things will likely be pretty different depending on where you\u2019re moving to, so do your research and be prepared for change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"vote\">10. Register to Vote<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you plan on living in your new home long-term, you\u2019ll have to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/change-voter-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">register to vote<\/a> in that state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-11-change-your-address\">11. Change Your Address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019d have to do this anyway, but when you move out of state you\u2019ll have to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.usa.gov\/change-address#:~:text=Go%20to%20USPS.com%2Fmove,the%20official%20USPS.com%20website.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">update your address information<\/a> to all the necessary parties. This will also involve getting your mail forwarded to your new place. Depending on the length of your residency, you may have to look into a <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.nationwide.com\/family-life\/how-to-change-state-residency\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">domicile<\/a> in your new state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"information\">12. Update Your Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re going to be a permanent resident of your new state, it might be worth looking into <a href=\"https:\/\/www.consumerreports.org\/electronics-computers\/telecom-services\/how-to-change-your-phone-number-and-keep-your-old-one-a3386909004\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">changing your cell phone<\/a> number so you have a local area code. Of course, this isn\u2019t a required step, but it\u2019s a small thing many people think makes them feel more at home.<br><br>If you use a local bank, you might have to look into a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankrate.com\/banking\/switching-banks-moving-your-account-to-a-new-bank\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new bank<\/a>. Whatever the case, you\u2019ll have to update your information and address with them, but you\u2019ll be able to keep the same accounts.<br><br>Finally, you\u2019ll need a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.progressive.com\/answers\/how-to-get-drivers-license-in-a-new-state\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">new driver\u2019s license<\/a>. When you arrive, find your local DMV and make an appointment with them to get your new license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-conclusion\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-75791fa0 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2023\/09\/12-easy-steps-to-move-out-of-state-2-544x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"uag-image-13419\" width=\"1063\" height=\"2000\" title=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As I said before, this moving out-of-state checklist covers some broad strokes so you can feel more ready for your next big step. Bottom line: research and prepare! Nothing has to be too overwhelming and as long as you stay on track, you\u2019re in for a great move.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s easy to see moving out of state as a daunting task compared to a shorter distance move. And while it doesn\u2019t have to be a stressful experience, you\u2019d be correct in assuming that there\u2019s much more to keep track of when you&#8217;re moving out of state. But never fear! We\u2019ve put together the ultimate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":65,"featured_media":13352,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"_has_post_settings":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[741,172,39,42,43],"class_list":["post-13350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","category-tips","tag-cross-country","tag-hiring-movers","tag-labor-only","tag-moving-company","tag-moving-help"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13350","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/65"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13350"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13350\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27836,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13350\/revisions\/27836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13352"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13350"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13350"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/unimovers.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13350"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}