Despite 3 million Americans doing so each year, cross country moving can be a daunting task. It is essential to know what you need to do and how you need to prepare before you make a move. Many factors to consider when moving interstate, not just the house move. This post looks at some of the details often overlooked for interstate or cross-country relocation.
There are a number of things you can do to get yourself ready for your move. You can start packing your clothes, you can start to declutter, you can organise your moving van (we would suggest using a loading and unloading services, to make your life easier) and telling your utility companies that you are moving.
Keep on reading for our tips on getting yourself ready for your move.
Start packing items as soon as possible
Take some of the stress away from the move by packing things as soon as possible. Once you know the move is happening, you can start to pack things that you use very little and then the nearer the move comes, you pack the things you use more often. Whilst packing, this gives you the chance to declutter and get rid of any junk that you have collected over the years. When packing, make sure you label the boxes, so that you know where they all go on moving day.
Reach out to your utility companies
All your utility companies will need to know about the move as you will need to be paid up when moving. By telling them in advance about your move, they can stop billing you at the right time, otherwise, you risk having bills coming through, once you have moved from your old property. When it comes to managing all your tasks before moving, the best thing to do is put a spreadsheet together, this way you can tick things off as and when you have done them, so they don’t get forgotten.
The Cost Of Living
The cost of living can vary greatly depending on where you move. It is not uncommon for your salary to increase dramatically when you move interstate. However, the increased salary may not cover the increased cost of living.
Before you move, make sure you research what your new home will cost. You will want to know how much it will cost to live in your new state. Analyzing these details ahead of time can help you budget for those costs and avoid surprises.
Commuting Times and Public Transport
One of the first things to consider when moving interstate is the commute time and public transport.
When you are looking for a new place to live, you should consider how long it will take you to get there. The average commute in America is about 25 minutes each way. This can vary depending on where you are moving from and where you are moving to.
The other thing to think about is public transport in your new location. If there isn’t, this could be an issue and make it harder for you to get around. You should also factor in the cost of getting about too as this can quickly add up if you have a long commute or don’t have access to public transport options.
Registering for Healthcare
One of the most important things to do when moving interstate is registering for new healthcare.
Depending on the state you’ll be living in, there might be specific health care plans only available in that area. Additionally, some states have no or little cost for Medicaid like Massachusetts or New York does, so it might be worth looking into those options first, depending on how much money you make.
The Local Economy
Is your new area thriving and part of regeneration works, or is everything located out of town, and you need to travel somewhat to access local amenities? Other factors to consider are the local house prices for both buying and rentals, along with crime rates and any local schools. Higher house prices indicate a popular area meaning it has a thriving local economy. Lower prices indicate the opposite.
State Regulations and Tax
Most states have regulations and tax laws that would apply to your move. For example, you may not realize it, but the cost of your interstate move is considered a nondeductible personal expense. This means that while there’s no federal income tax deduction for moving costs, you may be able to claim a deduction on your state taxes.
Moving interstate also has implications for things like vehicle registration and driver’s license transfer, as well as other administrative tasks like voting (depending on whether or not the location requires new residents to register).
