Moving to a New State: The Critical Essentials

Moving out of state is one of the most stressful – but exciting – life transitions you can make. You need careful planning to pull everything off without a hitch. If you wing it, you’ll likely drop the ball on something important, leading to delays, problems, and major headaches down the road.

Here are the critical essentials you should consider before making the move to a new state.

 

Moving to a New State: The Critical Essentials

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Research the living expenses and budget

You should start by reviewing the cost of living in the new city. That way, you’ll be able to come up with a target monthly budget as well as set aside money for moving-related expenses. According to Livingcost, here is what you could expect to spend monthly in Las Vegas, Nevada right now:

• The overall cost of living: $1887 for singles, $4172 for families (4 people).
• Rent and utilities: $1139 for singles, $1780 for families.
• Food: $480 for singles, $1239 for families.
• Transport: $128 for singles, $350 for families.
• Schooling: $12,663 for a year at an international primary school.

The average monthly salary after tax is $3936. You could expect to spend $4,890 for a 1000-mile move.

 

Figure out your living arrangement

It takes weeks to find rentals and typically months to buy a house, so you should start scouting out likely locations as soon as possible. Figure out your must-haves – amenities, entertainment, neighborhood type, location – taking your family’s needs and desires into account when choosing to rent or buy. If you’re buying, get pre-approved for a mortgage to save time and have a realistic estimate for a budget for your new home.

Get a new career or set up a business

If you don’t have a job already, you should start looking early. You can forward your resume and get into contact with recruiters from out of state remotely. If you’re planning on setting up a business in the new state, a business plan would maximize your chances of success. It would allow you to conceptualize your company, detail your services, cover your business structure, estimate your funding, and pinpoint financial projections.

Sort out healthcare and the other necessities

Healthcare should be one of your primary considerations. Fortunately, these days, you can access reliable medical care virtually. You can take your pick of reputable online doctors, and access a variety of care and treatment options. It’s flexible and you have an easy time getting prescriptions filled. The other advantages are they are more affordable than in-person appointments.

The other necessities you need to think about are utilities, driver’s license, vehicle registration, and voter’s registration.

Pack and move

Packing is time-consuming. Start by decluttering – get rid of the non-essentials, but keep the meaningful things. If there are some items you aren’t ready to let go of, you can put them in a storage unit until you can decide what to do with them.

Storage centers tend to be affordable and some even give discounts to new customers. You’ll find ample and accessible storage units in Las Vegas – with the 5’ x 5’ ones costing as little as $53.50 per month. It’s a good idea to hire professionals with out-of-state experience with packing and moving. Look for services with a proven track record.

 

Get settled in faster with the free Homemaker’s Toolbox

Unpacking, cleaning your new home, and organizing your stuff to your liking will allow you to settle in quicker. You can sign up for The Homemaker’s Toolbox – it comes with a monthly set of printables that will assist you in organizing your home, and generally make you and your family more comfortable.

 

Conclusion

After you move, expect to spend a few weeks adjusting to your new environment. You may have feelings of homesickness, anxiety, and general blues. You will find that optimism, gratitude, socializing, and generally getting to know your new neighborhood will allow you to settle in faster.

 

What tips can you share about making a move easier? I’d love to hear!

 

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