Moving To A New State? Don't Forget To Add These Tasks To Your To-Do List

After the complexities of the home-buying journey, moving to your new home is no easy feat. But moving across state lines? It adds a new level of intricacy that can overwhelm you if you don't plan for everything in advance. 

You might have already gone through the usual moving tasks, from creating a packing strategy for your things to canceling your utilities. In this blog, we go over some moving essentials that you might have missed. Feel free to add them to your moving-out-of-state checklist to help make your move go as smoothly as possible.

Carrying your belongings across state lines will be more difficult without the help of professional movers. Interstate movers are regulated by the federal government and specifically monitored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). So when choosing a moving company, make sure that it's reliable, trustworthy, and adheres to FMCSA regulations. Check out the moving company’s USDOT number, Better Business Bureau rating, any official complaints filed with the FMCSA, as well as company reviews and ratings and whether it has any association with the American Moving & Storage Association. A reputable moving company can help you navigate your move efficiently, especially when determining what items are safe to transport outside the state borders.

Your trusted real estate agent can also be a good source of information, as they can recommend the moving companies their past clients have successfully used. They can also help you decide on what kind of service you need based on the distance of the move and your own personal factors.

You've already researched about long-distance movers that will handle your belongings, but have you given a thought about how you’re getting to your new home in a new state as early as possible? Are you driving your car? Are you taking the train? Or do you need to fly to your destination?

Moving long distances almost always involves making travel arrangements, such as booking a plane ticket or a car rental, making hotel reservations, and other plans, as needed. Remember that ticket prices change the closer you are to your target departure date, so it’s better to make reservations ahead of time to save money. And if you’re driving, don’t forget to factor in the cost of food and accommodations, especially if you’re traveling with family. Moreso, you likely won’t receive your belongings for at least a week, so packing an essentials bag or suitcase is a must.

If you're not planning on driving your vehicle to your new home across the country, you’ll have to arrange a car shipping service. Research auto transport options that best fit your budget and schedule. Likewise, be aware that transporting a car can take between one to two weeks, which means you won’t have any means of getting around your city except taking public transportation or relying on car-hailing services.

Before moving to a new state/province with your pet, keep in mind the local leash laws, pet ordinances, and pet licensing requirements. You may visit the website of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the State Veterinarian's office in your destination state if you have any questions and to get more details on how to coordinate the move for your pet. For local ordinances, you can also contact the City Clerk’s office, local organizations, or animal control facility in the area where you’ll be moving.

While requirements and deadlines vary depending on the state, many states or provinces require owners to register their pets within a month of acquiring the pet or moving to ensure that animals receive their necessary rabies shots for public safety purposes. And if what you have are unusual or exotic pets, such as a snake or a monkey, it’s all the more reason to check out the local laws first as not all states accept them.

Updating your license and registration to your new address is another requirement as soon as you move. Every state is different regarding when one should change their license and registration information, so be sure to contact your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) in advance. The time window is usually between 10 and 30 days, and you won't want to miss the deadline.

For your driver’s license, while requirements vary from state to state, you’ll most likely need a driver’s license, proof of residency, proof of your social security number, and an additional form of identification. 

Moreover, update your voter registration as soon as you’re able to so you can vote and participate in any and all upcoming elections. There are usually multiple ways to register to vote, including in-person voter registration, mail-in registration, and online registration.