Interstate Moving Checklist To Ensure A Smooth Transition
Moving across state lines is a life changing event, and can be incredibly stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! The best way to set yourself up for success and make the transition smoother is to prepare as much as possible. While it can feel overwhelming, if you break it up into stages, it suddenly becomes a lot more manageable.
Start with the tasks you can do early on, like collecting important documents, sourcing quotes for movers, and researching the area you are moving to. As it gets closer to your move day, you can slowly start decluttering: get rid of items you don’t want, sell items of value, give away less valuable items, and donate or throw out the rest. Close to moving day, you should only be focusing on the tasks that you can only do at that time, since everything else should be done. Set small, achievable goals each week and begin crossing them off.
In this blog, we’ll help you create a clear interstate moving checklist to help you prepare for and navigate your move.
Your Interstate Moving Checklist: Eight Weeks Before You Move
Breaking down a ‘to-do’ list into chunks makes it more digestible and easier to complete. Here are the things you should schedule at least eight weeks in advance of your planned moving date.
1. Choose Your Moving Company
A great way to start your relocation journey is to find the best moving company for your needs. This is a project that will not inconvenience you if you start early, and can settle some of the anxiety you might feel. The first thing you must determine is your budget; from there you’ll understand what moving services you need. It will also help with determining what items you need to get rid of later.
Once you find a reputable local moving company, look at online reviews and give more weight to the ratings with more detail.
It’s also a good idea to verify the interstate moving company’s U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number. A U.S. DOT number is a way of viewing the safety information of a company that travels across state lines. This information can help you make sure you are using a reliable and safe company to transport your belongings. You can find a DOT number through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) SAFER website and use the “Company Snapshot” tool.
Once you find your moving company, you can now move on to some light decluttering.
2. Get Rid of Things You Will Not Take With You
For your first declutter, focus on items that you have not used in the past year. Go room by room and sort them into groups: either sell, donate, recycle, or discard. If something has value and can be sold within a week, or with little effort, it should go in the sell pile; if it has value but cannot meet the other criteria, then you should donate it. This is also a good time to take photographs of your expensive items to have proof of their condition before you move.
If you are moving with pets, make sure you factor in whether you need to fly them as well, as that will impact your budget.
3. Pack the Non-Essentials
Any items you plan on taking with you but you will not need for the next eight weeks can be packed away before your move. Think of things like decorations, seasonal clothing, specialist or rarely used kitchenware. Make sure you label each box clearly and pack them at an easy-to-carry weight. During this time, you also might want to reassess any items that could still be discarded.
4. Get Ready for Your New Home
Plan for when you make your move, let everyone know about your change of address, like your bank, postal services, and any other service providers who may need to know about your new address. This is also a good time to cancel any services for your existing home. You should also set a reminder for refills on any medication that will need to happen during moving week.
The next step in your interstate moving checklist is to research your new community. Google nearby stores, malls, pharmacies, and other services you might need. Another good idea would be to join community groups on social media platforms; that way you can learn about lesser-known spots, make connections with your neighbors, and understand the area on a deeper level.
Get Set Up for Success: Four Weeks Before You Move
Four weeks out you should be crossing all of these things off your moving ‘to do’ list!
1. Confirm Your Move and Start Packing
At this point in your move you should confirm your dates, the company you will use, and your insurance. If your new home will not be ready when you arrive, this is a good time to look for temporary accommodation. You should also finalize your travel method and book tickets if necessary.
Finally, if you are moving with children or pets, make sure you find and confirm someone to take care of them during your moving day.
Your next step is to continue packing. Anything you will not need for the next month can be packed, again, use this as an opportunity to get rid of items that are not needed, or could be replaced easily and affordably. You should also take the time to plan what items will be essential both during your move and as you arrive, and you should take those with you as you move, and not on the truck.
2. Finalize Your Old Home
Go through the food items in your freezer and begin using everything that would otherwise go to waste. The next items on your interstate moving checklist should be to transfer or schedule your utilities. Cancel your electricity, gas, water, trash, and internet, and set up those services in your new home. Plan a farewell with the people near you and give yourself the chance to say goodbye properly.
3. Communicate with Family
If you have small children, this is an important time to tell them everything that will happen on move day. You can begin to reinforce this each day until your move. Preparing them for what will happen step-by-step is a great way to ensure they remain calm and to give yourself a stress-free moving day.
Moving Day
Here’s what you should focus on the day of moving.
1. The Night Before
A great way to move with peace of mind is to have as little to do as possible on moving day. Try to finish sealing and labeling boxes. Make sure you know where all your important documents are and pack them safely. Check in with whoever will be taking care of your pets or children on moving day, if you have them. Go through each room and take photos to ensure any damage that occurred during the move can be resolved. Protect your floors and frames with covers if you have them. Make sure your pathways are clear for your moving service provider.
2. Your Moving Specialists
When the crew arrives, make sure you have the foreman’s name and phone number. Review your inventory and special instructions. Make sure you are present during loading and point out fragile items and boxes that need to be offloaded first.
3. Moving to Your New Home
As you arrive, make sure you direct the movers to the right rooms, and ensure all furniture and valuable items are in good condition. Take photos of the condition and verify that all boxes have arrived before signing any paperwork.
Beyond Moving Day
Focus on immediate comfort. Get your beds set up, unpack your toiletries, and basic kitchen tools. Test your utilities and internet; if anything is not working contact your service providers immediately. Go through your new home and find the main water shut off, fuse box, and gas valve.
As you start to unpack, go room by room, starting with the bedrooms and then shared living spaces. Compare your boxes and furniture against the inventory you took and take note of any damage promptly. Document the damage with photos. Once you’ve unpacked, take care of any administration. Go through your interstate moving checklist and ensure you’ve ticked off every item in it.
Choose Allegiance Van Lines for Easy Interstate Moving
Moving doesn’t have to mean stress and chaos. With the right planning and an organized approach, you can make smart decisions about what to take, what to let go of, and how to settle in quickly. By following an interstate moving checklist, you break the process down into clear, manageable steps, helping you stay on track and easing the pressure of a big transition.
At Allegiance Van Lines, we understand that every long-distance move is different. That’s why we offer flexible interstate moving services designed to meet your unique needs. Whether you need full-service packing, safe transportation, or short-term storage along the way, our team is here to support you at every stage. Contact us today to request a free quote and take the first confident step toward your new home.