Main image courtesy of Boston Magazine. 

Moving can be both exciting and nerve wracking and there are so many different reasons why that is. From making sure that you have all of your belongings packed up, making sure all of your bills are paid and shut off at the old place, making sure everything is in place for your new home, how you’re going to move everything, and plenty of other steps, this can be a stressful task no matter how old you are. Trying to make sure that you have everything in order is essential when it comes to moving, but where to start can be the biggest challenge of them all.

So where do you start when it comes to packing up your whole life and moving somewhere else? Whether it’s to a neighboring city, or across the country into another state, that are many different steps and precautions to take along the way. If this is your first big move, it may be intimidating, but it shouldn’t be any longer. We’re here to make your what you may think is a moving catastrophe and turn everything into its own step. A checklist is definitely what you need when you’re moving, so here is your ultimate checklist when moving, especially out of Ohio and to another state!

Understand Why You Want to Move

Helping narrow down your reasons for wanting to move is the first step in the checklist!

When it comes to moving, especially if it’s out of state, then you need to sit down and think of all the pros and cons as to why moving is best for you. Each person has their own reasons as to why they want to move, but being able to reasonably understand them is something different. Sometimes moving far away from where you’re currently at could be a fresh start onto something new and better for your future, but first, let’s think of some reasons why people typically move out of state.

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A common reason why many people leave their home state, or just want to move to another state can be that they need a new change of scenery. While this is true, you should also think about the other reasons as well. Are you moving because you got a new job, or your current job is asking you to relocate? This is another valid reason to consider moving out of state too because maybe the pay is higher living in a different state, or the cost of where you’re currently living is too high and you want to move somewhere the cost is a lot lower. These are many of the typical things we think about when it comes to moving.

There are also other things to think about as well when it comes to moving. Maybe there just aren’t enough jobs in your current area, you want to move closer (or further) from family, you want to move to a safer area for yourself and your children, and so much more. Simply take out a pen and some paper and jot down the reasons important to when it comes to leaving where you currently live to a brand new location. 

Your One-of-a-Kind Checklist to Moving

Now that you covered why you want to move, here are the necessary steps to take before you officially leave!

Now it’s time for the fun stuff, your checklist when it comes to moving! There are so many different things to remember to do before you officially pack up all of your belongings and move to the next state over, or across the whole country to start a new life for yourself. If you’re thinking about moving out of state, but don’t know where to start, continue reading to check everything off of our awesome list to get you one step further to moving!

1. Create a Binder Full of Expenses, Documentation, Receipts, and More

The first thing that you should do before you even start packing is to get all of your expenses taken care of. The best possible way to do this is to create a word document or spreadsheet, or even to print everything out and put the physical copies in a binder. By doing this, you’ll have everything organized, paid off, put together, and confirmed so you will be ready to move from one place to the next. This can be documentation forms, final bills, moving expenses, and maybe even other random things, such as furniture measurements, confirmation of setting up your utilities at your new place, and much more. Make sure to stay on top of everything by keeping everything organized in one spot and keep the binder, or spreadsheet in a spot where you can easily find it.

2. Create a Room-By-Room Inventory 

Packing can be one of the most time consuming things to do whenever you’re getting ready to move. Whether you’re starting to get everything together a few months beforehand, or even just last second, it’s important to start with one room and then go to the next. While we know you’re eager to get everything packed away and move onto a new, you should make sure to leave anything out that you know that you’re going to be using consistently and start with cleaning one room out at a time.

For example, you should probably start by removing decorations, or start by putting things away in a room that you’re not in all the time and then go from there. By eliminating one room and then going on to the next, it can make your packing job easier without being a jumbled mess. Oh, and make sure to label all of your boxes with either what is in them, or by room to make it even easier!

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3. Do a Deep Cleaning and Minor Repairs

If you’re renting a place and moving into your new home, as much as you want to just walk away, it’s important to do a deep cleaning before you leave and say goodbye for good. The obvious reason being you will get more out of your security deposit, or possibly get the whole thing back, it also makes you look good as a soon-to-be former tenant, and this will even help you to find things that you thought were gone for good that you can make sure to pack away. 

It’s also important to do some minor repairs as well, and this could be anything from filling in nail holes in the wall, or painting in some spots where paint has fallen off during your stay. Little things like this will not only help you prepare your move, but it will also give you the closure you need to be able to move on and get excited for being at your new place.

4. Figure Out Exactly How You Are Going to Move

While this step may be obvious to some, it is something that can easily be overlooked until the last second and it’s important to think about this one ahead of time. If you’re moving out of state, it may be easiest to hire some professional movies or freight moving companies so they can pack your belongings up and have them shipped to your new place to meet you there whenever you arrive. 

You can also consider moving by yourself. Depending on the circumstances, for example, if you’re moving from a small studio or one bedroom apartment, you may be able to do this all on your own with packing everything into your car, and someone else’s, or even just renting a U-Haul. Whatever you do, make sure not to overlook this crucial step. It’s important to plan ahead for this instead of trying to rush and get it all done last second!

5. Update Your Driver’s License Soon After You Move In

Although this may be a step for after you make your movie, it’s an important step to think about. If you’re moving out of state, it’s important to update your drivers license as soon as you can. Now we know that you’re probably thinking, “With what time?,” but it’s important that this step gets done as soon as possible. 

Now, you can most likely set this up online, or if you have the extra time, you can just pay a visit to the local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). To make sure that you have everything, like paperwork, and other important information, make sure to check on the local DMV website to ensure that you understand the state’s requirements, because they can all be different, and that you have everything in order to transfer your license from one state to another.

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6. Donate Anything That You No Longer Need

With moving to a new location comes the realization that you just have way too much stuff. Whether you feel that you no longer need it, you’ve outgrown some things, such as clothes and shoes, you don’t have any more room, or you just simply no longer need some things anymore, the best thing that you can do is donate them to a local charity, church, or any other local organization around you. 

Not only will this be able to help you clean up some of your belongings and unnecessary things that you know you no longer need or use, this can help out the homeless, low-income families, veterans, and other people that are in need around you. It’s important to give back when you can, so why not donate some things that you know you’re not going to need anymore!

7. Request Time-Off From Work Or Let Them Know When You’re Moving

Another thing that might be obvious, but is important to do as soon as you know is to request time off from work ahead of time before your big move. Whether you’re quitting a job and going to a new one, or you’re just relocating, it’s important to continue to show your good work ethic and reach out to the company you work for to keep them updated on when you need time off and when you are available to come back to work. Usually it’s only a couple days, but it’s important to keep the people you work for updated.

Try to Have Fun With Moving to a New Location

When it comes down to it, this is a new step in your life, and you should enjoy it!

Are you excited about moving? We’re sure that you are, especially if you’re moving into a new city, or state. No matter where you’re going, it’s important to try and have fun with it, even though the beginning of a move may be stressful. It can definitely be sad leaving a place that you called home for so long, but moving somewhere new can be a breath of fresh air you never knew you needed. 

Wherever you go, make sure to explore the area, get familiar with your new surroundings, decorate to your heart’s content, visit the local restaurants and shops nearby, and just remember at the end of the day that this is a new journey in your life. While change can be terrifying first, with enough research and getting to know the area around you, moving will be easy. 

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With all of this being said, make sure to read over our ultimate guide and checklist to move and make sure to follow the steps and fully prepare yourself for your move today!