Selling a house can be a stressful situation at the best of times. Combine that with a move to a new state, and you’ve got a recipe for chaos. That is, unless you put the right plans and steps in place to ensure a smooth transition.
Here are some practical steps and considerations for a stressless move to another state.
When you’re moving to a house in the vicinity, you can typically request a simple transfer to ensure your utilities will be hooked up and ready to go. However, if you’re moving to a new state, you may be tasked with finding new utility providers— especially if moving from a regulated to a deregulated energy state!
Take some time to research new utility providers well in advance. Determine whether your existing provider has easy transfer options that could help you save costs and headaches during your move. This option might be easiest for now, but don’t limit yourself if there’s an opportunity to save.
If the concept of moving to another state stresses you out, budgeting will be your best friend. While seeing those numbers add up will be stressful, it’s better than watching the money come out of your bank account without ample preparation.
Your first budgeting project will pertain to the move. Determine how much it will cost to transport and store your goods, as well as any utility hook up and transfer costs. It’s also wise to look at your sale closing costs and add a buffer to your plan.
Next, create a new living budget for when you arrive at your new home. Account for any loss of income if you’ll be conducting a job search when you arrive. Don’t forget to research the cost of living in your new state to get a better idea of your monthly expenses.
Determine your insurance needs and changes in advance of your move. Talk to your health insurance provider about your options and whether they have recommendations on healthcare services in your new state.
You’ll also need to re-evaluate your home insurance. If you’re moving to a state that’s prone to floods or hurricanes, your coverage needs will change.
Many homeowners try to save on moving costs by taking a DIY approach—big mistake! When you’re moving to a new state, it’s almost always worth the expense of hiring a skilled, reliable moving company. Outsourcing this monumental task will dramatically reduce your stress levels.
Coordinating the sale of one house and moving to another is a headache. Fortunately, there’s often room for flexibility throughout the process.
Try to negotiate flexible closing dates to allow yourself some wiggle room as you move from one home to the other. Alternatively, see if arranging a “rent back” is an option if there’s a significant gap between your two closing dates.
When organizing an interstate move, you should always hope for the best and plan for the worst. Think about the worst-case scenarios and how you’ll handle them if they arise. Create contingency plans and leave room in your budget for surprise hotel stays and other unexpected expenses.
Changing your address is a tedious process. Fortunately, there are endless free checklists online to help you ensure that you’ve covered all the bases.
In the meantime, it’s worth paying for address forwarding for up to six months. That way, if you’ve forgotten anything, you’ll still receive your mail with time to make changes.
There’s much to consider when selling your home and moving to another state. Start with these basic steps to help stress less during the process.
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