How to move to another state: A step-by-step guide

Moving to another state can be both exciting and stressful. While you’re uprooting your life, you also have to physically preparing to relocate yourself, your family, and your belongings to a new place.

For a smooth transition, it helps to build and follow a moving checklist. Use this guide to create yours.

Key takeaways:

• Research your destination’s cost of living, job market, schools, and climate before committing to a move to make sure it fits your needs and budget.
• A successful out-of-state move relies on careful planning, from setting a timeline and securing housing and employment to budgeting for expenses and packing strategically.
• Don’t overlook legal and administrative tasks like updating your driver’s license and registering to vote in your new state.

What to consider before moving to another state

Before committing to a move, make sure the destination meets your needs and wants. Here are some factors to consider:

Cost of living, housing market, and taxes

Where you live greatly impacts the standard of living you can afford. For example, a modest yet adequate living standard for a two-parent, two-child family in Pierce County, Washington, costs $13,745 per month, while the same living standard costs $7,171 per month in Cumberland County, Virginia. 

Housing markets and tax burdens play a big role, too. The same family would pay $2,721 in housing costs and $2,395 in taxes in King County, Washington, or $913 and $921 per month, respectively, in Cumberland County, Virginia.

Job market and employment

Unless you’re retired or work remotely, you’ll likely need to find a new job. Avoid moving to areas with few job prospects and instead favor those with strong economies. That way, you’re less likely to get stuck without a job after you move.

Schools, healthcare, and community

If you have kids, research the quality of the schools they’d attend, as this can have a big impact on their education. Do the same for the local healthcare options and community events.

Transportation and climate

Public transportation options can be a major attraction, especially if you or other family members don’t have a car. See what your destination city offers. Also, review the state’s climate and average temperatures to ensure you’re up for the weather.

How to move to another state: Step by step

To move to another state with minimal hiccups, follow these steps:

Step 1: Establish a moving timeline

Set a moving date far enough in advance that you have ample time to prepare. Of course, you may already be under some time pressure if you’re relocating for work or selling your home to buy a new home out of state. If so, carefully plan the following steps into your remaining timeline. Keep the following questions in mind as well: Did you buy a house and need to find a new job? Do you need to buy and sell a house at the same time?

Step 2: Research your new area

Find out what amenities your moving destination has to offer: entertainment, parks, shopping, public transit, etc. Then research what the climate is like. The more you know upfront, the better you can prepare. For example, a cold climate may call for packing warmer clothes.

If you haven’t already, consider visiting the new area in person to see what it’s like firsthand.

These are some of the key things to look into when moving.

• Cost of living in the new state: Consider the average cost of living in your new area. Researching the area’s cost of living can help you find an affordable property. If you’re relocating for a job opportunity, make sure your new salary reflects the area’s cost of living.
• Finding a trustworthy real estate agent: Buying a house out of state doesn’t have to feel daunting. Take it step by step, work with an experienced agent, and research your area thoroughly. Buying a home in your new location shouldn’t diverge much from the process in your current state.
• Starting the loan preapproval process early: No matter where you’re house hunting, getting preapproved for a loan at the start of your journey to buy a home is always a good idea. Getting preapproved will check one huge item off your to-do list and make your offers more appealing to sellers.
• Visiting the new area in person: There’s only so much online research can offer. To get a fuller picture, you may want to visit the area in person before moving there. Getting a feel for your new area can help make it easier to find homes and may ease some anxieties before your official moving day arrives. Plus, it gives you a chance to check out local establishments and meet new people or neighbors, so you have an idea of what to expect when you move there.

Step 3: Secure employment and housing

Before making the move, line up your new home and job. Otherwise, you’ll be scrambling to find a place to live and work when you get there. Search job sites like Indeed for employment opportunities and real estate listing sites like Redfin for homes for sale.

Step 4: Budget for moving expenses

Moving can get expensive, so it’s important to budget properly. That said, moving costs vary widely based on distance, how much stuff you have, and how much you do yourself vs. hire out.

Here are some average cost ranges to consider:

• Hiring a moving company can cost anywhere from about $2,391 – $6,900. The more you have to move and the further you have to move it, the more expensive it gets.
• If you want to move your own belongings but need a vehicle, rental trucks can cost anywhere from about $200 – $3,000.
• You can also pay to have a shipping container with your stuff transported to your new home. You load and unload it yourself but don’t have to worry about driving it. This can cost anywhere from about $900 – $13,000.
• Moving yourself with your own vehicle is the cheapest option. However, it’s also the most labor-intensive. Plus, you’ll still need to account for the cost of packaging supplies like boxes, tape, and bubble wrap, not to mention gas money.

Choose a moving option that fits your budget and capabilities.

Step 5: Declutter before packing

Before you start packing, get rid of what you no longer want. That way, you’re not carrying unwanted items across the country. As a rule of thumb, consider donating, selling, or trashing anything that you haven’t used in over a year.

Step 6: Start packing for your move

Start with the stuff you won’t need anytime soon. Think out-of-season clothes, books, or other items you rarely use. This helps avoid the need to unpack boxes before you’ve actually moved.

From there, start packing valuables, records, and irreplaceable items. Take extra care to ensure they won’t break or get lost. This may mean keeping them with you instead of putting them with the rest of your stuff or entrusting them to a moving company.

Step 7: Make final preparations before moving day

As moving day nears, complete last-minute tasks, such as cleaning out the fridge and freezer, unplugging appliances, and organizing your moving boxes for the movers. Complete as much as you can upfront to minimize the amount of work there is to do on the big day.

Step 8: Move out of your house and into the new one

Move your belongings out of the house (or have movers do it) and then do a final walkthrough to ensure nothing is left behind. Once everything is out, close all the windows and lock the doors. You may also need to hand over the keys to a real estate agent, landlord, or the new owner.

Finally, it’s time to get on the road. When you arrive at your destination, you can start moving in and exploring the neighborhood. Enjoy your new home!

Legal and administrative tasks when moving to a new state

When moving to a new state, don’t overlook these important legal and administrative tasks:

• Establish residency and update your driver’s license or ID: Most states have deadlines by which you need to update your residency information for legal purposes. Check your state’s rules to avoid unnecessary challenges.
• Transfer vehicle registration and register to vote: You’ll need to transfer your vehicle registration to the new state within a given timeframe to legally drive it there and register to vote in the new state to legally vote there.
• Forward your mail and update important accounts: This helps prevent important mail and information from going missing.
• Transfer utilities and services: You don’t want to be paying for the utilities or services of the new owner of your old house.
• Transfer school, medical, dental, and veterinary records: Getting everyone up to speed on your family’s education and health history can make for a smoother transition.
• Update insurance providers and consider moving insurance: Make sure your insurance still covers what you need and, if not, consider switching to another provider.

What if you’re moving to another state with limited money or no housing lined up?

Not everyone can be as prepared for a move as they’d like to be. If you’re faced with limited funds or don’t have housing lined up yet, here’s what you need to know:

How much money you should save to move out of state

To move out of state, you should save up at least $2,000 – $5,000 to cover the basics. However, your costs could be much higher, depending on how far you move and other factors.

How to reduce the cost of an out-of-state move

To lower the cost of an out-of-state move, consider getting rid of things you don’t need to lighten the load, using your own vehicle or a rental truck to move your belongings, and getting multiple quotes before hiring anyone.

Moving before you have a place to live

If you must move before you have a place to live lined up, consider affordable temporary housing options like living with family or friends in the area or short- or mid-term rentals.

FAQ

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions regarding moving to another state:

How hard is it to move to another state?

Moving to another state doesn’t need to be hard, but it does take preparation. To ensure a smooth transition, follow the advice in this guide.

Is $10,000 enough to move out of state?

It can be. Whether $10,000 is enough to move out of state depends on where you are moving to and how much you are bringing. However, $2,000 – $5,000 is usually enough to cover the basics. You can also explore low-income moving assistance programs.

What city will pay you $15,000 to move and work there?

An initiative called “Make Detroit Home” offers up to $15,000 to entrepreneurs, creatives, and small business owners willing to relocate to the city.

What's the easiest state to move to?

The easiest state to move to is highly subjective. However, the states with the lowest cost of living include Arkansas, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

What legal things do you need to do when moving to a new state?

When moving to a new state, you should update your driver’s license, vehicle registration, voter registration, mailing address, and other important account information.

How do you get a job in another state before moving there?

To get a job in another state before moving there, consider visiting in advance to interview for local jobs or request remote interviews. You can also see if your current employer has any positions in your destination state that you could fill.

The bottom line: You can relocate successfully with some planning

Moving to another state is a major undertaking, but careful planning makes all the difference. Start early, set a realistic budget, and line up housing and employment before you go. Pack strategically, prioritizing what you need first and safeguarding valuables. Don’t let legal and administrative tasks like updating your license and registration fall through the cracks.

If you’re buying a new home, getting preapproved for a mortgage is a smart early step. It can clarify your budget, strengthen your offer, and help you move into your new home sooner. Apply for a home loan from Rocket Mortgage today.

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