Every year, about 7 million Americans move from one state to another. Some do it because of their jobs, while others do it simply because they crave a change of scenery.
If you’re thinking about moving to a new state, you should know that doing it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it sounds. As long as you make the proper preparations ahead of time, moving out of state can be a breeze.
The key to moving to a new state successfully is creating a moving checklist for yourself and then sticking to it. There are going to be so many things to do when moving, which is why you’re going to want to keep everything organized.
You should also consider some key factors prior to moving to a new state, especially if you’re making a cross-country move. You want to dot all your Is and cross all your Ts to ensure you’re making the best decision by moving.
Here are eight factors to think about prior to moving to a new state.
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Where Are You Going to Live?
First things first: If you’re going to be moving to a new state, you should look around at some houses in this state before you do. You should not pack up all your things and move without having the slightest clue where you’re going to settle down.
Fortunately, it’s never been easier for people to shop for homes in states other than the one in which they live. Even if you’re considering moving to a state that’s all the way on the other side of the country, you can shop for homes in it right from the comfort of your own couch.
The internet is filled with real estate websites that will allow you to walk through homes virtually in almost any part of the country. Regardless of whether you want to move to Alaska, California, Texas, New Jersey, or Florida, you’ll be able to see what the housing market is like prior to making a move.
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You should have a final destination in mind before you list your current home for sale and get ready to move to a new state. It’ll put your mind at ease and make you feel so much more comfortable about the idea of moving out of state.
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What Is the Cost of Living Going to Be Like?
Once you start shopping around for homes in a new state, you should be able to get some sense of how big of a home you’ll be able to afford. But you should consider more than just the cost of a home when moving to a new state.
You should also consider what the cost of living is going to be like in a state. Just because you can afford a home in a state doesn’t mean the cost of living isn’t going to put your finances to the test.
There are some states that have a much lower cost of living than others. You’ll love the cost of living in states like:
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Arkansas
- Missouri
But on the flip side, there are also some states that have a much (much!) higher cost of living than others. These states include:
- Hawaii
- California
- Oregon
- New York
You should search for a state that has a cost of living that you know you can afford. The last thing you want to do is finish moving to a new state only to discover that the state’s cost of living is way out of your price range.
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How Stable Is the Job Market Going to Be?
If you’re moving to a new state for a job, you might not initially be too concerned about the job market in that state. But regardless of whether or not you’re going to have a job when you arrive in a new state, you should 100% check out what the job market is like there.
You don’t want to move out of a state and find out that the new state you’re living in doesn’t provide you with enough job opportunities. It could potentially limit your professional trajectory and even force you to move to another state in the future.
The job markets in different states are always changing. But as of right now, some of the best states to live in for those looking for a strong job market are:
- Massachusetts
- California
- New York
- Minnesota
- Virginia
You should see what jobs you can find in a particular area prior to deciding to move there. You might even be able to begin applying for jobs in a state before moving so that you know you’ll have something lined up for when you arrive.
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How Are the Schools Going to Be?
Do you have kids who are going to be moving to a new state with you? If so, then their education should be at the forefront of your mind.
It’s going to be challenging enough to get kids on board with the idea of uprooting their lives for the purpose of moving out of state. But it’s going to be even harder when you can’t promise them that they’ll have access to great schools in the end.
Just like with the cost of living and job markets, there are certain states that are better than others when it comes to education. You should make it your mission to move to a state that makes education a top priority.
Some of the best states for education are:
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- Florida
- Washington
- New Hampshire
You should also take things a step further and do more than just look at the states that have the best educational systems. You should also look at the school districts within a state to find out which ones are the best options for you and your kids. It’ll allow you to get your children into the best schools possible.
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What Kind of Climate Can You Expect?
A lot of people spend so much time thinking about things like the cost of living and the job market in a new state that they don’t even stop to think about what the weather is going to be like. Unless they’re moving from a really cold place to a really warm one or vice versa, they might not think that the climate matters all that much.
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But you should definitely consider what kind of climate you can expect when you’re moving to a new state. It’s going to dictate everything from whether or not your current wardrobe is going to work to what you’re going to have to do to maintain your new home.
In theory, you might not think that moving to a state like, say, Oklahoma is going to impact your life too, too much as far as climate is concerned. But once you arrive, you might be surprised to hear about how you have to take things like tornado season seriously.
You don’t want the climate in your new state to catch you completely off-guard. It could make moving to a new state an unpleasant experience.
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What Is There Going to Be for You to Do?
One of the best parts about moving to a new state is that it’ll provide you with so many new places to explore. Even if you move to a state that’s off the beaten path, like North Dakota or South Dakota, it’ll have lots of things for you to check out upon your arrival.
But there are obviously some states that provide you with a little more to do than others. There are also some states that are filled with major cities and others that are filled with rural areas for the most part.
You should decide what kind of person you are and what kinds of things that you want to be able to do in a new state. You should then track down a state that’s going to be able to set you up with all the kinds of things that you want to do.
A city slicker might enjoy living in North Dakota for a month or two. But after that, they might get tired of it and wish they had moved to a different place.
At the same time, a country boy or girl might enjoy living in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Chicago for a few weeks. But after the initial excitement wears off, it might turn out to be too much for them.
Your goal should be to move to a new state that suits your needs best. You should, therefore, see what a state has to offer prior to pulling the trigger on a house there and moving to it.
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What the Other States and Cities Will Be Nearby?
In addition to exploring all the new things that there will be to do after moving to a new state, you’re also going to want to expand your horizons by traveling to other states and cities. But in order to do this, there will need to be other states and cities nearby!
If you move to the middle of Wyoming, you’re probably going to be stuck inside of the state for the most part. That might be just fine with you. But it might also make some people feel too restricted.
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They would be better off moving to a new state like New Jersey. If they settle down in the middle of the state, they’ll be just steps from New York City, Philadelphia, the Jersey Shore, and more. They’ll also be within driving distance of almost all of the states up and down the entire East Coast.
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How Will You Go About Moving to a New State?
If you consider all of the other factors here and decide that you are, in fact, ready to move to a new state, congratulations! You’re going to be prepared to embark on a memorable adventure that will change your life forever.
There will be just one more thing to consider: How are you going to go about moving to a new state? This might just be the most difficult considering that you’ll have to make it.
Unless you’re planning on selling everything that you own, you’re probably not going to be able to pick up all your stuff, pack it in your car, and drive off into the distance. Instead, you’re going to need to hire a cross-country moving company to assist you in moving from one state to another while keeping your stuff safe.
Your moving company should be highly skilled and experienced when it comes to helping people make interstate moves. They should also have a wide range of moving services available to you that are designed to help make your move a total success.
And if you happen to have larger items like boats and RVs that need to be moved, they should be capable of helping you out with that, too. They should be able to make moving with a boat or RV easier than you would think by breaking down the benefits of renting a storage building for your RV or boat.
You’ll appreciate having a moving company like this on your side. They’ll make you feel so much more confident about everything that comes along with moving to a new state.
Think About Each of These Things Before Moving to a New State
You shouldn’t wake up one day and decide: “Moving to a new state sounds like fun! I’m going to do it this weekend!” You should put the necessary time and energy into thinking about doing it first.
Moving to a new state is going to call for you to make a big commitment on your part. It’s also likely to shake up your whole family’s world. It’s why you want to consider it from all angles and make sure that you’re making the right move before doing it.
Would you like to get your hands on more useful moving tips? Find them by sifting through the other articles on our blog.