The stress of moving, especially to a new state, can be intense. Adopting a positive attitude and making sure to create a detailed moving plan are the two most impactful strategies one can use to make your out-of-state move far less stressful and perhaps even an enjoyable adventure. Towards this goal, presented below are five specific items sure to be helpful to those planning a long-distance move. These tips will show that through proper planning and by being deliberate, you can save money, time and energy while enjoying as smooth a transition as possible.
The ultimate goal of this article is to help you look back on your move when you're settled comfortably in your new home, and ask yourself in satisfied wonder, "How did I get here?" It's not at all mysterious, though, and the following five tips will help illuminate why.
Don’t Forget To Pack Smart
Not only do many people forget to label their boxes properly, which leads to all sorts of added stress, but it is easy for intrepid self-movers to underestimate the amount of packing materials they will need. For DIY movers, make sure to buy more packing materials than your best estimate of what you'll need, as it's hard to calculate the volume of all of your stuff. Sometimes boxes can be had free of charge from supermarkets or other businesses, but remember to avoid any boxes that once contained foodstuffs, as the odor can permeate your things.
Liquor stores are a particularly good choice for free boxes, as they are sturdy and have no lingering odors. Also, professional moving firms sometimes offer for a steep discount second-hand boxes that are in good condition.
Another packing tip is to color code your boxes based on the room of your new apartment or house that the boxes are destined for, for instance red for the kitchen and blue for the bedroom. Make sure to mark the top and a couple of the sides with colored labels, tape or markers. Free printed labels can be found here.
Make sure you have all the keys you need as well as a box of “must have” easy access items
Amazingly enough, forgetting to acquire all of the keys to your new place is more common than many would think. For homeowners, there are likely to be keys for sheds, garages and side-gates that you must have in addition to the home's door key. Also, remember to prioritize changing every single lock at your new home, as many insurance policies will be invalid unless this step is taken.
After an arduous day of moving, you're spending your first night in your new place. This is the exact time that you will thank yourself for packing a box of must-have, close at hand essentials, such as flashlights, toilet paper, water bottles, medicine, batteries, sleeping bags, phone chargers and a change of clothes. For families with young children, make up a box of essentials just for them, such as their favorite toys, books or snacks.
An Important Point on Utilities
Another crucial item people often forget to attend to is the necessity of turning on the utilities – gas, electric and water – at their new place before moving in. It's a good idea to contact the municipal utility provider well in advance to schedule these services to be turned on a few days before moving day. Also important is scheduling your now vacant home's utilities to be turned off, the sooner after moving the better.
Planning a smooth transition for you and your family’s health insurance when moving to a new state
Thanks to the recent federal health law, the fraught issue of health insurance has become a little less so for those moving across state lines. There are some important points to keep in mind in this regard.
Many people purchase their health insurance plans on the individual marketplace. Unless you’re fortunate enough to have employer-provided health insurance from a big company with a presence in multiple states, you're going to have to plan on looking at health insurance quotes to secure a new plan when arriving in a new state.
There are two key things to remember here. Moving to a new state is considered, under federal policy, to be a qualifying event, meaning you can purchase insurance any time of the year your move takes place. The second crucial point is that to be eligible for this qualifying event (your out-of-state move), you must have already had health insurance in your prior state of residence. This qualifying event gives residents of new states a 60-day timeline to shop for and purchase a new plan, either on the public exchange or off it.
This topic deserves a thorough review, beyond the scope of this article. Visit this informative site to learn more about this crucial aspect of your interstate move.
Pet Owners
Pets are susceptible to the stress of a move just as much as their masters. For especially sensitive and nervous animals, it may be a good idea to set it up in a kennel or hand it over to a pet sitter. Otherwise, make a point of setting up a special spot in the new home or yard with its favorite toys or bed as well as an item of clothing with its owner's scent.
