Moving To a New State: Your Packing Checklist

Moving to a new state is an exciting—albeit sometimes stressful—endeavor. You need to figure out how to pack for a move and transport your belongings across state lines, complete other relocation tasks, and become familiar with a new city. We know that it can be overwhelming, so we’ve compiled some of our favorite moving tips.

Whether you’re moving just five minutes across a state border or to an entirely different part of the country, our moving to another state checklist is here to help!

Take a look at our packing checklist to help take some of the stress out of your big move.

Prepare Your Moving Materials

One of the best packing tips for moving is to have all of your supplies ready before you start gathering your things. So, the first task on our packing checklist is to get your packing supplies in order. Make sure you have everything on hand to move and pack up your belongings before you start going to town on your items. Consider stocking up on the following supplies:

• Cardboard boxes: Get some cardboard boxes of all sizes to accommodate your things.

• Plastic bins with lids: Plastic bins are sturdy, waterproof alternatives to cardboard boxes.

• Packing tape: Be sure to seal your cardboard boxes with packing tape.

• Bubble wrap, peanuts, and packing paper: Wrap up your fragile items or place these packing materials in your cardboard boxes to give them more padding during the move.

• Markers: Use markers to label your boxes, noting what’s inside or in what room the box belongs.

• Scissors: Save your teeth; use scissors.

• Dollies: If you’re moving heavy boxes or furniture, dollies can make it a breeze.

• Lifting straps: Protect your back and legs and use lifting straps when moving furniture.

• Blankets: Drape blankets over your furniture to give it extra cushioning and keep sunshine, rain, and snow off your items.

Packing Tips for Each Room

Now that your supplies are in order, check out these packing tips for tackling each room in your home.

Take Inventory

Our next packing tip for moving suggests giving a good hard look at your belongings. Go room by room, and assess what you have. Identify the things that don’t need to come with you to your new home. Do you have broken items or ripped furniture? How about that couch you absolutely despise? And that pool table you haven’t touched in eight years? If you no longer use or like certain items, there’s no use lugging them to another state, as that’ll only cost you more time and energy.

Fix the things you can, but toss away or recycle items that are beyond repair. If you have belongings that are still in good shape but simply don’t serve you anymore, consider donating them, gifting them to a friend, or even selling them. And finally, if you still have too many things to pack, consider renting a storage unit until you can find a permanent home for them.

Start with Your Least-Used Rooms

Now that you’ve done a healthy purge of your belongings, the next step in our moving-out checklist focuses on the rooms and spaces you use the least. These areas contain items you won’t need in the days or weeks leading up to your big out-of-state move, so you can begin packing them up first.

This could be your entertainment room with all your video game consoles, board games, and foosball table. Or maybe it’s your shed, which houses your lawn equipment and gardening supplies.

Start with the items you know you won’t be using. If you find a few things you might need in these areas, simply set them aside and move them into a more frequently used room.

Start with Your Least-Used Rooms

Now that you’ve done a healthy purge of your belongings, the next step in our moving-out checklist focuses on the rooms and spaces you use the least. These areas contain items you won’t need in the days or weeks leading up to your big out-of-state move, so you can begin packing them up first.

This could be your entertainment room with all your video game consoles, board games, and foosball table. Or maybe it’s your shed, which houses your lawn equipment and gardening supplies.

Start with the items you know you won’t be using. If you find a few things you might need in these areas, simply set them aside and move them into a more frequently used room.

Pack up Non-Essentials

Once you’ve packed up your least-used spaces, you can begin moving on to the areas you use more often. After all, if you’re not moving to a new state for a little while, you won’t want to pack up everything and the kitchen sink all at once! Instead, start looking for the non-essentials in frequently-used rooms, such as your kitchen, living room, and bedroom.

A packing checklist of non-essentials in the kitchen might include your fancy china, popcorn maker, and panini iron, as you probably won’t use those in the coming weeks. As for your living room, maybe pack up your DVD collection, paintings, and framed photographs. And in your bedroom, start with your closet and pack up seasonal clothing you won’t need until next year.

Set Aside Your Essentials

After identifying your non-essentials, create a packing checklist for essentials. What will you need in your final days of living in this home? Maybe your coffee pot and ebook reader? Or what about your blow dryer? And don’t forget about some dinner plates and utensils.

These are items you can set aside, as you’ll likely continue to use them until you move out. They’ll be the last things you’ll pack.

General Tips for Moving and Packing

By now, your moving and packing checklist is getting awfully long, but don’t forget to add some of these important tasks to it.

Get a Head Start

It’s never too early to start chipping away at packing. If you follow our moving tips above, you can begin packing away the items you won’t need anytime soon, which is just one less thing you’ll have to do closer to moving day.

Make Moving Arrangements Ahead of Time

If you’re planning to rent a moving truck or hire moving professionals, this belongs high up on your moving to another state checklist. We recommend making arrangements as soon as you know your moving date so that you can ensure they’re available when you need them.

Even if you don’t plan to hire movers or rent a truck, you’re probably going to need a hand with your move. In that case, your friends and family members may be the chosen ones. Reach out to them in advance to ensure they’re around to help you on moving day. And don’t forget to pick up food, booze, or gift cards for them as a thank you!

Change Your Services

Don’t forget to change or turn off your electricity, gas, water, internet, and any other services associated with your current address. Some of these changes take time to go into effect, so reach out to the appropriate companies as soon as possible. This will help you to avoid paying for services you won’t use.

Pack a Moving Day Box

It’s a good idea to designate a box of items you’ll carry with you during your move. When you’re trying to decide what to pack for moving, think of the things you need to access daily. These may include your toiletries, makeup, medications, water bottle, pajamas, and a spare outfit. You’ll also want to think about what your kids and pets might need, from baby bottles and diapers to dog leashes and kitty litter.

This moving day box could also include valuables you want to keep on you, like family heirlooms, antiques, or vintage jewelry.

Things to Consider When Moving to a New State

Whether you’re moving just a few miles away across state lines or making a cross-country move, do some research about your new home to ensure you’re prepared come move-in day.

Research Your New City

You’ll undoubtedly want to Google the hottest attractions and best places to eat in your new town. But it’s wise to locate the nearest grocery store, gas station, and coffee shop as well. You should also find out where the local hospital, urgent care facility, and pharmacy are. That way, you’ll know the lay of the land before you even arrive.

Budget for Your Move

In addition to budgeting for the moving truck and packing supplies, consider other costs you may incur on the way to your new home. These expenses could include hotel stays, gasoline, pit stops, and meals.

Change Your Driver’s License and Vehicle Registration

When moving to a new state, you might think you have plenty of time to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) regarding your relocation. However, your change of address should actually be reported within ten days of moving. Each state may have different rules and regulations, but you’ll typically need to obtain a new driver’s license and register your vehicle within the first month.

Contact Stor-It Today

Here at Stor-It, we understand that moving to a new state can be quite an undertaking, but we’re here to assist you every step of the way! We’re the largest (and oldest!) storage facility in the state of Idaho, so you know you’re in good hands. We have all the best packing and moving tips to help make your big move a breeze. Contact us today to learn more about our services and find the ideal storage unit for your storage needs.