Making it Great When You Move Out of State

By Scott Boone

Image courtesy Pixabay

As stressful as even the simplest of local moves can be, your blood pressure tends to rise even faster the farther the distance.  To keep you from stressing out, I’ve put together a short list of items to take into consideration when you are thinking about moving out of state.

Big or Small Mover?

If you’re moving from coast to coast, chances are the only choice you will have is a big mover.  These are the firms that have multiple trucks in multiple states, along with warehouses to transship your goods from truck to truck as your belongings make their way across the country.  When it comes to shorter regional moves, less can be more, since moving companies that use multiple trucks and transshipping warehouses are not always the best bet.  Face it, if a company warehouses your belongings and requires more than one truck to move your furniture, this is hardly the most efficient way to get the job done.  It is also possible that once your belongings wind up in the warehouse, there can be shipping delays or even lost items, since your stuff has to be loaded and unloaded multiple 

times.

Vet Your Mover

Particularly if you are going to move from one state to another, it’s imperative that you vet your mover six ways from Sunday.  Just because you speak with a mover on the phone, doesn’t mean they are located nearby.  Today it’s all too easy to get a local phone number for a company located out of state.  Now I don’t know about you, but I definitely want to know who is going to be carting off most of what I own in the world.  Once the crew has loaded the truck, chances are you won’t be seeing them again until they pull up at the front door of your new residence, if ever.  What I mean by that is that there are underhanded movers out there who think nothing of taking your belongings and running off with them.  It’s all too easy to unload used furniture on craigslist these days.  Even if the mover doesn’t abscond with your belongings, they could just as easily try to levy a hefty fee after the fact as they pull into the driveway of your new residence.

Don’t get sucked in by low-ball offers or guesstimates of cost based on the weight of the cargo.  Underhanded interstate movers use this tactic to suck in unwary homeowners who are shocked to find out the estimate they were given is not the actual cost of the move.  What are you going to do if the movers refuse to unload the truck unless you accede to their demands?  Always check out movers online, seeking reviews and video testimonials from former customers.  Also check out the moving company with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to make sure they are licensed and insured.

Speaking of Vets

Image courtesy of Pixabay

One of the last things most people consider when moving out of state are their pets.  Most counties require that your dog and/or cat be licensed.  Part of the licensing process involves seeing their medical records.  Before you pack fluffy in the dog or cat carrier, you should make it a point to go to the vet to have your pet examined, as well as getting a copy of their medical and vaccination records.  If you are planning on renting an apartment or condo while your new home is being renovated, you should contact the rental agency to find out what their policy is regarding pets.  The last thing you want is to find out that their rental agreement excludes your pit bull or great Dane, or that you will have to pay an exorbitant surcharge to allow your pet to stay in a rental unit.

Do You Have a Green Thumb?

Here’s one item that tends to catch most gardeners asleep at the switch.  When it comes to crossing state lines with plants, there are State and Federal laws that come into play.  Moving your houseplants might not seem like a big deal to you, but to bureaucrats it is another thing altogether.  That’s because plants can harbor pests and diseases that can quickly transfer and spread.  Also, states from coast to coast have spent billions of dollars trying to stem the tide of invasive species. 

If you want to keep from getting busted at the border, it’s imperative that you check with both the USDA and the State Department of Agriculture to determine the rules for transporting and transplanting plants.  Sticking your head in the sand and feigning ignorance is not the solution, since you could find yourself being fined if you’re caught trying to sneak prohibited plants across the border.

Start and Finish

Image courtesy of flickr

Aside from the chore of packing everything you own, moving involves taking the time to make sure that everyone in the loop knows when and where you’re going.  This not only means family and friends, you also need to inform your creditors, the post office, utility companies, and cellphone carrier.  If you forget to turn off the lights or the cable at your old address, the new homeowners will get a nice housewarming gift when you get billed for their first month of service.  If you forget to tell the utility company in the town you are moving to about initiating service, it could be days before you get the lights turned on.

Everyone Talks About the Weather

Here’s another thing most families fail to take into consideration when they move from state to state:  the weather.  I once drove from Jacksonville, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia for business in January only to nearly freeze to death.  Who knew the climate only 340 miles away could be so different.  What’s even worse is what could happen to you if you are ill-prepared for the elements only to have a storm or a breakdown stop you in your tracks.  On a long-distance move, I always pack food, water, blankets and a tent just in case calamity should rear its ugly head.

Expect the Unexpected

There’s a huge difference between moving across town and moving from state to state.  Murphy’s Law being what it is, the longer the move, the more opportunities for the best laid plans to go awry.  Unexpected delays to both you, your family, and your movers can take place due to mechanical problems.  If you or your movers should break down in route to your new home, do you have a contingency plan?  If your dog or cat manages to get lost at a rest stop, do you know what to do?  The bottom line is if you want to make it great when you move out of state, make sure you consider all the possibilities.

With over 5,000 moves, Scott's Discount Movers  has handled moves of all sizes, including local and cross country. If you are looking to move your home or office, you can depend on Scott's Discount Movers to provide a stress-free relocation.