If you’ve ever lived in a small town, you know how easy it can be to meet new people and expand your social circle. If you’ve also lived in a small town, you understand why so many people leave as soon as possible.
However, leaving your hometown—especially if it’s the only place you’ve ever called home—can be scary for anyone. Leaving your friends and family behind is never easy, but there are some benefits to moving away from home, especially if that new location brings you Cross-Country.
We understand moving from one city to another can be a stressful process. From packing your belongings to finding the right moving company and ensuring that you meet all of the requirements for licensing, relocating across the country can feel like an overwhelming experience.
That is exactly why we’ve put together this helpful guide on moving across the country: when the time comes to make big life decisions like this one, you have all the information and resources necessary to make an informed decision without regretting it later on down the road.
If you’re planning a cross-country move, it’s important to do your research and choose reputable long-distance movers who will take care of your belongings and ensure a smooth transition to your new home.
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Why People Move From One Location to Another
Before we get into the specifics of how to make a cross-country move, it’s essential to understand why people make this decision in the first place.
For most people, it’s a decision they’ve likely been considering for a while. It’s not something you do on a whim, so you’ll have to have a good reason for wanting to move. Some of the most common reasons people decide to move to include:
Changing Employment
Perhaps the most common reason for moving is a change in employment. People change jobs regularly, sometimes moving to a new city or state.
If you’re tired of the same old job and are unsure if you’ll ever find something more suitable in your current location, it may be time to look elsewhere.
With the vast number of jobs, you’re bound to find something that suits you better wherever you go. Oh, and don’t forget the potential salary boost, too!
Starting a New Life
Sometimes, change requires a complete overhaul. If you have kids who are getting ready to graduate high school, it might be a good idea to move somewhere where they can start a new life.
Escape a Bad Situation
People are often forced to move because they have encountered a bad situation. If you have encountered an abusive relationship or live where crime is a regular occurrence, it can be a good idea to move somewhere safer.
New Education Opportunities
If you’re a student in a state without many colleges, you might have to go out of state to find the proper education.
Change in Scenery
You’ve probably heard the adage ‘variety is the spice of life at one point or another. Well, it’s incredibly accurate: people who switch up their surroundings from time to time are often happier than those who don’t.
A change in scenery can do wonders for your mental health, so if you’re tired of the same old view from your front porch, why not look into crossing the country and seeing what else is out there?
How to Plan a Cross-country Move
Planning a cross-country move can be incredibly daunting, especially if you’re doing it for the first time.
If you’re someone who’s never moved long-distance before, you’ll need to start preparing for this move long before the actual moving trucks arrive. Here are just a few things you might need to focus on before you move:
Transfer Your Employment
This is one of the first things that you’ll want to consider. If you’re currently employed somewhere, it might be a good idea to work out an arrangement with your employer so that you can work remotely from your new location.
Rent or Sell Your Home
This may go without saying, but if you’re still living in the place where you grew up, you’ll need to either rent or sell your home before you can move.
Finish Up Your Education
You might want to finish up your educational program before you move, or maybe you’re still an undergrad working towards your degree. If your education is unfinished, you’ll need to figure out how and when to finish it.
For example, if you are currently taking up MBA, consider enrolling in an online MBA in South Africa. This way, you can continue studying even when you have moved already.
If you have kids in school, it’s essential to talk to their teachers to get an idea of how easy it will be for them to transfer.
Get Your Finances in Order
One of the most important things you can do before moving across the country is to get your finances in order. This includes creating a budget, paying off any outstanding debts, and getting your financial plans in place.
Visit Your New Location
If you’re planning to move to a new location, you should plan a visit as soon as you can. This will allow you to see the city or area where you’ll be living, and it will enable you to meet some of the people who live there.
What You Need to Know Before Moving
When you’re moving across the country, there are many details you’ll need to remember before you make the big move. Some of these things will depend on whether you’re moving to a more rural area or a major city. These details include:
Your Housing Arrangements
Where you’re moving to will determine what type of housing you can expect to find. If you’re moving to a major city, you’ll find plenty of high-rise apartments. However, if you’re moving to a more rural area, you’ll most likely be looking for a single-family home.
Employment
If you’re currently employed, you’ll want to make sure that there are similar jobs in your new location or that you can keep your job while working remotely. If you’re currently unemployed and don’t have any experience, you’ll want to make sure there are job opportunities in your new location.
Ease of Transport
If you’re moving to a major city, you’ll have a wide variety of transportation options at your disposal. If you’re moving to a more rural area, however, you’ll want to ensure that you have a car and a license.
Healthcare
If you have any pre-existing conditions, you’ll want to ensure that the healthcare in your new location is up to par.
Information for Utilities
If you have utilities in your current home, you’ll want to ensure that the correct information gets to the right people. This could be your cable service provider or meal kit subscriptions. This is especially true if you’re moving to a new state.
What You Should Bring With You When Moving Across Country
When packing up and moving across the country, you’ll need to start packing all your belongings. What you should bring with you, however, will depend on what kind of move you’re making. We’ve listed a few of them below: –
- Your Driver’s License: This is perhaps the most important thing you’ll need to bring when crossing state lines.
- Your Tax Forms: If you have income, you’ll need to report it to the IRS no matter where you live. If you move to a new state, you’ll need to bring your tax forms to report where you live.
- Your Health Insurance: If you get health insurance through an employer, you’ll most likely need to provide a new address when moving.
- Right clothes for the weather: If you’re moving to a more rural area, you’ll want to bring plenty of warm clothes, as winters can be significantly colder. If you’re moving to a major city, you’ll want to bring plenty of warm clothes, as winters can be significantly harder.
- The right mindset: You’ll want to ensure that you’re prepared to deal with any challenges that may arise during your move.
- Your Bank Account Information: If you plan to move overseas and send some money back home, you should know the cheapest ways to transfer money internationally.
Should You Hire a Mover or Do It Yourself?
If you’re planning to move from one state to another, you’re probably wondering whether or not it’s better to hire a moving company or do it yourself. We’ve listed a few factors below that will help you decide which option is better for you.
Time
If you have a short time to move, hiring a moving company is probably best. You’ll probably be able to find the best cross country movers in your area, and they’ll be able to give you an accurate estimate of how long the move will take.
Money
If you’re on a tight budget, it might be a good idea to pack your belongings and move them yourself. This is especially true if you have family or friends who can help you move. –
Experience
Hiring a company that specializes in cross-country moving and has the right expertise might be a good idea if you’ve never moved before.
In Summary
If you’re considering moving across the country, you’re not alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, nearly one-fifth of Americans live in a different state than they did five years ago.
Preparing for a cross-country move requires careful planning and organization, especially if you plan on moving out of state or overseas. But with the right preparation, it doesn’t have to be as daunting as it may seem at first glance.
Hopefully, the information highlighted in this article will guide preparing for and executing such a big journey.
