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How Much Should you Save Before Moving Out of State?

Most people don’t know how expensive it can be to relocate to another state. It’s an important question, so we took the time to find you some helpful answers.
Do You Know How Much to Save When Moving Out of State - Moving APT

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Preparing for an out of state move is no easy task. It takes time and effort, and you want to be sure that you have enough money saved to accomplish your move and take care of any problems that may arise in the meantime.

When you’re planning on moving out of state, you want to be sure that you have everything in order before moving day finally comes around:

  • How much are you supposed to save to make sure your move goes as planned?
  • What sorts of considerations do you need to make when you’re setting a budget?
  • How do you find an accurate moving cost calculator?
  • And how can you be sure that you’ve got everything in order in a manner that makes sense and helps you to get on top of everything that’s going on?

In this article, we’re going to share some pointers about your interstate move so you can plan everything out, and know just what to expect when it’s time to pay up.

What Do I Need To Budget For When I Move Out?

When it’s time to move, you need to save every cent. Your new place comes with plenty of costs, and it’s best to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Here’s a quick list of what you can expect to pay when you finally make your move.

1. Rent or Mortgage Costs

How much is your rent going to be, and how much are you able to afford? When you’re budgeting, you need to include your rent or mortgage. Experts say your rent or mortgage shouldn’t be any more than 30% of your income.

2. Security Deposits

If you are moving into a home, you want to be sure that you have the money you need for a down payment or security deposit. Your utility company may also require you to pay some sort of security deposit that you’ll get back after a year or so of regular payments.

3. Any Moving Costs

If you’re moving, you need to be sure that you have the money you need to hire the best out of state moving companies to take care of everything.

4. Utilities

How much will you have to pay for electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, and other utilities on a monthly basis? Even knowing the ballpark estimates can make your budgeting more effective.

5. Food

Whether you eat out regularly, go with a meal subscription service, or just grocery shop and cook for yourself, you’re going to need to set some money aside.

6. Transportation Costs

How much will it cost to get back and forth from work? And how much will it cost to run regular errands? Do you want to take any fun trips? How will you maintain your vehicle?

7. Furniture

Do you already have furniture, or will you need to purchase it? New furniture can get pricey, so you may want to look at thrift stores and such to get started.

How Much Does it Cost to Move to Another State?

Depending on a variety of factors, it could cost anywhere from $3000 to $7000 to move out of state – and even more if you’re moving cross country or moving a home that has more than 5 bedrooms.
# of Miles 1 bedroom 2-3 bedrooms 4-5 bedrooms
250 miles $1200 to $2,300 $1,600 to $3,950 $2,050 to $5,200
Over 1000 miles $1600 to $2,950 $2,300 to $7,950 $5,900 to $8,100
2500 miles+ $1,900 – $3,950 $3,800 – $9,400 $9,100 to $18,500+

Here’s what makes moving out of state so expensive:

  • How far you’re moving: The distance of the move is an essential part of the puzzle when you’re looking at moving costs. The further you move, the more it’s going to cost – and if it’s more than 100 miles, then you’ll be paying by the mile, as well.
  • How many bedrooms are in your home: The more bedrooms you have, the more stuff you’ll have. This also means you’ll need more movers, and your moving company will need to use bigger trucks.
  • Tolls and other transportation costs: When you’re trying to figure out how much your move will cost, it’s important to remember that you’ll also have to pay for tolls and transportation costs.
  • Any costs associated with licensing and registering items in your new state: What sorts of licenses and registrations do you need to take care of? You need to be sure that you have the appropriate money set aside to take care of your important paperwork.
  • How you’re transporting your vehicle: How are you getting your vehicle to its new space? Will it be shipped, towed, or driven? Each option comes with its own price.
  • How you’re getting to your new home: Will you be driving the truck yourself, or driving your personal vehicle? Are you shipping your items while you fly or take the train? Getting you and your family to your new place is paramount, and each transportation choice comes with a different price tag.

Other costs may come into play depending on your circumstances. Fortunately, cross country movers can give you a solid estimate of what your cross country move will look like so you know how much you should put aside before you get everything in motion.

How Can I Move to Another State on the Cheap?

If you’re moving out of state (and you don’t have much to move), there are a lot of ways to save money on your move. Here are a few methods we’ve seen:

  • Pack your suitcases and move by bus: This is a quick and simple way to get everything sorted out for your move.
  • Take the train to your new home: Trains might take longer than a flight, but traveling by rail means no need to check baggage.
  • Rent a small trailer or pickup truck and load it yourself: If you’re moving furniture, you can always DIY. Rent a small trailer, moving truck, or pickup truck and load it yourself.
  • Look into moving containers: Moving containers give you plenty of time to move at your own pace. You can load them up in your yard, and call to have them shipped to your new place.
  • Ship your items to a new location: You can also use shipping services like UPS, USPS, and FedEx to make sure that your items get to where they need to go.

It may be cheaper than a moving company, but you’ll have to do a lot of the work and heavy lifting. While these methods take more time and effort than hiring movers, they’re still worth considering.

What Do I Need to Do When Moving Out of State?

Moving to a new state can be really different, and you want to be sure that you have everything in order before you take the leap. Here are some of the most important considerations that you need to make when you’re moving out of state.

1. Learn what you can about your new city and state

Before you even choose a new city or state, take a trip and scout things out. Find out interesting and relevant info about your potential home so you can plan accordingly and plan confidently.

2. Get rid of anything that you don’t want or need while packing

Purging while you pack can save you a lot of headaches, and it can ensure that you save money, too. You won’t end up moving things that you aren’t going to use.

3. Hire your moving company as soon as you have a date for your move

The sooner you schedule your movers, the more accurate your estimate will be – and the less rushed you’ll feel when it comes time to get everything in order.

4. Forward mail and take care of utilities

Make sure that utilities are turned on at your new place (and make sure you turn them off at your old one). Also, schedule your change of address for a couple of days before your moving date.

5. Research laws for pets and plants

In some states and local areas, they have specific laws regarding exotic pets, certain breeds of dogs and cats, small animals, and even some types of plants. Know those laws before you get ready to move.

6. Have things in order so you can register your vehicle and change your license ASAP

Have your utilities in order and ensure that you have your new address sorted out so that you can get everything worked out with your license as soon as you possibly can.

Moving out of State is Complicated. We can Help.

There are a lot of things you need to consider when it’s time to move to a different state, but Moving APT is here to give you a hand. With years of experience in both local and long distance moving, we’re able to help with every aspect of the moving process.

Contact us to schedule your move, and find other affiliated services that you may need in order to take care of moving effectively.

Harrison Gough

Harrison Gough

Harrison has spent the last three years writing for real estate and moving companies, but his moving experience goes beyond sitting behind a keyboard. He’s had to move more than a dozen times (sometimes with pros, and sometimes DIY) and he’s learned the hard way about what makes a move easy, and what makes a move stressful. When he’s not writing, he’s researching how to make his next move easier.
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