So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and move to another state. It’s an exciting decision to make, but it’s also one that can cause some stress. On average, people will move 12 times throughout their life, but that doesn’t make things less stressful, right? How do you decide where to live? How are you going to get all your stuff there? Where do you even start when it comes to packing?

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed about your out-of-state-move, here are five quick tips that can help ease the stress.

Narrow Down Where You Want To Live

The first thing you should do is decide where exactly you want to live in your new state. There are many factors that can influence where you’ll end up, including employment opportunities and cost of living. If you live in a city, there may be more jobs available, but the cost of living may be higher. If you opt to live in a small town, your cost of living could go down, but it may be harder to find a job in that area.

Another thing to think about when deciding where to live is what kind of lifestyle you want to live. Do you want to be in a big city that has a lot of nightlife? Or do you want to live in a quieter small town? Knowing what kind of lifestyle you want to have will help you pinpoint exactly where you want to end up.

Do Diligent Research On Neighborhoods

Once you decide where you want to live, take the time to research the neighborhoods in that location. Look up what’s in each neighborhood, who lives in each neighborhood, and what attractions are close to each neighborhood.

It’s important to know this information about each neighborhood for numerous reasons. If you have children, you may want to live in a neighborhood that’s close to a school or a neighborhood that has a lot of families in it. If you travel frequently or have a longer commute, you may want to live in a neighborhood that’s closer to the highway. There’s a good chance you’ll be living in this neighborhood for the foreseeable future, so you want to ensure you’re a good fit in it. Once you find a neighborhood you like, see what kind of housing you can find in that neighborhood.

Fill Up The Donation Boxes

Ok, so now you’ve got a pretty good idea of where you want to move. Now, it’s time to start packing!

While you’re packing up your stuff, start a donation box. This is your chance to finally get rid of the things you’ve been holding on to for too long. You can start by letting go of old clothes and accessories. Then, move on to dishes and utensils. Once you’re through with those categories, move on to furniture.

Getting rid of furniture you don’t need is important when moving to another state. You may have limited means to move with, which means you need to optimize your space. If there’s a couch you don’t need or a dresser that’s simply taking up space in a guest bedroom, donate it and make room for the things that do matter. Think of this as an opportunity to declutter your life and truly start fresh in a new place.

Find The Right Moving Help

Moving to a new state can be a challenge if you don’t have the right help. See if you can get a couple of family members and/or friends together and take a road trip out to your new place. You can drive the moving truck, while someone else drives your car. Doing this will also save you some money on the moving truck, since some moving companies will charge for car towing.

If you can’t get anyone to help you move, then consider hiring a reliable moving company in your new town. You may think you can move everything on your own but large furniture is pretty heavy. Save yourself some trouble and research the best movers in your new town. These movers will help you move safely and quickly.

Don’t Forget To Change Your Address

This is an easy thing to do, but many people tend to forget about it when they’re moving. Change your address a couple of days before you actually move. That way, you have one less thing on your plate when you do move. It may take a couple of days for your address change to take effect, so it would be wise to leave a forwarding address at your old place.

Moving to a new state can seem overwhelming, but it’s also incredibly exciting. Just remember to take everything one step at a time and enjoy your new adventure!

5 Important Tips For Those Moving To A New State