Interstate Moves: 6 Things to Consider

What do Florida, Texas, California and North Carolina have in common? They’re all top states experiencing an influx of new citizens, according to the United States Census Bureau. In fact, 15 percent of all moves in 2018 were Americans moving to a different state. If you’re on the verge of (or considering) a move out of state or across the country, you’re not alone. 

There are several things you have to think about, however, from the moving company you hire to packing items properly. Let’s take a look at six of them.

1. How much do you want to do yourself?

When it comes to interstate moving, you generally have three options:

1. Do it all yourself (including renting the truck).
2. A combination of DIY and hiring a moving company (e.g. packing yourself and hiring a company for transportation).
3. Hire a full-service moving company to handle it all.

This decision will determine most of the other items on this list. You have to decide how much effort you want to use for your move and how much packing, unpacking, lifting and moving you want to do.

2. What does your budget look like?

If you’re struggling with the DIY decision, perhaps your budget will dictate which route you take (no pun intended). Do-it-yourself interstate moves tend to be the most affordable (but require the most effort) while hiring a full-service moving company is more expensive, but you often don’t have to lift a finger. Either way, make sure you get a quote/estimate down in writing before you start.

3. Are you hiring the right interstate moving company?

Hiring a moving company is an important decision, but it’s especially true for cross-country and interstate moves. Make sure the interstate moving company you hire is licensed, insured, well-recommended and provides written estimates. 

4. Are your items being packed properly for the long haul?

Interstate moves are more complex and lengthy than intrastate moves. Packing delicate items like mirrors and antiques is important to ensure your precious belongings arrive intact and undamaged at your new location. (Make sure you invest in high-quality packaging supplies!)

5. Do you need to purge some of your belongings?

One thing that can save you time/money (and a bit of sanity) is reducing the number of items you’re actually moving. Are there opportunities to downsize by selling, donating and/or trashing certain belongings? If you’re moving to a warmer state like Florida, for example, you likely won’t need much winter clothing.

6. Can you move immediately into your new residence?

House closings not lining up? New home not immediately available? Need to remodel before you move in? Contract fall through? IMS Relocation can provide storage for your belongings during any of these situations. We can store items in transit, at a warehouse of have them delivered to a storage facility of your choosing. 

If you’re about to embark on an interstate move, give the IMS Relocation team a call today at 972-484-2112 and we’ll set you up with a no-obligation quote.