How to Move to a New State
Moving is a complex and sometimes scary process, especially you are moving to another state where many things may be unfamiliar. With preparation and some research you can make moving to another state a little more comfortable and start easing into a new life. Give yourself the appropriate amount of time for a few key tasks and the rest will come with time. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Start packing. Moving to another state means you will likely have to do it all in one trip. Start packing early to be as ready as soon as possible to fit all of your belongings neatly into one load. Start by packing the things you know you won't need, such as out-of-season clothing and stuff that you only use on rare occasions. Gradually pack more until you get to a period where you can pack most of your clothes in the last week or two.
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Tell all of your friends your moving. You'll really need their help and support. Ask your friends to help you pack and see if any of them can travel with you to help make the move easier. Plan to stay in contact with them through the mail, phone and Internet. Social sites like Facebook make it easier to stay in contact, but don't forget to call regularly to get more real human type contact. Find out if your church has either another church of the same denomination in your new area or if they can recommend a church. Making friends in a new state is important because you will not often see your old friends.
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Change your address. Start at the post office. The post office has a form you can fill out well in advance and specify the date you want your mail forwarded. Be sure and update all of your contact information with all of the companies that mail you bills or other financial information. In general, inform everyone that you do business with of your new address.
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Find out about the tax rates and other laws in your new state. Go to your state's website (see Resources) and search for tax rates and laws regarding traffic and schooling anything else that might pertain to you. Some states have laws prohibiting driving while using cell phones, and every state sets its own sales tax rates and business regulations. These are all things you should become aware of in advance.
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Rent a moving truck well in advance. If you are moving out of state, you will probably need a moving truck and they can get booked up in advance. Take good stock of how much you will be moving and ask the rental company what size truck it recommends based on your house size and how many boxes and how much furniture you will be moving. You will need to choose a one-way rate and compare rental companies based on miles. You will be charged a set fee, plus so many cents per mile. Don't go for the cheapest truck because you'll want to be comfortable during the long ride.
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Find out about neighborhoods. Before moving find out what kind of neighborhood you will be moving into. Check with local authorities to find out what crime, if any, has been reported in that area.
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Find out who now represents you in Congress. Find out your new senators and other representatives. You can go to the websites listed in the resources to find your representatives. Just type in your state or zip code.
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Join groups or clubs to help find new local friends. Finding a church is not only important spiritually, but it will help you become more a part of your community. Join the local YMCA and groups such as hiking or biking clubs to have fun and help make new friends.
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Explore your new area. Be careful not to wander into dangerous territory, but otherwise become familiar with your new surroundings early on. This will save you time and frustration later. Knowing where the closest gas stations convenience and grocery stores are located will help you become more at home sooner.
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Resources
- Photo Credit www.sxc.hu
