By Rebekah Weissert
Why does it seem like everyone is moving to Florida? I mean, we did so last year so maybe we are just paying more attention. But I think Covid has caused many of us to rethink our priorities. Staying home for months on end made us realize what is essential in our lives and what is not. And with so many companies going virtual, people are less tied down than they've ever been. If you can keep your job and yet move to a more desirable place, why not consider it?
That's what thousands and thousands of people have been doing over the last year. The U-Haul Growth Index shows that 10 of the top 25 cities in the US for one-way rentals (this is an indicator of migration trends) were in Florida. The Carolinas, Texas, Tennessee and Arizona are other popular destinations. So with more people swapping states than ever before, what are the top tips for making that big leap?
1. Ballpark your Timeline
If you have to make a quick move, your To-Do list will look different than if you have six months to get the job done. For a quick move you will have to pare down your list to the absolutely necessary. Finding the time to sort through all the baby clothes and decide who to gift them to? Probably not going to make the list. So the first thing to determine is how quickly you need to get everything ready to go. For our purposes today we will assume you have a few months, at least.
2. Balance the Budget
As with any big family event, there are costs associated and you can go with the Cadillac Escalade or the Ford Focus plan, whatever works for you. But it's important to know if you are ballin on a budget or no expense spared. Most of us are in the middle. So make a prioritized list of all the expenses you may incur, taking into account your situation. It doesn't matter how cousin Emily did it if your situation is totally different. So tailor the move to your needs. Jessica Ryan at My Moving Reviews has some great info on helping you calculate moving costs here.
3. Bring in the Pros
Again, this is something to prioritize. If you are in a time crunch, it's probably not the time to test out your hardwood floor installation skills that you learned on YouTube. Maybe it's not the best time to sell your house yourself, when there are so many dominos lined up from your house sale to the purchase in the new state, etc. Decide which pros you need and try to fill in the rest of your list of helpers from friends and family. Don't forget, your Realtor is a great resource for a lot of pros you may need. Ask for his or her advice and for their referrals for contractors, moving companies and real estate pros in the state you're heading to.
4. Bye Bye Boxes of Clutter
We moved 10 times in the first 13 years of our marriage. And you know what moved with us? Lots of boxes that we NEVER opened. You know...the college notebooks and keepsakes and miscellaneous stuff that my husband and I thought we'd want down the road. Last year, after almost 30 years of marriage, I was able to convince my husband that he will never ever need those college notebooks and they went to the dumpster. You have to get rather ruthless when you're making an out of state move. This is the time to pare down your stuff. You can go the Marie Kondo route if you have time. Go through your things and only keep what you need or those items that bring you joy. It's a very freeing experience.
If you don't have time to Kondo your whole house, just get honest about what you need and what you don't. If you're a born organized person, you probably don't have as much to purge and probably have a pretty good idea of how to whittle it all down. If you are like me: a high-functioning, hot mess with an ADD brain and an aversion to throwing things away, you may need a different strategy. Dana K White is an amazing resource for people who struggle with clutter. I can't recommend her highly enough. Check out her website here.
5. Be a Master List-Maker
Go get a blank notebook or fill a binder with paper and make this your moving Bible. Staple a large envelope inside for any paperwork you'll need access to when you get to your new home. It's really easy to lose track of things in the packing process so having one central place where important papers and important to-do lists are stored will save you a lot of hair-pulling stress down the road.
I also use this as a home inventory and packing list. I keep a basic inventory of what goes in each box (you can dedicate a page to each room). I mark my boxes by room and number. So K-8 would be kitchen box #8. This will be especially helpful if you are putting some things in storage. You think you'll remember where you put that computer thingy for your office, but you likely won't. Write it down! If you prefer a digital option for keeping a home inventory, check out MoveAdvisor App.
Regardless of where you're moving, these tips will get you headed in the right direction. If you'd like more personalized help, please reach out to The Weissert Home Team and we'd be happy to schedule a zoom meeting to chat. Click the "Contact" tab above and fill out the contact form. We will get back to you ASAP!
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