All relocations pose challenges, none more so than moving from one state to another. If you are moving to Houston from outside of Texas, you need to understand the factors that make moving out of state more challenging than an in-state move. Consider the following:
Will your movers travel outside the state?
If not, how much more will it cost to hire a moving company that travels out of state?
Weather in Houston will not likely affect your move but what about the weather in your home state? What season will be best to move?
There are plenty of other considerations. Don’t get caught off guard. Use these moving tips to stay on task:
Compose a timeline – Moving out of state is a complex project. Creating a calendar with deadlines and milestones will help you make sense of what will occasionally seem like chaos. Include when you need to turn in paperwork and pay fees. Staying on time with important tasks will ensure you can move into your new Houston home on time. Protip: This page from CrowdsourcedExplorer.com tells you what you should know before moving to Houston.
Create a budget – The moving process can be expensive. Consult your calendar, anticipate costs, and prepare a budget. This way you will know exactly how much money you need for the move.
Research your moving company - As alluded to earlier, you have to make sure your moving company will travel outside the state. But this is just one question to ask when evaluating moving companies. Look at your budget and see what companies you can afford. Once you have some prospects, make sure they are licensed. Find out what protections and insurance they offer. Verify their credentials and check their rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Catalog your possessions – One of the most important moving tips is to take inventory of what you are moving. There are two reasons for doing this. One is so you don’t lose anything in the process of moving. If you are not organized, it will be easy for things to go missing.
The second reason is so you can anticipate costs effectively. The more you have to move, the more expensive the move will be. By cataloging everything you own, you can more easily pare down what you have to transport (by donating, selling, or just getting rid of stuff you no longer need). This will save you money…and probably some headaches.