If you ask removalists what distances they have travelled to move a client from their old home or office to their new home (or office), the answers will range from one street to the next to thousands of miles where a client has moved from one state to another. It is the latter of these two scenarios that we want to focus on here, as it simply throws up more challenges than a move that is so short a distance that it barely allows the drivers of the removal vans to get above second gear.

Moving interstate can occur for many reasons, such as to be closer to family, a new job that requires relocating, or simply the decision being made to start life anew in another part of the country. Whichever the reason, moving interstate is a significant event and one we highly recommend you organise with the help of experienced removalists, especially those for whom interstate moves are a regular occurrence.

Those removalists will tell you that there are some challenges to be addressed with an interstate move, and we thought it would be useful to highlight five of the most common, along with solutions to them.

Poor Planning

Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge faced by both the person moving and their immediate family is a lack of proper planning and preparation. This is bad enough when the home move is local, but when moving to another state, it can make the entire experience nightmarish if you have not planned properly.

Steps you can take are to make sure you plan well in advance, seek out reputable removalists at the earliest opportunity, use a checklist,  and create an inventory once you know what items you are taking with you.

Having The Necessary Budget

A home move can incur many costs, especially if you plan to buy new furniture and appliances for your new home. An essential cost will be the removalists, and it stands to reason that fee will be significantly higher when moving a client 1,500 miles than it would be 15 miles.

One way to save money is to seek quotes from 3 or 4 removalists and compare them for the best value. The time of year and even the day of the week you move can also mean a reduced fee.

Deciding What To Take And What To Leave Behind

There are likely more hours spent debating and deciding what belongings are to be kept and which are to be left behind than most other subjects related to a home move, especially one that takes someone and their family to a new life in another state. Bear in mind the less you take, the lower your removalists’ fee will be, and if you are downsizing, then being ruthless in choosing to get rid of superfluous belongings will definitely help.

Transferring To New Utility Companies

As you know, utility companies differ between states and, in some cases, even between cities, so it is unlikely that the utility companies you use where you live now will be the same ones in your new state. The key is to do your research as early as possible, then contact the utility companies where you are going to live, and ideally, make arrangements so that everything is set up and connected when you arrive.

Adhering To Local Regulations

Every state has its personal laws, regulations, and local customs, which means that what you are used to currently may not apply where you are moving to. The last thing you want is to do something only to find yourself on the wrong side of local, commercial, or even criminal laws in your new state. So, take an hour or two to familiarise yourself with any laws and regulations that you think might apply to you, your family, your home, your job, or your business.