Americans are getting a move on! 8.4% of Americans moved during 2021 alone, and many of them moved to a new state.

The moving process is always difficult, but it's especially hard when you're crossing state lines. The best way to prepare is to grab a moving checklist and move through it item by item.

When should you start planning your move? How should you pack your belongings and smooth things over with friends? What should you do on moving day?

Answer these questions and you can make your move without breaking a sweat. Here is your quick guide.

Eight Weeks Before Moving Day

At a minimum, you should start preparing to move eight weeks before moving day. If you're going from one side of the country to the other, you may want to start planning your move even sooner. Read a guide on how to prepare for a long-distance move and figure out when you should start the things to do before you move.

You can start planning your move by picking the right moving day. Many people choose to move on a weekend, but you can pick a weekday if it would be more convenient. Take a look at a few different moving services and find a company with the services you want and an open schedule.

Your landlord may require you to notify them about your move 60 days in advance. Take a look at your lease agreement and figure out when the deadline is.

Seven Weeks

If you haven't visited your new home yet, you should do so. Try to spend a night at your new home and go on a tour of your new neighborhood. You should also research schools if you or your children are going to take classes.

You should start sorting through your items, figuring out what you want to take and what you should leave behind. You can also buy moving materials like bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, and plastic crates.

Six Weeks

You should let your boss and insurance providers know about your move. Give them your new address and any other information they need to stay in touch with you.

Even if you are staying within the same company, you should know that moving to a new state is disruptive to your job. You may want to give your clients to other employees so your clients don't lose their connections to your company.

Continue packing your non-essential belongings, keeping like items together. Books should go with books and electronics should go with electronics. Write labels on the outside of your boxes so you know for sure what is inside.

Five Weeks

If you have a bunch of items you do not plan on packing, you should host a yard sale. Anything that doesn't sell can go to a charity or thrift store, as well as your friends.

Your refrigerated food and pantry items should be the bulk of your meals for the next few weeks. Try to avoid buying more groceries or taking food with you. Containers can get damaged on the road, and food can spoil without refrigeration.

One Month

If you are taking your car with you, you should get it serviced. Make sure you check your brakes, fluids, and tires as well as your upholstery. You should also clean your car so you can place your essential items inside of it.

You can bring a few hazardous and flammable items with you, but only in your own car. You should throw away aerosols, paint, and pool chemicals that you haven't used. Guns and fertilizers should remain in locked containers.

Let your friends and family know about when your move is and where you are going. You should talk to as many people as you can through face-to-face or phone conversations. You can let more distant friends know through social media posts.

Three Weeks

You should contact all of your utility providers, including your internet company, about your move. Tell them where you are going to live and try to transfer your utilities to your new residence. If you can't transfer, you should start looking at companies near your new home.

You should also let your service providers know about your move. This includes your housekeeper and local gym. You may need to cancel your contracts with them.

Two Weeks

Try to finalize your non-essential packing and move on to your essential belongings. Look at your new home's blueprint and figure out where everything will go.

As you look over the blueprint, you may notice that you need furniture. You should shop for furniture and ship it to your new house as soon as possible. It may take a few weeks for couches and beds to arrive.

One Week

You should pack your essential items with a few days left before moving day. This gives you enough time for one last deep clean and inspection from your landlord. You can also get your last errands done, including picking up prescriptions.

The day before your move, you should put your suitcases with your personal items in your car. You may want to tell your neighbors so they know what will happen in the morning.

You should follow a few different moving day tips. You should find parking for the truck a few hours before it arrives, and you can save the spot with a space saver.

Your Essential Moving Checklist

You should start your moving checklist eight weeks in advance. Once you hire a moving company, you can get moving supplies and start sorting through your stuff.

Let the important people in your life know at least six weeks before. You can ask them for help as you get rid of your non-essentials.

Tell your service providers with a few weeks to spare so you don't pay penalties. During your last week, you can finish your packing and prepare for moving day.

Don't move out without help. State To State Moving Systems helps with interstate moves. Contact us today.