How to Move Far:
3 Strategic Tips to Get You Started On Your Move Out Of State

Have you ever thought of making a big move to get out of state? Have you always wanted to live somewhere else?

Is there another lifestyle awaiting you somewhere else, in a far off location?

Or are you sick of how things have gone downhill in your state and now you want to get the heck out of there?

I hear a lot of homeowners talking about moving out of California. The cost of living, taxes, yearning for a rural environment are just a few reasons they are leaving.

But the big question is: Where do you start?

This is a different category of move than a typical move across town. This is a move of 300+ miles, and it requires lots of imagination and planning right up front.

It can actually be broken down into 3 major steps. Here’s an aerial view of the process to get you on your way.

Tip #1 Kill the Overwhelm. Make a List.

By “make a list,” I don’t mean “write a plan.” That takes organization and assumes you know all the steps.

Instead, this is a head dump of all your thoughts and concerns into one enormous, ongoing list. You will keep adding to it as ideas, questions and concerns come up.

It doesn’t have to be organized, and it sure doesn’t need to be perfect.

It just needs to be out of your brain and onto the page. (Kind of like in the book Getting Things Done by David Allen)

What’s the best method?  Paper or a computer document? Just see what works best for you.

I’m currently a fan of the paper list, so get yourself a paper notebook. But if you prefer typing or dictating, I also like Google Docs because of the easy access no matter where you are.

Just pick a method.  And make one list.

Pour out all your questions and concerns and keep adding to this master list so you’ve put all of your thoughts in one place. You might also want to include your spouse’s and children’s concerns.

And just to reiterate. This isn’t perfect organization. It’s a place to store everything that comes up in your thoughts in one big, written, designated place.

Tip #2 Get Advice Early On

Consult With Your Realtor: Find Out Your Net Money Picture

How much will you net on your home? If you’re moving out of the Greater Conejo Valley area to a less expensive market, you need a dollar figure to avoid overspending.

So call your realtor and have them take a look at your home, inside and out.  Ask them to do a comparative market analysis (CMA).

While they’re at it, also ask for a seller’s net sheet based on several pricing scenarios. The net sheet will tell you your projected closing costs and all of the real estate costs that you might encounter. This gets you to the bottom line of how much you will have to spend on your future home in the other state.

Don’t cut corners and base it off a Zesimate. It just isn’t accurate enough and it doesn’t give you all the selling costs. You need accuracy when it comes to making such a big decision.

The CMA that your realtor will give you is different than a Zestimate.  The Zestimate is Zillow’s proprietary method of calculating an approximate value for your home. Zillow hasn’t seen the improvements you’ve made. They haven’t seen your back yard. In short, their methodology isn’t based on actually seeing your home.

I’ve seen Zestimates be wildly off, both higher than the market supports and lower. Don’t get caught with your pants down by guessing.

You need to know how much selling your home will put in your pocket.

Consult With A Stager: Plan Now for Maximum Visual Appeal

The earlier on in the process that you consult with a stager, the better. They will walk through your home and make suggestions on which furniture to include in staging the home for sale so that the future marketing photos really pop.

They can help you eliminate clutter by working with the decor you have and suggesting tweaks.  Their advice will be invaluable in getting your home into the best possible condition before selling it.

Meeting with the stager may help you decide what to take or sell now in order to reduce moving costs. If you can lighten your load, you’ll pay less to the movers.

Another great thing the stager does is give you a  “to do list” of suggestions for presenting your home to buyers. They take pictures so that the to do list is clear.

Sometimes I meet people who are stuck in “My house needs extensive work” that is part of the overwhelm category. With a stager, you’ll get a specific checklist. It eliminates doing unnecessary work.

Once you have the stager’s list, you’ll pick which things to do…or not. They are suggestions, not requirements.

The best thing about the stager’s checklist is that it puts the end in sight. An END. You’ll have a list to work through, and this goes much faster than you can imagine.

There’s something about working through the list that’s different than thinking. You just do it. It’s less stressful because you don’t have to think so much!

I’ve found that this checklist focuses sellers on specifics and they can stop overthinking perfection. They have a clear task list.

Ask Questions: Fix the Right Stuff

There’s nothing spending money on a repair or remodel and discovering either that you didn’t need to do it or that the buyer doesn’t want it. That’s a waste. So when you meet with your realtor and your stager, be sure to run your plans for repairs and fixes past them.

I have seen sellers pick the wrong flooring more than once.

I have seen houses where an eyesore feature stops buyers dead in their tracks, where buyers just can’t get beyond whatever imperfection the house has.

So if you’re tackling making an improvement of any sort, make sure you run it past your realtor and your stager.

This is especially true if you plan to replace carpets or laminate or wood floors. Get the stager’s recommendation on paint colors, flooring, carpet, tile, etc.

Keep in mind that this is the time to strategize so that you can get the most return for your effort and money. There is no requirement to remodel your kitchen. You don’t have to do anything. You pick your battles.

Tip #3 Tackle the Moving Company Research

Okay, this is a doozy. Most of us have done local moves before, but moving far, over 300 miles, and especially moving out of state…Now that’s another thing altogether.

The prep time alone is greatly increased. You need all your planning done in advance, and you need to remember to take everything. There’s no going back to pick up a forgotten plant.

The good news: The work is front loaded. The moving truck in your driveway is the culmination of your planning.

And another thing, once it’s all on the truck(s), you get a little break until you arrive at your new location.

The key is in the prep, especially the moving company research.

Birds Eye View of the Process

Get recommendations for moving companies from your realtor and friends, and be sure to look at sites like Yelp.

Get itemized quotes. Have the companies separate out for packing, different scenarios if you get rid of a certain amount of furniture, etc.

Don’t over-purge. Sometimes it’s better to pay the freight and take it with you rather than to regret getting rid of something you actually could have used in your new home.

Chosing A Mover: A la Carte vs End-to-End

You have a choice between end-to-end movers where the same people load you up, drive you, unload you OR separate companies for each task.

The Container Companies.  Pods, PackRat, UPack, 1800PackRat are just a few local choices. Here’s a link to more container company choices. https://www.moving.com/tips/the-best-moving-container-companies/

Local movers who do end-to-end and can also give quotes for parts. Skinny Wimp Moving Company, MeatHead Movers, Attention To Detail

One more detail you may want to research is storage companies. You’ll want to check out local companies to store belongings if you need to de-clutter and have nowhere to put it AND also check out storage companies in the other state in case you don’t find a house right away.

Moving Out of State: A Big Adventure!

Look at the positive!

If you can keep your head together by setting up a comprehensive list of your thoughts and concerns, if you can strategically plan with a realtor and a stager, and if you can front-load your moving company research (instead of waiting until the last minute), you’ll find that it all comes together quicker than you originally thought.

Think smart! Plan so that you don’t get any money surprises.

Your planning and research will pay off!