Relocating for a new job? A checklist for moving cross country

Deciding to take a new job can be a wonderful investment in your future. But when it requires you to move across the country, it can be easy to get caught up in the stress.

Here are some great tips to ensure that your move across the country is a successful one.

Arrange Vehicle Transportation

Most people don't have the time to drive all their belongings across the country. This includes their vehicles. If you don’t have time to drive, you'll need to arrange for specialized transport of your vehicles with Guardian Auto Transport.

It's best to call months in advance to reserve your transport to ensure that your vehicle is picked up prior to your moving date. Most vendors will require an upfront payment for a percentage of the total service cost. Don't settle for having to pay upfront for the whole cost of the service before it's performed either to ensure your car is delivered safely.

Get Your Lodging Picked Out Early

A big part of moving across the country is finding a new place to call home. It doesn't matter if it's an apartment or a new house, you need to have one picked out and ready for you when you arrive.

While there are many listing sites online, you shouldn't make your decision solely on these resources. Rather, if it's possible, take a trip out to your new town months before the move. This will give you some insight into what areas of town you want to live in and allow you to see various lodgings in person.

Setup School For The Kids

While you make your pre-move visit to your new hometown, it's best to get schooling sorted out for your kids. Many places will have a designated school district depending on where you choose to live.

Some places may provide you with multiple schooling options, both private and public. Because of this, it's best to take a look at your options and drop by potential schools during your initial visit. This can allow you to get a feel for the school and start the transfer process for your children.

Forward Your Mail

One big thing that many new movers forget when it comes to moving across the country is forwarding their mail. USPS will allow you to forward your mail starting on a specific date. This will ensure that all your mail goes to your new address in time for your arrival.

It's also a great tip to make a list of service providers that you pay bills to each month. This way, once you make the move, you can update all your address information with each provider.

Keep Track Of All Expenses

There are a lot of expenses that come with moving. From paying for boxes to paying for your own transport, it can get costly. Most employers are willing to reimburse you or partially reimburse you for moving-related expenses. Also, keep in mind that moving expenses can be claimed as a tax deduction.

Therefore, it makes sense to keep all your receipts from the move in one place. It may be easiest to take pictures of your receipts and save them in a specific folder on your phone. Just make sure you know where they are when you go to refer back to them.

Get Rid Of Items You Don't Use

It's best to plan on going through your existing items to see what you really need and what you've been holding onto for too long. Take stock of each item and consider when the last time was that you used it.

Get rid of the stuff that you don't need at a yard sale or sell your extra stuff on Facebook Marketplace, craigslist, etc., If you want, you can donate those extra items, too.

Regardless, it doesn't make sense to pay to move items that you don't use. With every item, ask yourself whether or not it's worth paying for.

Understand The Cost Of Living In The Area

Before you pack up all your things and head off to a new town, you need to think about whether or not you can financially afford to live there. You should have a clear idea of what you will be paid upon arrival at your new job.

While it may be much more than you currently make, you need to consider the cost of living in the area. A great way to do some research is to look at online resources for the cost of the essentials like housing and food.

Prepare Your Moving Checklist

Making the decision to move across the country for a new job is a big one. While you may be overwhelmed at first trying to get everything prepared for your big move, you can make it easy by creating a list to follow. The above are some great items to add to your moving checklist so that you don't forget anything important during your move.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes