Moving out of State Checklist: 7 Tips for Cutting Costs

There is no better time to weed out the stuff you don't need than before moving out of state. The more you get rid of, the less you must move so the cheaper your move becomes.

• You’ll save money by cutting down the weight of your load in the truck—and you might make a little money to help defray your moving costs.
• You can try selling higher-ticket items on Craigslist.
• In separating what to keep or sell, be guided by this: If you haven't used it in two years, you don't need it.
• Make a pact with yourself to donate or haul away anything you don't sell. You'll be surprised at how freeing it is to lighten your load.

Determine early on whether to do your own packing or have the movers do it. You should save on moving costs if you commit to boxing up all the small stuff and emphasize that point to your moving estimator.

• I mean packing up things like clothes, shoes, knick-knacks, small electronics, books, dishware, glassware, and the like.
• Be sure to use packing paper, bubble wrap, or the like around delicate items. If you don't fill a box to the top, be sure to stuff it full of packing materials.
• Leave furniture, framed artwork, mirrors, and larger items to the movers.
• Ask the estimator to drop boxes off in advance of the move, but expect to shell out for packing materials at truck rental or home stores.

If you have an apartment-size move (not a four-bedroom house!), if you're moving roughly 500 miles or less, and if you’re comfortable driving a truck, there's no more significant way to cut the cost of moving out of state than by taking on the packing, loading, and driving yourself.

• You can rent trucks from Penske, Ryder, and U-Haul.
• Ask family and friends to help you pack out on moving day.
• You may need help unloading at your destination. U-Haul offers a free service called Moving Help that lets you contract two moving helpers for two hours for about $200-300, and includes user ratings of the helpers.¹
• Driving a truck requires using both side-view mirrors for safety, but the windshield-mounted rearview mirror will be fully obstructed (if there even is one). Leave the driving to the pros if you don't think you can make that adjustment.

Unless you're facilitating your own move, the most expensive part of moving out of state will likely be the bill you get from your moving company. Bills are typically in the thousands of dollars, depending on how far you're moving and how much stuff you've got.

• Get at least three written estimates.
• Expect an on-site visit from your estimators. If you don't, think twice about whether to work with that company.
• Research each company you're considering carefully. It's important to review customer ratings. In particular, look for problem incidents and how they were resolved. The Moving Blog has a good article on how to select a reliable moving company.² Updater has a useful short video on the subject.³
• Avoid moving in the summer months if you can, and agree to pick-up and delivery dates or date ranges that don't include the end or first of the month, if possible.
• Increase your savings by getting estimates from five movers—and ask each estimator for a discount.

Sometimes, things go wrong with out-of-state moves. But there are things you can do to prevent or remediate negative outcomes.

• Know the red flags to look for to protect yourself against movers who may try to bilk you out of thousands of dollars by holding your goods hostage.⁴ For example, if the mover doesn't do an on-site inspection and comes back with a low estimate, that’s a red flag; so is a demand for cash or a large deposit before the move, or a mover who says they will determine the cost after loading the truck.
• Consider "Full Value Protection" insurance because standard insurance only pays up to $0.60 per pound.⁵
• Get educated about insurance and moving fraud at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Protect Your Move website.⁶

They may seem inexpensive, but the cost adds up—and you may need a ton of them for your move out of state.

• Search the Craigslist For Sale > Free Stuff area for "moving boxes."
• For smaller moves, you may be able to get boxes from a retail establishment.
• Liquor stores are a good place to start because their boxes are usually the right size and well built.
• If all else fails, you may be able to find new boxes at a low rate on Craigslist.

The tax reform bill enacted in 2017 suspended the deduction for moving expenses for most people.⁷ But your state may still allow you to deduct moving expenses against its income tax.

• Keep in mind that, because you're moving out of state, you may have to file two state tax returns!
• If nothing else, saving receipts allows you to keep track of your budget.
• A good tax accountant may be able to help you find other ways to save.