Moving to a new state is a big process. There are dozens of little details to attend to, but the entire process will not work unless you take care of the big things first. Take these five steps when getting ready for your next interstate move.

Interstate Move: Prepare Your Old Home

Before you do anything else, you should give your home an objective look at how it would show to a prospective buyer. You’ll want to give your home a deep cleaning and de-personalize each room, taking down family photos or anything that would prevent someone from “seeing themselves” living there.

Working with a great seller’s agent helps a lot as well. An experienced agent can give you a list of visual fixes and repairs you can take care of before listing to make your home more attractive. You might be surprised by your return on investment on a fresh coat of paint and some new carpeting.

Interstate Move: Find a Moving Company

Once you have the ball rolling to sell your old house, you’ll want to find someone to help you with the move to your new home city. There are dozens of companies that can move your stuff from your old home to your new one, but picking the best one can be a challenge.

Do some research for top moving companies in your old market and your new one, and read reviews to find the best pricing and customer service. Even if you have to pay a few dollars more, better service is well worth the cost.

When you’re researching movers, also be sure to make sure your possessions are insured for your interstate move. You don’t want the truck to arrive at your new home to find a bunch of broken valuables!

Interstate Move: Explore Your New City

Before you pick your new neighborhood or your new home, go out and spend some time visiting your new hometown. Create a list of what you want from a new home and a new neighborhood. Explore and look for things like walkability, nearby shops and restaurants, access to highways, and your potential new commute if you are moving for a job.

Also think forward into the future. Even if you are young and single, planning for a future family will ensure you don’t have to move too many times if you find a special someone and have kids.

Interstate Move: Find a Real Estate Agent

Now that you know the lay of the land in your new hometown, your next step is finding a trustworthy real estate agent to get you into your dream home. Local agents are experts in neighborhoods, pricing, schools, and everything you need to know to pick the perfect home.

If you are moving to a new city and don’t know anyone, you can look to Agent Harvest to find the right agent for your needs. The team at Agent Harvest works hard to find the best agents across the country. Each agent in the directory has been thoroughly interviewed and vetted to make sure they are a trusted resource for anyone looking to buy or sell a home.

Interstate Move: Pick Your New Neighborhood

Now comes the fun part of your interstate move. Go exploring with your agent and pick your favorite neighborhood, then get to work finding your favorite home. Nothing will define your experience in a new city more than where you choose to live, and picking the wrong location can leave you unhappy. It can also be expensive if you choose to move again to a new part of town.

Your real estate agent is an important asset when selling your old home and finding your new one, so don’t take that decision lightly. Interview your agent and only work with someone you trust to help you make the right decision in the biggest financial transactions of your life.

If you are buying or selling a house and are looking to hire a successful real estate agent to help you through the process, take a look at AgentHarvest's list of top-ranking local Realtors in your area. We found these agents by examining their sales track records, awards, rankings, client testimonials and by conducting personal interviews.