Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts – those six states make up what’s known as New England. That’s your first tip for moving to the area. Many people mistakenly think that New England includes the entire northeastern part of the U.S., but locals will quickly correct them.
One caveat about moving to New England is seasonality. If you plan to move during the winter you’ll have to account for potentially harsh weather conditions that make things a little more difficult. And fall can actually be very busy with people who are leaf-peeping. The White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire is one of the most popular leaf-peeping spots in the country.
Moving is never an easy-going process, but being prepared does make it easier. The checklist below will help you make a move to New England no matter what time of year you plan to relocate.
Packing
Packing is by far the most tedious moving task that people don’t look forward to doing. The trick is to get started early so that you can take it little by little in an organized manner. The more organized you are during the packing process the quicker it will be to unpack.
Supplies
- Boxes (boxes and more boxes)
- Specialty boxes for electronics
- Packing tape
- Sharpie marker (for labeling)
- Newspapers or packing paper
- Bubble wrap
Travel Bag
- Few sweaters (it’s usually sweater weather in New England)
- Snow boots (if you’re moving in the winter)
- Medications and prescriptions
- IDs
- Layers of clothing (dressing in layers is a good idea most of the year)
- Phone chargers
- Personal devices
First Night Box
- Blankets
- Towels
- Washcloths
- Shower curtain with hangers
- Toilet paper
- Paper plates
- Toiletries
- Flashlight
- Trash bags
- Basic toolset
- Sheets and pillowcases
- Blankets
Loading and Unloading
- Know whether there are any special circumstances like a steep driveway (which is somewhat common in New England) that will affect where the moving truck can be parked.
- Have a snow shovel on hand – if it’s winter you’ll need one to clear entryways to the house.
- A moving dolly is a much safer way to move heavy and bulky items whether or not walkways are iced over.
Transport
How will you get all of your things to New England? Whether you make a DIY move or hire professional movers below are a few things that need to be done.
Moving Truck
- Estimate the space needed. There are calculators online that can give you an estimate based on the number of boxes or rooms in your home.
- Make sure the mover you hire is registered with the Department of Transportation and has a U.S. DOT number for moving across state lines. The DOT search tool can be used to verify the information.
- Schedule the moving truck to arrive the day you plan to leave and get to the destination the day of or the day after you arrive. Do this about a month in advance if you’re moving during the busy summer season.
Personal Vehicles
- Get snow/winter tires if moving during the winter months.
- Do a safety inspection to check the fluids, hoses, tires and more.
- Load up jewelry, computers, documents and other sensitive items in your own vehicle that you’re driving.
- Know the vehicle registration laws. You should have a grace period, but vehicle registration needs to be arranged within 2-4 weeks of moving.
Traveling
- Chart a course. One thing to be aware of with a tall moving truck is that overpasses can be just 9’ tall in some areas.
- Line up hotels in advance if you have any special needs, like needing pet-friendly accommodations.
- Get a lay of the land. Some New England cities, like Boston, have a somewhat baffling street layout.
Residential Setup
With so much going on for the move it’s easy to forget that things need to be set up at your new home. You don’t have to get everything arranged in advance, but you will want to handle the to-dos below.
Utilities
- If your new home is in a deregulated energy market you can choose the energy plan you want. To get the best plan you’ll need to compare rates and features. It’s also important to verify that the provider is licensed to operate in the state.
- Water services are typically available through the local government. Check the city website for details on how to initiate service.
Trash Collection
- Trash collection is another service that’s usually set up through the local government.
- Recycling may be handled by a third-party provider that’s independent of the city.
- The easiest way to change your mailing address is online at USPS.com/move.
- Schedule mailing address changes to take effect a day or two before your move so that mail doesn’t end up being delivered to your old address.
- To make sure you know where your mail is by signing up for the USPS Informed Delivery service. The USPS will send email updates about what mail is scheduled to be delivered each day.
Pets
- Get documents and records from your current veterinarian.
- Give your pets extra love and attention. Moving can be stressful for animals.
- Line up pet-friendly hotels if moving by vehicle will take more than one day.
Congrats! You’re ready to move to New England. Now grab yourself a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and get ready for all the unpacking.
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