Packing Tips for Moving to a Warmer Climate
If you’re someone that dreads wearing heavy winter jackets and gloves and overall hates frosty winters and being cold, then moving to a warmer climate sounds like the right step for you. Just imagine waking up to beautiful, sunny skies every day. The thought of relocating to hot weather states has crossed everyone’s mind at some point. Why not turn it into reality instead of just daydreaming?
The Advantages of Moving to a Warmer Climate
When daydreaming about places with nicer weather, you probably picture perfect, sunny days filled with fun outside activities, cocktails, barbecues by the pool, gardens, and laughter. You’re not wrong, but there are other advantages to consider that make cross-country moving worth it.
There Are Countless Health Benefits
Have you ever considered what happens to your body when you move to a warmer climate and why is it healthier to live in a warmer state? The answer is that sunshine improves your vitamin D levels. There have been numerous studies directly tying this essential “sunshine vitamin” to positive effects on cholesterol, the immune system, blood pressure, and so on.
This vitamin also helps boost your mood, so it’s no wonder people are always happier in sunny weather. Believe it or not, almost half of the national population suffers from Vitamin D deficiency. That being said, if you’ve ever wondered, will moving to a warmer climate make me happier? Or does moving to a warmer climate help depression? The answer is – yes, it really does. It’s been scientifically proven that vitamin D alleviates depression. So rest assured that the depression after relocating would hit you a lot harder if you were relocating to cold climates.
According to data from 2013–2016, most people don’t get enough vitamin D from their diet. In fact, 92% of men, over 97% of women, and 94% of individuals aged one year and older consumed less than the recommended 10 mcg (400 IU) of vitamin D through food and drinks. However, since exposure to sunlight helps the body produce vitamin D, people’s actual vitamin D levels tend to be higher than what their diet alone would suggest.
Neverending Outdoor Activities
One of the best perks is that you’ll never have to experience the moment where you don’t feel like getting out of the house because it’s too cold outside. You will be able to spend as much time outside as you want. Outdoor activities will make the whole process of making friends in a new city go by a lot smoother.
Go sightseeing, throw a barbecue and get to know your neighbors, and meet new people. Exercising outside is also a great way to make acquaintances, and it betters your physical and mental health. So going jogging or cycling, or even going for a walk, will boost your mood.
Lower Costs of Living During Winter
If you do decide to embark on this journey, prepare for the feeling of opening your first utility bill during the cold winter months. Some describe it as a feeling of pure joy. Don’t worry, the missing zeros aren’t a mistake. The lower utility bill is the result of not having to pay for heating. And it only gets better if you’re wise enough to choose a place with a mild climate year-round. In that case, you won’t have to pay for heating during winter or air conditioning during summer.
Your Pets Will Be Happier as Well
If you were planning on relocating with pets, just think about how much fun they will have playing outside. Especially if you’re relocating from an apartment to a house with a backyard, your pets can play in the sun all day long. It’s a great form of exercise that will help them live longer. The same rules apply if you’re relocating with kids. Every kid’s dream is to play outside for as long as possible, and constantly having nice weather can make that happen.
Living in a Warmer Climate Also Has Its Downsides
It might sound like it, but it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are downsides to everything in life, and all sunny days are no exception. Here are some of the main disadvantages you will face:
- More insects – Areas with warm weather throughout the year attract more bugs,
- It gets too hot and humid in the summer months,
- Stronger pollen allergies,
- Missing cooler temperatures,
- A higher risk of a natural disaster such as a hurricane.
Figure Out Which State You Want to Move To
If you have your mind set on making this move happen, you’ll have to decide where to live. The obvious choice for most people who want sunny days throughout the year is to move to California or Florida. While those might be the best warm climate places to live, if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find many more. People often overlook warm weather states such as Arizona, Texas, and Louisiana, which have wonderful weather all year round.
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Read moreThings to Consider Before Relocating to Another State
Besides checking the weather on your phone, there are still things you have to think of. Relocating to another state is a big change, and you have to do some research. Once you find your dream city, you should know what the best neighborhoods are, what the crime rates are like, and the demographics. The fact that it’s often sunny shouldn’t be the city’s selling point. Be sure that the location is going to be a good fit.
Unless you’re relocating for a job, you should also check out what the job market is like and if there is demand for your line of work. The smart thing would be to find a job before you move. Also, think about the difference in living expenses. The same salary can’t afford you the same quality of life in different states and cities.
Relocating to Los Angeles is far more expensive than relocating to Phoenix because the cost of living in Los Angeles is a lot higher than the cost of living in Phoenix. You can find out how big of a difference in living expenses is between the two places on Numbeo.
Get Organized and Set a Budget
The key to any efficient move is good planning. So organize your move – make a plan and stick to it. The first step is setting a relocation budget and creating a relocation binder to help you stay on top of things. Once you have organized your finances, start working on your moving to another state checklist. If you’ve already found a home, the priority on your to-do list should be to hire long-distance movers such as Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving.
Hire Cross-Country Movers
Relocating to a new state is a big transition and an even bigger hassle. It’s a lot to take on all by yourself, so you have to hire a long-distance moving company to stay sane and have a stress-free move. Find a reliable, registered company that you can trust. So, don’t hire the first one you hear about. Dig a little deeper and take a look at other options. A good rule to stick to is to check out at least three options before making your decision on hiring long-distance moving services.
Hire a Car Shipping Company
One of the decisions when relocating is if you’re going to keep or sell your car. If it’s a last-minute move where you won’t have enough time to sell it, or you just want to take your car with you to your new home, you will need to hire an auto transport company. It might sound like a lot of work, but hiring auto transport services is pretty simple and straightforward. Your car will be waiting for you at your future address, and it’s much more reliable than hiring a driver.
How to Pack for Warm Conditions?
Whether you pack by yourself or you hire packing services, it’s still a lot of work to transfer everything you own to a new place. Think of packing for a warm destination as if you’re packing for a holiday, but in this case, it’s a really long vacation. It can get a bit complicated, so we’ve got you covered with a few packing tips to help you pack easily.
Decluttering Will Make Your Packing Easier
Everybody knows that any efficient packing starts with a process of decluttering. Decluttering is a mandatory step to take before you start shoving everything you own into boxes. You have to figure out what to keep and what items to get rid of when relocating. The best way to go about decluttering is to create categories: keep, toss, sell, and donate. You can sell stuff online or organize a garage sale and earn some money back. Be brutal and get rid of as much stuff as you possibly can. The more stuff you get rid of, the cheaper your move will be and the easier it will be to pack.
Think about things you no longer need due to the temperature change you will be facing. You don’t really need that heating blanket anymore, do you? That puffer jacket will take up room in your future closet since you don’t even go skiing, and the most you will need once you arrive in your future hometown is a light jacket or a trenchcoat. So get rid of your winter stuff. You don’t have any use for them anymore.
Create a Packing Checklist
The easiest way to pack for a move is to write a checklist of things you want to bring along with you. Even more important than figuring out what to pack is what not to pack for your move. No decluttering process is perfect, so there will be stuff you don’t need even after the garage sale. Keep reminding yourself it’s okay to leave some things behind. The easier way to create a packing checklist is to go room by room and see what you want to take with you. A good tip is to also write a checklist for things you will have to buy once you arrive at your new home.
Buy Specific Summertime Items Once you Get Settled In
When relocating to a place with drastically different temperatures, it’s only logical that you will have to buy some items in order to adapt. Just be sure not to get them prior to the move since they will only be taking up space in your suitcase. Get them once you settle into your new home, and have them listed on your to-buy list. Here are a few things you will probably have to get:
- Sandals and flip-flops – your boots era is finally over,
- Sunscreen – you have to protect your skin, and not just if you’re prone to burning easily,
- Sunglasses – it’s not just an accessory, use them to protect your eyes from the harsh sun,
- Bug spray and a mosquito net – Get every bug repellent you can think of.
Prepare to Enjoy the Warm Sunshine After Your Relocation
After successfully packing up your belongings, all that’s left for you to do is to say goodbye to your closest friends and family and wait for movers. Don’t forget to be excited and start the countdown till the relocation to a sunshine-only destination.
With Flat Price Auto Transport and Moving, you can relax knowing that your move is in expert hands. Whether it’s across town or across the country, we’ll ensure your belongings arrive safely and on time. Contact us today for a stress-free moving experience!
