How to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone

Even though relocation is considered one of the most difficult processes you can go through in your lifetime, it is possible to do it on your own. In the following article, Spyder Moving and Storage MS will teach you how to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone. From planning to decluttering and packing, all the way to loading a moving truck. Of course, the whole process can be much simpler if you hire a full-service moving company. But if your budget doesn’t allow you to hire professionals, here is how to do it by yourself.

Cost of living in Mississippi

So, you have decided to move to Mississippi? Mississippi was not among the most popular moving destinations in the past. However, due to its affordability, it is gaining popularity in recent times. You probably know this already since you made a decision to move. Still, it won’t hurt to go through some numbers before you actually start preparing for the move. Mississippi is the 10^th cheapest state to live in the US. The average living cost for one person, with rent, is around $2387, of course, depending on the city.

When we break down this number, we see that food costs will come to around $685 on a monthly basis. Transportation costs are around $75.9. And rent, with utilities, averages around $1438. When it comes to housing prices, we see that the median home value in Mississippi is somewhere in the range of  $171495, which is pretty affordable compared to other states in the country. When it comes to rents, here are some of the average prices for 1-bedroom apartments depending on the city:

• Hattiesburg – average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $700
• Jackson – average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $780
• Oxford – average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $785
• Biloxi – average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $853
• Southaven – average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment is $1,070

Bear in mind that you will need a lot of time to prepare

Now that you know all about the living costs in Mississippi, it is time to start preparing. Actually, if you are already moving on your own without the help of residential movers, the time to start preparing was yesterday. The average time you need to prepare for the move is somewhere between 1 and 2 months. However, when you need to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone, you will definitely need more time, so start with preparations as soon as possible.

If you want to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone planning is crucial

The first thing that you need to do is to make a moving plan. This is a crucial part of the process. If you want to avoid standard obstacles that the moving process can throw at you, you need to plan for them in advance.

Get rid of the junk to simplify the process

Once you make a moving plan, start decluttering. There are certainly a ton of items that you currently hold in your home that you do not necessarily have to relocate to Mississippi. Fewer items in your moving inventory mean a simpler moving process and a smaller, thus cheaper, truck. Moreover, if you manage to get rid of your excess items in a smart way (like organizing a yard sale, for example), you can even earn some money along the way.

Do you need a moving inventory list when preparing for a DIY move to Mississippi?

After decluttering, the next step would be to make a moving inventory list. Now, if you plan to handle the whole process of relocating to Mississippi all by yourself, this might not be so important. Maybe just to help you make an estimate regarding the number of moving boxes you will need to prepare or the size of the truck that you need to rent. But if you plan to hire Mississippi long distance movers, at least for the transportation service, you will need to have a precise list of your items.

Find an appropriate rental truck

Once you have a moving inventory list prepared, if you really want to prepare for moving to Mississippi completely alone, you should start looking for a rental truck. Be aware though, that driving a moving truck across the country is not easy and requires some experience and skill. Moreover, depending on the state, you might need a class C driver’s license in order to operate a moving truck. When it comes to costs, most rental companies charge by the day. Smaller trucks usually cost around $20-$40 per day, while large trucks cost up to $100 per day.

Items you need to prepare for packing and loading a moving truck

Now it’s time to start preparing your items for transport. For this, you will need to prepare proper packing materials as well as some tools and equipment. Use the moving inventory list to determine how many moving boxes you need and call some packing and unpacking services to provide you with the necessary items. You will need:

• Moving boxes of various sizes and shapes
• Garbage bags
• Shrink wrap
• Bubble wrap
• Packing paper
• Packing tape
• Labels and markers

Tools and equipment

When you want to prepare for relocating to Mississippi alone, besides packing materials, you will also need tools and equipment that will allow you to dismantle your furniture and load everything onto a truck. You will need:

• Screwdrivers
• Allen wrench set
• Pliers
• A small hammer
• Moving dolly
• Loading ramp

How to pack for the move

Now that you got it all set, you can start packing and loading a moving truck. When packing, make sure that you do not overweigh the boxes. Use smaller boxes for heavier items like books, for example. Make sure that you do not leave empty spaces inside boxes, especially those containing fragile items. Fill out the empty spaces with crumpled packing paper or rolls of bubble wrap. Wrap each fragile item with bubble wrap before you place it in a box.

If you are not sure whether a box will be able to carry the weight, strengthen it with packing tape from the bottom. Check the forecast before you go and if you think that there is even a slight chance of precipitation, wrap each box in plastic shrink wrap. Finally, label each box properly.

How to load a truck when relocating to Mississippi on your own

After everything is packed, it is time to start loading your rental truck. Hopefully, you have prepared a dolly and a loading ramp. Otherwise, you will not be able to do it on your own. Place a ramp on the truck, load a dolly, and start loading the truck. This can be pretty difficult to do on your own so we urge you to find at least someone to be around when you start this. Damage to your items is not the worst thing that can happen if you make a mistake. When loading a moving truck, start with the bulkiest items first. The heaviest items should be at the bottom. The lightest items should be placed on top. In the end, make sure that everything is secured and that nothing can fall or move during transport.

Planning a trip through Mississippi

Finally, you should plan the trip. Mississippi is not known for its quality road infrastructure. Moreover, recent storms, like Ida, made the situation on Mississippi roads significantly worse. So make sure that you check the Mississippi Department of Transportation website if you want to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone. And make sure that you pick the best route.

Consider hiring professionals to help you prepare for moving to Mississippi

As you can see, it is not easy to prepare for moving to Mississippi alone. It would be much easier (and not that much more expensive) to do it with the help of professionals. Still, if you strongly decided to do it your way, hopefully, this article will help you do it safely. Good luck!