Out of state moving can be a daunting task – many people feel overwhelmed when they reach their new location. To keep you from making common mistakes, here are three things you should avoid doing when planning your move:

Don't Move Without First Visiting the Area

Many people make the mistake of moving to a new state without first checking the area out. Particularly if your current employer asks you to relocate at relatively short notice, you may feel like there isn't enough time to visit the area and become acquainted with the neighborhoods. However, this is a major mistake as blindly moving to a new location can quickly overwhelm you.

As such, make sure you take the chance to visit the area and give yourself a chance to know the lay of the land. Even though the appeal of Los Angeles or New York may seem enough to merit a move, it's important that you experience the area firsthand prior to packing up and setting off. While the internet has made it far easier to source "hotspots" in a city, visiting by yourself will allow you to find out which areas are best to live, where the best schools are, and where the main transportation links are located.

Don't Move Without Employment Opportunities

This doesn't mean that you should only move when you have a secure job in place. On the contrary, packing up and moving to a new city can give your career a new sense of vigor that is required to keep you motivated and focused. However, you should always make sure that there are suitable employment opportunities available before committing yourself to moving out of state.

Thankfully, the internet has made it extremely easy to source potential employers before leaving your home state. The widespread use of social media means that it's very likely you'll know someone in your new city, and if you don't, you can easily find people. This gives you the unparalleled opportunity to network before moving, meaning you will have contacts ready to go once you arrive in your new state.

To make your move go as smoothly as possible, and to stop you from returning home at the first difficulty, try and have around five contacts set up before you leave. Whether it's a potential employer, a friend in your industry, or even just a recruitment agent who can get you in the door, having these vital contacts will give you the peace of mind you need when adapting to your new environment.

Don't Think That Friends Will Come Without Effort

One of the biggest fears people have when moving to a new state is that they won't have any friends. These same people sometimes make the mistake of moving to a new area and not making a conscious effort to get out and meet new friends. It was so easy to meet new people growing up, why is it more difficult when you're in your 20s or 30s?

It's a sad fact of life, but it is indeed much harder to make new friends as you grow older. The reason for this is that school and college forced you to meet new people, which over time caused friendships to blossom. However, outside of the office, it can be difficult to meet new people unless you make a concerted effort to do so.

As such, recognize that making new acquaintances in your area will require more effort on your behalf. Whether it's joining a sports team, attending a networking event or even just going to a coffee shop and opening conversation with someone, realize that it may take some time to develop strong relationships. Therefore, it's best to get started as soon as you arrive!