A cross-country move can be adventurous, while at the same time it can be a bit stressful. You must find a home, a moving company, new schools, though you’re also getting so much “new” to look forward to. So don’t let stress get the best of you take a deep breath. It’s not as daunting as it seems—and it’s an increasingly common scenario.

Also, I'm the relocation specialist of east Tennessee and I'm going to give you tips to make this process easier.

Let's get started.

1. Find an Agent with Experience in Relocations
You should be working with an agent that is comfortable dealing with buyers that are not in front of them. Not all agents are on this level so make sure they are. Ask for past experiences from the agent. Pros and cons that they've come across. Also, if you're moving for your job, find out if your work has a go-to relocation specialist in that area. If they regularly have employees going to a specific place, they do.

Find out the agent's strategies for helping you. The details of the plan should be something you're comfortable with and more importantly, they should have a plan. Any plan.

2. Use a Local Lender for Preapproval
You should find a lender in the area. You could use a national lender, so you know they have people in the area, but sometimes bigger banks have a less personable bedside manner treating you like a number rather than a human being with a lot on the line. Ask your agent for recommendations.

3. Research Area Costs
Explore cost-of-living differences between your current city and where you plan to buy a house, especially if you hope to live or vacation in the new home. Large cities often have different costs of living depending on which area of the city you live in, so check options in various locations. This is especially important if you're moving to the new state -- if you make the same amount of money with a new job but move into an area with a higher cost of living, it's just like taking a pay cut.

4. Ask About Property Restrictions
Research property restrictions on your top choices before you travel to look at them. If you're buying a rental property, for example, contact the homeowners' associations to see if renting is an option in those neighborhoods. When the ability to install a new pool is important, check local and neighborhood rules to ensure it's a possibility before taking the time to look at the house in person.

5. Visit the Area
Travel to the new state to look at the top house choices that meet your needs. Your real estate agent can show you several in a day after helping you narrow them down. She also can find new choices on short notice if you aren't happy with any you see. The goal is to find the right house without making multiple trips, but don't rush into a decision; it's better to come back a second time than to accept a house that you don't like.

6. Map it out
In this, the digital age, it’s easy to use the internet to research new homes and communities. Leverage “locator” sites like Google Maps to study a potential out-of-state home’s proximity to good schools, medical centers, law enforcement agencies, parks, and restaurants and retail outlets.

In doing so, you’re already getting a good sense of an out-of-state community before you start looking for a specific house.

7. Link up to social media
Social media platforms like Facebook Groups or Nextdoor can hook you up with local community groups online to get a better – and more personal – sense of home buying and community. These groups are highly user friendly to newcomers and many group members are happy to answer any questions about life in their city or town.

8. Handle the closing online
While being on-site is a clever idea when the home is being inspected, closings can also be handled digitally.

You may need to pay a notary public to come to your current home to sign and credential key documents, but the actual home closing can be done remotely.

Still, certain legal documents may require a physical signature, so there could be some additional costs tied to mailing signed paper documents.

9. Find a long-distance moving company
Once you’ve signed off on your new out-of-state home purchase, don’t wait to find a trusted long-distance moving company.

Check online for rate information and reviews and stick with a long-distance mover with a solid reputation for reliability, performance, and high ethical standards.

Research some companies online. Once you’re convinced the mover is reputable, contact them to discuss rates and timeframes.

I hope you found today's post is helpful. Of course, if you are thinking of moving to Knoxville, you already have step one done. And by proxy, steps 2 and 3. If you're thinking of moving to East Tennessee, give me a call. I'd love to help you out.