Have the hankering to move to a new city and start over? You’re not alone in your want, and now could very well be just the right time to do so.
Whether you are looking to move for a change of scenery, to give yourself the jolt you need to start fresh in a new environment, or are looking to move to a new area for a job, education, or a completely new career, relocating to a new place can be a great way to learn more about yourself and discover new things about yourself that you may never have found out about otherwise.
Heading to a new city is a very exciting prospect, but whether moving by yourself or with family or friends, there are a lot of things to take into consideration so that you do so without undue pressure or more stress than necessary. Especially if you’re headed to a city across the country (or even across the world!), moving in this manner can be stressful as is – no need to make things harder than they have to be.
So how do you prepare to move to a new city, and how to plan things out so that you’re set up for success and can focus more on learning your new area, rather than on the logistics of getting there? Let’s go through our best tips for moving to a new city alone or with others.
What to Consider Before Moving to a New City
There are several things to consider before you move to a new city, no matter where in your life you might be or what you do for a living. The best thing you can do no matter where you’re headed, however, is to prepare yourself as much as possible and do as much planning as you can. With that said, you should consider the following before making the jump.
- Your Financial SituationThough you can just get up and move one day with just your items and not much to your name money-wise, it probably won’t become the best situation for you, financially or living-wise. Instead, before you even figure out what city you’d like to head to, consider your finances and how prepared you are for a big move like this.If you’re in debt or don’t have the best credit score, odds are you’ll need to take better care of those issues before making a big financial decision like this – especially if you’re planning to rent a home. To get approved for a rental (no matter what city you’re headed to), your landlord will take your credit score and financial situation very seriously, so you should as well.Try to start saving as soon as you decide you’d like to move in the future, and create a rough budget to account for how much you’ll need for a home (whether renting or buying), travel, movers, storage, and more.
- Choose Your CityAfter figuring out your price ranges for security deposits, rents, or buying a home, as well as figuring out what you can afford as far as daily expenses and quality of life is concerned, it’s time to determine where you’d like to move. Finding the right city for you is of course one of the most important aspects of moving to a new area, so don’t just move somewhere random or somewhere that you haven’t researched adequately.If you’re moving somewhere for a job or an educational opportunity, odds are this part of the process will be taken care of for you, as you’ll of course want to move somewhere that has a convenient commute or that is at least nearby where you’ll be spending a lot of your time.If you don’t already have your new city picked out for yourself, however, consider what you want out of your living situation or the environment. Do you want a walkable city with plenty of options for public transportation? Do you want a city that isn’t too fast-paced, and where you can go hiking nearby just as easily as going out to the bar? Make a priority list of what’s important to you and what you want out of your new living arrangement.If you don’t have a job lined up in your city and don’t work remotely, consider your industry’s job prospects in the area you’re looking to move to. Look up the average salary of those in your field in that area, and determine if it will be enough to have a good quality of life and to live comfortably.
- Research NeighborhoodsOnce you’ve determined what city or area you want to live in, you’ll need to narrow down your prospects to determine what neighborhood you want to live in and find housing there. Try to vet as many places as possible, and try to even set up virtual tours for places that you’re interested in. If you can, try to visit the area in person to look at prospective housing and to get a real feel for the different neighborhoods in the area. If you have kids, don’t forget to also research your prospective neighborhood’s school district and their education options and quality.Though you don’t necessarily have to have a place lined up for you to directly move into before you get to your new city, it’s the safest and most affordable way to do things. After all, renting an Airbnb or staying in a hotel for an extended period of time can be extremely expensive – not to mention inconvenient! Try to find the right place for you and ensure that your housing situation and any expenses that might come with it are effectively handled before you travel to your new area.
How to Move to a New City Alone
After doing your thorough research on various aspects of your move, it’s time to plan the relocation itself! Before you start tackling the packing process, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your relocation as a whole is to take an inventory of your items and create a timeline or schedule as to what you want to have packed and by when. This will let you space out your packing process so as never to get too stressed out, and will also allow you to effectively get this at-times stressful process taken care of with ease instead of rushing around at the last minute.
It will also help you out a lot to declutter your items and get rid of anything that you don’t want, need, or use. Especially if long-distance moving or moving overseas, you should get rid of anything that isn’t essential or that isn’t a huge priority for you.
This will not only make your packing process infinitely easier but can end up saving you a lot of money on your moving expenses. After all, if you rehome, donate, or get rid of bulky or heavy furniture that you don’t like anyway, reducing that weight can put money back in your pocket since many moving companies charge based on the weight of the items you’re relocating. Getting rid of unnecessary items will not just let you eliminate stuff you don’t need either – it can give you a fresh start! Heading to a new city is a physical and mental refresh for you, so why not refresh your decor’s style while you’re at it?
Before you move, you should also ensure that you’ve packed separate belongings and essentials to keep with you during your journey. Keep things like important documents, expensive jewelry or items, toiletries, and essential clothing with you for your travels and tide you over until your items are delivered by your professional movers to your new home. This also goes for children’s or pet items.
How to Find the Right Professional Moving Company
When it comes to moving long-distance, internationally, or to just a nearby city, having the right professional moving company on your side makes a huge difference in the quality of relocation you receive and how much you have to stress about your process. Having an experienced team of experts on your side, after all, will let you enjoy a smooth, affordable process that will let you focus on settling in, rather than worrying about the safety or security of your household items during their journey to you.
Looking for the right movers for your next relocation? See what Bekins Van Lines can do for you today. Our expert team will take care of you and your household from start to finish and will bring you to your new city with ease.
