Are you planning to move to a new city? Perhaps you are moving across the state or to a different state altogether. Maybe you are transitioning from an urban or suburban home to a much more rural location. Whether your move is for work, school, retirement, family or any other reasons, it can be intimidating to pick up your whole life and relocate to an unfamiliar area.
Before you move, it’s smart to make a personal checklist of everything you need to do. Here are some ideas to consider:
1. Have a Place to Live
This seems like an obvious step, but it’s not always the case for everyone making this kind of move. Staying temporarily in a hotel can get expensive and crashing with a friend or relative could be too imposing. If you are renting a place, get a rental agreement signed and be ready to move in as soon as possible when you arrive. It never hurts to take a trip or two to the area before your move to take care of things like this and find a good home.
If you are buying a house, consider renting for awhile at first so you can take your time to find the best home for your lifestyle and budget. Connect with a local real estate agent and mortgage lender. Get everything lined up so you can have a more successful home search. Lastly, if you are selling your old house, check out this article of ours about the steps you can take to safely and successfully sell a vacated property. [Click here.]
2. Get Organized
A big move like this can be very stressful and overwhelming. The more organized you are, the better. Have as much planned out as you can, so you are ready when moving day comes along. Remember there are two sides to every move. You have to pack up and move out of your old home and then move into your new place. Don’t forget some of the following items:
- Utilities (turn on at new location and turn off at old one)
- Change of Address (on all your accounts)
- USPS Mail Forwarding to New Address
- Packing & Unpacking
- Cleaning
- Moving Supplies
- Throwing Out or Donating Stuff You No Longer Need
3. Hire a Good Moving Company
A trustworthy mover will remove a lot of stress from this experience, and will usually well worth the extra cost. It’s one thing to get your own U-Haul for moving across town, but it’s much different to relocate farther away. They can professional pack and haul your big items and boxes, so you can focus on all the other important details.
4. Know Your New City
This is another very beneficial step. Get to know as much about your new home as possible. Where are the nearest grocery stores, doctors/pharmacies, schools, restaurants, entertainment, etc.? Where’s the local post office, courthouse, library, dog park, sports fields, and any other public areas you may need to visit? It will help reduce the stress when you feel like you know your new city—even if just a little bit. Online resources make this step easier than ever before.
5. Don’t Forget Pets and Children
Your move isn’t only a huge deal to you, it will be a tough transition for everyone in your family. Remember to take care of everything you need for your children and pets. Have a heart-to-heart talk with your kids to explain why you’re moving and what it means for them (new school, new friends, etc.). Nobody ever said moving was easy, but it can be especially difficult for children and teens. On a side note, you’ll also need to figure out what to do with your houseplants. Most interstate moving companies will not transport plants. Unless you really love the plant and plan to take it with you in your own car, be prepared to dispose of it or give it away to a neighbor.
6. Budget Your Move
Moving to a new city can get expensive, especially when hiring a moving company. You may also have overlapping rent/mortgages for a brief period. Make sure you budget carefully. Save money where you can and then plan for certain necessary expenses. Pack as much as you can by yourself (or with the help of friends) and declutter to eliminate items you don’t want or need in your new home. You can throw out some things, donate others (get a receipt for your taxes) and sell the more valuable pieces to help fund your move. Your moving company may offer free moving boxes or reusable bins. If not, there are plenty of places to find free boxes. Think about all these costs, budget carefully and itemize what you will be spending to be ultra-prepared before your move.
7. Enjoy the Experience
Lastly, you need to find ways to enjoy the moving experience. This may be an exciting adventure for you as you take on a new opportunity in life. Make sure to share this enjoyment with your family who is moving with you. Have a party or get-together with your friends where you live now. When you move into your new place, host a small housewarming party or invite your neighbors over for dinner. Make some new friends and you will start to feel at home in no time!
These are just some of the things to plan and think about when moving to a new city. If you are moving to or from Southeastern Pennsylvania or Northern Delaware and need help with buying or selling a home, contact The Cyr Team today and let us help guide you through the process.