How To Relocate To A New City

Relocating can be scary and exciting? But there are a lot of things to take into account when looking to live in a different city, and we are here to help you out! Here are some steps to take when planning on moving to a different place.

Do Your Research

One of the most important decisions when moving is choosing the area you want to live in. Don’t look at houses until you’ve done your research on the neighborhood and the city! The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a house in a terrible neighborhood. Consider checking the safety of the neighborhood by checking its crime rates.

Part of this research includes reading online media sources and researching local blogs. You can do online research to see neighborhood guides and city reports, and when you have a chance, visit the community!

Here are some questions to ask yourself while picking the city and neighborhood:

• How far is the closest green area, such as a park?
• What is the general vibe and demographics of a particular neighborhood?
• How much time will you need to reach your work?
• What are the transportation options?
• What is the parking availability?
• What type of housing is available?
• What are the working opportunities and the job market in a specific area?
• What are the schools and education opportunities like?

Research Costs

Finances will play a major role in determining your next living situation. Before moving, consider your moving budget and day-to-day budget. Remember that moving companies aren’t cheap, and the longer the distance, the more expensive. Use the moving option that works best for you, whether you hire a company, or just a truck and drive yourself. 

Moving costs aren’t the only cost that you need to be thinking about. Now you will have to research different living costs. When comparing houses, list every expense that could incur. Not just the house cost, but the expenses that would relate to transportation, school, daycare, and other costs. This way, you will know exactly how much it will cost to live in that area. 

Find A Place To Live

Finding a place to live can be the most exciting part of moving. But when you aren’t familiar with the city, it might be more difficult. First determine your budget and stick to searching for homes within it. There are so many things to look for when searching for a home, but try making a list of all the necessities for you. The size of the property, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, any amenities, the location, and price range. Try comparing different homes with these items. 

Trying to find a home yourself that meets all your expectations and doesn’t have hidden problems can take a lot of time and energy out of you. The home buying process can be challenging, so we recommend finding a reputable Realtor to help you. They can help narrow down the options and make the process smooth. If you are interested in buying a home in the Chicago area, you can reach out to our team here. 

Start Preparing For The Move

Congratulations! You have found the house of your dreams! The next step after purchasing is to prepare for the big move. Packing up your belongings can be the most demanding part of moving. It almost always feels overwhelming, but we have a few tips to help make it as stress-free as possible.

First, take a household inventory list. Include all the moving essentials. When you make this list, you will also start decluttering your house, seeing all the old or unused items you should donate or throw away. 

Make a list of all the questions that pop up when you are preparing to move. Any questions such as packing pots and pans or who should do the move-out cleaning need to be written down.

Packing Hacks

Don’t try to do everything at once. Packing takes time, it will cause more stress if you try to pack your whole house in a few days. Work ahead of time, little by little. When you start packing your belongings, make sure to put items from one room in the same boxes as other items from that room. Don’t mix kitchen items with living room items. That will cause more confusion and stress when unpacking.

Some specific packing tips:

• Pack heavy items in small boxes, and light items in large boxes
• Start packing the non-essentials first, then the most used items at the end
• Label all of your boxes with item type or room location

BONUS: Forward Your Mail

This is so important, but tends to slip our mind. Luckily, you don’t have to wait until moving to forward your mail! Did you know that you can schedule the forwarding date ahead of time? This keeps you from losing those important bills! Just fill out a change of address form on the mailing service.

Moving can be so stressful, but it’s also so exciting! Hopefully some of these tips help you in your moving process, and make it smoother! Send us an email with any questions you may have: Team@ParkPlaceRealtyLLC.com.