Moving from a home to another can be a pretty challenging task, regardless of the distance involved. In fact, the things we need to consider before moving to a new neighborhood or a new continent are very similar.
It could be the concretization of a dream or the beginning of a long and miserable nightmare in both cases. The difference usually lies in how the move is planned. This article will talk about the main things you must have in mind while moving to a new place.
Living With Your Choices
It should go without saying that moving to a new city is completely different than visiting one. Visits are usually shor-termed, you only have time for the best things about the city. The chances are that your budget will look much different once you need to plan it as daily expenses, not just holiday money.
Moreover, because you’re actually settling down, things that don’t look that problematic for tourists are likely to become a daily burden to you. We’re talking about long commuting, bad traffic, costly groceries, and other annoyances. So, if you’re moving to a city like Denver, don’t think only about the scenic views of Mount Evans or the lovely weather. Consider how your life quality will be. The same goes if you’re moving to a different area in the same city.
Here are the main tips to have in mind before moving on to a new adventure in a new place.
Living Expenses
Planning your budget should be your top priority. Failing to do so can have tragic consequences. Make sure that the living expenses fit into your pocket. There are many things to factor into this calculation: housing, groceries, commuting, gas, insurances. If you have kids, the price and proximity of schools also matter a lot.
If you’re moving because of a job opportunity, your wage should be enough to cover those costs. However, if you’re moving because you’re looking for job opportunities, your savings must be carefully planned too. Once you know how much you’re likely to spend per month, specialists advise getting ready for at least three months.
Job Opportunities
Speaking of job opportunities, it’s crucial to check in beforehand if your target area has a favorable professional environment. If you’re a skilled worker, you’d like to go where your expertise has a higher demand. So, have to mind what kind of job you’re looking for, and research for vacancies, just to test the waters. This way, you can avoid moving to a new place, to find out it’s a dead-end for your profession.
Crime Rate
Safety always matters, but it matters even more, when we’re moving to a new and unknown place. Do thorough research about the current crime rate in your desired location to know what to expect. Moreover, check the crime rate by neighborhood, if possible. Even infamous cities will have safer areas than others. Identify them before choosing where to live.
Transportation
If you don’t drive, you must consider how efficient the public transport is, which areas it covers best, and how much it’ll cost monthly. Here, it’s vital to research how much time and money you’ll spend on public transport. Living nearer to the city center typically implies higher rents, but it can also mean you’ll spend less money on bus tickets, for instance. Do the math.
Local Commerce and Entertainment Options
Take a good look around your neighborhood, and observe how well served it is in terms of groceries, supermarkets, and drugstores. How far will you need to walk just to buy bread every morning? Where to buy medicines, in case of an emergency?
Likewise, observe the entertainment options available in your target neighborhood. If you love the buzz of the nightclubs or the nightlights of the big cities, maybe you shouldn’t move to a too-bucolic area. Now, if you love trails in the woods, concrete jungles may not be your thing.
Packing Up
If it were to summarize all the tips above in a single one, it would be something like: “imagine your life in your new place as realistically as possible.” Do you like what you see? Because your choices are likely to have long-lasting consequences here, it’s crucial to plan them very carefully.
