Living in one spot for years and years can sound like a dream for some. You’d know who everyone is, and you’d never have the problems of feeling awkward in an unfamiliar community. But if you’d rather move out of your hometown and find a home someplace new, you might want to think twice before packing up your entire life and jetting off. Moving, for all intents and purposes, is difficult.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t streamline your moving process. Often, we get lost in all the new things to buy and pack that we lose sight of the things we actually need to remember. It will be a frenzy, but some questions can act as guidelines for packing and moving. Read on and find out!
1. “Will my needs be met there?”
Before leaving your hometown, consider if your new destination has everything you need. Does it check your boxes in terms of immediate necessities (your new place, clean water, job security) and must-haves (good community, leisure locations you enjoy, preferred weather)? Remember: if you are moving to a new location, you have to vet if it fits what you need because moving back could be a bigger hassle. It would double your stress if you ended up not liking where you moved to.
Giving your target destination a few visits to see what it’s like before actually moving can give you a better gauge of the place. Talk to your real estate agent there, ask around the community, and get to know your soon-to-be new home. There might be places that could convince you further to stay, or there might things missing. Give the place a look first.
2. “Is it easy to travel to and from the area?”
Traveling, especially if you’re doing it by land, will be a pain, and much more so if you’re bringing your entire life with you. Make sure to check your routes to see what kind of traffic you can expect. You can also check for rest stops, restaurants, or shops you could pass by if you needed anything on the road. You might even come upon a scenic road!
Knowing if it’s easy to travel back and forth from a new area can be useful if you forget essential things, like more luggage or documents. When you also need to visit family or old friends, you won’t think it’s too much of a hassle to travel back. Have foresight when it comes to moving to places.
3. “Do I actually still need these?”
The tattered bedding set you’ve had since you were a teen would have to be let go, along with some of your older things. Always ask yourself if you truly need to take certain things while packing because taking everything will be too bulky and too costly. And you will end up buying new things once you move into your new place anyway, so it’s a good time to let go of some items you have.
What you can’t pack or throw away, you could always put up for sale! Yard sales are a great way for old things to find new homes, especially when you have no intention of returning them. It’s a good way to earn extra cash to buffer any expenses during the move. You could also give things away if you’re feeling extra generous!
4. “How do I move my things?”
If you’ve got your own car, awesome! But don’t fully rely on your car to hold all of your belongings, especially if you’re planning to take furniture and fixtures with you. You could always ask friends and family members if they could help out. It could be a fun way to bond before they have to say goodbye! Or you could also ask a moving company to help you out.
When you do hire a moving company, always ask what their services are. Rates vary from place to place, and services could vary, too. For example, some movers offer weather-specific services that movers in, say, California might not have. When in doubt, do some extra research and ask. Knowledge is power, after all!
Moving to a new place is always an adventure, and great adventures are never really easy. But you will have a whole new world to be a part of once the whole process is over, and it’s going to be so worth it! Just remember to have a clear head and to double-check everything, and that once you fully fall in love with your new home, things will feel peach keen. Best of luck, traveler!