So you've decided to pack up and move to another part of the country. Perhaps you've landed your dream job, or maybe you just fancy a change of scenery. There are several reasons to want to move, and many people spend their whole lives in one location, never experiencing the benefits of new places.
Your move will broaden your horizons and open you up to new experiences. It will push you out of your comfort zone and build your character to make you more confident and adaptable to new situations.
But moving your life hundreds or thousands of miles away is not easy. It takes a lot of work to change jobs, find a new home, and deal with the logistical hurdles of transporting your belongings. You'll have to find new friends as well as keep up the communication with people back home. These challenges can be overwhelming, not to mention expensive, but as long as you plan ahead and employ the right strategies, you will be fully prepared to make the most of your relocation.
With this in mind, here are four tips to help you move across the country.
Make a plan
As soon as you know you're moving, it's a good idea to create a detailed plan to help you with the move. This plan should outline all the tasks you need to complete before, during, and after moving day. This plan will help you to stay on schedule and give you a birds-eye view of how much work you have left to do. It will prevent all your tasks from stacking up and prevent you from feeling overwhelmed and anxious. As a result, you will be able to get everything done on schedule and be free to enjoy your move.
Be smart with accommodation
Finding a place to live in a new part of the country is incredibly difficult. You either have to travel back and forth to view properties, or you have to roll the dice and sign the contract on a place you've only seen pictures of. It's one of the most stressful parts of moving and can put some people off. The smartest way to find somewhere to live is to block off a couple of days to travel to your destination city and cram as many viewings as possible into this short space of time. You will no doubt find at least one property you like the look of and can begin the process of signing contracts and paying deposits as soon as possible. And if your top contender falls through, you should have a couple of backups to fall back on.
If this still sounds too stressful, another option is to find temporary accommodation in the short term. It's a lot easier to find a new home when you live in the area. Do you have friends in the area you could stay with while you get set up? Or you could look at apartments for rent with a short term let. It's a lot more bearable to stay in a horrible apartment if you know it's only going to be for a few weeks. Another alternative is to check into a hotel or hostel in the meantime, but this can be expensive, particularly if you don't know how long it will take to find a new place.
Hire a shipping company
If you have a lot of belongings to move to your new home, this poses another significant challenge. Do you make multiple trips back and forth to ferry all your belongings to your new apartment, or do you fork out the cost of a moving company? If you can afford it, a professional mover is always your best bet. Although they come at a price, it will still stop you from spending excessive amounts of time and money making unnecessary car journeys. Shop around and get quotes from different companies to find the best deal. This will reduce the stress involved with relocation and free you up to focus on other areas.
Get rid of your belongings
The more stuff you have to move, the more difficult and costly the process will be. Go through all your belongings and get rid of anything you don't need. Old furniture and home accessories can always be replaced when you move in. Sell unwanted items or donate them to charity, and only transport the things you can't live without.
Moving across the country is a huge milestone in anyone's life, and this momentous occasion shouldn't be ruined by unnecessary obstacles and expenses. By following these tips and adopting the right mindset, your relocation should go off without a hitch.
