There are tons of reasons people move. You may be looking to start your life in a new city, you may be looking to relocate from the city to the suburbs, you may be moving closer to your grown children or you may be moving for a job. Whatever your reasons, any move to a new city will require some serious thought. Here are some questions you must ask yourself before moving.
1. What is the cost of living?
One of the most important questions you’ll need to know is whether or not you can afford to live in your new city of choice. Take a look at all your expenses and compare them with the expenses you’ll be paying in your new city. If you’re moving to somewhere less expensive, that’s a plus. If you’re planning to move to a more expensive city, then you’ll have to figure out how to make ends meet. In addition, relocating can be expensive. There are costs when you rent or buy a new house. There are also costs like turning the internet and gas on in your new place. Hiring a moving company is often a necessity, too. Companies like Premiere Van Lines can make relocating your belongings so much easier.
2. Is it safe?
A city can look great from a distance or during your short one-week vacation, but living there may be different. Can you walk around at night? What are the statistics on crime? How safe is your new neighbourhood? Can children safely play in the park? The last thing you want to do is pack your things, move across the state and be a victim of crime within a month of relocating.
3. What is transportation like?
Public transportation is important if you don’t own a car. Can you get from home to work by subway or bus? If you do own a car, is it a car-friendly city or are the roads jam packed every day? And, if you’re driving a car, what are the gas prices like?
4. How are the schools?
Public and private schools vary widely from city to city and from neighborhood to neighborhood. If you have kids, research your neighborhood schools and see what their rating is. You may live in a great house but it’s not worth it if your kids aren’t getting a good education.
5. Do you have similar values?
The political and social values of a town may not seem important but they can be very polarizing. If you are religious and deeply conservative, you may not feel comfortable in a city that attracts liberals. The reverse is true, too. Finding a like-minded community is important to your sense of belonging.
6. What is the weather like?
This is a big one. If you’re moving to a city like Chicago or Vancouver, you must ask yourself if you can handle their winters. For those with arthritis, humid weather can be an issue. See what the city’s weather is like in all seasons.
7. What’s the age group of the city?
Let’s face it. Some cities attract retirees, some attract college graduates, some attract working professionals and some are a healthy mix of the above. If you’re a college graduate, you’ll probably be bored in a town where most of the population is looking to retire. There won’t be much to do for you. Or if you’re looking to retire and lead a slower life, moving to a bustling city with night clubs on every corner may be too much.
Do you know anyone?
Relocating to a new city can be exciting. But it can also be a lonely experience if you don’t know anyone. If relocating is definitely on your agenda, try to pick a city where you have at least one friend or even family. It will make the move a lot easier.
Chucking an old city for a new one can be refreshing, scary, difficult and fun, all at the same time. To make moving easier, contact Premiere Van Lines. They can help with residential, commercial or even international moves.
