Moving to a new city is indeed an exciting time in your life… It’s an opportunity for a fresh new start. And despite this new venture being an opportunity for a fresh new start, it’s still a serious life-changing event that shouldn’t be taken so lightly, and that’s whether you’re moving within your current state or to a new city in a completely different state.
Why is it so important? Well, for one, depending on how much “stuff” you have to move, it could be a very expensive and draining move that you only hope to do once. Secondly, there’s just a lot to consider before you even get to your new location… The last thing you want to do is get there and realize that living there is not sustainable.
You first need to get things in order in your current location, like finding out when your lease is up or the steps you need to take in selling your home. And in all honesty, if you’re going to be selling your home, you need to approach the process as if you were buying… That’s the only way to get it sold fast… Then again, you may want to rent it out, which could be an added source of monthly income that could keep you afloat for the first few months of being in your new location.
But whether you’re relocating for a job, wanting to be closer to family, or simply wanting a change in scenery, make sure you do your due diligence to properly research and canvass your desired location before making any sudden moves. Before moving, be sure to think about these important considerations.
Top Considerations to Think About Before Relocating to a New City
Crime Rate
If there’s one thing we know about the internet it’s that you can’t believe everything you see or read on it. When you’re looking to relocate to a new city, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the town, you can’t pick a place to move based on how it looks online. All too often people will look at homes thinking it’s in a nice area and move there only to find out it’s located in one of the areas with the highest crime rate in the city!
To find out about an area’s crime rate, check with local realtors in that area, join Facebook groups that can tell you more about the area, and join data alerts that will send you updates and statistical information about the area you’re interested in. According to huduser.gov, poverty, segregation, and income inequality are some of the biggest character traits of the causes and results of violent crimes in certain areas.
Cost of Living
As mentioned earlier, one of the worst things that could happen is you move to a new location and have a reality check that you can’t afford to live there. Everything from the cost of gas and food to rent/mortgage and utilities, the prices can fluctuate from location to location and it’s very important that you look into that first and foremost.
In your current city, maybe you’re struggling to make your mortgage payments, and the whole reason you’re moving is that you need to find a cheaper place to live. This could mean looking up cities that offer choosesolar for more affordable electricity; It could mean finding somewhere with public transportation so you won’t have to drive; And it could mean going somewhere where the taxes on food aren’t so high…
There’s just so much to consider in how much it costs to live somewhere and you don’t want to find out the hard way after you’ve already moved.
Weather
Oddly enough, the weather isn’t something too many people think about when determining where they want to move to; And when they do actually consider the weather, they only think about the good aspects of the weather. For example, maybe you live in Nebraska where the winters are extremely cold and harsh but you’re considering moving to Florida because of the sunny weather… Well, while Florida has nice, sunny weather, you mustn’t forget that Florida also gets lots of hurricanes. In fact, Florida is the most susceptible and hurricane-prone state in the US.
Vibe and Night Life
Checking out the vibe and nightlife of a city is just as important as any other consideration. If you’re a younger or single person relocating, you don’t want to move to a city where there’s nothing to do. On the other hand, if you have a family or are uninterested in city life, you want to move to a location that’s a little slower paced… It’s all about what you want out of a city, but in order to find it, you have to see what the location has to offer.
There are lots to consider when relocating to a new city, but these considerations listed above are some of the top considerations to put at the forefront of your mind first. If you feel comfortable with these aspects of a new location, everything else will fall into place.
