Contents

Plenty of us love to travel, but sometimes we crave an adventure that’s a little more long term. Are you thinking of upping sticks and moving to a new city? There are many reasons to consider such an adventure, whether for work, relationship ties, or simply craving something new and exciting. Whatever your reasons may be, it pays to do your research and get prepared. Here come four essential tips to try before you pack those bags! 

Make short-list 

Perhaps you’re moving for work, and you already have a set destination? If so, you’ll want to skip this step. For those who haven’t secured a job yet, you’ll want to make a short-list. First, write a list of all the cities you would consider moving to. Next, you’ll want to research each one to make a good comparison. Research the job market, look for jobs in your industry and find out how easily you’ll find work. It’s a good idea to prioritise your likelihood of getting a job above the rest of your criteria. 

Next, you’ll want to research the cost of living, map this against how much you are going to be earning (approximately). Doing so will allow you to gauge what your quality of life will be like. As well as this, research the culture and how safe the city is to live in. Find out how easy it is to get around on public transport and what to expect when traveling solo. Discover what there is to do in the city; whether the arts scene, the nightlife or otherwise. What attracts you to a place will depend on your hobbies as well as your job and finances. 

Job leads 

Depending on how far you are moving, you may be able to secure a job before you move. If not, try to at least secure some job leads before you go. You could contact a few companies and see if they will consider a skype chat for example. Apply to jobs and explain your current situation. If you have the right skills (and the start date is a little down the line) you might secure yourself a good lead. 

Visit first 

If you’re moving overseas, you may not be able to visit your chosen destination first. Plenty of people brave moving to a new place having never visited there- so don’t worry. Sure it’s more of a risk, but nothing has to be forever, and if you don’t try, you’ll never know! If you can visit first, it’s a great idea to do so. Get to know the different neighborhoods, suss out the best areas to live. It may be the case that you have to stay in an Airbnb when you first move while you are apartment searching. 

Organize your belongings 

You’ll want to organize your belongings by decluttering to make it easier to pack. It’s important to choose a company that is well established to handle your move. Sites like https://www.mybekins.com/locations/oakland-ca-movers/, for example, have many years of experience. Depending on where you are moving to, you’ll need to find a company that can cater to your specific needs. If you have fragile items, make sure that your moving company offers some kind of insurance policy included in the price.

 

This is a contributed post.