How to prepare for moving to a new city: A comprehensive checklist

People have different reasons for moving to a new city. Some people want to exchange the buzz of a crowded and polluted large city with the tranquillity of a small one. Others want to exchange what they see as the dullness of a small city with the vibrant life and energy of a big urban centre. Whatever reason you have for moving, a transition like this can be stressful in many ways.

There are many important things to prepare in advance so your relocation process is as unproblematic as possible. Here is a comprehensive checklist of things to consider so you won’t neglect any important aspect.

1.    Cost of living

The cost of living is the first thing you should think about when moving. If you’re moving to London from a small city in the north, you may have a shock when browsing housing listings. Research extensively the costs for housing, transportation, food and entertainment, so you can better assess if your expected income matches the cost of living.

2.    Analyse the job market

Job opportunities are a big factor that will influence your quality of life in the new city. Make sure you analyse the job market thoroughly to see which industries and jobs are available and what are the most competitive or in-demand fields.

You can start applying to jobs before you move, using various job-hunting strategies to get the recruiters’ attention. Have a few interviews already lined up as soon as you get there. To get a better view of the local job market, you can also get in contact with professionals in your field via e-mail, LinkedIn or other online platforms.

3.    Learn about the city in-depth

Visiting a place before uprooting your whole life and moving there is a good way to gauge the atmosphere of the place and decide whether it fits your lifestyle, habits and preferences. If a visit is not possible, try to learn as much as possible about the city from afar.

Use local news outlets, Google maps or any resource you find relevant to learn about the differences between neighbourhoods and residential areas. Where can you find cheaper housing? Which neighbourhood fulfils your criteria for essential features? Where are the parks? Where is the nightlife?

4.    Decide the fate of your possessions

To make the moving process less stressful, you need to take some time to look through all of your possessions and decide which are worth taking with you and which are an unnecessary burden. If you’re moving to a city like London, where housing space is notoriously small, you will have to get rid of large possessions that may not fit in your new home.

Try to either sell or donate unessential stuff before moving. If there are valuable items that you want to keep but worry about storage space in your new home, you can leave them temporarily in a nearby storage facility. It would be easier to carry them over after you find a stable place in the new city and set up your life there. Your belongings will be handled with care if you hire a moving company like in Plymouth van and man service, just in case you have moving difficulties.

The stress of relocating to a new city can take away from the enthusiasm you should feel about starting a new life. It’s easy to lose focus in the chaos that ensues once you decide to move, but all you have to do to make sure things will go well is to research in advance.

The editorial unit