If it wasn’t for all the hassle that comes with it, I would be moving every 6 months or so. And if you are like me, you would say that getting a new place is as exciting as starting a new journey because, truth be told, that’s exactly what it is. New environment, new walls, new furnitures, I mean new everything, almost.
Depending on the reason why you are moving, changing your current habitat can represent different things; it can symbolize a new beginning, or your first step towards a different path. But, no matter the reason behind your decision to live elsewhere, you need to be careful with how you make it happen. Not every place or location is suited for whatever next goal you have in mind. It can take months, even years, to plan a move considering the who, why and where questions, so we are proving you a shortcut. Plan your move with confidence and avoid the headaches by using this checklist.
1. Define the what and why questions, and answer them
It’s easy to fall into this trap: you are looking at new apartments and you think about how nice it would be to move into one of them. Or, you visit a friend in another city and you have such a good time that you decide to move there. If the reason why you are moving sounds like any of these two, you may want to reconsider.
As I mentioned a little earlier, the goals you are setting for yourself for the next two years or so can and should play a big role in choosing your next place. Therefore, you want to ask yourself the right questions, such as: What are you trying to accomplish in the next year or so? Why can’t you do it from the place you are living at now? Why are you moving? What’s wrong with your current place and/or environment?
Once you have the answer to all these questions, and only then, you can checkmark this and move on to the next step.
2. Find a YOUR best geographic location
Assuming you have gone through step 1, you should have your goals and expectations clearly outlined, at least for the next couple of years, and can start your search for a location that will make it easy for you to reach them. There is a whole world out there, that’s true. But not all parts of it are best for you.
- Is your goal to focus on school and graduate as soon as possible at lower cost? Then you need a city with low cost of life and good universities, like Omaha.
- Is your dream to become an well-known actor? You may want to check big cities like Los Angeles.
- Do you like « hustling » and switching jobs for quicker results? Things go fast in cities like New York City.
These are just a few examples to show you how to target the perfect location to start your new journey. Then, once you settle on one city, find your dream house or apartment.
3. Fall in love with your next place
Actually, you should fall in love with more than one place. One more than the others, that’s for sure, but don’t limit yourself to a one item list. It’s always good to have options, and that same is true when it comes to moving. While making your list, take into consideration a few things:
- Your household: who are you going to live with? Kids, spouse/partner, family member, roommate… This will help you decide on the required amenities.
- Your commute: what is your commute going to be like by the time you move? It will help decide whether you need to be living next to a bus station, a little more downtown, etc.
- Your budget: how much can you dedicate to your move? Come up with an approximation, and remember, the more you need, the more it will cost. So start low and work you way up until you reach the maximum amount you can allow yourself to pay for your new place.
The real estate market is a fast growing one, due to high demand. Don’t end up giving yourself much more stress than you should because you failed to « think backup. »
There you have it. The first part of your moving checklist with 3 steps that will make you feel like a moving pro. Plus, these are steps you can make ahead of time. Like a year before the move for example. Step 1 will help with the move but also with the structuration of your life moving forward, until you move. You will have enough time to research on step 2, and you will have fun with step 3. All you will need to do until the time comes is keep track of the market changes, especially with your places of interest.
Now, let’s say you have done all that and you are ready to move. Great, get the other part of the checklist and you will be all set. Wish you the best!
