Moving to a New City Checklist

Moving to a new city can be exciting, but it can also feel like quite the daunting task when you have no idea where to start! Experience tells us that it’s always good to have an organized game plan going into things, so here’s a moving checklist for all of you about to embark on your next big adventure!

Preparing for Moving

In order to successfully move into your new city, there are some important things you’ll need to do in advance. First, be sure you have all of your belongings packed up and ready for storage or shipping. This is a good opportunity to declutter and get rid of stuff you don’t need. You can even make some money by selling some of your things, or donating them (did someone say ‘tax deduction’?). As exciting as moving can be, it can also be difficult; make sure that moving-day is easy by preparing ahead of time!

Moving Day

Next, it’s time to think about how to move your things to your new home. If you have family or friends in your new city and don’t have a lot of stuff, you can consider renting a truck or van and doing the move yourself. There are many options such as U-Haul or other local truck rentals. Otherwise, it might be worth paying for movers and letting them do the heavy lifting. In addition to making it easier, they can make sure that you don’t leave anything behind (and they can potentially even throw things away while unpacking). There are many moving companies that offer reasonable services — some even offer flat-rate pricing. If you don’t know where to start, get a quick quote, compare movers rates’ and book your move in one place with our partners at iMoving. Regardless of which company you choose, make sure that they are registered with state agencies and carry insurance. Some buildings will require them to issue a certificate of Insurance prior to the move. So make sure you obtain that and present it to your landlord if it is required.

Tips for Finding a Roommate

Perhaps you’re looking for an affordable way to live near your new job. Or perhaps you just want someone to hang out with during your first few weeks in town. Roommates are common and recommended when moving to a new city. This option will be less expensive than renting alone and give you a built-in social network, too. Take some time before your actual moving day to nail down the right roommate for you. Luckily finding a roommate today is a lot easier than it used to be. Our very own roommate finder, will help you match with a like-minded roomie. For more tips check out our ultimate guide on how to find roommates.

Change of Mailing Address

When you move to a new city, you will also need to update your mailing address. You can simply update your address online through USPS or Canada Post. USPS gives you the option to temporarily forward your mail to a new address, or permanently if you are moving for good. Regardless, doing so helps ensure that your mail gets properly redirected while ensuring nothing else (like important tax documents, or a pending medical bill) is sent to your old address by mistake. In addition, be sure that all companies or organizations who might send mail (insurance bills, bank statements, credit card statements) have your new address before moving on out. If you aren’t sure which companies you should advise of your new address, just see what new mail comes into your new address and then update your address one by one. This is also a good opportunity to reduce your incoming physical mail and sign up for e-bills or paperless statements as much as possible.

Setup up Cable and Wifi services

You’ll need internet and cable services, but unless you want to deal with the headaches of running wires through your house or the hassle of setting up an installation, it can be easier and cheaper just to get one of the streaming service subscriptions. You’ll have access to almost everything on cable or satellite at any time and you can usually pay less. Today, there are so many streaming services that you can get. By just having access to one or two, you’ll have more shows and movies to watch than you’ll have time for. Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney, Apple +, Hulu, or HBO Max, just pick your favorite. You should also ask your roommate if he has an existing subscription for any of these, and you can offer to sign up for a different one so you can both enjoy two streaming services for the price of one. If you are a sports fan, or enjoy live TV and network television, you can sign up for services like Sling, or YouTube TV. You’ll get most of the channels for about half of the cost of regular cable.

Furnishing your New Place

The nice thing about moving into an apartment is that it doesn’t come with much furniture, which means you get to choose everything from scratch. However, that can be overwhelming if you don’t know what you want; luckily, there are some simple things you can do when choosing new furniture. First, check with your roommate what he already has for the shared spaces, or if you are renting a room from him, if it’s fully furnished. Whatever furniture you will have to get, try to avoid getting something too extravagant or gaudy that your roommate might not like. If you really want something for the shared spaces but aren’t sure your roommate will go for it, show them some pictures of alternative products or styles and ask them what they think. They may surprise you! Since you are moving to a new place, you might change apartments after one or two years, so don’t spend too much on furniture for your starter apartment. You can fully furnish a place by buying things online from Amazon, Wayfair or Walmart.com. If after moving you are strapped for cash to invest in new furniture, you can also opt to an easier option of renting furniture. Lastly, to feel like a fresh start at a new place, make sure you get a quality new mattress. Mattress companies like Casper or Purple will deliver the mattress straight to your door and even give you a trial period to make sure you actually have a good night’s sleep.

Signing up to a Local Gym or Fitness Studio

If you like to stay active, find out whether your new building has a gym or fitness studio and what kinds of amenities it offers. If you plan on heading outside for your workouts, learn whether there are trails nearby that can get you closer to nature — or at least away from your computer screen. You should also keep in mind that no matter how much exercise you get at home or how often you go outside, it’s not uncommon for people to feel socially isolated when they first move somewhere new. Consider joining a club or taking a class that you meet other people with similar interests and don’t spend too much time alone with your thoughts. If you still want to sign up for a traditional gym, take advantage of the trial periods most offer. Make sure you like the layout, the equipment, the classes offered and that it’s not super packed in the hours you like to go.

Stocking up on Supplies

Moving can be expensive, especially if you’re moving to a new city. But there are ways to bring down costs. Start by purchasing in bulk many of the essentials and supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies, and packaged foods. You might even consider stockpiling these items when they’re on sale or getting sample boxes at Costco (or somewhere similar). This way, once you get settled into your new home, all that heavy lifting is already done! There are other local discount stores you can get these essentials.

Get Renters Insurance

Tenants insurance is a necessity for any renter. Your landlord’s policy will only cover damage that’s due to events beyond your control, such as floods and earthquakes. If your apartment burns down because you accidentally left an iron on in your room, it’ll be up to you to come up with $15,000 or more to replace it — and that might not even be enough if you have expensive things. Renters insurance covers theft of personal property and even liability claims in case someone falls and gets hurt at your place. Renters insurance doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated either, you can set it up in minutes and for about $5 a month with our partners at Lemonade.

Unpack your stuff

Finally, you’ll want to unpack your belongings. Whatever kind of space you’re moving into, don’t leave anything in boxes — it looks messy, and it can be tough to keep track of what you have and don’t have. If you have to put furniture together, or mount a TV and could use help, you can get a handyman from services like TaskRabbit or Handy. This way you can be all settled in sooner than later. Plus, it will speed up your acclimation and make your new place feel like home. So get everything unpacked ASAP!