Back to Part 1: Finding a Place.
Last week, we discussed everything that goes into finding a place to live as you go through the relocation process. Now that you’ve sorted that out, it’s time to start preparing for the move.
Remember that the preparatory stages of relocation are always the biggest challenge. Once you get these difficult steps out of the way, you’re going to have a great time in your new city. We’ll be covering it all in the remaining 3 installments of our 5-part Relocation Survival Guide.
Observe
Before making any plans, you need to take time to observe the variety of factors that will influence your decision. The first thing you need to know is how far away you are from your destination. Moving across the country will be a wildly different experience from moving a few states over, so keeping this in mind will be crucial when juggling options.
After you’ve taken note on how far you’ll be traveling, shift your focus to your belongings. Evaluate how much you have and more importantly, how much you will be taking with you. Distance and belongings will both influence your decision! For instance, if you’re crossing the country, you may not be inclined to bring everything you have, but if your new city is only 5 hours away, it might be plausible.
Deliberate
After you’ve taken these two factors into account, you can begin deliberating on the best way to get yourself and all of your possessions to the destination. There is a wide variety of options for you, but their practicality is largely dependent on the two factors discussed above. Here are some of your options for transportation:
Rent-a-Truck: This option is ideal for those who won’t be traveling a long distance, intend to bring most of their belongings, and intend to utilize public transportation.
Moving Companies: Another option that’s best for those not traveling far distances. In this case, you’d likely be bringing your vehicle and carrying any overflow items with you.
PODS: If you have a lot to move and are relocating to somewhere further than a few states away, a POD might be your best bet as they’ll have everything ready to unload by the time you arrive at your new place. As long as you have your own transportation, this option works well.
Your Car: This is by far the most cost-effective route. If you’re willing to part with some items and completely rebuild your furniture collection, simply loading everything in your car and driving over is going to be the pick for you.
The first three options will all cost a decent amount of money, but you don’t have to deal with finding new furniture or, in the case of a moving company, loading and unloading what you have. Get quotes from each company and decide whether these perks are higher on your priority list than saving the money and limiting yourself to your car.
Speaking of Your Car…
If you’re bringing your car at all, take it to a mechanic and get it evaluated. Let them know what your travel plan is and how far you intend to go. They will examine your tires, breaks, battery, engine, and everything in between to ensure you have a safe and successful trip.
Aside from the travel there, you want to make sure your car is in good shape to keep you mobile when you’re using it to explore your new city!
Organize
So far, you’ve sorted out plans for your possessions and ensured minimal problems arise on the ride there. The only thing left is the path you’ll take as well as the stops you’ll make along the way (if any). If the drive is going to span across multiple days, you’ll need to plan where you’ll be staying each night and when you intend to get there. It’s also wise to plan out meal and gas stops due to the unknown nature of landscape and restaurant availability.
Planning out your path will not only give you peace of mind in knowing where you’ll be at any given time, but also it gives you something to work toward as you’re driving. Long drives can be exhausting, so getting somewhere ahead of time is a perk that can keep you motivated.
Once you’ve organized your transportation and the logistics of moving, the most intimidating part of relocation is out of the way. Use the resources below to nail everything down as you get ready to embark!
Resources
Travel planning
Transportation
Furniture hunting
- Local Craigslist
- Letgo
- Facebook Marketplace
Now that you’re situated in your new place, we’ll take a new path next week and discuss how to manage yourself once you’re there. Homesickness and isolation are real struggles when moving somewhere completely foreign to you, so make sure to check back in for the 3rd part of our Relocation Survival Guide!