Originally from The Golden City, Julie has explored the ins and outs of moving and has written all the tips down.
The Ultimate Guide to Moving Out for the First Time
There are many reasons why one might consider moving out for the first time. If you consider that an average American moves 12 times in a lifetime, then the first time moving out should be stressless and set the right expectations for the next one. It doesn’t matter if you are moving out of your parents’ house, looking for a fresh start, or a better job opportunity. Relocation is like a roller coaster, and it’s essential to know how to handle it correctly.
Relocation is a significant change in people's lives, and preparing for it is essential
The median age when most people move out from their parent’s home is 19. Considering that, you can imagine that good preparation is needed when relocating to a new home. But how old you are shouldn’t make this process less or more difficult. If you’ve never done it before, relocation mistakes are the same, and that’s why you should start planning the whole process as soon as possible. The most important thing to know is that preparation (emotionally and physically) is half the work done. That’s why we prepared a guide that will help you organize and move efficiently.
How Do I Move Out for the First Time?
Relocation is one of the three most stressful events in people’s lives. An average American lives in one home for around ten years. So, imagine that now you have to move out from the nest your parents and you’ve been building with such affection.
It will be an emotional earthquake and a physically challenging task to relocate all the stuff that has value to you. That’s why the best approach is to focus on the positive aspects of the relocation, and once you decide where to live, start with the planning.
Is Moving Away From Home for the First Time Scary?
Change is always good, right? But this kind of change can also be overwhelming if the negative thoughts take over. However, feeling anxiety about relocation is completely normal, and battling the fear of the unknown is something we have all experienced at least once in our lives. You have to overcome many situations, from adjusting to a future apartment to making friends in a new city.
If you take the right steps, the whole process will be much easier, and you’ll handle it like you’ve relocated at least a few times. So, when wondering what age is best to move out, know that there is no correct answer. It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 or 50, the change is big, and it can be scary, but if you know how to plan to move to another city, it will be a breeze.
As scary as it can get, focus only on the positive sides of the relocation
How Much Money Should You Have Saved Before Moving Out – The First Task You Have to Think About
As we all know, the relocation process isn’t free. Whether you plan on DIY or hiring professional long-distance moving services, you should have a certain amount of money and ensure everything is covered. The good news is there – you can save on relocation costs and still move efficiently. But, it’s not just the moving costs you have to think about.
There are also the monthly expenses, security deposits, and utilities that you’ll pay now on your own. So once you decide it’s the best time to move out, make sure you start putting some money aside so that you can be secure for any kind of emergency. That’s why relocating without a job isn’t the greatest option, but it’s not the worst. Between packing fragile items and figuring out how to transfer utilities, you should find some free time to find a job before relocation.
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Set Your Budget and Plan How Much Money You’ll Need for the Relocation Services
Knowing your finances is one of the most important things when it comes to relocating. This is because the average amount you’ll have to set aside for this process is around $4,000. Of course, the price depends on many factors, but if you don’t know your finances, then the whole relocation will be much more complicated.
So when moving out on your own for the first time, a budget is a must, and after creating one, you’ll be able to plan the rest of the relocation. If you want to hire a professional crew (DIY doesn’t mean it will be cheaper, on the contrary, sometimes it’s even more expensive), here are all the services you need to include in your budget:
Packing service – if you need some help with packing bathroom items or anything else you don’t want to deal with, then efficient long-distance movers near you will be the solution you’re looking for.
Storage facility – some stuff might not be able to fit in your new apartment, and others you won’t be able to donate or sell. So, storage is a reasonable place you can put those items until you figure out what to do with them.
Moving insurance – expensive items you want to bring with you demand reliable insurance. We all know that some unexpected events can happen during transportation, and relocation insurance is something you should consider.
Auto transport – if you opt to relocate your car to a future location, you should find a reliable crew that will transport it safely.
Planning the budget is the first step you have to take when relocating across the country
Create a Moving Out for the First Time Checklist of Things You Have to Do Before the Move
It should have all the things you need when moving out for the first time. Relocation is stressful enough, and the best way to relax is to put all tasks on paper or create an online checklist that will keep you up-to-date and give you a timeframe.
Decide Whether Living With a Roommate Is the Right Choice
Finding a place where you’ll live isn’t the easiest thing to do. All your wishes have to meet the possibility of the state and city you choose. But once you find that city and the apartment you want, there’s another question you need to answer. Will you live alone, or will you find a roommate?
If you are relocating alone, and the thought of living on your own is just too overwhelming, then a roommate is the right choice for you. Another benefit of co-living is that you can save some money on the monthly rent and bills, not to mention that you won’t have to be alone all the time after the move.
A roommate can be a great solution if you're relocating alone to the unknown surroundings
Be Ready for Some Things You’re Bound to Do on Your Own
When you’re a young adult living with parents or someone who takes care of most stuff in your home, the step you are about to take can be quite shocking for you. There are many tasks to be done monthly, like paying bills, cleaning supplies, and grocery shopping. Besides all the stuff you have to do after the move, it’s better to do the following tasks before the relocation day:
Switch the utilities – contact the electricity and water provider and ensure everything will be turned on the day you arrive. If you are preparing your home for sale, then make sure that everything will be turned off the day after you leave, too. The same goes for internet and cable providers.
Update your address – a great thing when it comes to changing the address is that you can do it in just a few minutes by filling out an online USPS form. It’s an essential step because you’ll stop getting mail from previous residents, and you’ll get all of your mail.
Inform important institutions – alongside the tasks already mentioned, it’s crucial to notify essential institutions about your address change. This includes banks, insurance companies, your employer, and any services or memberships you’re subscribed to. This will prevent any disruptions in service or communication, helping you maintain seamless transitions in all areas of your life as you move.
Take care of all tasks you can before the relocation day and make the whole process easier
Prepare for Professional Cross Country Movers
As the relocation day comes closer, you’ll feel more tension, and that’s completely normal. You are about to take an enormous step in your life, and it can’t be easy. However, you can still do something to ensure everything is ready to move when professional long-distance movers come.
Pack Only the Essential Items and Get Rid of Everything You Don’t Use
The golden rule of every successful move is to book a reliable relocation crew and prepare for movers before they come. The best way of doing it is to pack only the essentials. That means you have to get rid of some stuff you don’t use anymore. If you have many items that you can’t decide on as quickly as you thought, you can check each room separately and put aside all unnecessary items.
Tips for Moving Day and How to Surviving It
Once you decide what to keep, you can move on to preparing your place for the professional crew. This means that you should clean the entire apartment and clear all the hallways so that the bigger items can pass through without a scratch.
Stay in Touch With Family and Friends and Ease the Adjustment Period
It might sound impossible, but staying in touch with your family and friends will help you get through the rough period after the relocation. Luckily, nowadays, there are many ways of online communication. So when you feel lonely, try turning the bad mood around with a group video call with your family members.
Throw a Goodbye Party Before You Leave
Saying goodbye to everyone you love is a very stressful event – imagine having to do it several times. That’s why organizing a farewell party is the best idea to spend some quality moments with your loved ones. This way you can say goodbye to everyone on the same day.
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The first period after the move is the hardest. So, it’s completely understandable if you don’t want to meet people in your future city. However, after some days or months, you should start thinking about it.
One of the best tips for newcomers on meeting different people in the city they live in is to start with baby steps.First, try joining online groups with people who have the same interests. After a while, you’ll be more relaxed and the future steps – going for a cup of coffee, for example, will come naturally.
he period after the move will be challenging, but after a while, you'll meet different people
Get Some Help From a Trustworthy Relocation Crew
Relocation, especially if you’ve never done it before, can be an overwhelming process, no matter how organized you are. All the emotions, from excitement to sadness, will mix, and if you don’t make the right choice, it can become a nightmare. To prevent that, contact Long Distance Movers and leave this tedious task to our moving company. That way, you can dedicate more free moments to yourself and think about all the opportunities you’ll have once you move.
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