Moving to a New Neighborhood – Cheap, Easy, and Beneficial

Moving to a new neighborhood is usually about improving quality of life – a better home, a safer area, a shorter commute, higher quality schools, more greenery, etc.

Despite the short distance and positive prospects though, moving to a new place is always a challenge – you still need to pack up all your earthly possessions and find a way to transport them to your new address, learn your way around unfamiliar surroundings and establish a new routine, introduce yourself to new neighbors and find your place in a new community, etc.

To successfully overcome the challenge and ensure a smooth transition to your new life in your new neighborhood, you need a good relocation plan and a smart settling in strategy.

Here are a few insightful tips for moving to a new neighborhood to help you devise your tactics and achieve a hassle-free relocation and easy adaptation to your new environment.

How to Find a Good Neighborhood

If your family is moving to a new neighborhood because you found your dream home there, or the best school for your child is located within it, or for any other location-specific reason, then you know exactly where you want to live and your choice is made.

If you’re moving to a new neighborhood just because you don’t like your old one though, you need to make sure that you pick the right part of town to live in. Determine what kind of place you’d like to live in (calm suburban area, vibrant downtown area, modernist district, etc.), what is most important to you (safety, housing costs, local amenities, school boundaries, distance from your workplace, etc.), and what features you want your new neighborhood to have (green areas, cultural venues, entertainment locales, recreational facilities, etc.) and start looking for an area that meets your needs and preferences.

What to look for when moving to a new neighborhood

There are several important factors to consider when looking for a better neighborhood to move to:

• Safety – crime rates, traffic accidents, vandalism, police activity, security services, etc.;
• Convenience – proximity to your workplace and other places you need to visit on a frequent basis, available amenities (shops and services), access to care (hospitals and other medical facilities, police and fire stations, etc.), transportation (road infrastructure and traffic patterns, public transport services, bike lanes, sidewalks, etc.);
• Prosperity – local businesses, new developments, street maintenance, etc.;
• Schools – quality of nearby schools, available extra-curriculum activities, day-care centers, etc.;
• Green areas – parks, gardens, trees throughout the neighborhood, etc.;
• Cultural and recreational facilities – museums, art galleries, theaters, concert halls, sports centers, various hobby clubs, etc.

More useful information: How to choose a good neighborhood to move to

How to find out if a neighborhood is good

When you know what makes a good neighborhood and exactly what you’re looking for, it will be easy to settle on a district that meets all the desirable criteria. Before making your final decision though, you’re advised to explore your chosen area and make sure you like it there:

• Visit the neighborhood several times – both during the day and at night – to figure out the vibe of the area;
• Talk to the local people to get an idea of the community life and find out what the major concerns and problems in the neighborhood are;
• Pay attention to warning signs – abandoned houses, derelict buildings, foreclosure signs, heavy locks on doors, poor street maintenance, businesses that sell only through small windows, street fights, gunshots, etc.

Good to remember: It is a good idea to get a feel of the atmosphere in your potential new neighborhood before making the big step even when you’re moving there for a specific reason – you may really like a house in that neighborhood, for example, but the surrounding area may be too dangerous or too noisy or too inconvenient for you to live comfortably there.

Once you get a complete picture of the neighborhood, you’ll know if you will be able to fit in and feel at home there.

How to Move into a New Neighborhood

When you find a neighborhood that meets your requirements and preferences and make your final decision to move there, you need to start planning your relocation. Do not make the mistake of thinking it will be a simple move and you’ll be able to pull it off in a week or so – regardless of the short distance, there will be many preparations to make and tasks to complete when moving to a new neighborhood, so you need to get down to work as early as possible:

1) Take advantage of the short distance

When moving across town, you can visit your new area frequently and considerably facilitate both your relocation and your adaptation to the new environment:

• Walk around your new neighborhood to locate key places in the area (supermarkets, grocery shops, pharmacies, medical care facilities, bank, post office, police station, gas station, gym, beauty salon, etc.) and find the local hotspots (restaurants, bars, shopping centers, entertainment locales, parks, etc.);
• Find an appropriate new home for you and your family (unless you’re moving to the neighborhood because of a home you like, of course) – you will be able to walk around the neighborhood, look at properties for sale (or for rent) in person, and find the perfect new house or apartment for you;
• Buy/rent your new home a few weeks before you have to leave your old residence, so you can complete any necessary repairs and desirable renovations and give the place a thorough cleaning before move-in day – it will be much easier to do so while the house is still empty and it will be nice to have your new home clean and ready for moving in when the Big day comes;
• Start taking your belongings to your new place as soon as it is ready – you can transport your smaller items to your new address in your car, one load at a time. That way, you will be able to move many of your non-essential and out-of-season items before the actual day of your relocation, making things much simpler on moving day:
  • there will be fewer items to handle, so your move will take less time and you will pay less for moving services (if you’ve hired professional help) as local movers charge by the hour);
  • it will be easier to take large furniture pieces and other bulkier items out of your old home when most of the smaller items are already gone – which will save you and your moving helpers a lot of time and effort and will reduce the risk of accidents and injuries;
  • you will be able to load all the remaining items on the rented moving truck at once (in the event of a self-move) and make only one trip to your final destination, thus saving time and money on your move.

2) Transfer utilities

You will want to have electricity, gas, water, TV connection and Internet access as soon as you arrive in your new home, so be sure to make the necessary arrangements in time – depending on how far away you’re moving, you may need to only notify your current service providers of your new address and have the utilities transferred or you may have to find new providers. In the latter case, be sure to research your options, get recommendations from your future neighbors, check prices, and compare packages to choose the best services for you.

Cancel the services at your old home (have the utilities turned off on the day after moving day) and arrange to have the utilities running in your new home a couple of days (or longer) before move-in day – so you have electricity and water when renovating and cleaning the place.

Must-read: How to transfer utilities when moving

3) Change your address

Change your address with the USPS and have the post office forward your mail to your new address. Contact all people and organizations you have dealings with and inform them of your new address. (See also: Who to notify when you move)

Don’t forget to transfer newspaper and magazine subscriptions to your new place of residence. Also, if you receive any regular deliveries of goods, be sure to give your new address to the providers to avoid having them go to your old home.

Must-read: How to change your address when moving

4) Pack smartly

Packing for a move across town is not easier than packing for a long-distance move, but the short distance offers a few benefits that make the process less stressful.

When packing for moving to a new neighborhood, you’re advised to:

• Pare down your possessions to save time, effort, and money on your move (the fewer items you decide to relocate, the less packing supplies and the smaller moving vehicle you’re going to need and the faster and easier packing, loading, and unloading will be) and to avoid cluttering your new home with things you don’t really need or don’t like anymore;
• Start packing early, so your rarely used and out-of-season items are ready for moving well ahead of time and you can transport them to your new home prior to moving day (take a load in your car every time you go to your new place to perform a task there);
• Get quality packing supplies for your more delicate and more valuable possessions and for the items that will be relocated by professional movers. Use packing containers and cushioning materials that you already have at home (suitcases, bags, baskets, crates, buckets, old clothes, sheets, and blankets, etc.)  for the rest of your possessions (See also: Alternative packing materials);
• Use the same moving containers multiple times – when you take a box of items to your new place, you can empty the container, get it back home, and fill it again;
• Leave items in drawers and transport them as they are – just  be sure to wrap the drawers in plastic wrap to keep the items in them in place;
• Leave clothes on their hangers – wrap them in a blanket and lay them on the backseat of your car;
• Pack with care and provide your items with good protection so that they arrive safe and sound in your new home. Pay special attention to breakables and use appropriate packing techniques to prepare furniture, appliances, and electronics for moving;
• Label the boxes with their contents, destination room, and appropriate handling instructions;
• Pack a first-night box, so you have everything you need at hand when you arrive in your new home.

You can find more detailed tips on how to pack for a short distance move here.

5) Get moving help

Moving to a new neighborhood is much easier to perform and organize than moving across the country, of course, but you still can’t do on your own on moving day – you will need help transporting your larger household items to your new home. What you have to decide is whether to get professional moving assistance or to ask your friends for help.

• DIY moving – A self-move is a viable option when moving to a new neighborhood – you only need to transport your items a short distance and your friends will be able to give you a hand with both loading and unloading (as your new home will be in the same town). If you’re up to the challenge, make sure you:
  • Ask your friends for help well ahead of time;
  • Rent an appropriate size moving truck;
  • Have the necessary tools and equipment to make your move faster, safer, and more efficient;
  • Take appropriate measures to prevent accidents and injuries during the move;
  • Know how to properly load a moving vehicle and how to drive it safely.
• Professional moving services – Hiring experienced local movers is your best bet for a smooth relocation when moving across town. The experts will have the specialized equipment, expert skill, and professional know-how to perform your move in the safest and most efficient way possible and the moving cost will be quite affordable. Just make sure you find good cross-town movers to work with (See also: The complete guide to hiring local movers)

6) Bonus tips for moving to a new neighborhood

A few more things to know when moving across town:

• You can take your food, cleaning supplies, paints, fuel tanks, and other non-allowable items to your new home. The movers won’t load such items on the moving truck for safety reasons, but you can transport them in your car – just make sure you pack them adequately for the trip;
• You can easily move your pets and plants to your new home – there won’t be any problems transporting your greenery and your animal friends such a short distance;
• You can purchase new items for your new home before the move and have them delivered directly to your new address (provided that you already have the keys, of course);
• You should move all your essentials and valuables in your car (See also: Things to move yourself)

Must read: Tips for moving across town

What to Do When You Move into a New Neighborhood

When you move to a new neighborhood, you won’t experience any culture shock or considerable lifestyle changes – you will be familiar with the area, will work the same job, will still be able to see your friends, etc. There will be fewer post-relocation tasks to take care of (you won’t need to update your car’s registration or transfer your driving license, transfer medical records and look for a new doctor, etc.) and it will be easier to settle in.

However, you will still need to adapt to the new environment and, most importantly – to your new community:

Secure your new home

Your first task after moving to a new neighborhood is to turn your new home into your safe haven – a personal sanctuary where you and your family will feel protected and relaxed.

Even if you’ve checked the crime statistics for your new area before the move and made sure that your neighborhood is not a dangerous place, it is still better to be safe than sorry. Disasters can happen anywhere at any time and stats show that a home is almost twice more likely to be burgled in the first year after a move than in any other, so it is of paramount importance that you take adequate precautionary measures to prevent property crime and unfortunate accidents as soon as you settle into your new home:

• Secure your home against break-ins – change the locks (do not leave a spare key for the front door in the mailbox or under the doormat!), install a burglar alarm system, add exterior lights, etc.;
• Protect your home from accidents and natural disasters – ensure fire safety (install fire alarms and smoke detectors throughout the home, supply fire extinguishers at every level of the house, etc.), ensure proper drainage away from the house, waterproof the roof, invest in a quality sump-pump, prepare an emergency kit, get adequate homeowner’s/renter’s insurance, etc.

Bonus tip: Do not forget to childproof and/or pet-proof your home to make it safe for your kids and your animal friends.

Meet your new neighbors

Saying hello to your new neighbors is among the first things you should do after moving into a new neighborhood – you’ll be living next to these people for a long time and will hopefully become friends with some of them, so the faster you get to know them, the better.

Go shake hands with your new neighbors during the first days after your relocation – introduce yourself and tell the people next door how happy you are to have moved into such a nice neighborhood and how much you would appreciate any advice they might have for you. Be polite and friendly (offer a compliment to light up the mood) and try to think of good questions that will provoke hearty discussions about the community life and the peculiarities of the neighborhood – you will get some useful information about your new area and will learn a thing or two about the people living next door.

Your next step is to throw a housewarming party and invite your new neighbors over – depending on the time of year when your move takes place, you can organize a barbecue, a holiday party, or some other event to break the ice, have some fun with new neighbors, and get to know them a bit better.

You can find some more tips on how to befriend your neighbors after moving here.

Get involved in the community life

The best way to settle into your neighborhood and find your place in your new community is to become involved in the “local life”:

• Make yourself available – spend more time outside and be easily approachable;
• Visit local hotspots and community places;
• Attend local events – festivals, fairs, games, performances, etc.;
• Join local groups and organizations;
• Engage in community services and take an active part in the community life;
• Always be ready to help a friend in need.

Be open to new experiences and take every opportunity for social interaction you have – you will soon make new friends and get a sense of connectedness with your new community.

See also: How to make new friends after moving; How to adapt to a new environment after moving

Moving to a new neighborhood gives you the unique opportunity to build a better new life without losing what you loved in your old life – you can create your dream home, reduce your commute, have safer and more enjoyable surroundings, meet new people, etc. while remaining close to your friends and your favorite places. It’s a win-win situation – and now you know how to make the most of it. Happy moving!