Moving is both exhilarating and intimidating. Change is never easy, but it’s sometimes necessary, especially if you have to move for a new job or to attend school. Moving to a new city has its own allure. Shaking things up from your regular routine is a great way to discover what you truly like and dislike. But before you uproot your life, there are some things you should think about. Here are the five most important things to consider before your next move. Do some research before purchasing a crate, do comparisons, and make sure that you get an airline approvedĀ dog travel crate.
1. Your Credit ScoreĀ
Moving from one place to another often requires a substantial budget, which is why it’s a good idea to check your credit score before you finalize your plans. If you’re young and don’t have much experience with credit, it might be difficult to get access to things like a car loan or even a payment plan for a washer and dryer. You can start building your credit slowly but surely with an American Express credit card for everyday expenses that you use for groceries and pay off every month. That way, by the time you need to gain approval for larger purchases or loans, you’ll have a base of credit to your name.
2. Decluttering Your Life
If you look around your home and it feels impossible to move all of your things, then it’s time to think about decluttering your life. It’s natural to accumulate items when you’ve been living in one location for many years. You should never feel guilty that you have knick-knacks and seasonal items sitting in every corner of your home. But when it’s time to move, you have to consider what you’re willing to part with in order to make packing and transportation that much easier.
Decluttering doesn’t have to be complicated. Follow these simple steps to discover what you want to take with you:
- Empty each room in your house
- Sort all items into bins or cartons
- Imagine the final look and feel of each room
- Separate items into “keep” and “get rid of”
- Dispose of or donate unnecessary items
3. Transporting Your Stuff
Transportation often causes major headaches when you’re trying to arrange a big move. Don’t leave these plans to the last minute. If you’re going to hire a moving company, make sure to request quotations early and book a slot long before you move. Many moving companies fill up their schedules months in advance. You don’t want to get stuck with the wrong size of vehicle or an enormous fee because nothing was available.
If you have to move with pets and children, you will need to arrange travel and school transfers ahead of time. Flying with pets is not easy, so if you are moving abroad, research pet transport at least one year before you plan to leave.
4. Getting Around Your New City
Another important thing to consider before moving is how you are going to get around your new city. If you’re used to a city with great public transit, it may come as a shock to you that other places lack this seemingly basic amenity. You might even have to buy a car in order to navigate your new home. There’s also the possibility that you’ll need two cars if you have a family and one of you needs the car to commute to work.
5. Decorating a New Space
One of the most exciting things about moving houses is that you get a blank canvas to decorate in your own style. If you’re moving from an apartment to a house and you’re finally going to be free to transform the space to your liking, the interior decorating projects will probably take quite a bit of planning. Remember that you don’t have to complete every room’s redesign at the same time. Break down your vision into smaller and more achievable goals so you don’t get overwhelmed.
There are so many factors to think about when you plan a big move. Try to tackle one thing at a time so nothing gets lost in the chaos.