There are many reasons you might want to move somewhere completely new. It could be that you have a new job position that you are going to take up in a different area, maybe your office is relocating, or perhaps you just fancy a change. No matter the reason you are moving away, upheaving your life to a whole new area is a big deal. There are a lot of logistical things to navigate, as well as the physical act of moving and the mental things you need to consider. In this article we take a look at some top tips on relocating to a totally new area to help it go as smoothly as possible. 

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Research the area as much as you can ahead of time

Before moving somewhere, it’s important you research the area as much as you can. You need to find out things such as where the local supermarkets are, where the best places to live for your needs are and what different neighbourhoods are like. You might find there are areas which are quiet and better suited for families, or perhaps there are areas which are more buzzing and closer to things like shops, gyms and other amenities. Consider what you want from your new house and the type of area that will suit your needs. You should also look up the crime statistics in an area to find out if the place you will be living will be safe. While all places  have some level of crime, if they are serious and happening often, it can be a sign you don’t want to move there! You can look these up online or search the name of the town or city into a search engine and look for news stories.

Speak to a local estate agent

One of the best ways to move to a totally new area is to speak to a local estate agent. Local specialists, they will be able to inform you all about the area you are moving to and let you know the things that you wouldn’t be able to find out otherwise, such as where amenities are, what happens in certain areas and why some houses might be a certain price. They will be able to listen to your needs and help match you up with a home that suits what you are after. If you can’t be there to attend all viewings, they can send you listings for you to check out and also help advise you if they are a right fit. 

Go and stay there for a few days

The best way to find out if an area suits you and will be somewhere you want to live, is to go and stay there for a few days. You could either choose to reside in a hotel or an AirBnB or something similar - the main thing is that you are in the right place to explore the area and see what it is like to live there as a local. You can take a wander to see how you feel about the area, scour out the local restaurants and coffee shops, and just imagine what it will be like when you uproot your life there. This is also a great opportunity to meet the locals, speak to them about how they find living there and ask any questions you might have. You could find out some insider knowledge and might make some potential friends for when you move up to the area too - it can be fantastic for getting a foot in the door. 

Hire a removals company to help you move your things

Moving to a new area is stressful enough, without having to navigate a removal van. Instead of trying to do everything yourself, you will be much better off hiring a removal company who can do this for you. They can do everything from packing up your old place, loading it onto the van, driving it to your new place and then helping you to unpack, or they can simply drive the van. Think about your budget, what you want them to help with and how much you want to do yourself. It could be you have a big support network and don’t need to pay for help, or maybe you’d prefer they did it so it was done neatly and strategically!

Consider if you want to rent or buy a place

Renting or buying is completely up to you and what you want to do. If you want to live in an area for a long time, buying can be much better. Of course, you need to pass the financial checks and have enough of a deposit to do so. If you aren’t sure how long you want to be there and want to test the waters first, it can be a good idea to rent. This will enable you to try the area and get settled before really placing your roots down permanently. Renting you have less flexibility when it comes to things such as the decor and you won’t be able to necessarily change things that you don’t like. When you are buying, you have complete control about the decor and can rip out flooring, tear down walls and decorate to your heart’s content. The only thing you need to be aware of with this is that it can cost a lot to do, so have the budget set aside for it.

Think about if you want to live alone or with someone

The next thing you need to debate with when you have found somewhere you want to live, is if you want to live there alone or with someone else. There are benefits and negatives to both so you need to make the choice depending on which outweighs the other. If you decide to move in with a roommate, you can have more money to spend on other things as you will be able to halve your bills. On the other hand, you don’t have the same level of privacy and will have to share the space with somebody else. Make sure you check any potential roommates carefully before agreeing to live with them as you want to make sure you get on and can trust them!

These are just a few things you need to do and think about before you move to a totally new area. It can feel scary moving somewhere completely new, particularly if you have never spent time in the area. Yet you will find that once you have been there a while, you make new friends and really build yourself a new life here. You can have a whole new group of friends, while also keeping the ones in the area that you are from. Ensure you make the effort to still speak to your friends and family and keep in touch with phone calls or driving down to see them - this can really help to stop you feeling lonely. What are some top tips you have for relocating to a new area and making it as effortless as possible? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.