BelaHomes

Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city can be an intimidating proposition. Here are a few tips to help make your move as painless as possible.

Research before you move. . It’s important to understand the culture that you’re joining. Do research online and find out about school systems, neighborhoods, parking, weather, public transportation, and laws that are native to that area. If you can, visit the city before moving and connect with someone who has lived there before or who currently lives there.

Have a plan. . There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Here are a few of the steps you should add to your “to do” list:

  1. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you’ll stay while you look for a home.
  2. Never sign a lease on an apartment that you haven’t seen. If you can’t get there, find a friend or an employer to check for you.
  3. Have a job waiting for you, or if that’s not possible, know what you’ll do for money during the first couple of months of living there.
  4. Try to line up things like driver’s licenses, car insurance, renter’s insurance, and parking passes ahead of time as well.

Get involved. . Meeting people in a big city can be daunting. Don’t expect the neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life is often too noisy and hectic. However, you can take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. You can volunteer, network through a meetup, head to the dog park, find a local mom group, and more.

Big cities offer many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.

Mind your wallet.. City life is expensive. Everything costs more: food, insurance, clothes, rent. There are also a lot more ways to get ripped off, whether legally or criminally. Be careful how you spend, and know where your money is going.

If you are ready to relocate to the Portland Metro Area, let us know! We are here to help you find your home and to provide you with the resources you need to make your move easier.