No one really enjoys the process of moving. You have to find boxes for everything you own, pack it all neatly away and then try to find someone to help you move to your new place. When you’re moving to a new city, there are even more challenges involved. Therefore, you’ll need to learn what to do in order to make the process as easy and as stress-free as possible.

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1. Visit the new city.

If it’s possible, spend some time in the new city before you move. See whether or not it’s the right fit for you before you relocate and find out that you don’t like it later. Researching on-line and talking to people who live there can help you to learn more about your new city.

2. Plan ahead.

Make sure that all your loose ends are tied up. Cancel any recurring subscriptions like newspaper and dish network and put in a change of address in at the post office. Don’t keep anything for the last minute as it will add to already high stress levels.

3. Get your finances straight.

It’s important to save enough money before you brave a new start in a strange place. If you don’t have the funds to support your cost of living, you may want to hold off on moving until you have more money or a secure job in place.

4. Research everything.

Go online and research the new city. You can check everything from job opportunities to the crime rate, and which neighborhoods are the best for children and where the stores and medical facilities are located.

5. Get someone to help.

If you have friends who can help, bring them along for the ride. Having friends around can ease the stress and get the move done quicker. If it’s a long distance move, planning ahead makes all the difference.

6. Make friends.

Once you move, mingle with the residents around the city. Making friends can help make the transition easier. You can join groups, volunteer and get involved with local activities that interest you.

7. Make a checklist.

You don’t want to leave anything important behind. Make a checklist of everything you will need to do and mark it off as you pack away your belongings. Many moving related websites have great lists that you can print and use.

8. Take it one step at a time.

Don’t get overwhelmed. Schedule certain things to take care of on different days of the week. Having a checklist on hand can make things even easier. Get rid of anything you won’t need by having a garage sale and then donating anything that you have left after the sale.

9. Pack accordingly.

Will you need to bring all of your belongings or should you rent a storage unit in the meantime? If you can send for the rest of your belongings later, it may make the initial move less stressful.

10. Take care of the bills.

Make sure and update your information with your creditors. Inform the cable and power companies about your move at least a month or two in advance. Pay off any outstanding debts if you can, and take note of important bills that you’ll need to pay after you move.

Getting organized is the key to taking the stress out of making a move, whether it’s across town or across the country. These tips should help to make it a stress free and smooth transition.

http://lifehacker.com/5798087/the-stress-free-guide-to-settling-down-in-a-new-city

http://www.first30days.com/moving-to-a-new-city

https://www.themuse.com/advice/moving-to-a-new-city-secrets-for-before-during-and-after