Moving to a new home alone

Moving itself is hard enough, but doing it alone can be even more challenging. As it turns out, it comes down to making a series of choices according to your financial situation and personal preferences. It can be an intimidating experience especially if you are moving for the first time. Whatever the reason that triggered the decision, whether you are moving for school, work or love, moving to a new home alone can be both exciting and daunting at the same time.

A unique opportunity for a fresh start, far away from the comfort zone can be considered as a major maturity test. There is no doubt that flying solo is an incredibly tough step into a real world. It can get lonely sometimes, but the chance to find your true self completely on your own is somehow rewarding. It’s entirely up to you how you will perceive this event.

It can be either the most exciting adventure or the most depressing change. So, if you are moving to a new place on your own, make sure to determine your expectations. Before embarking on the moving adventure plan it out carefully so as to keep unpleasant surprises at bay.

A smooth relocation may help you get through the transition efficiently. The fact is that moving alone is far easier than moving with a large family in terms of the moving load doesn’t mean that moving alone is dead simple. Uprooting your entire life far away from your friends and family will most certainly involve different emotions like homesickness, nostalgia or even relocation depression.

The transition to a new home in a nutshell

When the relocation chaos settles down, at some point it may hit you – you are alone. But deep down you know that this was the change that you really needed and you’ve invested a lot of effort to make it work. Now that you are exposed to a new way of living, far away from your comfort zone, from the family home you will be able to find your true self and pursue your ideas.

Secure a decent apartment

To start with, find the right apartment for yourself. If you’ve set your priorities right, this will be the first task on your to-do list. Securing a new home in advance can take away a great deal of stress and tension. So, research housing options in the neighborhood of your choosing according to the following parameters:

• Crime rate
• Real estate pricing
• Quality of a new home
• Amenities
• Proximity to other places of interest

When budgeting for your new home, make sure the rent doesn’t exceed 30% of your monthly income. As you won’t depend on anyone but yourself, you should balance your monthly expenses with the income.

Find a new job after or (preferably) before moving to a new home

If you have a new job lined up in a new city, chances are the relocation will be easier on you as you will be busy after you move in. It will provide a sense of security and stability in spite the unfamiliar environment. In case you don’t have one, focus on finding it as soon as possible.

Moving without a steady monthly income can make living alone even harder. Ideally, you will start a job hunting process before you make the leap into the unknown. It’s worth taking the time to research jobs in your field. Since hiring process might take a while, start applying even before your move. Get in touch with the local recruiters who may connect you with the right companies even before you reach your final destination.

Enlist professional movers’ help

Book reliable local movers to keep you covered throughout the moving process. There will be plenty of tasks that require your immediate attention, but at least this one you can assign to the professionals.

Getting all paperwork in order, preparing your car, saying goodbye to the friends, helping your kids prepare for the move are just some of the tasks that you need to handle personally. Therefore, in order to reduce the stress level during the period leading up to moving day, hire a reputable moving company.

However, pay attention to common warning signs when running your research. Watch out for the red flags in the moving industry like extremely low moving estimates, quotes provided only via phone, large deposits, total insurance, lack of physical office etc.

Unpack and settle into a new home little by little

Typically, you will want to unpack as soon as you reach your new home, but since you are living alone, it may take a while. There are plenty of boxes in each room and you may start wondering when everything will finally fall into place. A messy new home is not something you were looking forward to when you were planning a move.

So, arrange your stuff to your taste, decorate the interior of the house so as to create a comfortable place. After days of hectic packing and moving, everything that matters now is that you’re finally home! You can either take the time to relax and unwind after a tiresome move or get to work immediately. It’s entirely up to you to determine the pace. If you feel like having a glass of wine and watching a TV show instead of unpacking, just go for it.

You’ve gone through a challenging period and you’ve deserved to treat yourself. You’ve followed through the life you wanted for yourself and you made it! Now give yourself enough time to familiarize yourself with the new surroundings and to create a new routine. You are in total control of your life and you can manage your time, finances and responsibilities the way you want.

Also, find an efficient way to protect yourself from moving depression which may come as a result of the separation from your loved ones. Learn how to recognize those unsettling feelings and how to adapt properly after moving to a new home.