Moving from a small town or suburb to a large city like Philadelphia 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 you’re joining. Philadelphia is a cool and historic town of restaurants, cultural institutions, and vibrant nightlife. But are there other things that are more important to you? Do research online and find out about school systems, Philadelphia neighborhoods, parking, weather, Philadelphia public transportation, and laws that are native to the area. If you can, visit Philadelphia before moving, connect with someone who currently or has lived in the city before, or contact a realtor in Philadelphia to get the real scoop about the city.
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Have a plan.
There are a lot of steps to go through before you start packing the moving truck. Find housing before you leave, or at least know where you’ll stay while you look for a home. 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. Have a job waiting for you, or if that’s not possible, know what you’ll do for money in the first few weeks of living there. 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 Philadelphia can sometimes be tough depending on where you live and how often you go out. Don’t expect all of your neighbors to knock your door down with a casserole when you arrive: city life can be noisy and hectic, and without some social skills you can sometimes feel a little lonely. Take the initiative. If there are things you liked to do in your town, find ways to do those things in the city. Try new things. Volunteer. Philadelphia offers so many opportunities to engage other people, so find what you like.
Watch your wallet.
City life can be very 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.
CONCLUSION
Like the old saying goes, if you fail to plan you plan to fail. Moving to new location, regardless of whether it’s a big city or not can be a stressful process; however, if you follow these tips along with some good common sense you should be fine. If you have any questions regarding the process to moving Philadelphia, want to know the best place to get a cheesesteak, or would like to go house shopping contact AGENT LADY to schedule an appointment!
About Agent Lady: Cherise Wynne is a leading real estate agent in Philadelphia, helping home buyers and sellers navigate the City of Brotherly Love, with a special focus on first time home buyers. To chat about getting started with your first time home buying experience, click here.
