Sometimes, life throws you a curveball. Depending on what you do for a living, you might find yourself needing to travel for work. Some of those assignments can be long enough in term so that housing becomes a real issue. It can get prohibitively expensive to live out of a hotel — at least, the kind of hotel where you wouldn’t mind living.
Sometimes it isn’t work-based. There are times when you just have to be someplace else. Life is messy and complicated. You might need to get away from the toxicity of your social circle and leaving town is the only way to do it. In a one-horse town, you are going to be bumping into your Ex quite a lot.
There is also the matter of opportunity. Small towns are often the hardest hit during times of economic downturn. It is not just that you are out of work, but that the prospects to find more work are somewhere between slim and none where you are. You might not know exactly where to go. You just know you have got to find someplace else to be as fast as possible. Here are a few ways to make that transition:
1. Give It a Test Drive
If city life is calling your name, it might be the right time for you to take the plunge. But before you do, give that city a test drive before packing your bags permanently. Don’t blow your moving budget by staying in a hotel for a few weeks. Rather, choose one of those furnished apartments with a short-term or even indefinite leasing plan.
It will change the way you think about housing because you are able to try out a place before you make a major commitment. This is the perfect arrangement if you have a list of cities you want to try. Will it be New York City, Philly, San Diego, or Portland? They’re all great. Don’t flip a coin. Try them all and see which you like the best.
It is hard to make an informed decision about a place with a single short-stay visit. You need to get a feel for it. Is it very walkable? Or do you need a car? Is it safe? How about at night? What is the entertainment scene like? These are the types of questions that can only really be answered by sticking around for a month or two. Flexible leasing of furnished apartments makes that all possible.
2. Bring the Kids
Even though you can, it is not a good idea to make this kind of decision by yourself if it will affect other people. By waiting till the summer to do your exploring, you can bring the kids and even the dog. Panama City is one thing. Panama City with kids can be quite another. The party scene might be just what you were looking for. But it might not be the best choice for the kids.
Might there be something in the air that triggers their allergies? That is the kind of thing you aren’t going to know for sure unless you bring them with you. Entertainment for adults might be plentiful. But what about safe entertainment options that are age-appropriate for your kids? As an adult, you can make the decision on your own. But if the kids aren’t happy, you won’t be happy either.
3. Do Your Homework
Some details are more important than others. You need to know if you are moving to a place where you can feel comfortable. So make a checklist of things that matter to you and don’t compromise on the big ones. Is the city you are considering politically compatible? Do you really want to live in a place where it feels like your vote doesn’t count and your cultural mores aren’t respected? If that is important to you, do your due diligence first. Portland, OR is one of the places that have no sales tax. But they make it up in property tax. Can you handle those property taxes? Check it out carefully before you go. Treat your research as an assignment for work.
Moving to a new city seems like a tougher proposition than it really is. Utilize furnished rentals where you can bring the kids for research and reconnaissance. Thanks to the internet, your new home is never more than a few clicks away.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
