How to Move to a New City
How I planned my move to Boston After Graduating
Okay, I am officially moving into my apartment and feel ready to share with you what I learned while riding the struggle bus. There are so many things I did not know about Boston and had to learn the hard way.
For instance, drivers here are called “Mass-holes” because they are the WORST. Something else they don’t publicize is that the city is not built on a grid. Combine Mass-holes with tricky roads and you might get road rage. I meditate, so don’t you go worrying about me. To be honest though, I have never related more to a GIF than that one with the frenchie pup driving a car; it’s captioned, “no one in this town knows how to drive.” I will share on my insta.
Back to the main point, here is some advice that may help you plan a big move.
Step One: Packing & Moving Companies
As much as we all try…none of us are really ever going to be like Marie Kondo, bless her tidy heart. Some of us are more like the people who are buried alive on television specials about hoarding. My resume says I’m organized, but there are exceptions- and packing is one of them.
Here is what you need to know if you are planning on bringing a lot with you. Hire movers BUT pack yourself.
Map out your move up until the date of your move-in!
After doing the proper amount of research to compare quotes, I used U-box. You can get a free quote online, which will account for distance.
Pro tip: Try to downsize so that you only need to bring about the size of a studio apartment. All of it can fit in one U-box. You’ll have room for your bedroom furniture and then some.
Pros: If you don’t need your stuff immediately moved to your location, your U-box(es) can be stored in any storage unit until you decide to have it moved. The U-box itself is very affordable. The expensive part is the transportation.
Con: Unfortunately, the U-haul website is not always user friendly and whenever you need to call (which was often for me), it will be at least 7 minutes of being put on hold. I could actually quote the automated system that tells you to go online for 7 whole minutes. I think U-haul predicted you would lose your patience and go to their website instead. [insert an exasperated emoji] Do not lose your ground and hang up! It’s much easier to to talk to a human. Usually…
Step Two: Finding your next humble abode
This is not exactly an easy feat. If you’re moving to a city that is more of a college town, like I did, then you will likely have to sublease first. I have only been in Boston for the summer and I have already lived in three different apartments across town.
Most of the leases in Boston do not begin until September 1st, which I believe is heavily influenced by the semester school year.
Join a Facebook housing group for your area! If you have a friend who already lives in the area, beg them to check out the place for you in advance! Take all of the necessary precautions that you feel are intuitive. It’s okay to be picky. Living with new people is a HUGE deal. Think of that roommate (from a horror movie) you had or could’ve had in college. Do not treat this situation too lightly.
Pro tip: Start looking for places as early as 6 months ahead of your move. People are very proactive about apartment and house hunting. It’s survival of the fittest when it comes to nesting.
Advice for Car Owners
If you have a car and you aren’t selling it, there are a couple of options.
My very good friend decided to have her car transported for her. The positive side of this option is that you can pack your car with things inside and there won’t be any mileage added to the car. However, you have to be a very organized planner. My friend flew out from Omaha the same week but still needed transportation in her final days. Just account for how you’ll have to get around without your car and how you’ll pick it up.
Pick fun places to stop — we chose Niagara Falls!
Personally, I like a long road trip because who doesn’t love making lengthy playlists? PLUS, we planned to take the scenic route and stop in cities we wanted to see.
I strategically packed the clothes I needed for summer, including business clothes for interviews. I had to account for my sister and her luggage, which was more hefty because we are living together. For kicks and giggles I invited my friend to come along for the ride. So I also needed to leave enough space for a six foot four male and his one carry on. Point is: there are lots of logistics.
Oh! Don’t forget to get your car serviced before your long drive!
Car Logistics
One of the many tedious tasks of moving is getting new car insurance. Some things to know…it’s a very long list of pros and cons (bear with me)!
Pro: Since I started off subleasing, I had extra time to purchase new car insurance.
Con: Boston is a city that requires permit parking in most neighborhoods. You will likely want to rent a place that includes a parking spot, which is hard to come by.
Pro: When you swap to your new policy plan, you will be refunded for the amount you didn’t use on your old plan.
Con: I couldn’t get a proper quote for cost from my preferred company until I moved into my new permanent address. This makes it difficult to plan for cost.
It’s a lengthy list. If you have more detailed question, reach out to me! Although there is no better expert than an agent in your area. It really helped me to speak to an agent, as she was able to explain to me the steps in getting new insurance. You will also want to know the steps for going to the DMV for new your new license, registration, and plates. Another small detail is that you may need to present a bill to prove your new residency in order to get a license.
Happy moving!
Moving will test the limits of your stress levels. Mine were way off the charts, they reached heights I didn’t know existed. Just remember that you’re transitioning into a new stage of your life and it takes a lot of courage and vulnerability. You will learn by failing and it will be hilarious- in the future. It will suck at first but I always tell myself- it can only get better from here. Because if you ask the universe: can this day get any worse? The universe will answer with an awakening. But if you get back up again and find beauty in the day, it will get better.
I should also admit, there were days I just wanted to scream at the top of my lungs. And you know what? I did! It felt like releasing a great burden. So if you ever feel overwhelmed, find an outlet that helps you or a motto to repeat. Moving is one of the biggest challenges, but once you get where you need to be, you’ll figure it out.
