Settling Into A New Neighborhood

When moving to another neighborhood, city, another state, or a completely different country, it can be tough to leave everything and everyone we know behind and start again. But it can also be a great adventure - and the start to a new life for you and your family.

Regardless of where you are headed, here are some tips that will help with any kind of move.

Aim for a smooth move

It is far easier to settle into a new home in a new place when you are not dealing with the stress of moving. That’s why it is a really good idea to do whatever you can to ensure your move goes off without a hitch, whether that means hiring a local moving company to deal with the move instead of doing it yourself, to paying someone to pack up your boxes for you. If you literally have nothing to stress about when you arrive in town, you will immediately feel more relaxed, and settling in will not feel nearly as daunting to you.

Join local groups ahead of your move

This is one that has helped us tremendously in the past. Before the move, join as many neighborhood groups and networking sites based in the new location as possible. While quite a few will be a miss and you won’t keep up with most when you end up in the area, they do offer a wonderful way to experience everything the area has to offer while also connecting with the local community. Quite often, we’ve found that our best friends came through a series of connections to the people we initially met - not to mention future professional opportunities, even when we didn’t stay regular with local organizations.

Nail the Basics ASAP

As soon as you are moved, it’s a good idea to go out and start exploring the neighborhood. Start with the nearest coffee shop or gas station and maybe explore the park, post office, and the local pharmacy - all the places you are likely to need to go to at some point. Additionally, finding the doctor’s office and a few grocery stores will make you feel like you are more settled than your house might look in those first few weeks.

Once you have your bearings and know where the most essential amenities are, it is much easier to feel in control of the situation, and like you know what you are doing. And from there, it’s all about building a life.