Moving to a new state is a great way to start a new chapter in your life. Sometimes the decision is out of your hands. In this case, your company is relocating, and you have the option to stay and possibly lose your job, or move and deal with the impending challenges. With these challenges come potential rewards, but the problem is, you won’t know until you make the leap.
Moving far away will take you out of your comfort zone by leaving friends, family members, and a familiar location. However, this new adventure will also bring new opportunities for you and your family.
Pros and Cons of Relocation
Depending on your current situation and opportunities, there are many pros and cons of relocating, especially if it is your first time. There are always struggles that come with change, as well as some benefits. Moving to a new state is a great way to start a new chapter in your life and it makes way for you to pursue a better future.
Pros of Relocating
- Starting over – Moving to a new state or country, whether it is permanent or temporary relocation for work, is a chance to have a fresh start and make some changes in your life.
- Expanding your social life – When you move to a new area, you will meet lots of new people. You will be able to expand your social circle and meet your new neighbors, coworkers, and become a part of your new community.
- Personal growth – You will become more self aware and be able to step out of your comfort zone. You will even learn to live a different way of life than before, define your new priorities, and gain a different perspective.
- New culture to experience – You can explore your new town and learn more about it. It’s a great time to try new restaurants or visit the museum.
Cons of Relocating
- Leaving family and friends – Of course you can still keep in touch with your family and friends, but it is difficult to move away from them. It’s hard to know you won’t physically see them for a while, share a meal with them, or go out with them for fun.
- Learning your new environment – For the first few weeks of living in your new home, it will feel strange. You won’t know anything about your new surroundings yet, like where to eat, shop or hang out. You will need to find a new doctor, schools, salon, stores, gym, etc.
- Uprooting your family – If you have kids, moving them to a new state will completely disturb their lives. Kids thrive on having a routine and they dislike change. You will be taking them away from their grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. It might even be a difficult change for your spouse or partner to adapt to their new surroundings.
- Moving is stressful – Moving to a new state is super stressful. It requires a ton of hard work and planning. Between packing your belongings, dealing with endless paperwork and finding your new home, you are bound to feel overwhelmed. Don’t forget about changing your address for mail, your driver’s license, car registration, utilities, insurance policies, and probably much more.
Challenges You Face When Moving to A New State
Since we know some pros and cons of moving to a new state, let’s discuss some relocation challenges.
1. Choosing a Realtor
Choosing the right realtor is a very important, but challenging, step to take when moving. It is important to choose a realtor that you know will look out for you and your family’s best interest. From your realtor’s market expertise and communication skills to their negotiation skills, it is important to pick a realtor that will provide you with valuable insight.
A good realtor will be able to point out potential problems, benefits or answer any questions you might have and be able to think of questions that need to be asked that you might not have thought of. When choosing the right real estate agent for you, look for someone who:
- is proactive
- prepared
- experienced
- has good credentials
- has great communication skills
- and gives you a sense of calm
A realtor with these qualities is sure to help you find the best house possible.
In the case of a corporate relocation your company might be providing you with realtors to choose from. Hiring a relocation consultant or company can help take a lot of this work off your back and the back of your company.
2. Packing Away Your Life
Packing is one of the most challenging aspects of moving. Deciding what to pack and what to get rid of is a difficult debate in many households. You might want to get rid of something but your spouse or children might have an emotional attachment to it. At the end of the day, minimalism is best and it’ll make your relocation easier if you travel light.
As you’re packing, you’ll need to accumulate the right materials. Starting early is a great policy to uphold in your house. You’ll need boxes, packing materials, and different items to help prevent damage to your valuables. As you’re planning your packing strategy, start in one room and work your way around the house. We suggest starting with the most difficult areas of your home first.
Basements and garages tend to accumulate the largest and heaviest items in the house. Utilize online marketplaces such as Facebook and Craigslist to offload items that you may not want to move yourself. You can find people on these sites who will buy things like appliances and furniture and they’ll even move them without you having to lift a finger. It’s also possible to hire somebody specifically to help you with shipping household goods.
3. Living Somewhere You May Not Have Chosen
When you are moving because of your job, a lot of the time you do not get to choose where you are moving to. When you find out where you are moving, it is important to look for your new home in a good neighborhood with low crime rates.
If you have children, you will need to keep what they like to do in mind. You will need to look for new places for your children to do their activities so they can make friends. Also, look into what schools are nearby so you can register them in a new school.
4. Relocation Professionals
It is a good idea to look into your business relocation package before you move, so you know how much money you have to spend on the relocation project as a whole. Professional movers will be able to help you and your family with your move, no matter how far away.
Depending on how much money you have left in your relocation package, your professional movers can even help pack your belongings, tape boxes, move everything out to their truck, and move your belongings into your new home.
Another factor to consider is your age. If you are older in age, then relocation professionals will certainly be very helpful to make your move easier. You might even decide not to move, depending on your health and your happiness. If you are of the right age, retiring is an option. That way, you can avoid the stress of moving and stay where you are.
5. Experiencing Culture Shock
It can be very overwhelming learning a new city and culture. You might even feel lonely. If possible, try to visit the area you are moving to before you actually move there. Then, you can get a feel for your new environment and learn your new home a bit more so you become more familiar with it.
A lot of the time, when moving to a new state, your company only gives you short notice and it can be a shock that you need to move. It is possible that you won’t get to see your new state or city before you get to move, making it really shocking to live there. When you move, get settled in first and then try to take the necessary steps to explore your new surroundings so you can start to feel comfortable in your new home.
6. Learning a New Transportation System
Especially if you are moving to a big city, you will need to learn a new public transportation system. You will need to find out the bus routes and schedules, so you can leave in enough time to get to your job. You will eventually learn how long the bus takes to get to your job and will get used to the swing of things sooner than you think.
However, if you are moving from a rural area to a big city, you will need to factor in the cost of buying a vehicle, the cost of gas, maintenance and so on. You will probably heavily rely on a GPS when you move so you can learn your new city. After you get used to your new routes, try alternative routes so you can really familiarize yourself with your new surroundings.
7. Making New Friends
Making friends in a new town, where you don’t know anybody, can be difficult and very overwhelming especially if you are an introvert. Consider taking up a hobby, like playing tennis, bowling, painting, or yoga. Volunteer for a local charity or maybe join a recreational league. By doing these things, you are setting yourself up to make new friends.
Final Thoughts
Home relocation is difficult, especially when facing the challenges of moving to a new state. It will definitely be hard in the beginning, but over time you will adjust. It is a good idea to understand all the possible challenges you might face when moving so you can handle them as they come. If you are looking for a relocation professional, get a free quote from ARC Relocation to help make your move as simple as possible.