How to Move Somewhere You’ve Never Been

Moving to a place you have never been before adds a whole new layer of complexity to your relocation, but it can be the start of an awesome new adventure too.

With the advent of video tours many people are viewing homes remotely now and with the scarcity of homes on the market, people are taking a chance and moving to homes in areas they have never been.

With so many people looking to relocate to a totally different part of the country, be it the beautiful Highlands of Scotland, the scenic coast, a quaint village in the middle of nowhere, or an exciting new city, there are many who are choosing to move to a place they have only ever read about.

But should you move somewhere you’ve never been before? Is it a huge risk or an amazing opportunity?

In this week’s home moving blog we look at how to move somewhere you’ve never been and how to make it work for you.

5 Advantages of Moving Somewhere Totally New

Relocating to a place you do not know, likely with nobody you know in the area, maybe with a new job or new schools for the kids, there will certainly be some challenges to face.

If you feel stale, bored and uninspired by the place you currently live, then moving somewhere unknown could provide you with an exciting new adventure, an opportunity to awaken your senses, become a more confident person. It will allow you to overcome challenges and face the world with a whole new perspective.

The advantages of this exciting new adventure are many.

• You can make a fresh start. Moving to a totally new area allows you to leave your past and your emotional baggage far behind you. Growing up and living in the same area, no matter how much you improve as a person, your past will always be there. Your mistakes, your reputation, people’s view of you will always remain the same. But moving to a totally new place allows you to wipe out your past and start anew. There will be no reminders of bad relationships or places that bring back memories you would rather forget. You will have the opportunity to be who you want to be without anyone else’s preconceived ideas about you.
• You can do things you have never done before. Moving to a place you don’t know will allow you to explore new opportunities, and new places, start new hobbies, change your bad habits, and develop new skills.
• It may improve your quality of life. Moving to a new area may give you the opportunity of a home and lifestyle that you could never have afforded in another location. You may start to lead a more active or outdoorsy lifestyle. You may have fewer or better neighbours, you may have a garden or more parks nearby, have access to more amenities and a better social life. Depending upon where you choose to move, the opportunity for making a better life are endless.
• You will learn new life skills. Moving to a place you do not know will move you out of your comfort zone and force you to do things you may find uncomfortable or unusual to do. You will need to create a new social circle, explore your new neighbourhood to find particular places and stores, you will need to learn about simple things such as when bin day is. Everything you do now on autopilot you will need to rediscover and adjust to again.
• You will grow as a person. You will certainly face some challenges moving somewhere you don’t know, but as a result, you will become stronger, more confident, and more resilient and will learn to embrace the huge adventure you have embarked upon.

You may also like to read: Can Moving Home Make You Happier? Here we explore whether moving home is the answer to finding happiness or whether you will just move your problems to a new location.

Tips for Moving to a Place You’ve Never Been Before

If, for example, you are planning on moving across the country without visiting first, or moving to a city that you’ve never been to, then you should do as much research and planning as you possibly can.

Note that many people choose to rent a home on a short lease in an area they are unfamiliar with before committing to a long-term rental agreement or buying a new home. This will give you the opportunity to discover the areas you like best and you will be able to make a more informed decision as to whether to put down roots in this new place.

When moving somewhere without visiting first, the more prepared you are, the better your chances of making a success of your blind move will be.

#1 Research the Area

• Property market. Most big estate agents now offer remote viewings with video tours of the property for sale or rent. Whilst there is no substitute for physically seeing a potential new home, a video tour is the next best thing. However, be sure to use other resources to check out and view the area as the estate agent or letting agent may be selective in what they show you.
• Job opportunities. If you are moving to a new place for a new job then congratulations, otherwise you will need to thoroughly research the job opportunities in the area.
• Cost of living. The cost of living in your new area is an important factor in your budgeting. You can compare the cost of living where you live now to your new place at www.numbeo.com    
• Schools. You can compare schools and colleges in your new area at www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk    
• Crime Rates. Discover the local crime rates and policing issues in your new area at www.police.uk   
• Amenities. From theatres to places of interest, a visit to the website of the place you are moving to or to www.tripadvisor.com will give you lots of ideas for things to do and places to go.
• Local Council. Local council websites will have lots of useful information for people thinking of moving into their area. Find your local council at www.gov.uk   

#2 Explore Google Maps

Google maps will give you access to plenty of useful information. You can view streets, find restaurants and places of interest, as well as allowing you to get a general feel for the layout of the town or city.

Another useful tool in Google Maps is that it allows you to work out your commute, whether by bus, train, tube, walking, cycling, or by car, it shows you routes, costs, and the time your journey will take.

#3 Join Forums and Online Groups

Even the smallest villages tend to have a social media page these days which can be a wealth of useful information. If you are moving to a large city then there will be many Facebook groups that may appeal to you, whether it is a sport or a hobby, it will give you the opportunity to get in contact with locals and make new friends as well as glean any info about the area that you can.

Forums are another good resource, just asking for info about an area will ensure the answers you get are up-to-date and from people who actually live in the area.

If you are moving to a college or University City then visit the university or college websites. They have lots of useful resources including places to rent which can either help you avoid those areas or get you some cheap accommodation depending on your viewpoint.

#4 Reach Out to Friends

Whilst you may not have any friends in your new area, it may be that there are friends of friends locally. This can be a useful source of not only information but some local support that you may be very grateful for in the first few weeks of arriving in your new place.

You may also like to read: How to Avoid Culture Shock after Moving Home. Moving to a strange place, maybe with unfamiliar accents or local customs will take some getting used to. Often people suffer from culture shock, just as they would moving overseas. Here we give lots of practical advice to help prevent culture shock.

How to Move to a Place You Have Never Been Before

So now you have done your research and decided upon the location of your new home it is time to work out your budget, find a new home, and then organise your home move.

#1 Get your finances in order

You should now sit down and work out your finances to ensure that you can comfortably afford to move to a new home.

• Decide how much you can afford to pay in mortgage or rent.
• Work out how much it will cost you to physically move home. You can use this quote form to get a quick quote from a removal company and read What is the Average Cost of Moving Home to help you work out how much it would cost to move by yourself.
• Set a budget for how much it will cost for the essentials to set up your home, the first month’s groceries, setting up utilities, rent deposit, other moving expenses, and fees.
• Budget for having to totally restock your groceries and all the extra cleaning products you will need.
• Plan on having a contingency fund for those unforeseen expenses.

#2 Find a Home

Once you have decided what home you can comfortably afford to buy or rent, you can use numerous resources to find your new home online such as www.rightmove.co.uk or www.zoopla.co.uk

#3 Declutter

Moving home can be expensive but it doesn’t have to be. The fewer items you have to pack and physically move, the cheaper your home move will be.

Go through every room in your home sorting out the contents so that you only pay to move the things that you really love or need.

You may also like to read: In the Epic Guide to Decluttering for a Home Move, we take you step by step through your current home helping you decide what to get rid of and what to keep.

#4 How to Organise a Home Move

Earlier you discovered how much it costs to move home yourself or to hire a removal company. You should hire the removal company or reserve your hire van as soon as you have a move date arranged.

If you are moving with the help of friends and family then ensure that they know well in advance the moving date so that they can clear their diaries.

Start packing as soon as you can, packing for a home move always takes longer than you plan. When you need quality packing supplies you can order them online and get them delivered straight to your home.

You should very seriously consider hiring professional packers as the service they give offers excellent value for money and will save you so much time and stress.

Use a Home Moving Checklist to help you organise your move. It is a week-by-week checklist of all the important tasks that need completing and will ensure that you complete your home moving jobs in a logical order.

A really important aspect of your home move is to ensure that your packing boxes are properly labeled. This will allow the movers to put the right boxes in the right rooms at your new home, will help you locate items quicker, and will help identify if any boxes go missing during the move.

#5 Change of Address

The final task to do is to ensure that you notify anybody who needs to know that you have a new address.

Not only will this ensure that any mail gets to your new home and that online deliveries are made to your new home, but will also help prevent identity theft.

Here you can find a comprehensive change of address list for free, including those often forgotten online retailers and one-click delivery companies.

Bonus tip: It is always a good idea to have a Plan B or a safety net. You never know what life throws at you or how your life will change, so if for whatever reason your move to a new place does not work out where is your next adventure going to be?

Things to Do After You Move to a New Place You Don’t Know

The research, planning, and finally actually moving to your new place is just the start of your adventure. There are so many things to do now to help you adjust to your new surroundings and make your new place your home.

• Change all the door and window locks – you never know who may have copies of the keys
• Change the security alarm code
• Replace all the batteries in smoke detectors and alarm PIR’s
• Place fire extinguishers and fire blankets in their appropriate places
• Locate main water valves, gas shut off, fuse box
• Child-proof your home
• Secure boundary fences to keep your pet safe
• Thoroughly clean your new home
• Unpack your essentials
• Set up the bedrooms and bathroom so that you are fresh and have a good night’s rest
• Place a grocery order for delivery
• Unpack each room in order of importance to you
• Go introduce yourself to the neighbours
• Walk the streets so that you become familiar with the neighbourhood

Of course, this will all take time, and creating a home that you will love will not happen overnight. But these are the essentials to ensure you are safe and comfortable.

Take your time to enjoy this great new adventure, get your new home clean and organised, then go explore your new surroundings.

If you would like more tips on moving to a new area visit our home moving blog where you will find advice on every aspect of moving to an unfamiliar place. Here are some guides that you may find particularly useful:

• What to Do When You Arrive at Your New Home
• How to Make a New Place Feel Like Home
• How to Make Friends in Your New Neighbourhood
• How to Throw an Unforgettable House Warming Party
• How to Deal With Relocation Depression