Research the Area You’re Moving To

Whether you’re moving to a new city or state, these resources will help you to get a feel for the local area.

• Research the cost of living in the area you’re moving to, including homeowner expenses such as property taxes and homeowner insurance rates. 
• Compare homeowner insurance rates by obtaining quotes from at least four reputable companies. 
• Look at the crime statistics in your new neighborhood. Tools and apps such as AreaVibes, The Neighbors App by Ring, and NeighborhoodScout can help to bring you some peace of mind. 
• Explore your local options for public transit. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) links to local buses, trains, and ferries. 

If you need to lease office space for your business, ZenBusiness offers some pointers on questions you should ask before signing a lease agreement.

Transfer Utilities, Change Your Address, and Update DMV Documents

Now that you’ve familiarized yourself with your new city of residence, you’ll need to connect your utilities and update your address with several different agencies. 

• Research local providers offering services such as internet, telephone services, security, and cable television. Then, set up the utilities in your new home. 
• Update your mailing address with the United States Postal Service (USPS). 
• Locate your nearest Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). 

Change the address on your driver’s license, vehicle registration credentials, and automobile and medical insurance policies. If you receive Social Security benefits, you’ll need to change your address with the Social Security Administration (SSA) as well.

Prep Your New Home With Help From the Pros

From making home repairs to lawn maintenance, there are several types of professionals you may wish to hire when settling into a new living space. 

• When hiring a service, contractor, or another type of professional, it’s important to compare online reviews and narrow your options down to two or three. Then, be sure to request referrals from former customers and obtain quotes from multiple companies before making a decision. Make the search and hiring task easy by Googling, for example, “lawn care near me” and using Angi.com to start the process.
• For larger, more complex projects, such as roofing repairs or a new roof installed, always make sure you’re working with reputable contractors. 

As exciting as it may be to explore a new city or state, the moving process can be incredibly stressful for most of us. But fortunately, this short guide has nearly everything you need to settle into a new place with as little stress as possible!