So you’re moving to New York City, right? Really, for real? Congratulations on finally taking that important step. While this may be the best thing you’ll do in your life, it takes a lot of preparation to pull off a move like this. But not to worry though, you will be able to get through the process much easily if you follow this checklist that we’ve laid out for you. It is important that you have all of your bases covered before you reach the big city and get settled into your new digs. For most, this will be a process that will take time. So let’s check off the number one thing on the list: Knowing that you will be investing a lot of time into the preparation process.
With that said, let’s break down everything from dealing with the financials, setting up the living situation, and figuring out what you should pack and what to let go. Alright, let’s dive in:
Pre-Move Financial Considerations:
- Your current employment situation: If you have a job, you’ve already finished half of the task. If you do not have a job at the moment, spend some time finding one. This will also mean surfing through job search websites such as Indeed, Glassdoor, or Monster. You’ll also be able to find any available jobs by looking through your local newspaper. Other resources include visiting your local career or employment center and even your family or friends. Sometimes, available jobs are not always known to the general public. So do your best to ask around.
- Crunch The Numbers: The number one question about the financial aspect of moving to New York City is how much money you need to save up. The first figure is how much rent you’ll need to spend a month. For example, if you were to rent a room in an apartment in New York city, the rates roughly run at about $600 to $800 a month. You should be able to at least save up at least 6 months worth of it. So doing the math, you’re looking at $3,600 to $4,800. And that’s just six months rent alone, assuming you wish to rent a room.
Another thing to consider is how much you’ll be spending on groceries. This will depend on what you’ll typically eat. An average to look into for a month’s worth of food will run between $150 to $200. Multiple six months to that and it’s an additional $900-$1,200. At this point, you’re looking at saving a total of $4,800 to $6,000. Other expenses to consider should be fares for the subway, bus, taxi, or Uber. - Start Your NYC Job Search: You thought your job search ended with just finding one in your local area, huh? Well, not so fast. You’ll still need one if you want to live in New York City. Since finding a job in the big city will be a difficult task, starting out at this point will put you ahead of those who decide to look for a job even after they’ve moved. This will at least get you to build up some momentum in the event you don’t land a job by the time you move into your new place.
Finding A Place To Live:
- Be Aware That Rent Is Not Cheap: We cannot stress this enough. Rent prices are not going to be dirt cheap. They will vary depending on the neighborhood you’re in. If you’re looking to spend $600 to $800 a month renting a room, Manhattan may be out of the question. You may get to live there eventually if you work hard enough, but it won’t be on the first go. You should avoid renting from places that will charge you renter or broker’s fees.
- Dig Deep And Dig Often: Your search will most likely be done online. One popular place to look is on Craigslist. There will be a ton of listings of apartments made available in your area. You should be able to filter it based on price and other preferences. If you see a listing that strikes your fancy, get in contact with who is renting it out.
If and when you get a response, exchange contact information so you will be able to get to know each other. This will at least give you an idea of who the person is. If you seem to get a good vibe from them, that’s a good sign. But keep in mind that the place you’re interested in may not end up being yours. So be prepared to keep searching until you can find a place. Don’t go against your gut feeling out of desperation just because you need a place.
If something or someone doesn’t feel right, walk away and move on to the next place you’re interest in. - Ask Questions: Am I allowed to bring my cat or dog? If so, how much will I have to pay. Even if you bring a pet with you, you’ll need to be aware that you’ll likely pay more. Not because it’s the renter’s rule. It’s because it’s the landlord’s rule. Most landlords will allow small pets on their property. But the tenant will have to pay an additional pets fee on top of what they pay for monthly rent.
Money? Check. Place To Live? Double Check. Now What To Pack…
At this point, you’ve cleared two major hurdles (or three if you landed a job) in your “moving to New York City” process. Now comes the tricky part, what you can bring with you. Bear in mind that there are some things that will fit in your vehicle and some that won’t. If you need to rely on a professional mover, Simply Moving will help you make the moving process much easier. We’ll go anywhere in the United States to make sure everything is moved from your old place to the new safely and on time. Also, here are a few things to know about:
- If You’re Willing To Let Go Of Something, Sell It: Think of some things that you don’t want to move to New York City. What are you willing to give up for a nice little price? Take inventory of what you want to sell and post it on sites like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. You can even create a posting on an app called LetGo and sell it on there. If you think about it, it should give you an extra amount of money to take with you.
- Figure Out What You Can Move In With: Depending on how much space you have, you’ll need to make a list of what you absolutely must take with you. Obviously, some essentials will include clothing and even electronic devices such as your smartphone and laptop computer. Toiletries and other health products are optional since you will be able to buy some at a local CVS or Walgreens in your new neighborhood. If you pack them ahead of time, more power to you.
- Figure Out What You Can Store Away: We get it, you don’t want to let go of a lot of things. And we’re not going to hold that against you. But not everything you pack with you will make it inside your room or apartment. Thankfully, Simply Moving offers storage solutions that will keep your stuff safe and secure.
Conclusion
Moving to New York City is a process that will take a lot of time and money to pull off. If you decide that moving to the Big Apple is right for you, follow this checklist item by item. And keep Simply Moving in mind for all your moving and storing needs.