Moving into a new home can come with a lot of different feelings. You may be excited about exploring a new community, starting a new job, or finding new social opportunities for your family. But you may also be sad about saying goodbye to friends and loved ones, as well as to favorite places. And the prospect of figuring out the lay of the land, and making new connections, may make you just a little nervous. It helps to have a checklist to guide you through the process of settling in your new community, whether you’ve moved out of state or simply relocated to a different neighborhood.
Things to take care of if you’re moving out of state.
Relocating to a new state means taking care of a few extra tasks, even if you didn’t move far away from your prior residence.
- If you’re purchasing a home in a different state, find out about your mortgage options.
- Find out where the nearest DMV is and take care of your license and registration. You will have a grace period in which to do this, but the sooner you get it done, the better.
- Read up on any laws that may be particular to your new state of residence. For instance, gun laws and marriage laws often differ from one state to the next.
- Research property taxes, sales taxes, and other area taxes that may affect your cost of living.
Practical considerations when settling in a new community.
Any time you move from one residence to the next, you will need to take care of these changes and updates.
- Change your address at the post office, and with any important institutions such as lenders, insurance providers, and the IRS. If you are not switching jobs with the move, also alert your employer of your new address.
- If you have changed school districts, make sure your kids are enrolled in a public or private school of your choice. Parents who are pursuing alternative forms of education still need to report to the local superintendent.
- Find a new health care provider for you and your children.
- Locate other useful services including auto mechanics, dentists, eye doctors, childcare providers, and hairstylists.
- Make a list of important phone numbers you need to know for your area, including contacts for emergency services such as the fire department and poison control, and important services such as your utility provider or pediatrician.
How to get comfortable in your new neighborhood.
Part of settling in means getting to know everything about your new community and feeling at home there.
- Introduce yourself to your neighbors as soon as it’s convenient to do so.
- Take some time to explore the area so you know all the roads, shortcuts, and favorite amenities.
- Find local clubs, community groups, charitable organizations, and kids’ activity groups to get involved with.
Settling into a new place may take a little while. And how you go about it will depend somewhat on your circumstances, as well as your temperament and preferences. It’s a good idea to try to find your feet in your new neighborhood sooner rather than later, so your family can take advantage of local opportunities and you can start pursuing your dreams in your community. For more resources and helpful guidelines on balancing work and family life no matter where you reside, check out Wise Dollar Mom!