Helpful tips to reduce the stress of moving for a new job

Insights by the InterSearch member of the US, Charles Aris Executive Search.

You just made one of life’s most difficult decisions by deciding to move to a different city after accepting a new role. You previously visited this location on a prior business trip or vacation but never spent more than a handful of days there.

Between finding a place to live; organizing the movers; packing up your belongings; closing out your current job; handling the paperwork for your next job; and of course, the emotion of leaving friends and family – it’s normal to have stress levels through the roof. While there’s no easy button to relieve the stress, here are a few tips to make the transition as smooth as realistically possible:

When hiring movers, confirm and verify the dates ASAP

Unless you’re packing up the boxes yourself and paying a few friends with pizza to load a truck, you’ll need to hire a professional moving company. They often work months in advance and the best ones get booked quickly, especially if you’re crossing state lines during the summer busy season. However, you also want to do your homework and not rush into a decision. It’s a good idea to verify the company is in good standing by visiting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website, too. It’s easy to be fooled by an unlicensed knockoff that advertises more affordable pricing, but ultimately won’t get the job done to your satisfaction.

Use online tools and resources to research your new city

In a perfect world, you’d be able to scout potential neighborhoods by visiting them in person. However, if circumstances prohibit your ability to visit the location, there are tools at your disposal like Google Maps, Niche.com and NeighborhoodScout. On Google Maps, you’re able to zoom in to street level on an exact address then click around as if you’re driving down the tree-lined streets yourself! It’s also beneficial to cruise around the downtown area, local parks and other points of interest to get a better feel for the next place you’ll call home. Niche.com offers plenty of data and insights into almost every town in the United States, while NeighborhoodScout digs a little deeper into what you can’t see by sharing in-depth reviews and comprehensive profiles of specific neighborhoods.

Another great – and often overlooked – resource is to visit the city’s official website. You’ll learn about local events, festivals and attractions while getting a better understanding of the community ethos that third-party sites don’t typically track.

Plan ahead

Take care of as much as you can as early as you can. Procrastinators beware – waiting until the last minute to pack, send in paperwork to start your new job and take care of outstanding responsibilities in your current job will cause stress that’s easily avoidable. Planning ahead will get you on the right path for a successful start in your new role and a pleasant move to your new city!

To help with your next move, please visit the Relocation Information page on our website for guides on over 30 locations across the United States.