Start a New Life (in a New City) with These Transition Tips

Sometimes, a big move is just what you need to get back on the right life path. Starting fresh can feel exhilarating and a bit intimidating at the same time. The good news is that The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team knows just what to do when it comes to moving to a new place and settling in.

Find a Home Base

Packing up and moving out ASAP likely sounds appealing. But for the best odds at a successful fresh start, plan carefully and logically. If the world is your oyster, start by listing your priorities and searching for city information to match. For example, if you hope to buy a house one day, consider states with lower home prices, like Mississippi or West Virginia. If your professional background is in computers, look at locations with tech-oriented jobs like Atlanta and Durham-Chapel Hill.  

Think about your personality and whether a big city or small town (or something in between) is a good match. Narrowing down potential destinations becomes easier as you zero in on what matters most. Then, you can start diving deeper into a specific city or even neighborhood.

Line Up Housing

 Figuring out where you'll live is a crucial step toward relocating and starting over. But even if finances are no issue, think carefully about where you want to live. If you don't know anyone in your new city, finding a reliable roommate or renting shared housing might be a simple way to start making connections.

Another option is to stay at an Airbnb or schedule an extended hotel stay to learn about prospective neighborhoods. What better way to decide where you want to live than by exploring there?

Grow Roots

Growing roots in your new city might be the toughest part of relocating. Ideally, you'll have at least a couple of friend connections in town. If not, connecting with the community is still doable. Nextdoor notes that a great way to make new friends is by attending events that involve a lot of people with similar interests. For example, you could take a music class, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or participate in a park cleanup day. 

Apps like Nextdoor also allow you to connect with people nearby and join online discussions relevant to your community. Location-specific social media and apps are another great way to meet people with similar interests and join outings in your area. Whether you're a dog person, are focused on fitness, or are a new parent, there's a friendship connection app to suit.

Focus on Passions

While passion is great, making a living is a necessity. For the best of both worlds, take time to develop skills connected to your passion and apply them to your career. For example, heading back to college could present new opportunities. As just one of many choices, enrolling in an HR degree program could set you on a professional path of changing company culture and supporting employees. A career can be both enjoyable and rewarding, though it could take time and effort to get where you want to be professionally.

Think Business 

To thrive in many careers, you'll need formal credentials and a few years' time. Starting a business (particularly a home-based one) is one way to circumvent the traditional career path while building your future. It can also help you forge community ties.

Start by outlining a business plan that serves as a roadmap for what you want to do, how much funding you'll need, and how you'll scale up. Determine if you'll host your business at home or need to pursue rental space. Building a business plan will also involve market research to determine who your audience is and how to best serve them, explains Indeed. If your business will be local, networking in your new community becomes even more important. 

This is where content marketing comes into play. When you create and share content online, whether via blog posts on your web site or posts to your social media accounts, interest in your product or service is piqued and your network and brand grows. The goal of content marketing is to build relationships and trust in your business. Check out Cornerstone Content to learn more about his unique area of business promotion.

The beauty of moving somewhere new is that there is nothing you can't do. From establishing a new business to forming a tight-knit community of like-minded friends, it's all possible if you're willing to put in the effort. With a clean slate to start with, you'll no doubt feel inspired to make the most of it.

With a background in accounting and finance, The Mary Ellen Vanaken Team will be able to help you find the best value your money can buy. Buying a home is probably the largest investment you will ever make, whether you are buying your first home or are upgrading to a larger home. Click here to schedule a call!

Article via Katie Conroy with AdviceMine.com. Image via Stonehurstplace.