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Important Steps to Take When Settling into Your New Community

If you are considering a move, you should be aware that the relocation process doesn’t just end on moving day. Settling in can take a while, as you get comfortable in your home, get familiar with your neighborhood, and begin to establish a routine. While some aspects of settling in happen organically, there are plenty of ways you can facilitate the process, especially when it comes to the practical, legal, and financial ramifications of establishing oneself in a new community.

Make sure you have made your new residence official.

It’s easy to forget to take care of paperwork and legalities, in the midst of unpacking and setting up a new home, but you definitely do not want to forget to take care of the bureaucratic side of things.

• Change your address. Make sure you submit a change of address form at your post office, and change your address with any institutions or publications you regularly get mail from.
• Update your license and registration. There is a grace period before you have to change your driver’s license and vehicle registration, but you don’t want to forget and get hit with a ticket, so find out where your DMV is and get your license and registration updated as soon as you can.
• Register to vote. Don’t wait until right before election day! Get your voter registration taken care of as soon as you have moved, so you won’t run into any issues that prevent you from doing your civic duty later.

Connect with important services, professionals, and friends.

Settling in a new area also means finding a new network of educators, health care providers, caregivers, and friends.

• Research area schools, decide whether you prefer public or private, and find one that is a good fit for your family. Find out in advance what you need to do to enroll your kids in the school of your choice.
• Try to get recommendations from others in the area when you switch to a new family doctor. Don’t forget to have all your medical records sent to their office, too.
• Also, look for recommendations and reviews for dentists in your new community.
• If you need to find childcare, it’s important to find well-regarded professionals with credentials and references.
• Returning to your former town and want to reconnect with old friends? A site like ClassFinders allows you to search for graduates from your high school.

Be aware of and budget for home owning expenses.

Your expenses may change when you settle in a new area. Make sure you do research to see whether they will increase or decrease and come up with a plan for covering any added costs.

• What is the cost of living like in your new community? Is it greater or less than in your old one? It’s important to know this so you can budget accordingly.
• When you budget, you should be considering how your mortgage and utility costs may have changed.
• If you have moved from a different state or municipality, your property taxes may be different. Find out in advance what yours are likely to be if they aren’t already bundled into your mortgage payment.

When settling into your new community, make sure you facilitate the process with the above tips. Then spend some time exploring and making new friends, and you’ll feel at home in no time.

Thank you Monica Smith of recoveringworks.org

When you’re ready to find the perfect home, work with experienced real estate professional Carol Gilles for exceptional service. Call 310-864-9738 to schedule an appointment!