How to Make the Big Transition From Living in a Bigger City to a Smaller Town

Moving from a bigger town to a smaller town can take some getting used to. Perhaps you’re looking forward to the change because you’re just tired of the busyness that comes with living in a booming city. Whatever your reason for moving from a bigger city to a much smaller town, here are some helpful tips on how to make the transition a smooth sailing one.

Finding your ideal property or rental

Finding your ideal home in a smaller place might mean you won’t find exactly what you’re looking for because your options will be somewhat limited. In that case, maybe you should consider going for an older home that you can fix up to your liking. Typically, you’ll want a property with not that much fixing up to do. However, if your fixer-upper does happen to have quite of damage, be sure to make a list of all that needs repairing, as well as how much it will cost to have these repaired. Be sure to set aside at least 20% over what you’ve budgeted to cover costs such as solving asbestos or mold issues, repairing any foundational issues, electrical work that needs to be done, or HVAC upgrades.

If making a down payment on a home isn’t in your budget, you can explore rental options in your destination. View listings online and filter by home type, cost, and amenities. Some listings offer virtual tours so you won’t have to visit each property in person.

Get to know the locals

Perhaps the best thing to do to help make the move as seamless as possible is to get to know the locals better. Furthermore, getting more involved in your community might help you to make friends better, which is always a good thing as moving to a place you’re unfamiliar with can be lonely in the beginning. Moreover, you can discover the best hangouts and activities so that you don’t have to scout around for things to do when you arrive there.

Look into schools in the area

If you’re moving your family along with you, then you’ll most probably have to look into what schools are available in the area well beforehand. Here, you could rely on word of mouth or the trusted advice of family or friends that live in the area to get their opinion on what schools they would recommend for you.

Consider getting your own transportation

One of the key things you’ll probably miss the most is the accessibility and convenience of public transportation. Therefore, if you don’t have your own mode of transportation, it might be a good idea to consider getting your own vehicle, so you can dash around town as you please.

How to go about finding work

If you also have to look for work in addition to acclimating to a new town where there may not be as many prospects, this can be a bit daunting to think about. However, it could actually be easier because there probably won’t be as much competition if you have a niche career. Furthermore, the hiring process might not be as intensive if employers have a smaller talent pool to choose from.

In summary, moving to and finding a home in a smaller town when you’re not that accustomed to a simpler way of life is sure to be an eye-opener in many ways. Moreover, it could just end up being the change you never knew you needed but are just so grateful for anyway. 

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