A Guide for Moving to New York City

Moving to New York is a dream for many people — to be in the center of the action and feel the big-city vibe. Yet, as fun as it seems, it can be a true challenge to take care of everything you need to do before moving here — especially if you’re coming from a different state.

Fortunately, this guide can help if you’re moving to NYC. So, take a seat, grab a pen and some paper, and let’s get started.

Know What You Need Ahead of Time

Especially if you’re moving from further away, it’s essential to know what you need ahead of time. Then, when you do get to New York, you’ll be all set to visit a few apartments and make your decision. That means you should know what you need (more on that later), what you’re willing to sacrifice and how you’re going to make the transfer.

For instance, flying or taking a road trip to NYC might be both financially and time-consuming. So, doing your research, setting your priorities and being aware of the overall process of your move will help a lot.

Search by Your Needs, Not Neighborhoods

When you’re searching for a New York apartment, you probably won’t get what you need if you sort your search by neighborhood. Instead, to truly end up in a place where you’ll feel comfortable, prioritize exactly what you need from it. Specifically, how long of a commute are you willing to have to your workplace? How much can you afford to pay for rent? Do you need roommates or would you prefer to live on your own?

These are the things you need to know before you start your search so you can easily filter through the many options when browsing apartments online. Then, find the ones you like and schedule tours (either virtual or self-guided to make sure you respect social distancing rules).

A good rule of thumb is to start your search no earlier than one month ahead of time. Otherwise, if you find the perfect place but it requires you to move that month, you might miss out on it. And, unless you pay rent, chances are they’re not going to wait for you. In any case, if you’ve considered your priorities, you’ll most likely end up in a neighborhood that will fit you.

Avoid Rental Scams

Likewise, make sure you’ve familiarized yourself with the proper process of renting an apartment — everything from viewing the place to signing the lease and moving in. Unfortunately, there are many people out there who want to take advantage of those coming in from out of town, so make sure you only browse trustworthy websites and find legitimate listings. If you find deals that are too good to be true, shady or odd, avoid them and report these rental scams to the proper authorities so they can investigate the issue and take care of it.

Move Your Belongings

After you’ve finally found your apartment, it’s time to determine how you’ll move your belongings. First, go through your belongings and declutter. Donate or sell the things you don’t want or need, including clothes, furniture that won’t fit in your new rental, books, trinkets and other items. Then, find a trustworthy moving company to help you move. Then, once you’ve moved into your new apartment, you can order whatever you might need online.

Although this might seem like a challenge, don’t get discouraged. If you plan it all out ahead of time and manage each step, you’ll surely have a pleasant experience. And, as challenging as it will be, this is going to be a memory to look back on fondly. In the meantime, welcome to NYC!