Moving across county lines can be quite painful with inadequate planning and little foresight. As soon as you realize or decide that you are moving to a different county, you must begin making plans. There are different reasons to move to a different county. The first which is quite common is for work. Either you got a new job or you have been reallocated. Other reasons could be the need for a change of scenery and to be closer to family. Below are things to think about regarding your move.
Due Diligence
This is just fancy for research. This is a new and different county from the one you have been living in. You need to learn as much as possible about living in it especially if you have never been there. Find out the best and safest neighborhoods in the county. Find out how much rent costs in the numerous neighborhoods. For example, if you are moving to Nakuru. You will realize that housing in Kaptembwo is cheaper than Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh is safer and closer to town than Kaptembwo. You would not know this off the top of our head without doing some due diligence.
You should also find out how much your existence would cost in the new county. Obviously the cost of living is different in each county. In 2018, KNBS reported that the cost of living is highest in Nairobi then Mombasa followed by others. This is valuable information because a report like that lets you know that you might spend almost 15,000 shillings every month. That said, every county has some hacks you can live by or rather survive by. Nairobi is especially notorious for all the lifehacks, you will surely need said lifehacks.
A little thing that you might not pay attention to is the moving cost. Obviously moving from one neighborhood to another is going to cost much less than crossing county lines. Judging by the number of kilometers you have to travel as well as amount of stuff you should be able to get a quote from some moving companies.
As part of your due diligence, you should visit the new county. This is especially important if it will be your first time living in said county. Sure you will visit when you go house hunting but you should also look around the town and potential neighborhood.
How
How you plan on executing the move is a big part of the moving plan. Do you plan on packing up your things then hiring a truck? Do you plan on packing up your things then shipping them by courier? Do you plan on using a moving company? Do you plan on moving a few things at a time in your car? Whatever the plan is, you need to develop one early in advance. You should determine the cost of each plan. You should also think about the convenience of each plan. These considerations will help you pick a plan that will work best as opposed to doing whatever feels right at the time.
Finances
A move especially one as big as this one will definitely be expensive. It will probably cost nothing less than 10,000 shillings to hire a moving company to say Mombasa from Nairobi. That means that you need to budget. While budgeting you should think about accessorial costs among other additions. These are extra costs that come about from packing, delay due to bad roads or poor time management among others.
If you are moving for a job, some companies cover the costs of moving. You should find out if they will pay upfront and directly or if they will simply reimburse you after the fact. In which case, you must keep all receipts pertaining to the move.
Purge
Everyone or at least most people have extra things that they do not exactly need. Maybe you have two toasters or keep an old television around. During a move especially this big one, you need to keep it light. Get rid of all the extra tings. In fact, if your TV is a little old you could sell it and buy a more updated one once you have settled down at the new place. Purging applies to everything including clothes and shoes. Purging helps you get rid of things that you do not need. This makes the load to haul much lighter and might therefore cost less to move.
Early Bird
Do everything early. Start packing up at least a full week before you have to move. Ensure to keep important documents and valuable things as close to you during the move as possible. It may not be a good idea to lump things like passports and academic certificates in with everything else. This way nothing is left behind and you can purge adequately. You should also book your movers early in advance, this way you have the luxury of dictating the moving day as opposed to picking whichever day is available.
If you have been given a full week to move, try to do it in the first two days of the week. This will give you time to settle down and get used to your new home. It will help you have a clear mind when you finally show up at the new office. The bottom line is, try to leave as much time to settle down as possible. Time during which you will find your groove in the new county and maybe even make a friend or two.
Inform People
Someone should know that you are moving and where you are moving to. This is especially important if you are moving further away from your family and friends. Preferably, someone should come with you to see the location of the new house. It is always prudent for someone to know where you are at all times.
Moving to a new county can and probably will be scary. However, it is a chance for you to start afresh and explore a new culture. It is a chance to make new friends and to be a more diverse human being. Keep an open mind but remain vigilant. Enjoy your new start!
