Relocating from one city to another is a major life change and can bring along a great deal of stress. Follow these helpful tips and you'll be better prepared and far more relaxed... we promise.
Louisville is an amazing city. The rest of America just hasn't discovered it yet.
1. Be Financially Smart
Not all cities are created equal, especially when it comes to their cost of living. Before you purchase a home make sure you'll be financially prepared to live in this new city. NerdWallet has a cool Cost of Living Calculator that makes it easy to see how a particular salary compares from one city to the next. Louisville, Kentucky favors very well against most any city in the US.
2. Scout the Schools
If you have children, I'm sure you want them to attend the best possible schools. Your Realtor® can help you find a home in the district of the school you desire to send them.
My list of schools in Louisville is very thorough! You can also check out the Jefferson County Public Schools site for more information. Depending on current enrollment, certain schools are near full capacity. If you want to get your child into one of these schools, it's good to be proactive and submit the appropriate paperwork early to give your student the best possible opportunity to be accepted.
3. Check Out the Fun
There's a lot to do in any city. Finding the best activities that fit your interests will get you off to a great start. There's a great website called Go To Louisville that has tones of great info about activities in Louisville.
Louisville is known for its world famous horse racing. Churchill Downs has both spring and fall meets that attract thousands of racing fans. Fourth Street Live another fun spot with restaurants, clubs and recreational activities. But honestly, there's so much more!
4. Make a To Do List
Once you've bought your home, it pays to be organized. A "To Do" list will help you keep track of the little details and cover all the bases.
Start with items that can be done early in the process, such as planning for temporary housing if you can't immediately move into your new home when you arrive in Louisville. Then list other tasks chronologically, so that you'll be able to chart your progress all the way up to moving day. A "To Do" list will help bring some sanity into the craziness of moving.
5. Ask For Help
Moving is a big job. It makes sense to ask friends or family members to help with certain jobs. Have someone take your children out for pizza while you are packing up your home.
Then there's the always unpopular request for help actually lifting boxes into the truck. Consider yourself lucky if you have these loyal helpers because it'll make the job a lot more fun. If you know someone who already lives in Louisville, they can help by visiting properties and reporting important information back to you. If you pick me to be your Realtor®, I can do that for you! When it comes to moving, the more the merrier.
6. Find the Right Moving Company
When the day of the move finally comes, the last thing you want is for your movers to let you down. The cost of entry into the moving business isn't especially large, so there are a good number of relatively new or unknown moving companies vying for your business. Hiring the right moving company is important.
Sites like Angie's List or This Old House can help you learn what others thought of their moving company and whether or not they'd use them again. It's also a wise move to check with the Better Business Bureau, who can alert you to complaints against companies in the area.
7. Need New Necessities?
Moving to Seattle? Better buy an umbrella or three. What about Louisville? One of the grand things about Louisville is that we get to experience all four of the seasons. Summers aren't generally blistering hot like the Southwest but have temperatures that average in the mid-to-high 70s, while our Winters average above 32 degrees. So if you're coming from another region and you're not accustomed to the changing of the seasons, you might need to stock up on warm sweaters or possibly... several new swimsuits.
8. Make Utility Appointments
There are usually a million-and-one things to remember when moving. So. why not set up your utility appointments ahead of time?
Some people would rather be without food than their television. Here are the Louisville utility providers so that you can get yourself all set up!
- Gas & Electric: Louisville Gas and Electric
- Water: Louisville Water Company
- Phone & Internet: AT&T and Spectrum
- Satellite: Dish Network and DirecTV
9. Temporary Housing
Some times it's not possible to move directly into your new home and you need temporary housing. Thanks to the Internet, websites like Apartments.com make it easy to find information about Louisville apartments. Other options include Extended Stay Hotels or corporate housing that will have you living in style while you wait for your new home to become available.
10. Change Your Address
Make sure to complete the appropriate form with the United States Post Office so that you're mail will be forwarded from the previous address. That's it, you're done!
We hope these tips have sparked your thinking. If you need a Louisville relocation specialist, I would be honored to be your Realtor®. Contact me and we'll get started on your move to Louisville, Kentucky!
