If you’ve recently agreed to relocate for a job, you’re probably beginning to realize how many moving parts are involved in the process. Not only are you going to leave your friends, community, and old coworkers behind, but you also need to figure out the logistics regarding both present and future living situations. If you currently rent your home, leaving things behind isn’t as difficult. If you own your home, you’ll have a few more decisions to make. Regardless of your current living situation, there are a few great options to help ensure a smooth transition. Here are 6 of the best tips for when you’re moving for a job and are between homes.
1. Get Organized
Regardless of if you’re relocating for work, looking for a change of scenery, or are trying to follow the weather, moving is an extremely stressful event. You’re likely excited, but there’s a lot of work involved in packing, moving, and finding a new place to live. To make sure that you get started on the right foot, take some time to get organized. A great deal of moving stress comes from the details and logistics.
When you keep ongoing lists, pack efficiently, and create a plan for your transition, you’ll automatically feel less anxious. Try to keep an inventory of what you’re packing and separate things into two groups—storage and pack. If you’re moving an entire home, you’ll be able to put most of your items and furniture into storage while you’re finding a new place to live. Pack what you’ll need in the meantime using a suitcase or two—as if you’re going on an extended business trip.
2. Ask about Employer Resources
If you’re relocating, but staying within your current company, ask about resources your employer may be able to provide. Oftentimes, relocation services are included in the offer, which help make the transition easier. If you’re taking a job with a new company, discuss moving costs and relocation fees ahead of time so everyone is on the same page.
Depending on your employer and upcoming role, the resources may extend from airline coverage and short-term corporate housing to assisting with your home buying and selling processes. You won’t know unless you ask, so make this one of your top priorities.
3. Do Some Research
Next, have some fun and start researching your new city. If you’re relocating to Chicago, you’re in luck. Chicago is a beautiful city and has so much to offer to residents and visitors alike. The key is to choose the right neighborhood when you’re relocating to Chicago, as each area offers unique lifestyles and communities. One of the best ways to test out new locations is to utilize short-term corporate housing across some of the most popular areas in Chicago. Corporate Suites Network has fully furnished apartments in West Loop, River North, Streeterville, the New East Side, the Gold Coast, and more. Each of our facilities come equipped with luxury amenities so you get the most out of your first few months in the new city. Staying in a place where you feel comfortable is a great way to maximize your time spent while finding your next forever home.
When researching areas to live, consider the school district, environmental surroundings, and community. You should also look at the overall cost of living such as housing prices for sale and rent, taxes, vehicle insurance or requirements, groceries, and whether or not you’ll need to commute to and from work. You may also want to consider the cultural assets of each neighborhood to find something that works best with your lifestyle.
If you’re going to commute, see how accessible public transportation is to your desired living area. When you move to the city, cars can become more of a nuisance and traffic is often unbearable. Being near a metro, train, or bus station allows you to easily commute without having to waste time sitting behind the wheel.
4. Make Plans for Your Old Home
For renters, leaving your old home behind is easy. However, if you currently own a home, you’ll need to do a little more work to get yourself prepared for the move.
Consider your two options: renting or selling. If you’re looking for an income opportunity, renting is a great option. However, make sure that you’re ready to tackle all of the nuisances that come with renting, such as finding tenants, keeping up with your home’s maintenance, and learning how to deal with any problems that arise. You can hire a local property manager or management company to make this easier. This is a good option for those who are unsure whether or not their current move is going to be temporary or permanent.
You can also opt to sell your home. This is a little easier in the long run but will require some upfront work. Consider working with a local real estate agent to make this process as simplified as possible.
5. Think About Your New Home
Throughout this process consider what you want in your new home. After looking into the neighborhoods in your future city, you may have more insight as to what your life will be like. Now, consider what you’ll want in a home. Do you want to be able to enjoy a city skyline or would you prefer to be nestled away in the suburbs? What are your absolute must-haves and what can you live without? Take some time to think about this and make a list to help you weigh your options.
6. Take Advantage of Short-Term Corporate Housing
The aspect of moving is even more stressful when you’re holed up in a hotel during the transition. Being between homes can severely disrupt your routine and cause a lull in productivity, which is not ideal when you’re in a new role or office. To make sure that the transition is as easy as possible, take advantage of short-term corporate housing. Corporate Suites Network offers prime real estate locations in and around Chicago that are safe, close to plenty of entertainment, restaurants, and parks, and filled with luxury features to make you feel right at home.
Regardless of why you need to relocate, you want to make sure that you’re focusing on your task at hand. That’s why our Chicago furnished short-term rentals offer more affordability and consistency than hotels. We also have spacious and homey rooms that are comfortable and filled with amenities. Short-term corporate housing is a great way to test out different communities throughout Chicago while you find the perfect place to call home.
Corporate Suites Network has several properties spread throughout different neighborhoods in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Our fully furnished short-term rentals provide our residents with all of the essentials so they can maximize productivity without disruption to their routines. All of our corporate properties in the Chicagoland area come equipped with high-speed Internet at no extra cost to you, carefully selected furnishings, and an array of luxury amenities. Call or email us today to learn more about Corporate Suites Network’s properties across a variety of neighborhoods in Chicago.