If you've ever moved to another state, come in here.

[guyver01]

I moved to Denver, Colorado from NYC about 3 years ago.

I found a few places via craigslist... flew out here a week before the move... checked the places out, etc..

 

[gorcorps]

Sorry to veer off topic Pontifex, but IronWing is correct. Coloradans are friendly until you cross them. Then watch out! This is not so much a problem with women but the dudes in Colorado are happy to carry grudges and they have long memories.

Meh, I feel the opposite with the genders. Most guys I know would only hold a grudge on pretty major stuff, where as most girls hold onto grudges for a lot longer on really stupid shit.

Also I'm not sure where IronWing is talking about, as Colorado is a massive state with several different cultures in each part. There are places like Aspen where all the richers live, and most people would feel out of place there. Broomfield isn't that bad... can't imagine it's any different than anywhere else IMO and I've lived in a few different places.

 

[Paladin3]

city-data.com for info on living in different cities or states. craigslist.org for housing.

In pursuit of my wife's career, we've moved from Southern California to Northern California to Northern Idaho in the last 7 years. We were just offered a great job back in Northern California so, even though we love North Idaho, we might be moving again soon.

My best advice it to MAKE SURE THE MOVE MAKES FINANCIAL SENSE. Every other concern you have about living in a new area can be dealt with IF YOU ARE GETTING PAID. If you are not moving up then stay where you are.

 

[Tiamat]

If nobody can give you adequate info on cost of living adjustments you need to make, if possible, try to take a 1/2 week vacation at or near the place you will be living/working. You will notice the sales tax, cost of gas/food, restaurants available etc.

You need to change your address for:
1. Credit Card
2. Post Office
3. Bills (cellphone, etc.)
4. You have to tell your utility companies that you no longer need their service (and establish an account where you will be moving)

If you have a firearm, check the new state's rules.

Place of living: You may have to live out of a hotel (they can charge by the month) for a couple months while you check around apartments in the area to see where the crap ones are versus the good ones.

 

[herm0016]

just do it. Thats my great advise.

i never visited Rock Springs Wy. before i drove in with a pickup full of my stuff. The company put me up in a hotel for 2 weeks before going to training in texas, I found a place and a roommate on craigs list. Great roommate. Its been over a year and we have moved to a newer place and gotten another roommate and my girlfriend moved in too.

it will work out, do not plan too much, and if you do, don't expect it to go that way. Be smart about your decisions but don't pass up things because you want to think about it. if it feels right do it.

do not listen to people tell you about people from other states, most of it is what you make it. My roommate is from Colorado. i work with a bunch of guys form CO, and many other states. I finished college about 2 weeks before moving out here and have had a great time.
i have also moved to Wisconsin and Tennessee with this strategy and both went very well.

 

[pontifex]

I desperately need to get out on my own and the chances of doing that here are very slim.

If I am offered the job, making 2x what I make now is amazing, as I'll never get that here with my current skill set. The fact that I will be jobless within the next 6 months is bad also. I've been looking for another job for the past year and haven't found one that will offer me a job. I doubt I'd even find one for the salary I make now. Jobs are scarce and many are short contracts only.

The thought of leaving my family and friends, especially at this distance, greatly distresses me.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Moving to a new state isn't a big deal; it certainly shouldn't keep someone from taking a job unless you've got a problem with the state that you're moving to.

As a kid, my family hopped between the US and other countries every two or three years. I moved from Florida to Illinois for college, worked internships in Oregon and Arizona, moved to California to finish school, etc.

When I've moved for work, I've either had time off or help from a work-suppplied agent to find an apartment/house/whatever. Hit up Craig's List, apartmentratings (keep in mind that most go there to complain), or just drive around where you plan to work and see what's available. Ask co-workers at the new work place where they live or what areas are good.

 

[lokiju]

My now wife and I moved to a city and state that we knew no one in 2006. Now we're married, have a house and kid and decent jobs and friends.

I used city data (http://www.city-data.com/) a LOT. That site helped me pinpoint the city we ended up moving to.

I was looking for low crime. Good schools. Good average pay as well as many other factors. I narrowed in the options using that site and then we went in person to check out the contenders. We checked out apartments, job listings and the area and "feel".

At least you'll gave a job going in, that was the scariest part for us.

 

[BoomerD]

I desperately need to get out on my own and the chances of doing that here are very slim.

If I am offered the job, making 2x what I make now is amazing, as I'll never get that here with my current skill set. The fact that I will be jobless within the next 6 months is bad also. I've been looking for another job for the past year and haven't found one that will offer me a job. I doubt I'd even find one for the salary I make now. Jobs are scarce and many are short contracts only.

The thought of leaving my family and friends, especially at this distance, greatly distresses me.

Family and GOOD friends you can visit at the holidays, or they can come visit you. As for "friends," you should be able to make new friends where ever you go.

As for Colorado...it's perhaps the one state I won't ever set foot in again. We were there during the oil shale boom in the 80's when the prevailing attitude was:

"Welcome to Colorado. See our sights, spend your money, then go the fuck home."

Everyone had a "Native" bumper sticker on their car, and if you weren't a Colorado native, you weren't shit. (gawd help you if you were from Kahleeforneeya...and we weren't) Possibly some of the snobbiest people I ever met. (and as well, we met some of the best people too...some we've kept in touch with for more than 20 years.) It was the general attitude of most "native Coloradans" that turned us off.

 

[herm0016]

Everyone had a "Native" bumper sticker on their car, and if you weren't a Colorado native, you weren't shit. (gawd help you if you were from Kahleeforneeya...and we weren't) Possibly some of the snobbiest people I ever met. (and as well, we met some of the best people too...some we've kept in touch with for more than 20 years.) It was the general attitude of most "native Coloradans" that turned us off.

this is a logical reaction when many of the people that move in want to change everything so that it is like the place they left. We in Wyoming have some issues with this too.

if you move to another state it is much better for everyone if you make friends and be nice to people and don't be the guy who always tells everyone that where you came from is better than where you are now.

 

[edmundoab]

I'd move to 6 different schools since primary 1
and moved 6 times while working in china
Crap, its a pretty unsettled life i got so far...

 

[IndyColtsFan]

What advice could you guys give to someone who may need to move for a job, especially if you've never been to the city/state before. I'm just looking for general advice and info.

Well for starters, you should never accept a job and just get up and move to a state without ever having seen it. Surely, the company would fly you out for a face-to-face interview and to check the area out.

How do you find out if you'll be able to live comfortably in a new place (as in affording to live there)? Will I be living paycheck to paycheck on my salary or will I have money to spare and be able to enjoy life?

Just Google "cost of living comparison" and see what you can find. Something like this will show you: http://www.bestplaces.net/col/

How do you find an apartment/house without being there?

You don't. You arrange appointments to see places and then go out there for a couple of days to see them and make a decision.

What kinds of things do you need to get changed? Obviously address changes for mail, etc and driver's license, but anything else?

Address changes will be the biggest thing to do, and you'll inevitably miss some so you'll want to see about putting a mail forwarder on your old address (not 100% sure that works for out-of-state delivery, but I think it does).

 

[JulesMaximus]

I've made big moves like this 3 times in my life. I grew up in Albany, NY and was offered a job in Rochester. Fortunately I was given the opportunity to spend a couple days there with my boss checking it out to see if it was someplace I'd like to live so I moved there by myself when I was in my early 20s.

Less than a year later that same boss called me up and asked me if I'd like to move to Los Angeles, CA to work for him there so I thought about it for a couple days and said WTF, why not? And I moved across the country to start a new life in California. I had never even been to CA before I moved here...that was 20 years ago and I'm still here.

Next move was from Los Angeles to San Diego with my wife and our cat. Okay, not as big a move but still far enough that we are about an hour and a half away from her family.

I would recommend spending a couple days in the city you are considering moving to before you make the decision if at all possible.

 

[Old Hippie]

As for Colorado...it's perhaps the one state I won't ever set foot in again.

I have great memories of Bolder in the early 70s.

The Green Mountain Grainery, smoking pot and drinkin' wine watching "The Stewardesses" in 3D, walking to the end of the street where the mountains started....

I'm sure it's not like that anymore but I'd love to go back.

 

[Gillbot]

Without reading all of the thread replies, my number one point of advice is to go stay in the town beforehand if at all possible. I've lived in nearly every state in the US so far due to work relocation, and the biggest problem is getting stuck in a bad area because you didn't have enough time to research where you were going before picking a place.

If it's affordable, I recommend a short lease that way you can get the feel of the town and area before you pick a place to settle in.

 

[BoomerD]

this is a logical reaction when many of the people that move in want to change everything so that it is like the place they left. We in Wyoming have some issues with this too.

if you move to another state it is much better for everyone if you make friends and be nice to people and don't be the guy who always tells everyone that where you came from is better than where you are now.

When we lived in Wyoming, there was the Wyoming Milita...dedicated to stopping the mass influx of Kahleeforneeyans who were going to flood the state when Kahleeforneeya fell into the ocean...
(besides..."We in Wyoming" wouldn't include you...you're not a native.)

 

[TechAZ]

So I made a post asking about Broomfield, Co earlier as there may be a job opportunity there. I have never moved to another house or apartment even in my own state before, let alone a completely different one.

I've never been very far outside of PA, maybe WV is the furthest I've ever been and that was when I was a kid on vacation. I'd also be on my own with no family. I may have some co-workers that I currently work with moving to the same area as well, so there may be a few familiar people there.

What advice could you guys give to someone who may need to move for a job, especially if you've never been to the city/state before. I'm just looking for general advice and info.

How do you find out if you'll be able to live comfortably in a new place (as in affording to live there)? Will I be living paycheck to paycheck on my salary or will I have money to spare and be able to enjoy life?

How do you find an apartment/house without being there?

What kinds of things do you need to get changed? Obviously address changes for mail, etc and driver's license, but anything else?

1. Look over the city-data.com forums

2. Google crime maps for that city/areas

3. Find an apartment online, grab a 6 month lease. Find something cheap. This way, you get to know the area better without being stuck in an area you don't like. When I did this, it was very painless....just took a couple faxes of things, including the rental application. You can get a house once you know the city better.

4. Google cable and electricity providers for the zip code you get an apartment at, and set those up over the phone so they are good to go when you get there.

5. Go to DMV within a few weeks of getting there, get change of address forms. The only shocker for me as far as money goes, is how crazy high the auto insurance is in the southwest....and how certain states base your vehicle registration on how much your car is worth. Those were the only 2 things that I did not plan on expense wise.


I moved to Phoenix before ever visiting, it was pretty painless.

 

[olds]

One thing I have done in the past, was find a room for rent in the area. Then you can get a feel for the area and take a little time looking for a place.
http://boulder.craigslist.org/roo/

When I got out of the Army, I lived in a kind of rooming house for a while. Shared kitchen and bathroom, private bedroom.

When I moved for work, I found a place in the paper. A doctor was renting out a room with a private bath, kitchen and laundry privileges. We got along well and I stayed there for a year while I got settled in to the area.

 

[Gillbot]

One thing I have done in the past, was find a room for rent in the area. Then you can get a feel for the area and take a little time looking for a place.
http://boulder.craigslist.org/roo/

When I got out of the Army, I lived in a kind of rooming house for a while. Shared kitchen and bathroom, private bedroom.

When I moved for work, I found a place in the paper. A doctor was renting out a room with a private bath, kitchen and laundry privileges. We got along well and I stayed there for a year while I got settled in to the area.

excellent advice

the biggest gripe i've always heard in relocating was lack of time to evaluate the area. Also, city-data is nice for a guideline but isn't always 100% accurate. I used it before I moved to Charlotte and boy I wish we had taken more time to research beforehand.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Done this multiple times:

OR to MO
MO to CA
CA to OR
OR to CA


Pack light, seriously - no need to haul all your shit with you. With the internet its much easier to check out Apt Ratings and what not to ensure your living in a decent section of town. rent.com, Craigslist, Yelp - lots of great sites to help you find a place.

For your first place you want to be close to work as you will not know about traffic patterns and all that other stuff like best school district, bike trails, and whatt not.

So - preferably sign a 6-month lease - I have done this over the phone and used Fed Ex to mail my deposit in prior to moving so to secure my spot especially in an area with low vacnacy rates and waiting lists.

 

[Gooberlx2]

- city-data forums for location info
- craigslist, denver post and westword classifieds for apt ideas
- spend a long weekend, fly out and search your desired area

I moved out here after spending a long internship in Florida (originally from Wisconsin). I brought my clothes, computer, ski equipment, air-mattress and sheets. I had a livable and affordable apt in the Capitol Hill area within a couple days.

Don't sweat it, you'll be fine and the CoL isn't bad compared to most other major East Coast metro areas. A bit less than Philly and a bit more, probably, than Pittsburgh for comparison.

 

[Modelworks]

Moved around so many times I have to think hard when filling out forms.
If you are moving for employment reasons then talk to the employer about the area. They often know quite a bit about the area.

The most important thing for me is to check out a place before I commit to it. I would not take a job in a city that I had not been to myself. I will not work somewhere if when I leave work I hate where I live.

My advice is to put about a week of time into the city you plan to move to. I have learned the best way to find out what a city is really like is not to stay at the big hotel chains. Pick somewhere middle of town, kind of small with not too expensive rooms. You are more likely to meet people that are the majority that live there. Don't drive everywhere, go out and walk. I have found walking around neighborhoods to be the best indicator of what living there would be like. Talk to the local realtor's and find out what the majority of their customers incomes are. While walking around the neighborhood don't be afraid to tell people that are you are thinking of moving there and were curious what its like and what it cost in utilities, food, etc. You often will get more truth from people on the street than you will from any agency.

I found some great places to rent before that were not in papers or with realtor's but were word of mouth that I never would have heard about had I not talked to the people in a small restaurant. So now when I go somewhere new I always check out the local popular non chain places to eat. You can write a book off what you can learn in those places.