How Long Does It Really Take To Feel Comfortable in a New Home? How Moving Can Affect Your Mental Health

When you first move into your new home, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all that your new area has to offer. You’re likely getting set up in your new location trying new restaurants, meeting your neighbors, checking out fantastic sights, and settling into a new job. The go-go-go mentality of learning your new city can be overwhelming for the first few weeks after your move.

Then, reality sets in.

Relocating is by far one of the most stressful life events. A survey showed that most people find moving more stressful than a divorce, with more than half noting that moving was the most stressful thing they’ve ever done in their lives.

It’s clear: moving isn’t easy. It’s physically demanding, emotional, and it can take time to feel at home in a new place.

Manhattan psychoanalyst Ronnie Greenberg told The New York Times, “Panic can really set in around your home and your apartment. It’s a matrix of safety, so moving is incredibly stressful, and people don’t realize it — they mainly talk about the packing and the external part of moving.”

If you’re feeling down before, during, or after a move, know that it’s normal to feel this way. However, if the feeling continues for more than a few weeks, you may be suffering from relocation depression.

A 2016 study showed that moving creates what researchers dubbed “a perfect storm of unhappiness.” Many people amid a recent move feel lonely due to leaving the people they used to interact with daily, but they’re also too stressed out and tired to put forth the effort needed to get to know people in their new environment.

If you think you may be suffering from relocation depression, it’s essential to work closely with a therapist and your doctor to develop a treatment plan that can help you begin to thrive in your new home.

If you’re not depressed but still feeling down in the dumps in your new place, it’s important to put yourself out there. Know that at first, it’s unlikely that you’ll enjoy social outings as much as you did with your old crew. It can take time to develop the deep, meaningful friendships that you left behind. While making new connections is important, it’s also wise to stay in touch with those in your old city, and thankfully, technology makes that more accessible than ever. Setting up FaceTime friend dates to watch a movie together, enjoy takeout, or simply chat about your day can help you feel connected to those you love.

Moving Is Hard — We’re Here To Make It Easier.

Moving is always tough on a family, and we’re here to help make the transition to your new home a little bit easier. Reach out to us today for a quote on how our professional moving services can take some of the stress out of leaving your home and settling into a new area.

 

 

Tips for Moving Out of Your Rental Home

Are you thinking of moving out of your rental unit? While any relocation involves many quickly moving parts, moving out of a rental requires a bit of special attention. That means adding a few items to your moving to-do list.

After all, a landlord will be checking to make sure you leave the rental in an agreed-upon condition — and, of course, you want to get your full security deposit back. While each lease has its own specific requirements, these tips will help smooth your move from your rental.

Review Your Lease

Before making any moving decisions, review the terms of your lease or rental agreement. Here, you will find essential information about the terms you agreed to when you moved in.

These may include:

  • How to end the lease
  • The amount of notice you must give
  • How to handle the transfer of utilities
  • What condition you must leave the rental unit in
  • Maintenance and repair obligations

Provide Vacate Notice

Once you know how much notice you must provide, let your landlord know that you’ll be moving out. While each contract is different, many require at least 30 days’ written notice.

That means you’ll need to write your landlord a letter within the specified timeframe. In most cases, your letter should include your specific moving date, your new address, a statement about the good condition of the rental unit, and that you want your deposit returned.

Assess Any Issues

Let’s face it: It’s almost impossible to live in a home without creating some wear and tear. But when you’re renting, landlords generally expect you to fix anything you break.

Most require you to leave the rental unit in the same state it was when you moved in. In addition, rental agreements often include a property condition report that details the rental’s condition at the start of your lease.

Before moving day, perform a walk-through of the space and identify any damage or potential problems. Then ensure you take care of any issues you’re responsible for under the terms of the lease. This may include:

  • Patching or filling holes in the walls (including for hanging art)
  • Repairing dents or scratches in the flooring
  • Returning paint to original colors
  • Fixing broken windows
  • Making sure electrical systems, plumbing, appliances, lighting, and other fixtures function properly

Leave it Empty and Clean

After your belongings are loaded onto the moving truck, perform a final walk-through. Again, your goal is to make sure you’ve left nothing behind.

Don’t leave anything in the rental unit that wasn’t there when you moved in — and that includes nice items. Even if you think the next tenant will love that comfy couch or those glow-in-the-dark star stickers on the ceiling, you must take it all with you when you go.

Finally, leave your rental clean. Once you’ve got all your stuff out of the way, clean the entire unit. Start at the top and work your way down in each room. Clean from the ceiling to the floors and everything in between. The cleaner you can leave the unit, the better; landlords often charge high cleaning fees.

Schedule a final walk-through with your landlord. If they find any issues, ask if you can take care of them before funds are taken from your deposit.

Moving Made Easy

Following these tips can help make moving from your rental less stressful. In addition, we can help make it even easier. Contact us for a moving quote today.