I'm moving

Hey guys, I've been posting on this website for a while now (since 2011 with this account, but since 2010 or so with accounts I used to use) and I'm sure by now some of you have come to know me a bit. I appreciate this site and all of its members, including Don Wassall, and I'm happy to be a part of the community here.

I have a couple of personal questions I'd like to ask (I don't post on any other websites and I know some of the posters here so I'd prefer to ask it here). Keep in mind I am a 25 year old male, not married, so I'm kind of young, and I don't have as much life experience as some of the older guys here. So sorry beforehand if some of my questions sound stupid, lol.

I make good money at my current job and I work hard, but I'm always job-hunting and I've been offered a job with a new company, something very substantial that is across the country (I currently live in Ontario, I will be moving to Alberta, it's almost cross-country). I'm 25 and I've decided it's a good time for me to leave my family's house so I want to take the job and move. I currently make good money but the money I will be making at the new job will be even better. So I am willing to move. I'm going to be driving down in my car. I have other options, I can ship my car, but I would prefer to just drive down because I enjoy driving and I'd like to do the drive myself.

I lived alone when I was in University for a few months. But my family was only 30 minutes away, and they helped me out financially. So I've never really lived alone before and to be honest I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a couple of basic questions:

- When moving to a new city, how exactly do I do it? Just get in the car and leave? Is there a particular time of the month or year that is best for me to leave?

- At the moment I am looking for a place to rent (will perhaps buy later but because I am just moving now I prefer to rent at the moment). How do I find a place to live? Should I have a place to live already established before I leave or is it OK to show up in my car and negotiate on places there? Should I make contacts and inquiries into the rental market before I drive down? What's the best way to go about finding a place to live?

- Should I drive through Canada or USA? I plan on doing the drive slowly and visiting some places along the way. I could do the drive in 40 hours if I rush, but I want to take my time and enjoy the drive, so I'm willing to take up to a week and a half. I want a nice, scenic drive.

- How much notice should I give my current employer? 2 weeks is the standard, but my company has let employees go with no notice. I don't appreciate that and I don't think that's fair that I should be expected to give them a notice when they don't return the favour to employees. Times are changing and the "2 week notice" idea seems somewhat outdated in this economy... I don't need the reference to be successful and I already have enough references that I can forego it.

- Is there anything else I should know about moving to a new place, new city, new part of the country, or living on my own for the first time?

Thanks, I appreciate all comments and feedback. I will be moving probably a few months from now (mid Summer roughly if things go well), so I'm asking these questions now to get an idea so that the move and new job goes smoothly.

BoxingSpecialist2 said:

Hey guys, I've been posting on this website for a while now (since 2011 with this account, but since 2010 or so with accounts I used to use) and I'm sure by now some of you have come to know me a bit. I appreciate this site and all of its members, including Don Wassall, and I'm happy to be a part of the community here.

I have a couple of personal questions I'd like to ask (I don't post on any other websites and I know some of the posters here so I'd prefer to ask it here). Keep in mind I am a 25 year old male, not married, so I'm kind of young, and I don't have as much life experience as some of the older guys here. So sorry beforehand if some of my questions sound stupid, lol.

I make good money at my current job and I work hard, but I'm always job-hunting and I've been offered a job with a new company, something very substantial that is across the country (I currently live in Ontario, I will be moving to Alberta, it's almost cross-country). I'm 25 and I've decided it's a good time for me to leave my family's house so I want to take the job and move. I currently make good money but the money I will be making at the new job will be even better. So I am willing to move. I'm going to be driving down in my car. I have other options, I can ship my car, but I would prefer to just drive down because I enjoy driving and I'd like to do the drive myself.

I lived alone when I was in University for a few months. But my family was only 30 minutes away, and they helped me out financially. So I've never really lived alone before and to be honest I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a couple of basic questions:

- When moving to a new city, how exactly do I do it? Just get in the car and leave? Is there a particular time of the month or year that is best for me to leave?

- At the moment I am looking for a place to rent (will perhaps buy later but because I am just moving now I prefer to rent at the moment). How do I find a place to live? Should I have a place to live already established before I leave or is it OK to show up in my car and negotiate on places there? Should I make contacts and inquiries into the rental market before I drive down? What's the best way to go about finding a place to live?

- Should I drive through Canada or USA? I plan on doing the drive slowly and visiting some places along the way. I could do the drive in 40 hours if I rush, but I want to take my time and enjoy the drive, so I'm willing to take up to a week and a half. I want a nice, scenic drive.

- How much notice should I give my current employer? 2 weeks is the standard, but my company has let employees go with no notice. I don't think that's fair and why should I give them a notice when they wouldn't do the same courtesy to its own employees? Times are changing and the "2 week notice" idea seems to be somewhat outdated in this economy...

- Is there anything else I should know about moving to a new place, new city, new part of the country, or living on my own for the first time?

Thanks, I appreciate all comments and feedback. I will be moving probably a few months from now (mid Summer roughly if things go well), so I'm asking these questions now to get an idea so that the move and new job goes smoothly.

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A lot of good questions BS2. I'll try to answer a couple of them for you. About 20 years ago I took a job in another state. I was around 30 years old and had 3 children at the time, so you'll have it a little easier than I did, being it's just you.

I actually traveled once, to the destination on my own without my wife and children to try and get a lay of the land so to speak. I looked for a real estate agency to help me find an ideal place to buy a home, however, I rented first and then bought a home later. I would say you might want to visit first and get someone in real estate to help you find a place where you are comfortable.

I would say yeah, you pretty much just have to do it. You'll find your way and be fine. I applaud you for venturing out on your own. I left home at 19 years old. I'm sure you'll be fine.

Good luck. I hope this helps!

BoxingSpecialist2 said:

Hey guys, I've been posting on this website for a while now (since 2011 with this account, but since 2010 or so with accounts I used to use) and I'm sure by now some of you have come to know me a bit. I appreciate this site and all of its members, including Don Wassall, and I'm happy to be a part of the community here.

I have a couple of personal questions I'd like to ask (I don't post on any other websites and I know some of the posters here so I'd prefer to ask it here). Keep in mind I am a 25 year old male, not married, so I'm kind of young, and I don't have as much life experience as some of the older guys here. So sorry beforehand if some of my questions sound stupid, lol.

I make good money at my current job and I work hard, but I'm always job-hunting and I've been offered a job with a new company, something very substantial that is across the country (I currently live in Ontario, I will be moving to Alberta, it's almost cross-country). I'm 25 and I've decided it's a good time for me to leave my family's house so I want to take the job and move. I currently make good money but the money I will be making at the new job will be even better. So I am willing to move. I'm going to be driving down in my car. I have other options, I can ship my car, but I would prefer to just drive down because I enjoy driving and I'd like to do the drive myself.

I lived alone when I was in University for a few months. But my family was only 30 minutes away, and they helped me out financially. So I've never really lived alone before and to be honest I am feeling a bit overwhelmed. I have a couple of basic questions:

- When moving to a new city, how exactly do I do it? Just get in the car and leave? Is there a particular time of the month or year that is best for me to leave?

- At the moment I am looking for a place to rent (will perhaps buy later but because I am just moving now I prefer to rent at the moment). How do I find a place to live? Should I have a place to live already established before I leave or is it OK to show up in my car and negotiate on places there? Should I make contacts and inquiries into the rental market before I drive down? What's the best way to go about finding a place to live?

- Should I drive through Canada or USA? I plan on doing the drive slowly and visiting some places along the way. I could do the drive in 40 hours if I rush, but I want to take my time and enjoy the drive, so I'm willing to take up to a week and a half. I want a nice, scenic drive.

- How much notice should I give my current employer? 2 weeks is the standard, but my company has let employees go with no notice. I don't appreciate that and I don't think that's fair that I should be expected to give them a notice when they don't return the favour to employees. Times are changing and the "2 week notice" idea seems somewhat outdated in this economy... I don't need the reference to be successful and I already have enough references that I can forego it.

- Is there anything else I should know about moving to a new place, new city, new part of the country, or living on my own for the first time?

Thanks, I appreciate all comments and feedback. I will be moving probably a few months from now (mid Summer roughly if things go well), so I'm asking these questions now to get an idea so that the move and new job goes smoothly.

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I don't understand how you have a job offer but won't be moving until a few months? Has the company offered you a job that far in advance? Most times when you switch jobs you have to give up one and start at the other. If you really have months to wait until switching why wouldn't you give your current employer 2 weeks (or more) notice. I agree that it is unfair that the company gives you a pink slip without notice but you are expected to give two weeks, however it's best not to burn bridges because you never know.

You should consider carefully such a big move. I had to do it at your age because there were no jobs where I was at but it's a big deal to stuff all your junk in the car and drive a long ways away from family and friends. It's tough to make new friends as an adult. Being alone in a new town is not fun unless you have a group from work to hang out with. I also doubt there are many Persian Princesses in Alberta ;-)

As far as finding a new place, what I did was I just drove to where I was going and looked in the papers (that would be done on the internet now) for places to rent. Drove around and checked them out until I found one I liked. (Stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks--it was paid for by the company that hired me) It turned out to be a crappy place so I ended up moving several more times until I found one I liked. I recommend keeping stuff in boxes until you are sure.

The internet has made just about everything easier than it used to be when it comes to information and knowledge. You can learn a helluva lot about a city ahead of time now, including places to live and everything else you need to know. Of course, you own experience when you actually get there will be different, but the basics are out there now to take advantage of. No need to ask for advice, find out on your own, ease of mobility is one of the great advantages of youth.

Definitely give your employer at least two weeks notice. No point in needlessly burning bridges.

1) Research, research, research. You don't want to move to Bismark, ND without a heavy coat, or Miami, FL without lighter clothing. You also don't want to realize two weeks in that you moved into a *****-infested neighborhood (I don't know if that's an issue in Alberta, but you need to find out). I think you need to visit the place before you move there, but you can find out a lot online. Have a plan.

2) Save money. Everything will cost more than you think, and there will be plenty of expenses that you didn't see coming.

3) As mentioned, give your employer two weeks notice, since that is standard. Don't give any more than that, or they might try to shove you out ahead of schedule. Be prepared for that possibility.

4) Get settled in several days before the new job starts, if at all possible. Learn how you will get to work, and how long it will take at rush hour. Being late the first day is a no-no.

Carolina Speed said:

Good luck. I hope this helps!

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Hey buddy, it does help me out hearing from guys who have done it, and I thank you! And it's true what you say that it will be easy for me since I am single with no children. It's an advantage for me

jaxvid said:

I don't understand how you have a job offer but won't be moving until a few months?

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I graduated school in 2011. Since I've graduated, most jobs that I apply for are anywhere from 1 to 6 months in advance (I would say the average is between 1 and 3). This is pretty typical. I applied for this job in February, had 3 interviews, and this month I received a formal offer of employment via email which I have signed and faxed to my prospective employer. My start date is in June, but when I was hired I had explained that I would need to be moving and they seemed very accommodating with the start date.

jaxvid said:

If you really have months to wait until switching why wouldn't you give your current employer 2 weeks (or more) notice. I agree that it is unfair that the company gives you a pink slip without notice but you are expected to give two weeks, however it's best not to burn bridges because you never know.

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This "yes man" attitude is exactly what's wrong with most workers here in North America and this is why people are constantly being paid less but working harder, and work is being shipped overseas to other countries. If your going to willingly take sh1t from companies, then companies will think they can get away with anything, and over time they will get away with anything and the quality of life for everyone else will have declined. Companies here don't really care about their employees, as I mentioned YOU get *no notice* of termination of employment.

Times have changed, and people and companies are constantly changing jobs or going under. Quite frankly, I don't feel it's appropriate giving a notice anymore and I know many of the young employees feel the same way. Times have changed and the job market is more cut throat nowadays. By giving a notice, I also open myself up to being let go earlier than I want. That goes against my own interest and thus I'd rather not give a notice. Upon me quitting my job, I will explain why I didn't give a notice and I will use this as one of my reasons.

I don't need the company's future reference and quite frankly I don't care if my boss takes it personal or thinks I am "burning bridges". I can get a job very easily elsewhere. Only a real jackass would take it personal and try to "blacklist" me after the fact. Also, I have made enough friends in this job that I will still have references even after I quit without notice.

jaxvid said:

You should consider carefully such a big move. I also doubt there are many Persian Princesses in Alberta ;-)

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Lol, good point and I've already considered this. I will be making enough money to travel back and forth between Alberta and Toronto or Montreal several times a year. So I'm planning on bringing some Persian or Arabic Princesses with me

jaxvid said:

As far as finding a new place, what I did was I just drove to where I was going and looked in the papers (that would be done on the internet now) for places to rent. Drove around and checked them out until I found one I liked. (Stayed in a hotel for 2 weeks--it was paid for by the company that hired me) It turned out to be a crappy place so I ended up moving several more times until I found one I liked. I recommend keeping stuff in boxes until you are sure.

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Thanks a lot, this really helps me out and this is what I really wanted to hear. I'm just really unsure about how to get a place on my own. I've never done it before and I have used google about "how to move to a new city" but the results didn't satisfy me.

I've never rented a place on my own before, so this process is totally new to me. It seems like you just drove down without an established place and stayed there until you found a place. I like that approach and that's probably what I'll do.

Don Wassall said:

The internet has made just about everything easier than it used to be when it comes to information and knowledge. You can learn a helluva lot about a city ahead of time now, including places to live and everything else you need to know. Of course, you own experience when you actually get there will be different, but the basics are out there now to take advantage of. No need to ask for advice, find out on your own, ease of mobility is one of the great advantages of youth.

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Oh, absolutely. I've spent the past week or so researching the city, province, region, job market, and rental market where I will be moving and so on and so forth. However, some questions I still had after researching are those which I posted in this thread. I spent a few days researching the process of moving to a new city, but I found the results didn't fully answer the questions I had.

The internet is a valuable source of information but there really is no substitute for talking with people who have been there and done that. To an extent you can find that on the net, but asking people allows you to be a lot more specific.

I find the replies of Jaxvid, Carolina Speed to be very helpful (more so than what I found through search engines). I've never moved somewhere before so I'm a total newbie to the process.

" At the moment I am looking for a place to rent (will perhaps buy later but because I am just moving now I prefer to rent at the moment). How do I find a place to live? Should I have a place to live already established before I leave or is it OK to show up in my car and negotiate on places there? Should I make contacts and inquiries into the rental market before I drive down? What's the best way to go about finding a place to live?"



This website can be useful. Watch out for the shill reviews, of course.


http://www.apartmentratings.com/

Just one thing I would advise. Don't go on the landlord's or property management's description of a place. If at all possible, scout it out for your self. There are liars, damned liars, and statistics. And landlords.

Mapping America: Every City, Every Block
http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer

Use this racial demographic map if your moving into America. It will tell you where blacks, mexicans, asians, whites live. Good tool to avoid black neighborhoods.

The Hock said:

Just one thing I would advise. Don't go on the landlord's or property management's description of a place. If at all possible, scout it out for your self. There are liars, damned liars, and statistics. And landlords.

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This. If the property seems too cheap to be true generally there will be problems with the building or tenants or worse vagrants that hang out in the area or a mix of all three. Your best bet is to visit the property and casually ask a tenant leaving the building if there are any problems. Poll a few and then make a decision on the property.

Iconoclast said:

Mapping America: Every City, Every Block
http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/explorer

Use this racial demographic map if your moving into America. It will tell you where blacks, mexicans, asians, whites live. Good tool to avoid black neighborhoods.

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Hey, that's great. Thanks for posting it. I never knew about that one before.

It sounds like you are going to work in oil. Its hard and the hours are long, so guys start taking meth to help, don't be stupid and do that.

Cut off caffeine intake from now until your first day of work, the caffeine will be more effective and help you pay more attention on your first day, its always good to make the best first impression possible.

Also there is a tendency for young kids to want to live in the center of things, but if you can save money by living farther away, do it.

Fortitud3 said:

It sounds like you are going to work in oil. Its hard and the hours are long, so guys start taking meth to help, don't be stupid and do that.

Cut off caffeine intake from now until your first day of work, the caffeine will be more effective and help you pay more attention on your first day, its always good to make the best first impression possible.

Also there is a tendency for young kids to want to live in the center of things, but if you can save money by living farther away, do it.

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Wisdom from a man who knows the ropes.