If you’re undertaking a massive project, you want someone — or something — trustworthy backing you up. A fair-weather friend isn’t going to make a devastating breakup any easier, and a sketchy website will only hinder your progress when moving. Thankfully a website exists for every step of the moving process — and these are sites you can rely on.
City-Data.com: For Determining a Destination
Informed decisions are important in all aspects of life — especially moving. You want to know everything about your new hometown, from crime history to the best local eateries. A cheaper house isn’t worth the savings if you’re moving somewhere with frequent burglaries. For this kind of information and more, City-Data.com is the best. It won’t help you find a house, but it’ll help you find the right neighborhood. Narrowing down your options early on can keep you from feeling overwhelmed.
Zillow: For Finding a House
Zillow is well known as one of the most popular real estate sites and apps. Not only does it show homes for sale, but also renting options. First-time movers may want to consider renting, especially if it’s their first time living independently. Websites like Zillow are great for getting a feel for a home. Most listings include an extensive catalog of pictures, and some may even have virtual tours.
Virtual tours shine especially bright for long-distance moves. If you’re moving across state lines, it’s much harder to tour the home you’re moving into before move-in day. With a virtual tour, you can get a clearer picture of your future home’s layout. It’ll also be easier to tell if a house just isn’t for you. False positives and negatives can occur, but they’re less frequent than with blind moves.
Weather.com: For the Forecast
The weather is a major part of our daily lives, whether we like it or not. It can have a much greater impact on your move than you may think. A rainy day can potentially ruin any furniture or cardboard boxes left outside. Blizzards can make it unsafe for large vehicles like moving trucks. Heavy lifting during a heatwave is inadvisable. Weather.com, the official website for the Weather Channel, will keep you informed about conditions on your moving day.
ThredUp: For Cleaning Out Your Closet
It’s not uncommon for people to use moving as an excuse to empty their closets. With packing, unpacking, and moving, taking unwanted clothes with you is neither time- nor cost-effective. Many people would be content taking old clothes to a local donation center like Goodwill. For people who wish to make a little side money, however, sites like ThredUp help streamline the process since they handle the hassle of selling everything for you. It’s akin to eBay, another choice for getting rid of unwanted clutter.
StorageCafe: For Finding Storage
There are thousands of self-storage locations throughout the continental U.S., but they don’t always advertise if there are units available or what their rates are. StorageCafe can help you find one close to your new home. You can also check for details such as size, humidity control, and RV storage.
TaskRabbit: For Getting Help
The moving process is made up of small, menial tasks that culminate in the big voyage. Packing up belongings, cleaning up for house tours, and loading the moving van may not seem like a massive annoyance on their own, but they add up. It’s even more frustrating when you’re working alone. Friends and family may help, but that depends on their location, physical ability, and availability.
TaskRabbit allows users to offer services at an hourly rate. Tasks may include furniture assembly, delivery, and even waiting in line on your behalf. Rates vary among users and the tasks they offer. If you need to cut the tedium and don’t mind paying, it’s the perfect site to get the aid you need.
TaskRabbit can even assist after you’ve finished moving, since services like painting and yard work are also available. If your new home needs a few renovations, it may be worth looking into. Something as minor as TV mounting and installation can be done for a reasonable fee. After all, post-move renovations are part of the moving process — they just aren’t typically included in the same discussion.
NerdWallet: For Cost of Living
Moving isn’t always a lateral change. Salaries, mortgages, and other necessities are different depending on your location. Living somewhere with lower rents or higher-paying jobs may be the goal of your move in the first place, but it’s important to know what the cost of living will be once your move is finished. NerdWallet has a comprehensive cost-of-living calculator to let you compare your current home to your new destination.
USA.gov: For Government Assistance
Did you remember to change your address? It’s a common mistake. Apps and websites don’t know about your address change unless you tell them. Those unaware of the change will continue to send mail to your old home. Without updating it to be forwarded, it may end up in the hands of a stranger. The U.S. government website lists methods of updating your address, both nationally and internationally. It also has resources for avoiding moving scams and getting assistance on international moves. You can also keep your voter registration updated.
Roommates.com: For Finding a Roommate
Once amenities like water and cable are factored into your monthly expenses, the cost of your new home may be out of your budget, so you may decide to get a roommate when you move. Screening potential roommates isn’t an easy task. Sure, their listing on Craigslist seems positive, but it’s from their perspective. Maybe it’s been up for almost a month. Who’s to say it hasn’t been renewed? If it was, why haven’t they found a place yet?
If you decide to split your space, you want it to be someone you can trust. Roommates.com does full checks on all its users. You can sort by opinions on pets, type of housing wanted, and lease agreements. It’s fairly situational — obviously, you’ll only be using it if you want or need a roommate — but it’s an invaluable tool for those scenarios.