You’re planning to move and that is already difficult. If you’re moving to a new neighborhood or town, that can be even more so. This means moving away from everyone you know and all the familiar roads you likely travel daily. It can mean new schools and utility providers, new streets and stores.

It can also mean new opportunity! New opportunity to make new friends and become part of a new community. Here are a few tips for making your move smoother and settling into your new home and neighborhood.

Schedule the essentials

Create a list and then a timeline for all the things you will need to transfer. This includes utilities, school records, medical records, deliveries for purchases and so forth. You can find resources online for checklists and timelines or you can write it out on paper. Either way will work as long as you stick to the schedule!

Organize utility billing and transfers

Some companies will transfer to your new location. Most are good about making the switch on the same day. Make sure to pay any bills that will not be transferring and close those accounts. When you set up your utilities at your new location, make sure you know the billing dates and delivery dates. For example, local trash pickup, water delivery etc.

Research the new location

Take a little time to check things like local weather or shopping hubs. Look at available restaurants and grocery stores. If you know where the local hardware store is, it will make it less stressful if you find you need something.

Drive through town

If possible, take some time to drive through your town. Allow yourself the entire day to get to know the new location. You can find different ways in and out of your neighborhood, explore local hot spots, local parks and more. This will make it easier to find a place to take a break from all the unpacking!

Stroll through the new neighborhood

Take a walk through the new community and take the entire family! This will help you meet new neighbors as they’re coming and going. You can check out the local pool or park if one is available. You can also get a sense of local foot-traffic to find locations where kids play if you have children of your own.

Sign up for community spaces

Check out the local library, recreation centers, community pools, parks and the like. You don’t have to wait until you move in to explore these locations. You may need proof of residency to sign up. In the meantime, you can explore the locations and get pricing for them if applicable.

Look for online community pages

Most communities have a local Nextdoor account or a private Facebook page. If you can locate this, you can begin introducing yourself and get to know some of your neighbors online. Many communities post scheduled events to these pages so you can keep an eye out there.

Moving is always an ordeal. It rarely is a seamless transition as you can’t predict everything. But with planning, the surprises can be small and minimal. By spending time preparing, you can make the transition to your new neighborhood a smooth one.