Is it good to move to a new apartment?

Figuring out if it’s good to move to a new apartment can be a little confusing. I’ve been in this situation before and there are many factors that can persuade you in looking into moving to a new apartment.

I’ve had many questions cross my mind about moving. “Do I have to deal with loud neighbors?” “Is my rent really worth what I’m paying?” “Can I find something closer to my job?”. There are many questions like these that will make you start thinking if it’s a good idea to move to a new apartment.

Ultimately, I do believe it is good to move to a new apartment when you’ve started questioning your current living conditions. An example of this is if you’re paying more than the current market value. Another reason would be if you’re not satisfied with the community/neighborhood. There are many reasons just like these that would justify a good time to move out.

When it is good to move to a new apartment?

Is it good to move to a new apartment

As mentioned above, the market can dictate when you should stay or move. You should periodically be looking at what the current prices are going for in your area. Not only can this save you money, but you can be aware if there are better apartments that come with better amenities. If I were to see a better option for the price I’m already paying for, you bet I would start looking to move.

Ideally you know when it’s the right time to move out when you’re finically able to pay your rent and bills on time. If you really want to see if you can afford a specific amount of rent, then start paying it to yourself. For example, if you currently pay $1000 and want to see if you can afford paying $1200, then start paying yourself an extra $200 into your savings account. Do not touch the $200 at all! Go for at least 3 months and see if you can sustain yourself while paying $1200 total.

Another reason when it would be good to move is due to noisy or rude neighbors. I’ve moved 6 times and 2 of them were because I had neighbors who wouldn’t respect the community rules. I spoke with them and the landlords and nothing would change. I’m a reasonable person, but I can’t be woken up at 1am from neighbors drinking and being loud on a weekday. At this point, I knew it was a lost battle and it was time for me to start packing up.

Why would it be good to move to a new apartment?

Working closer to save you time and save gas money is a good reason why you may want to move. I used to spend 1 hour one way going to work and it was such a waste of my time. The pay was worth it but wasting 2 hours a day commuting was not sitting well with me (no pun intended). Luckily, my last move got me 15 min away from my job and I’m reaping all the benefits from it.  

Another reason why you should consider moving would be your job condition. You may have lost a job and now your new income is much lower than before. On the flip side, you might have gotten a raise or a better paying job that can now let you afford a better place. Either way, this would most certainly be a reason why it would be good to move to a new apartment.

I had a friend who moved because she finally was ready to move in with her partner. If you’re in a similar situation this would be a good reason why you would want to move as well. In some cases, you would have your partner move in, but you shouldn’t feel guilty if you would rather start fresh in a new apartment.

How do I move to a new apartment?

Is it good to move to a new apartment

I’ve written a detailed article on how to find an apartment. The keep it short, the full gist of it is to look online, call, and go to viewings. You should rinse and repeat until you get a lease offer.

You can also drive around the area you’re looking to move to. There are a lot of older landlords who don’t utilize the internet (I know right?) to market their vacancy. On my 3rd move I found a unit from a “For Rent” sign in front of the building. To my surprise I never saw a listing on it online and was able to get a lease just 4 days of seeing the sign.

Chances are you’ve already moved out before. Once you fine a new location, you must commit and start the moving process. I know how stressful moving can be but finding a new apartment doesn’t have to be complicated. You can eliminate stress if you plan as I’ve explained here.

Things to consider before moving into a new apartment

If you’re thinking of moving, then you should make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons. As explained above, you can justify why and when you should move. But if you’re not sure if you should, then I would suggest waiting until you feel confident that the time is right. Moving is not cheap, so you shouldn’t move until you’re certain.

Make sure you able to afford it and make sure you’ve done your homework. You should know for certain that the apartment and location is the right one. You don’t want to move to a noisy area or have a repeat of the apartment you move from.

Ultimately, you should move when you’re ready. I hope I was able to give insight on when is it good to move into a new apartment.