Source: Roomi

Aside from the app’s safety features, Roomi makes searching for apartments easier. You can choose to show only ID-verified users, price, duration, apartment layout, what kind of property, the number of bedrooms, and amenities available.

And the best part? It’s totally free to get started.

2. Pick your borough and neighborhood

There are five boroughs in New York: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island. Each of these boroughs has its own personality, so it’s best to visit each one of them before moving to get a feel of where you feel you’ll fit in best. You can go on a tour around the boroughs if you’ve never been at all to know more about the area and New York, in general.

After going through the boroughs and choosing one, it’s time to decide on which neighborhood you’re moving to. All boroughs are full of varying neighborhoods that can look and feel different although they’re just blocks away from each other. If you’re unsure how to choose, consider these factors:

• How expensive/cheap is the housing?
• How walkable is the neighborhood? Is it safe to walk around alone?
• How is the commute to work/university going to be?
• Are there open spaces like parks or green spaces to spend some free time in?

3. Decide on the space that you need

When moving places in general, it’s important to decide how much space you’ll need so you know what kind of place to look for. Here are some points to consider:

• Will you work from home and need a space to work in?
• Do you have a pet or are you planning to get one?
• Are you thinking of having children anytime soon?

Related: Is It Time For You To Move To Another City?

4. Prepare your budget

New York is an expensive city. Housing and cheap furniture can be difficult to find, owning a car isn’t advisable, and food prices are regularly increasing. This is why when planning your move to NYC, you have to plan and prepare your budget well.

Source: Pexels

And you don’t just consider housing, you have to include food, groceries, personal expenses, transportation expenses, moving supplies, moving fees, etc. Planning your budget to a T will help you estimate your expected overall expenses and save you from spending extra.

5. Don’t be afraid to shop around when moving to NYC

With all of the online shopping services today, you’re probably well-versed in checking multiple sites and price-checking different products, so it’s necessary to do the same when moving to NYC.

But ‘to shop around’ means to look at multiple apartments, ask around for recommended moving companies (if you need them), read some reviews online, and walk around the area you want. Just make sure that, if you’re hiring any person or company to help you out, you hire someone who can do the work for the budget that you have.

Related: 4 Simple DIY Repairs You Can Do On Your Own

6. Get all the information you can ahead of time

Just like tip #5 above, it’s essential that once you have a list of potential movers or companies, do extensive research about them. Read reviews, look for bloggers who talked about moving and used the same companies, and ask friends and families for recommendations.

7. Do everything you can possibly do before the movers to where you’re moving in NYC

Once you’ve sorted your things, moved everything to boxes, have hired movers, and you’re just a day or two away from finally moving to NYC, make sure that everything’s set before your movers arrive. By ‘everything’s set’, that means you’ve packed everything ready to go for the movers to quickly transport your stuff from your apartment to the truck.

Remember, even the most trustworthy movers can’t be superheroes. Movers come to do their job so make sure there is not still food in the fridge and you’re not in a robe. If movers charge hourly, save yourself money by making boxes easily accessible, big and heavy in the front, smalls in the back.

8. Find a roommate

Living alone in an expensive city, like New York, isn’t practical due to the high cost of living. It’s ultimately better for your savings account to share expenses with a roommate. Not only can you save up on your finances, but you also gain a new friend.

Source: Roomi

Of course, you have to consider whether you get along well with your roommate. Think about if you have the same interests, hobbies, and preferences. Luckily, with Roomi, you can filter all these to narrow down your search and find the perfect roommate for you. More than that, Roomi makes sure that all users have undergone a thorough background check and ID verification to avoid fraud and scams.

Now, You’re Ready to Move to NYC!

Even though moving to NYC can be overwhelming at first, these 8 hacks can help you be prepared and ready to take on the big city. To wrap it all up, just remember to do your research on the area or neighborhood you’re planning on moving to, make sure to scout around the area and for potential moving companies, and to use Roomi to make finding apartments or roommates easy.

You can find affordable housing and the perfect roommate, all in one app. More than that, Roomi takes the safety and privacy of its users seriously with background checks, ID verification, and secure in-app messaging.

Moving should be a time of excitement and new beginnings, these tips make for a smooth moving experience. So, sign up today and get started on your journey to the Big Apple.

Moving to NYC is quick and easy with Roomi.