Introduction#
Today, I finally completed the intercity move from City A to City B and began a new chapter of life in City B.
The Moving Process#
After returning to City A from my hometown after the New Year, I officially started considering the move to City B, with more than half a month left before the rent expired.
Finding and Viewing Houses#
First, I determined the rental needs, including rental costs (budget for rent, deposit and refund requirements, utilities, gas, property management fees, internet fees, whether there are viewing fees, agency fees, and other costs); the basic conditions of the house (lighting, size, furniture, air conditioning, balcony, heating, Wi-Fi, whether the environment is quiet). These basic conditions are divided into essential and secondary needs, as it is rare to fully meet all conditions. I first considered meeting the essential needs and then checked if the secondary needs were also met; nearby living facilities (supermarkets, vegetable markets, barbershops, parks, public transport, subway distance, etc.).
I learned about the prices of water, electricity, and gas in City B to facilitate evaluation and negotiation when looking for a house later.
After completing the preliminary work, I started searching for houses online. On major rental apps, I prioritized direct rentals from landlords/personal sources (there are relevant tutorials on mainstream short video platforms and Q&A communities). It might be a bit troublesome at first, but it can save a significant amount in agency fees and avoid unnecessary troubles.
I spent 5 days finding 6 houses to view. Based on my needs, I prioritized the houses to view, starting with the ones closest to the station (to minimize the impact of objective factors and better conserve energy), and then moved on to the higher-priority ones. During the viewings, in addition to meeting the previous needs, I also checked the quality of the room's facilities, such as door locks, air conditioning, windows, beds, tables and chairs, cabinets, and how to dry clothes and shoes, with a focus on whether the surrounding noise level was acceptable.
After viewing the houses, I checked nearby living facilities to see if they were complete.
After viewing all the houses, I conducted a comprehensive comparison, confirmed the rental, and agreed with the landlord on the move-in and contract signing dates, ensuring all costs were communicated and documented.
I viewed 6 houses in 2 days, and the one I ultimately chose was the one I saw on the first day. In fact, after viewing on the first day, I already had a rough choice in mind. If time is tight, you can directly view 3-4 houses in one day and choose from among them (provided that it is done according to the previously determined priorities).
Packing#
Before determining the packing and transportation methods, I first needed to identify the items I was prepared to discard. If there were many, I could list them and make a classification and disposal plan. Good clothes and shoes could be donated or arranged for pickup.
I chose to pack my belongings by mailing clothes, bedding, and daily necessities to my new address in City B via logistics, while carrying a bedding set and electronic devices myself for the move. Since I had fewer belongings, it was convenient to carry them myself. Bringing bedding allowed me to move into the new home before the logistics arrived, and carrying electronic devices helped avoid damage during transport.
After determining the packing method, I learned about the preparations needed for intercity moving, purchased packing tools, and selected a logistics provider. The packing tools I prepared included cardboard boxes (60x40x50, ensuring each box contained at least 20kg), industrial PE film, vacuum compression bags, and wide tape.
This time, I almost ran out of industrial PE film; I’ll buy more next time. I might also consider buying some shrink film.
During the online house search, I conducted a mock packing session, which helped me confirm two things:
- The approximate weight of the belongings to be transported via logistics, facilitating comparison analysis when selecting logistics.
- The approximate time required for packing, allowing for better planning of the schedule.
After the mock packing, the actual packing process was relatively easier and quicker than before.
Once the rental was confirmed, I first asked the landlord for the delivery address for the house, and then selected a cost-effective logistics provider based on the addresses of City A and City B and the weight of the packed belongings (paying attention to the type of logistics and whether there are charges for heavy items being carried upstairs).
After packing the belongings, I placed an order and waited for the logistics personnel to pick them up.
When using a 60x40x50 cardboard box for packing, if the weight is <20kg, use volume calculation; if the actual weight is <calculated weight, then the actual weight is <20kg, but the calculated weight is 20kg; if the weight ≥20kg, use weight calculation, then the actual weight = calculated weight, both ≥20kg. Therefore, when using a 60x40x50 cardboard box, it must contain at least 20kg of belongings to avoid giving the logistics company any loopholes regarding the weight.
Different logistics companies have different volume-to-weight conversion ratios for mailing belongings in cardboard boxes (60x40x50), specifically 6000 and 8000:
Model 1: 60x40x50÷6000=20kg (which I used this time)
Model 2: 60x40x50÷8000=15kg
The remaining belongings could be packed on the day of departure to City B, and the items I planned to discard could be disposed of.
Before departing for City B, I had to negotiate with the landlord in City A regarding the date and requirements for the return of the deposit, fully settling the rental matters in City A.
Moving into the New Home, Planning, and Completing the Layout#
Upon arriving at the new address in City B, I first recorded the original state of all items in the room, then negotiated with the landlord in City B regarding the furniture and any precautions, and finally confirmed the contract details, ensuring all mentioned needs and precautions were documented.
When arranging the room, I first replanned the layout based on the room specifications and my preferences, then arranged the furniture. After finishing, I added items as needed.
From moving into the new home to completely rearranging the room, I spent a total of 2 days. I officially began a new chapter of life in City B.
Summary of Feelings#
My first intercity move was overall quite pleasant; I didn’t experience the same panic I had when looking for a house right after graduation. The rhythm of the entire process was smoother.
Looking back at the entire moving process, it was relatively less troublesome than I had anticipated, thanks to the clarity of the preparations for each major step.
From the start of the move to its complete conclusion, the overall expenses have already matched the rent of my current house 😂. However, everything has its first time, and this time I reviewed and summarized my "direct experiences," so I can definitely do better next time 😎.
Let’s keep going!!! Encouragement to everyone reading this article.