It’s easy to see why Los Angeles is such a popular relocation destination. With gorgeous weather all year long, unrivaled local culture and plenty to do, L.A. is easily one of the country’s most appealing metropolises.
For many people who work in creative fields – or aspire to – relocating to Los Angeles seems like a natural step. After all, depending on the industry in which you wish to seek your fortune, you may have no choice but to reside in the City of Angels. However, as most L.A. transplants can attest, moving to Dodger City comes with a number of unique challenges – and if you dive in unprepared, the transition process is guaranteed to prove emotionally taxing and bleed you dry financially. In the interest of making your big move to L.A. less strenuous, take care to tend to the following preparations.
Procure a working vehicle
Many Americans don’t associate big cities with driving. For example, take NYC, the country’s quintessential metropolis. Although there are plenty of vehicles on the streets, the vast majority of New Yorkers get around the city by foot and via public transit. As such, it’s reasonable to assume that traversing Los Angeles would be a similar experience. However, as new arrivals quickly discover, L.A. wasn’t designed for foot traffic – but rather literal traffic. One look at the overall layout of the city reveals that it was built with driving – not walking – in mind. That being the case, even if you’ve spent lots of time in other major cities, you’re unlikely to be prepared for the traffic situation in L.A.
Suffice it to say, you’ll need a working vehicle if you intend to live and work in Los Angeles. While there are Angelinos who manage to get by without one, your life will be substantially easier with a dependable car at your disposal. If you already own a reliable vehicle, that’s one less relocation expense you’ll need to worry about. Conversely, if you don’t currently own a car, make a point of obtaining one prior to setting off for L.A.
Line up a source of income
While NYC and San Francisco have a higher cost of living, Los Angeles is far from an inexpensive place to live. With much higher rental rates and housing prices than other parts of the country, L.A. is not an easy city to survive in without a steady source of income. New residents can save themselves a tremendous amount of stress by lining up a job in advance of moving. Having a job waiting for you in Dodger City can lift a huge weight off your shoulders and enable you to shift your focus to other aspects of relocation.
Build your savings
Of course, lining up a good job before arriving in L.A. isn’t an option for everyone. Depending on your chosen field, employers may not be willing to take a chance on out-of-state applicants. Additionally, certain companies make a point of only hiring locals, thereby rendering applications from non-residents pointless. If this describes your situation, take care to build your savings before charting a course for the City of Angels.
The amount you’ll need to have in the bank largely depends on how risk-averse you are. For example, if you’re fairly confident you’ll be able to find a job in the immediate wake of your relocation, you may be able to move with as little as $5,000. On the flipside, if you think it will take a while to find gainful employment, make sure you have at least $10,000 saved up before embarking on your big move.
Look into affordable storage solutions
One of the first things you’ll notice when seeking out housing in Los Angeles is how pricey the rents are compared to smaller areas. So, unless you have a fortune saved up or will soon be starting a high-paying job, you’ll likely have to settle for a modestly-sized place. For some new residents, this isn’t much of an issue, but if you’re moving with a sizable number of possessions, you may need to look into outside storage solutions. To find affordable storage units in Dodger City, just hop on the web and search for “storage Los Angeles.”
It’s easy to see why Los Angeles is such a popular relocation destination. With gorgeous weather all year long, unrivaled local culture and plenty to do, L.A. is easily one of the country’s most appealing metropolises. However, while there are ample perks associated with living in the City of Angels, this isn’t to say that life in L.A. is without its more stressful elements. Fortunately, by taking the time to properly prepare for your big move, you can make relocating to Dodger City less taxing – both emotionally and financially.
