Introduction#
Today, I finally completed the intercity move from City A to City B, starting a new chapter of life in City B.
The Entire Moving Process#
After returning to City A from my hometown after the New Year, I began to seriously consider moving to City B, with more than half a month left until the lease expired.
Finding and Viewing Houses#
First, I determined the requirements for renting a house, 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 expenses); 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 assessment and negotiation when looking for a house later.
After completing the preliminary work, I started searching for houses online. On various rental apps, I prioritized finding 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 saves on agency fees and avoids unnecessary hassles.
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), then moving on to the higher-priority ones. During the viewings, in addition to meeting the previous requirements, I also checked the quality of the facilities in the rooms, such as door locks, air conditioning, windows, beds, tables and chairs, cabinets, and how to dry clothes and shoes, focusing 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, determined the rental, and agreed with the landlord on the move-in and contract signing dates, ensuring all costs were communicated and documented.
I completed viewing 6 houses in 2 days, and the one I finally chose was the one I viewed 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 then choose from among them (provided that you follow the previously determined priorities).
Packing Luggage#
Before determining the packing and transportation methods, I first needed to decide on the items to discard. If there are many, I could make a list and plan for classification and disposal. Good clothes and shoes could be donated or picked up for recycling.
I chose to pack my luggage by mailing clothes, bedding, and daily necessities to the new address in City B via logistics, while I carried one set of bedding and electronic devices myself for the move. Since I had little luggage, it was convenient to carry it myself. Bringing bedding allows me to move into the new home even before the logistics arrive, and carrying electronic devices helps 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 this time included cardboard boxes (60x40x50, ensuring each box contains at least 20kg), industrial PE film, vacuum compression bags, and wide tape.
This time, I almost ran out of industrial PE film; I should buy more next time. I could also consider buying some heat shrink film.
During the online house search, I did a simulation packing to determine two things:
- The approximate weight of the luggage for transport via logistics, which helps in comparison analysis when selecting logistics.
- The approximate time needed for packing, allowing for better planning of the schedule.
After the simulation packing, the actual packing was relatively easier and quicker than before.
Once the rental was confirmed, I first asked the landlord for the delivery address for the house, then selected a cost-effective logistics provider based on the addresses of City A and City B and the weight of the packed luggage (pay attention to the type of logistics and whether there are charges for heavy items going upstairs).
After packing the luggage, I placed an order and waited for the logistics personnel to pick it up.
When using a 60x40x50 cardboard box for packing, if the weight < 20kg, use volume calculation; the actual weight of the luggage < calculated weight, meaning the actual weight < 20kg, while 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 luggage to avoid giving the logistics company an opportunity to exploit the weight.
Different logistics companies have different volume-to-weight conversion ratios for mailing luggage in cardboard boxes (60x40x50), specifically 6000 and 8000:
Mode 1: 60x40x50 ÷ 6000 = 20kg (the one I used this time)
Mode 2: 60x40x50 ÷ 8000 = 15kg
The remaining luggage can be packed on the day of departure to City B, and the items to be discarded should be dealt with.
Before departing for City B, I must negotiate the deposit refund date and requirements with the landlord in City A to completely settle 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 appearance of all items in the room, then negotiated with the landlord in City B about the furniture and important notes in the room, and finally confirmed the contract details, ensuring all mentioned requirements and notes 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 finishing the room layout, I spent a total of 2 days. I officially began a new chapter of life in City B.
Summary of Feelings#
This was my first intercity move, and overall, it felt pretty good. I didn't experience the 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 wasn't as troublesome as I had anticipated, thanks to the clarity of the preparations for each major step.
From the start of the move to its complete end, the overall cost has already matched the rent of my current house 😂, but there’s always a first time for everything. This time, I’m summarizing my "direct experiences" for a review, and I can definitely do better next time 😎.
Let's keep going!!! Encouragement to everyone reading this article.