As many of you may know; I have recently moved approximately 130+/- miles from our nation's capital (DC) to the lovely city of brotherly love (Philly).
It wasn't an easy decision for me, but one that would allow me to start a great new experience in a city near my childhood home. Moving is hard. You have to pack everything you own, somehow transport it to your new location; and then settle all over again. But in the end, it's always worth it.
When I decided to move to Philly, I gave myself some time before I found a place. Luckily I had the luxury to stay with family in the nearby burbs. But where did I want to live? What mattered to me most? How was I going to find the perfect place?
I started with familiar websites...Zillow, HotPads, and the infamous Craigslist (it's how I found my last DC home) but how did I know these sites would find my future abode? In the end they did. But persistence and the ability to put together a "Want/Need" list really helped my search.
I knew how many bedrooms and how many bathrooms I preferred. Yet these requirements were not in my price range in my desired location. I had to look a few blocks outside of the area, and found more options at affordable places. (Also, forcing me to walk and exercise more!)
I eventually ended up finding my dream apartment by accident. I was checking the portal of a building I wanted to live in and found the prized corner unit available. I reserved it and was good to go. I kept on top of the search; and after visiting over a dozen places in the span of six weeks, I knew this was the place for me. Not perfect, but definitely a place to call home in Philadelphia.
Just remember that when you plan your search; don't get frustrated. Go see places that might not fit your wish list. You might see them and actually have your wish list altered by the experience. I know mine did during the search. It also never hurts to meet realtors or brokers along the way. They are definitely in the game to help you. And I was fortunate enough to meet some that recommended other comparable places if I wasn't pleased by the apartment I had just seen. The more you see, the more you know what you like and what you don't like.
Now it's time to get ready to move in; and make sure to design my future abode the way that makes it a...Home.
Happy Hunting!
