7 Awesome Relocation Hacks for Remote Workers

One of the biggest bennies of working from home is that “home” can be, well, pretty much anywhere. Freed from in-person meetings and worries about commute times, you’re free to live wherever you want… as long as you have good WiFi.

But before you upgrade to that mountain view (or whatever makes your heart happy!), here are a few relocation hacks to help you make the most of your untethered lifestyle.

• Move to the right city

  Since you can live pretty much wherever you want, take some time to really think about where you want to live. Ask yourself what kind of lifestyle, climate, and amenities you’d like. What about proximity to family and friends? These are all things that will eventually impact how happy you are in your new town.

  Take some time to really think this one out. If possible, visit your top choice before finalizing the big move.

• Know income tax laws

  Want to make sure you can afford your new digs? Hint: it’s not just about living expenses. Income tax can be a huge deal-breaker.

  If you currently live somewhere without it, suddenly having to pay a state tax is basically the equivalent of you having to take a pay cut. Not exactly the ideal relocation situation!

  If you aren’t sure how tax laws will affect you, consult with a tax advisor before picking your new home.

• Declutter as you pack

  The lighter you travel, the less it costs. So one of our favorite relocation hacks (not just remote workers!) is to take your time packing and declutter as you go.

  For each item you pack, ask yourself: do I love it? Do I need it? If the answer to both is no, then sell, donate, or throw it out.

  Do you really need that never-used formal china or the hideous sweater vest your well-meaning aunt bought for you? The last thing you want to do is pay to move a bunch of stuff that you’ll just end up donating as soon as you unpack it.

• Have a “first day” box

  There are a million relocation hacks out there that’ll make it easier, but let’s face it: moving day is going to be long and exhausting. When you’re ready to call it a day, you’re definitely not going to want to start digging through boxes for your favorite penguin onesie.

  Pack a box with all the essentials you’ll need for the first day and night—towels, bed linens, paper plates and napkins, pajamas, toothbrush, comfy clothes for the next day…. You guys get the idea.

  If you’re working the next day, make sure you include your chargers and anything else you normally need to get through a workday.

• Separate your home and work spaces

  When you start settling in, take some time to set up your office space before getting back into your workflow,

  If you don’t have a dedicated home office, it’s even more important to make sure you can separate your spaces. Hunching over a laptop while you’re sitting cross-legged on the couch might be comfy, but it isn’t good for your spine—or your productivity.

• Find your community

  And working from home and being in a new city where you don’t know anyone can leave even introverts feeling isolated.

  So while it’s not technically a relocation hack, making new connections is still vital to thriving in your new hometown.

  Find your community doing things you love, whether it’s volunteering for your favorite charity, joining a gym or sports league, or connecting with meetup groups on social media or apps.

• Explore!

  One of the best things about relocation is being someplace new; have fun with it! Use your time off to play tourist in your new hometown.

  Find your new brunch spot, check out the local coffee shops, catch live music at your neighborhood bar…

Moving is exciting, exhausting, stressful, and fun… all at once. But our relocation hacks will make it easier, so you can stop worrying about moving and start enjoying your remote work lifestyle sooner than later.

And here’s the good news: if you’re renting a furnished place (such as an Airbnb), you probably won’t need a moving company. But you’ll still need to get your stuff to your new place. Instead of driving cross-country with a car full of boxes (awkward!) or flying with them (expensive!), ship your boxes to your new home with LugLess.

The only thing you’ll have to worry about is getting yourself to your new place, making relocation surprisingly easy-peasy!