Moving from one city to another in a different province can be quite the adjustment but if you do your homework and ask the right questions from your real estate agent, you can make the move feel less daunting before you even sign on the dotted line
What is the job market like and can I afford it?
If your dream job is in Cape Town and you have a job offer lined up, that’s great—go! But if you don’t have a job lined up in your chosen profession, you should try to get an offer or transfer within your current company before relocating. And do your research on salary expectations for comparable positions in your new city, as management and compensation vary in different locations.
If you are relocating to work remotely, you will need to factor in what commuter costs will be if you are needed at the office and if the new area is rural, you will need to find out what setting up a reliable home office will add to your monthly costs
This is on top of the usual costs involved with buying a home.
What about my support network?
It sounds silly but relocating to a new place - especially far away from your friends and family - is a huge deal and looking at how this move away from your support network will affect you is important. If you are a parent, not having built-in babysitters in the form of grandparents or willing friends will add to your cost of living expenses
What is the real estate market like and where are neighbourhoods that will fit your lifestyle?
Right now you might be paying R9000 in rent, for example, but if you moved to the new area where rental apartments are in high demand and there is low stock, you might end paying double that for a smaller apartment. Even if you’re used to living alone in one city, you may have to get roommates in the next. Make sure you have a realistic idea of how much you’d be paying to live in your new location. And take advantage of technology and research the types of neighborhoods you’d like to live in, whether they be family-friendly or located near nightlife.
What’s the traffic and public transportation like?
If you are moving from the Johannesburg office to the Durban office, you know where the office is so may think you have a rough idea of how far away you can live to have a reasonable daily commute. But if you haven't done the daily commute for yourself you won't have any idea how bad traffic can be in the mornings or getting back home - you will need to experience this for yourself before settling on a neighbourhood.
If you are not going to be driving and relying on public transport, you will have to make sure that your chosen area is in close proximity to reliable transportation options.
Another question along the same lines: How’s the parking? Especially in big, metropolitan areas, parking may not be included in the purchase price or may be an unexpected extra fee. The last thing you want to do is spend hours circling the block looking for street parking outside your new home, so be sure to get the parking scoop from your agent before you sign on the dotted line.
Who do you recommend for…?
Once you have made the move, getting recommendations on things can be tricky. Unless you already know lots of people in your new city, you can’t just ask your Facebook friends for referrals to local companies and service providers, and reading online reviews can only get you so far.
Here’s where your real estate agent can help. They can offer insights into utility providers, electricians, doctors, plumbers, dentists, hairstylists, manicurists, and more.
