Once you have chosen where your first destination will be, there are a couple things you need to scope out and prepare yourself for:
1. Finding housing that will allow for a short term lease. This can be tricky, but I have never not been able to find something. Sometimes I have to pay for a lease that's 5 months when I'm only there for 4.5, but that is something I know going in. Many jobs offer employee housing, which is much akin to dorm style living. Craigslist is your friend.
2. Pack LIGHT. Do not bring anything you will not need, seriously, because you're the one who has to lug it around. I'm a bit of a hypocrite though, you should see the number of heels and dresses I bring, but I do what I want. You can find furniture once you get there, and usually resell it for a profit once you're ready to leave. I bring my clothes, a small dresser, lamps, mattress, kitchen utensils/appliances, MAKEUP of course and anything beauty related, a TV and DVD player, laptop, camera, camping/backpacking gear, a few little things for decoration, and my handsome dog : )
Mr. Tyson guarding the campsite
3. Job Searching. I do this at least a month or 2 before I plan on moving. I send out resumes and schedule interviews so that I'm ahead of the game. People begin hiring prior to the season starting. As soon as I pull into town I get a hotel, and spend the first few days looking for an apt and job searching. I bust my ass to get these 2 things done first, and I usually have a job and a place to live in the first 2-4 days. Researching ahead of time is KEY.
4. Furnishing your apartment. I literally just buy my furniture when I get there. There's always people trying to sell their stuff. I don't mean janky 30 year old pieces, I've never had a problem finding really nice stuff. I usually just need a couch, coffee table, TV stand, and a small nightstand. Most of the time I resell it all at the end and MAKE money. My boyfriend has been working and moving seasonally a lot longer than I, and did ALL this in his Mazda 3 sedan.
5. Stay organized. You'll start to get into a routine, which is important. There's a method to this madness to keep it all moving smoothly. Have a box or binder where you keep important documents such as resumes, previous housing info (landlords will want to see this to make sure you're not a psycho), Social Security Card (for credit checks), banking info and checks, bills you need to change the address on (cell phone, medical insurance, netflix, etc), and if you're a dog lover like me your puppies medical records.
6. Get all your services set up. This includes utilities (if they are not included in your rent), gas, water, cable/satellite, and internet. By the way don't let the assholes at the cable companies screw with you, they'll try to talk you into crazy contacts and upgrades. Tell them NO, all you want is month to month service for cable and internet. You don't need phone services or anything else that is useless. Sometimes you have to be firm with them. ALSO if you're in a decently sized city shop around for services, especially cable/internet and find the best price. In a lot of the small towns these companies have a monopoly on their service, but in the bigger cities they do not.
These are the basics of what I do and how I stay organized. I know it seems like a lot but it get easier each time you do it, and it's not as much as it seems. You go balls to the wall the first week of your move and then you're all set up! I really hope this peaks some interest in people, its such a fun way to live!! It's not something I'll do forever obviously, but for now I'm having fun : )
XO Amanda
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