Moving to NYC from a Small Town

From a Small Town to The Big Apple

So, you’ve decided to move to NYC from a small town. Trading in mom and pop shops for Bergdorf’s and Barney’s, familiarity for anonymity, and quiet charm for thrilling adventure. Transplanting to The City of Dreams from a small town is no minor task.

Fortunately, Shleppers Moving & Storage is here to make the transition as smooth as possible. We’re dishing out all you need to know when moving from a small town to NYC…then, we’re going to help you get there!

Explore All Five Boroughs

Hopefully you’ve scoped out your soon-to-be NYC neighborhood prior to making the huge decision to move. If not, we highly recommend doing some borough-hopping to get a feel for the city in its entirety. Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx all have tons to offer, and typically are more affordable than the center hub of it all—Manhattan.

Not sure where to start exploring? Check out our Neighborhood Pages, where we spill the 4-1-1 on NYC neighborhoods and add new neighborhoods each week! 

Join The New York State of Mind

NYC is nonstop lights, camera, action! For someone moving from a smaller, quieter town, the hustle and bustle of New York City involves some adjusting. New Yorker’s are a fast-paced, to the point, no dilly-dallying folk. “Please” and “thank you” are often afterthoughts, which can be a shock to someone coming from a small-town filled with pleasantries. The best thing you can do is to remember to not take any curtness personal and stay true to yourself!

Part Ways with Your Car & Excess Belongings

NYC’s public transportation system is in place for a reason. The City is a magical, but small, space populated with millions of people. Tugging along your good old car comes with odging pedestrians, gridlock traffic, high parking costs, tricky alternate-side parking rules, and as The New York Times recently nicknamed NYC: “a gas desert.” Our advice: purchase a step counting device, get some comfortable shoes, and take the opportunity to walk-off that midnight bowl of ice cream.

Another piece of advice when moving to NYC from a small town: downsize, downsize, downsize. We can’t stress enough that although NYC is known as the Big Apple, living spaces are often drastically smaller than what most non-New Yorker’s are accustomed to. Moving with your essentials plus some keeps costs and clutter down during and after your move. Not sure how to start? We’ve got you covered with downsizing tips from NYC movers and downsizing moving hacks!

Establish Connections Ahead of Time

New York City is jam-packed with new places to go and new faces to see. Get in touch with your old college buddy or utilize the wonders of technology to meet potential peers before your move (there’s an app for that).  Come moving day, you’ll feel much more confident and at-ease tackling NYC with some budding friendships in the mix.

When it is time to make the big move from a small town to NYC, the most important connection of all is your connection with Shleppers Moving & Storage. As NYC’s leading moving and storage company, Shleppers is a trusted team of moving experts who know how to handle the Big Apple. Our 40+ years of experience allows us to navigate NYC with ease, which takes a very huge burden off your shoulders. Request a quote for moving from a small town to NYC and let’s get moving!