Think back to your last weekend getaway to a different city.
Were you scrolling through your Facebook feed one evening and thought…
“I could see myself living here.”
It’s a funny thing when you travel somewhere new for the weekend. You go out to eat at a local restaurant or cook at home to check out the grocery prices. You wake up and bask in the sunshine or soak up some rays at the beach. You walk around and wonder, “what would it be like to live here?”
Before you know it, that simple weekend trip turns into something way bigger.
People are moving across the country (and world) to cities they went on vacation because they can work remotely and live for less.
But here’s the wild part…
It all starts with that quick trip. Your weekend getaway sparks something inside of you. Once that thought pops into your head, things happen pretty quickly. In fact, many people look for same day movers after deciding to relocate.
In this article you’ll discover:
- Why Weekend Trips Become Permanent Moves
- What Are Same-Day Moving Services?
- Most Popular Cities People Are Moving To
- How To Make the Move Quickly
- How To Settle Into Your New City
Why Weekend Trips Become Permanent Moves
Ok so this is kind of a dramatic way to say it. But bear with it…
Someone visits a city for a weekend and it completely changes their life.
What?
Don’t worry, there’s an explanation.
When you’re on vacation, you take off the stress filter.
Let’s say you visit Miami for a weekend. You’re not going to work every day. You’re not going to stress about the high cost of living or how you can’t afford any fun activities. All of those thoughts fly out the window when you go on vacation.
When you visit somewhere new for a weekend, you’re able to truly see what life would be like there. The slower pace. The affordable cost of living. The sunny beaches.
Add in the ability to work remotely these days and BAM. Signs are everywhere telling you you should live here.
Did you know approximately 1 in 5 Americans currently work remotely? If you can work from home, you can live anywhere. That 3 day weekend you take to a new city can spark something special.
Plant that vision on moving somewhere new during your next weekend trip and you might just end up packing your bags to relocate when you get home.
Jacksonville is feeling this trend HARD. Visitors come for the beaches, weather and low cost of living… then they decide this is exactly what they want in a city. Next thing you know they’re searching Google for cheap movers Jacksonville FL and making that move happen.
A weekend getaway could be the start of your new life.
What Are Same-Day Moving Services?
Okay, so people decide to move pretty quickly after that weekend trip idea pops into their head. But how do they physically get to their new city?
Enter same day movers.
Same day movers allow you to book a move and have your items transported within 24 hours. Here are some situations where you may want to consider same day moving services:
- You’ve visited the city on vacation and know you want to move quickly
- You’ve already found housing during your “research visit”
- You have a deadline to move by because of remote work
- You want to stress less about moving day
- You’re moving short distance or don’t plan on crossing state lines
Wait…there’s more.
This year (2024), approximately 25.87 million Americans relocated. With half of the moves happening in Southern states, many of these people are moving fast. Some have already looked into moving companies during a previous trip to their new city.
Removing the largest obstacle of relocation. Time. When you have the ability to find and book movers that can help you in 1 day, it makes moving stress-free.
Most Popular Cities People Are Moving To
Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room.
Where are people moving to?
If you guessed some city in the South, you’re RIGHT.
In 2024, nearly 46% of all movers relocated to Southern states. As people continue to grasp the ability to work remotely, they’re flocking to cities that offer:
- Affordable housing
- Lower taxes
- Better quality of life
Speaking of better quality of life… who are these lucky cities?
- Florida — warm weather, beaches, no state income tax
- Texas — low cost of living and big salaries
- North Carolina — plenty of outdoor activities and city life
- South Carolina — second-lowest cost of living in the U.S.
- Tennessee — affordable with great city vibes
Think about what these states all have in common. Affordable living, low taxes and access to beaches. It’s no surprise that people choose to live here.
Now think about when you went to visit these cities…
Was it for a festival, sporting event or vacation? Chances are when you toured the city, fell in love with the beaches or lived like a local for a few days… you left with the idea of “hey, this place is pretty cool.”
There’s a clear trend here.
How To Make the Move Quickly
Still thinking about making the jump? Here are some tips to make that weekend trip turn into a permanent move painlessly.
First you’re going to want to scope out the city. But don’t just walk around downtown. Take a drive through the neighborhoods. Pop into Publix or ALDI to check out prices. See what the city is like at night compared to during the day.
Second, look up housing costs before your trip ends. Knowing how much rent or mortgage is will help you make your decision.
Lastly, look into same day movers during your trip. Bookings open up quickly so having a mover locked in before you get home will allow you to move in a matter of days versus weeks.
How To Settle Into Your New City
Moving to a new city is always exciting. But if you don’t plan anything after moving the weekend, it can feel like you’re never going to truly “live” there.
Here are a few tips to help you settle in fast.
Go to local establishments. Hit the gym. Find a coffee shop to work from. Meetup with friends. The more time you spend enjoying your new city, the more you’ll want to stay long-term.
Give it time. It’s easy to come home from vacation excited about your new found hometown. But after a day, that bubble pops. It’s normal to feel this way. Remember why you moved there in the first place and don’t give up!
Wrapping It All Up
Vacationing to new cities is the beginning of many people’s moves. Whether they intended to move when they booked that flight or just went with the flow on a weekend getaway.
What’s clear is that remote work, affordable Southern cities and same day moving services have opened so many doors for people to explore new cities.
Don’t forget about that weekend trip you took. You just might find your dream city.
Here’s your game plan:
- Visit new cities with intention
- Scope out cost of living during your visit
- Book same day movers before you leave
