Have you moved cross country to Boston? Tell me more! (Marlborough: sublets, apartment)

[FashionD]

I'm thinking of picking up and moving from San Diego to Boston. I just don't even know where to start.

How do you plan a big move like that? How did you handle yours? I don't know whether to fly out and find an apt first? Then find a job? Do I rent a U-Haul and take everything? Of course, I do have certain big ticket items I do not want to sell...so I figure if I'm going to take some things, why not take most/all?

I hope to save money up so my first month there, I won't have to work...but is this a bad idea?

I'm planning on selling my car and bringing my boyfriend's Prius (do hybrid's do well in the snow? I hope so!), so we can share one car, and use the T for most things. What areas is it okay to own a car (ie places that don't charge overnight parking fees)?

Any help IS APPRECIATED! I just want to know your story, moving cross-country.

[MagicTouch]

I moved from CA to MA in Oct.'07', boy was that stressful. I had my things moved and my car shipped, and I already had a job and apartment. I new were I would be working and found an apartment close by, so I didn't have to drive any real distance. They state that the traffic here is bad, but it's now where near as bad as SoCal, I travel from the OC to LA to work and that is bad traffic. I'm not sure how hybird's do in the snow since I drive a truck, but not 4-wheel drive. There was only one really bad snow, as far as that goes the snow plows are out early and the roads are usually clear and pretty easy to travel.

I would suggest at least finding an apartment to move to so that you don't waste your time or money having to stay in a hotel and store your things. Mass transit around here is really good, except for certain areas, like where I live (Bedford), no station or local pick to to get to the T. I have heard that rent here is expensive but personally coming from CA I found it about the same or slightly cheaper. I think it all depends on where you live. Car insurance is more expensive the closer you live to Boston, I pay $689 per year but if I lived in some city's close to Boston I would pay up to $1200 per year. Another thing you will have to get use to is the cost of utilities, unless where you live they include heat and hot water. If you rent in a mult-family sometimes you won't have control of the heat. I found it interesting for the cost of things like lemons and oranges, as I'm sure you know you can pick them in CA and they are not that costly, but here a small lemon can cost up to $1. Parking in Boston is at a premium, it's my understanding that it can cost up to $400 per month and parking on the street is very difficult.

Have you visited Boston?
Do you know what job opportunities there are for you here?
Do you know where those job may be and where you want to live?
What is your budget for rent, utilities, etc?

You will find that you will get a lot of help here but people will need to know what you are looking for and what you budget is.

Back to the moving part, I paid $2600 to have my stuff moved (I packed and bought the boxes-about another $250), having my truck shipped cost $1200 and hotel cost was about $1000 for a week and the flight (one-way) cost $680. Don't forget you will need food and if you don't have a place it will mean going out so that adds up quickly.

Moving across country can be expensive and stressful, but very exciting, I must admit I love it here and am very happy that I took the opportunity to come out here.

Best wishes to you.....

[WannaGoHome]

I can't help you yet. But we're in the middle of it right now! We're moving from Long Beach, CA to boston in about 3-4 weeks. We're so excited. As the above poster said, stressful!

We decided to sell most of furniture mainly because we wanted to get the smallest truck possible and because, even though some of our stuff was really nice, it's just stuff. Ya know? We are driving cross country and it's going to be really tough because we have three cats! We originally were going to fly and have our stuff moved out, but my husband has never seen the country (i've seen most of it) and it'll be good for him.

My husband will be working in Post Office Square area (downtown) and I've yet to find a job. But, I'm lined up with a temp agency and we sold both of our cars for cash so have quite a bit of savings. Also, our sublet is paid through August, so that is some stability right there.

I second finding a place so you don't have to blow through money on a hotel. Not only will that be expensive, it's just another thing to add onto your list of things to do when you get there (finding a place). We found a summer sublet through craigslist that has an option to renew in august. It's a tiny little thing and that's going to be a sacrifice for us (we're used to our lovely two story condo with 2 beds and 2.5 baths), but it's a good deal in a phenomenal location (Back Bay right by the public garden) and we know that it's not forever. We were lucky enough to have my aunt who lives outside of Boston (in Marlborough) go and scout out sublets for us. If you don't have the luxury of having help, you might want to try and find some sublets and try to set up appointments to look at all of them on the same day and then fly out (ones that have an option to renew are great. That way if you like the place, or it's at least do-able, then you won't have to scramble for a new one so shortly after moving).

As for the job, lining something up would be great, but isn't always possible. If you do fly out to look at a sublet, try a temp agency. They usually want to meet you in person once before sending out your resume. If you are there looking at sublets, you can do a quick in-person with them. That way when you have an actual moving date, you might be able to get a good full-time temp job right when you get there. Even if it's not perfect, it'll pay the bills until you can find something you like (and trust me, having a MA address on your resume will get you a lot more hits!)

I'll keep you updated with our move. We're renewing our vows on the 31st and then I'll be in hard-core moving mode. I'll start a thread over in general moving about tips for the drive. Be on the lookout for it (probably the first week in June). The tips people give will help you too!

On another note, why Boston? Have you visited? What types of neighborhoods/activities/etc do you like? I've been a few times with the intention of moving there (a lot different than just vacationing. you look at things differently). I'm pretty good with the neighborhoods/conveniences/etc. Let me know!
Good luck!

[scarletfire]

We moved from Sudbury, MA to Santa Cruz, CA, then Campbell, CA, then back to Holliston, MA. When we moved back home we sold big furniture, flew home with our cat, and used a service that has college kids drive the car cross country. We were able to keep a few items in the trunk of the car but had to leave room for the students' bags. We also used Amtrak to ship nonbreakable stuff. We used UPS for breakable stuff (a big mistake - they broke every dish!)

It's expensive to live in Boston and less so further out in the suburbs. However, there's no T out in the burbs, just some train service but nowhere as frequent as the subway in town. I'd definately recommend having a job lined up and a temporary place to live. We took a place in Holliston for our return home and I was really glad we only took it for a few months because I hated it and was glad to be free to move on to a nicer place once we got a little settled.

When we moved to CA we roomed with a friend til we got on our feet but that was tough and I was nervous the whole time til I found a job. We moved home with one job secured and I got one pretty quickly once we were there.

I have a PRIUS too and it's not bad in the snow. Not the best car for snow but it's ok, and otherwise is a terrific car.

[findingmesomeday]

I moved from Boston to San Francisco but it was back in 1978, I had just finished college and owned practically nothing and was fearless. I put everything I owned into my little car and pointed it West.

Every move I made since then has been a corporate relocation, including Seattle to DC in 1994. Any move is stressful but much less so when you have a company picking up the tab and a relo coordinator handling all the details. We're considering our first non-corporate paid move now, from the Boston area down to NC and here's what we're thinking about:

1. Selling or giving away ANYTHING we don't desperately need. This includes appliances and non-necessary furniture
2. Renting before we buy.
3. Several visits to the area to check out schools, neighborhoods, etc.
4. Renting a PODS unit or driving a U-haul.

Good luck!

[FashionD]

Thank you so much for your in-depth answer. I think it's a good idea to find an apartment beforehand, just like you both say. That will take a lot of the stress off, also...hopefully!

I've only been to Boston once for 2 days, but I liked it! Plus, I really love the idea of moving somewhere with a history! California isn't exactly the most historical place. Plus, I'm looking for a smaller town feel. I've lived in LA and SD all my life and want to experience something new and different! The east coast seems perfect.

What made you decide to move to Boston? What part are you moving to exactly?

I've heard Jamaica Plain is a nice place to go, since it's near the city, but a but cheaper, and has lots of green!

Basically, I'm looking for a small town feel, but with access to a big city. Looking for rent under $1800. I have a dog, so the outdoors is important to me. I'd love to be able to rent a small house with a yard. I want a safe area, also (who doesn't?) Other than that, I'm looking for a new adventure!

[findingmesomeday]

If you want to live within the Boston city limits and rent a house, you will probably have to look in West Roxbury. I don't know if your budget will cover it though.

[FashionD]

What are some other nice towns within 30 min of Boston? Any where I could rent a house with a yard for under $1800 a month?

[WannaGoHome]

We decided to move to Boston because I am originally from the east coast (Navy brat. everywhere from virginia beach to florida to maryland, etc). I really wanted to live in a place where i could ditch the car. NY was an option, but the only way we would've been able to make NY work is if we stayed with friends for a bit. Not my idea of a fun time. I like my privacy for sure. My husband is in investment/porfolio management. I'm in non-profit/social services. So, a bigger place was ideal for finding jobs and ditching the car. Also, Boston won out over NY for us because we are planning to have kids soon and want to buy a house within the next five years. I didn't want my husband to have a massive commute into Manhattan and I didn't want to be stuck in a house that was smaller than I would've like in an area that I wasn't in love with. And besides, I was afraid we'd be priced out of NYC metro for what we were looking for.

We're moving to Back Bay right off the Public Gardens. Great area. Very central to everything (T stops, grocery stores, shopping, gyms, downtown), but quaint in it's own way (that's another thing I love about Boston).

If you want a house with a yard, I'd second West Roxbury but am afraid you might be priced out. If you don't mind not having a yard, perhaps you could live across the road from a park or something for the pup. That would up your options. Your best bet, because of the dog, is to work with a good broker. You'll have to pay a fee, but in the long run you'll be able to find something that'll be worth your while. I'm all about working on your own and not throwing your money away to brokers, but if you have a specific desire (a yard mainly here) and a lower budget for that desire (you're budget is ok. but with the yard? it's pushin' it) you might want to look into a broker.

I'm excited for you that you want to come to Boston. When are you thinking about moving? (Don't move in September unless you have a place lined up! College kids galore!). :-)

[puffle]

Hello FashionD. Does the D stand for Diva?
It doesn't matter why you chose Boston. Great decision! I have definitely had alot of experience traveling across the country from SoCal to Va., from VA. to Ma., from Ma. to SoCal and back to Ma. all in a Jeep with three humans and two to four dogs. My husband is self employed which took one issue out of the equation so the next step was to find a place and for us it had to be within a good school district and a rental that took four dogs, so you already will have less of a headache than us!
I have rented sight unseen once online and got lucky that it was as nice as it seemed. The other times my husband flew to Ma. twice within two months from Ca. armed with lists of places to see at certain times (made appointments with countless people)within a four day period. If you don't have pets you have already won the battle. You don't HAVE to meet with landlords to rent but it is a good idea as private homes aren't always what they seem online. You have no idea how recent the pictures where taken. So first, find jobs!!!! If anything should happen to either of you or your car you should have a cushion which will go very quickly without a job. For two single people living close to the city is the best and the most fun. You have so many choices. Just get a map of Boston and figure what the farthest you would be willing to travel would be and then look within that area. I wouldn't want to live in the burbs if I was single unless I had dogs. What is it that both of you currently do for work and when were you thinking of making your move? During the summer rents are at a premium as everyone does there moving or renewing of their leases. It's much less expensive in the fall towards winter when the demand is less than the supply. We drove from L.A. to Boston in November and the weather was perfect. It took us four days with no site seeing staying in the least expensive but clean places and eating the same way. Gas will be a killer more than motels.
Go to rent.com, realtor.com,craigslist.com,boston.com to name a few to see what's out there but get jobs first!! Just so you know, I had lived in Ca. for over 45 years and was sick and tired of it by the time I got out of high school. I can't imagine ever moving back West. I love the east coast and the character of most of the people here. You won't find as much of the phoniness,materialism, and flakiness as you do in Ca. And the beauty on the east coast is beyond compare. Have you visited here first and where did you go that influenced you to move here. You might like to look at the Photos of Ma. on this section just to get an idea of what to look forward to. Please feel free to direct message with any questions. Good luck...oh, and beware of rental agents!!!!