Are you the type of person who subscribes to the belief that “variety is the spice of life”? If your next helping of variety involves a move from Galway to Belfast then you’ve come to the right place.
Whether you’re moving north for work, for love or simply for a change of pace, it’s a significant move which means it’s sure to bring a fair amount of stress, anxiety, and effort for most people, especially if you’ve got lots to take with you.
To help ensure your adventure up north gets off to a good start here are a few tips and a bit of advice that could help you better manage the move.
Do You Need to Take Everything?
When it comes to the most stressful aspect of moving, most people would agree it is the packing and the actual moving of the boxes that is the worst. Getting to live in a new home and city are both exciting; it’s the logistics that are no fun. So, to make the process easier on yourself it wouldn’t hurt to take stock of your belongings and ask yourself if it’s absolutely necessary you take everything.
You can approach the process in a very methodical way and start going through your current house room by room. You can label or group things into three main categories – keep, giveaway, or throw out. By the end of the process there’s a good chance you’ll have a whole lot less to pack and take with you. This will not only save you time, but it saves money since you won’t need such a large removal van.
Start Packing as Early as Possible
Another tip is to start the packing process as early as possible. Leaving things to the last minute will not only cause stress, it can also result in things getting lost, forgotten, or even broken in the rush.
When you start early, you can also take your time making sure to pack items safely in boxes, label the boxes accordingly, and even keep an inventory list if you choose.
Advise Your Car Insurance Provider
Your existing car insurance is fine if you take your car to Belfast for a short visit, but since you’re relocating to the north you’ll need to let you existing insurance provider know about your change of address.
Your current insurance policy will probably have to be cancelled, and a Northern Ireland car insurance policy taken out at your Belfast address. To save you time and hassle with that step you can check out CompareNI, which is a local insurance comparison site that is known for offering cheap car insurance rates throughout Northern Ireland. It is able to search more than 70 different insurance providers to find you the best and most exclusive deals that aren’t available anywhere
else. You can simply fill in a few short questions online, and then the quotes will be generated for you.
Connect with Friends in Belfast
If you happen to have any friends, family, or co-workers that are based in Belfast be sure to connect with them before you move. You can let them know about your plans, give them your new address, and make a date to meet up. This will help you to build your social circle in your city.
They will probably be able to provide you with tips and advice too, such as the best places to eat, shop, visit, etc.
Download a Local Map and Apps
The city of Galway has a fairly modest population of just under 80,000 people, whereas Belfast is much larger and busier with a population of more than 340,000. There’s a good chance that one of your reasons for moving is that you want to experience the hustle and bustle of a bigger city, but it can also make it trickier to find your way about – at least at first. Fortunately, there are a number of Belfast maps and apps you can download, which can help you navigate the streets, neighbourhoods, public transportation, entertainment and dining, and so much more.
As you start to familiarise yourself with your new city you will need the apps less and less, of course, but in the beginning, they’ll probably save you a whole lot of trouble.
It's Okay to Be a Tourist
You also want to give yourself permission to go ahead and be a tourist in Belfast. That means taking in the local attractions and scenery, festivals, culture and cuisine (yes, there are a few foods that are unique to the north ), and above all ensuring that you get all you possibly can from the experience.
A Smooth Process
All of these tips will help to make your move from Galway to Belfast as smooth as possible, allowing you to settle in and enjoy your new surroundings.
