Have you considered moving from your New York home to Los Angeles? Maybe you’re starstruck. Maybe you’re just seeking a warmer climate. No matter what your reason may be, here are some things you may want to consider before you make that move.

Considering a Move

Although Los Angeles and New York are both big cities, they offer different lifestyles. If you’ve lived in New York for some time, you should expect big changes when you move. One of the most significant changes is the pace of life. While life in Manhattan typically moves very quickly, most people in Los Angeles adopt a more ‘chill’ attitude.

One reflection of this attitude change is a more relaxed attitude toward drinking alcohol and using cannabis. You’ll also notice more leisurely lunch hours and people who spend more time outdoors. If you’re used to the high degree of road rage in New York City, driving in the calmer traffic conditions of Los Angeles will be a pleasant surprise. This lifestyle may appeal to younger people, and statistics show that people aged 20 to 24 are the most likely to move each year.

Preparing for a Move

If you’re becoming serious about a move to Los Angeles, you’ll want to secure a job before moving there. Being so far from your current support system will mean you’ll be alone in a new town. If your current employer can’t offer you a transfer to California, you should begin a job search before deciding to move. Los Angeles provides many career opportunities for people in the entertainment, technology, and fashion industries.

When considering a salary offered by a prospective employer, keep in mind the cost of living in Los Angeles is lower than in New York. Everyday prices are lower in California, so you can accept a slightly lower salary. Once you’re finally ready to move, you won’t need special packing containers for your belongings. Over 80% of Americans agree wrapping fragile items in paper and then packing them in cardboard is a safe and economical way to transport everything to the West Coast.

Choosing a Home for the Move

You’ll be glad to know the housing market in LA has a different feel than NY’s market. You’ll need to pay close attention to which neighborhood you want to live in, and the property value of a prospective home. If you have a job lined up, ask your new management if they have any suggestions for a good place to live.

As previously noted, there is less road rage in LA. However, that town still has a traffic pattern with congestion and delays. Be sure the home you choose offers a minimum commute. It would be best if you also planned to check out the distance to essential places near your new home, like the kids’ schools or a grocery store.

What You’ll Find When You Move

When you get to Los Angeles, you’ll need to prepare for other things. You will be satisfied if you choose the town for its warmer climate. LA weather is typically sunny over 300 days per year. This may inspire you to adopt the California habit of spending more time outdoors.

In NY, most people don’t drive their own cars. In contrast, you will likely be the one driving when you battle the traffic in LA. This will be an adjustment in and of itself. You will learn – by experience – that only 5% of U.S. roads are made of rigid pavement.

Moving to a new city will always take an adjustment, but a move from New York to Los Angeles will mean a more extreme change to your life. However, by considering the above items before you move, you may find yourself adjusting more quickly. Whatever your reason for the move, we wish you success in your new home.

Your home is most likely your most expensive possession, so it’s important that you secure it in the best way that you can. This will help you keep it valuable and comfortable. You’ll also enjoy a considerable amount of peace of mind when you know that your home and family are secure whether you’re at home or not. Here are some of the ways in which you can secure your property and make the most of your hard-earned investment.

Perform Regular Safety Inspections

It’s important to keep in mind the fact that risks to your home can come from both within and without. This means that you need to perform regular safety inspections of systems and appliances that could pose a risk if they’re damaged or compromised. Electricity and plumbing are the two main things that come to mind in this regard.

For the latter, note that the pipelines that cause the most incidents are those less than 10 years old. This makes it important for you to enlist the help of the relevant professionals in helping you make sure that your systems are in good shape. In case of anything, don’t waste any time fixing it because it poses a serious risk to your home.

Install a Security System

Next, it’s always advisable to set up a security system for your home. This should act as a deterrent against crime and also help you catch any culprits who are brazen enough to attempt anything. It doesn’t matter the size of your home, since it’s your peace of mind and security for your family that you’re trying to safeguard. Keep in mind that in Washington, an estate is considered to be a ‘small estate’ in cases where the decedent has assets amounting to less than $100,000. Remember that you can increase the value of your home by securing it, so this is something to think about.

Fortify the Doors and Windows

Your home’s doors and windows are the most common points of entry for criminals. That said, invest in secure latches and locks to make it hard for any burglars to gain access to your home. This way, you can rest easy whenever the doors and windows are shut because you’ll know that it’s not likely for anyone to gain access without a key.

You can also set up alarms so that in case someone tries to force entry, an alarm will be triggered to scare them off and alert officials of an issue. You don’t have to sacrifice appeal for security either. That’s because there are glass panes on the market that could prove impossible or extremely hard to break.

Secure Your Virtual World

With the world going digital at the rate at which it is, there’s a good chance that your home is already ‘smart’ to some degree. This introduces another possible area of risk for your home. Cybercriminals can hack your systems and get access to sensitive information such as passwords and bank information. To stay safe from this possibility, you must learn about the digital world and the various methods to stay safe in it.

While doing this, you may learn about basic facts such as that the typical land lease for a cell tower covers a small amount of space. That aside, your first line of security is setting secure passwords, especially for your Wi-Fi. This, as well as performing regular checks should help you stay safe in the current age.

These are some of the things that you need to do to secure your property. As you learn new safety measures and put them to use, you’ll enjoy keeping your family safe, the peace of mind of which will be priceless. Remember that any investment that you make into securing your home is going to be money that’s well-spent.