Top 5 Things to Do When You Move to Chicagoland

Moving to a new location can be challenging, but there are several simple steps that will make the process easier. Make sure you remember these essential tasks to ease the transition to your Chicagoland apartment.

1. Forward Your Mail

Getting your mail forwarded to a new address is easy, but it’s something many people overlook or put off. Set up mail forwarding online with the United States Postal Service for just $1. You can bypass this fee by heading to a physical post office branch and asking for a paper form instead. It takes just a few minutes to arrange for your mail to reach you in your new place.

2. Update Your Vehicle

Get new license plates for the state of Illinois if you’re coming to the area from out of state. Illinois requires license plates on both the front and rear of all passenger vehicles. You’ll need to purchase a renewal sticker annually for your rear license plate. Failure to display this sticker may result in a $50 fine.

3. Grab Your New Resident Guide

If you’re moving to one of our Springs communities in Chicagoland, you have a handy resident guide available to you that will help you get acquainted with your new neighborhood. You can get your guide for the Village of North Aurora here. If you’re moving to the Village of Romeoville, get your community guide here. These publications offer valuable contact information and local details that will help you get settled.

4. Find Your New Hot Spots

Everyone has their own top hot spots that they need to track down in a new city. This might be the best pizza place within your delivery area, the closest coffee spot, or the most accessible 24-hour diner. Try a few popular picks and track down your new hangouts, whether you’re looking for a great Chinese buffet or an area sports bar.

Don’t forget to look up essentials as well, like your closest pharmacy, post office, grocery store, gas station and hospital. Make a note of where these locations are or program them into your phone so it’s easy to find important spots at a moment’s notice.

5. Make New Friends

It’s important to make connections in your new hometown. Ask your existing friends and family if they can provide introductions to people they know in the Chicago area. This is a great “in” that will help you form new friendships with people who were already vetted by your current contacts.

If you don’t know anyone in the city, consider joining a local Meetup group. Chicagoland has groups for everything from hiking to wine. Checkout Meetup’s Chicago options to find the right group for you.

What are your top tips and favorite finds for new residents? Share your advice in the comments section below.