Tips for Relocating to Des Moines

From a top-notch park system to an excellent school system, Des Moines has a lot to offer new residents. If you’re planning on relocating to this great city, we’ve put together a handy guide with some tips to help you plan your move and get settled:

Do Your Research

• Visit the City of Des Moines Official Website, where you can learn about local government proceedings, events around the city, and resources available to residents.

• Learn about the Skywalk System, a 4.2-mile system of above-ground tunnels that connect buildings and parking ramps across the downtown area. Scoping out the Skywalk can make walking from the parking garage, to work, or to your lunch destination much easier during the snowy winter.

• Use resources like Eventful to look up shows and events taking place in Des Moines. Planning on spending some nights "out on the town" will give you something to look forward to when you're up to your eyeballs in unpacked boxes.

• Look for apartment communities like Springs at Waukee and Springs at Jordan Creek that can provide a virtual walk-through of an apartment home before you commit to a lease. This way, there will be no surprises once you move in.

Settle Into Your New Apartment

• Unpack only the items you need at first. The rest can wait while you take a little time out to relax and recover from the packing and moving process.

• If you get "stuck" with a heavy box or piece of furniture you can't get up the stairs, don't be afraid to ask a neighbor for help. This is a great way to start meeting new people.

• When you come across items you don't really need in your new apartment home, set them in a pile to sell or donate so they don't add clutter to your space.

• Draw a floor plan of your apartment home and plan out where you'll put your furniture so you can experiment with different arrangements.

Get Acquainted With the Community

• If your apartment community has a coffee bar or cafe, make a point to visit these areas, so you can strike up a conversation with fellow residents.

• Get into the habit of watching the local news for just a few minutes each morning, as  you'll feel more in-the-loop about what's going on in the Des Moines area.

• Plan on visiting a new store or restaurant each week. You'll soon have a new list of favorites! Invite neighbors to join you, and you'll make some new friends, too.

Do you have any tips for people planning a move to Des Moines? Share them with us in the comments below!