The time has come. You dreamt about it for years, and now you’re finally taking the plunge and moving to Denver. But as exciting as this new chapter in your life may be, it’s also a bit daunting. After all, there’s a lot to think about when you’re moving to a new city, from finding a place to live to getting a job and making new friends. And if you’re not prepared, the whole process can soon turn from exciting to overwhelming. But don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this article, we’ve compiled a list of ten tips to help you make a smooth transition to your new life in Denver. From finding the perfect neighborhood to making the most of your new city, these tips will help you hit the ground running and make the most of your new home. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Make a List of Your Top Priorities
If you’re moving to Denver, you’re probably excited and nervous about all the possibilities that lie ahead of you. But before jumping in feet-first, it’s important to take a step back and make sure your priorities are in line.
The first thing to do is create a list of your top three priorities for living in Denver. Maybe one of them is making sure you get some time outside every day, or maybe another one is having access to amazing restaurants and entertainment options. Whatever it is for you personally—and we’ll get into more detail about this later—you should be able to come up with three things that are most important for your life in Denver.
Once you’ve done that, take some time to think about how much each thing will cost in terms of location, housing costs (if applicable), transportation costs (if applicable), etcetera. You may find that one or two things aren’t as expensive as they seem at first glance!
If possible, try to prioritize these items based on their importance to your health—like getting outside every day—so that if something needs more money than others it can be sacrificed if necessary.
Plan Your Traveling
If you’re moving to Denver, there’s a chance that you’ll need to travel to and from the city before you move in. Whether it’s to get your belongings or to find your new place, plan ahead.
Planning ahead can help you avoid paying for last-minute airline tickets, which are more expensive than booking them further in advance. You can also plan for the time of day that works best for you if you’re driving—for example, if rush hour traffic is too heavy on Fridays, consider leaving on Thursday afternoon instead.
If your trip involves flying, you may want to consider booking a hotel near the airport at which you’ll arrive. This will allow you to get some rest before hauling everything into your new home!
Know What’s Ahead!
Moving to Denver? You’re going to love it! But, before you pack up the car and hit the road, make sure you know what’s ahead.
Denver is a great place for renters, with the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment at ~$1,763/month (25th highest; 23rd most expensive city). If you’re looking for more space and want to get away from it all, you can rent a 2-bedroom apartment for as low as ~$2,280/month—or buy a house for $585,000. If you’ve got a family on the way, renting might be more cost effective than buying in Denver. (You can rent a house with 3 bedrooms for just ~$3,523/month.)
Prepare for the Elevation & Unpredictable Weather
Denver is a great city—it’s full of culture, food, and people who are genuinely excited to call it home. But if you’re coming from sea level or an area of lower elevation, there are some things you’ll want to prepare for.
First off: altitude sickness! Altitude sickness can happen when you’re adjusting to a higher elevation, and it can make you feel pretty bad. Symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and insomnia (source). It can be dangerous if left untreated—so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water before and during your trip.
Another thing to consider is that Denver’s weather can be unpredictable. The summers are hot and dry with little rain; winters tend to be cold with lots of snowfall (source). This means that even if it’s not freezing outside right now, you should still pack layers that will keep you warm in case of temperatures drop unexpectedly during your visit!
Get To Know the Neighborhoods and Suburbs
The Mile High City is home to 80 distinct neighborhoods—each with its own vibe and culture. The city’s most popular neighborhoods include LoDo, Sloan’s Lake, Cherry Creek, Capitol Hill, and Wash Park. LoDo is an emerging location for tech start-ups and small businesses. Sloan’s Lake is a quiet neighborhood with access to great parks and public transportation — making it a great option for families with children.
Cherry Creek is one of the most affluent areas in Denver, and it’s known for its charming shops, restaurants, and luxury apartments. Capitol Hill is where many young professionals live — it’s close to downtown but not too far away from the hustle and bustle. Wash Park is popular among families because of its close proximity to schools and parks all while offering more affordable options than other neighborhoods in Denver.
Understand The Job Market
If you’re thinking about moving to Denver, you should know what job opportunities are available here before you decide to make the move. Here are some of the major sectors of employment in Denver:
First and foremost, there’s finance. In this sector, you’ll find companies like Wells Fargo and UBS Financial Services Group that offer a wide range of banking services to clients across the country. There’s also healthcare, which includes hospitals such as Kaiser Permanente and Children’s Hospital Colorado as well as biotech companies like Synergy Life Science Solutions Inc., which develops cancer treatments using a proprietary technology platform called TRAP-Nano.
Another fast-growing industry in Denver is hospitality; if this sounds like something that might interest you then check out some of our favorite hotels here! Last but not least is cannabis; if this is something that interests you then be sure to check out our post on how medical marijuana can help your health!
The Transportation System Is GOOD!
Denver has an extensive public transit system. If you’re moving to Denver, you might want to consider taking public transit. It’s fast, it’s cheap and it’s easy—especially if you’re used to taking buses back home. You can plan your route on the RTD website and print out a schedule for your trip so that you don’t have any surprises when you get off at your stop.
In addition to being easy to use, Denver’s public transit system is also one of the most efficient in the United States. There are 84 local and regional bus routes that cover every part of town, so even if you live out in the suburbs or near a mountain, there will be a bus route nearby that can take you downtown without having to pay for gas or parking fees (which are notoriously expensive in Denver).
Education
If you’re moving to Denver with your kids, they’ll have no problem finding a school that fits their needs. There are over 205 schools in the city, and nearly 80% of students attend school here. Students can also choose from public schools, private schools, religious schools, or charter schools—or even homeschooling!
In fact, Denver’s education system is touted as one of the best in the country. The city has a large number of charter schools, including the nationally recognized KIPP Foundation and AVID. Charter schools are independently run but often have more freedom than traditional public schools when it comes to curriculum, discipline policies, and teacher pay.
Beyond schools, The University of Denver offers an excellent education, and there are a number of other colleges in the area. The city also has several museums and art galleries for those who love culture and want to learn more about the region’s history.
Recreational Activities Will Keep You Busy
Denver is a great place to live if you’re into outdoor activities. In fact, the city has been ranked as one of the most recreational cities in America—and it’s not hard to see why!
The city is home to some of the best outdoor activities in the country, including kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding on the Platte River, guided fly-fishing on Cherry Creek Reservoir, downhill skiing at Arapahoe Basin and Eldora Ski Area, snowboarding at Copper Mountain Ski Resort, and golfing at a number of top-notch courses throughout town.
And don’t forget about our world-class museums and cultural institutions. Denver has more than 100 art galleries and museums, including the Denver Art Museum (one of America’s largest) and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (which houses dinosaur bones discovered by paleontologist Edward Cope). You can also visit historic landmarks like Union Station or walk through one of our many parks—including Cheesman Park or City Park—to enjoy views of the Rocky Mountains from above ground level!
Work With a Trustworthy Denver Mover
If you want to make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible, it’s important that you work with a trustworthy Denver mover. The last thing you want is to hire a company that doesn’t understand the needs of their clients, or worse yet—one that doesn’t care about your belongings.
To ensure that your next move is a success, here are some tips for finding the right Denver mover:
1) Ask Around – Before you start looking for movers online, talk to people who have recently moved in the area. This will give you an idea of which companies have good reputations and which ones don’t.
2) Check Online Reviews – Once you’ve found a few companies in your area, check out their reviews on sites like Yelp and Angie’s List. These sites allow customers to post their honest experiences with local businesses so other people can learn from them!
3) Call A Company for A Quote – After looking at reviews and getting recommendations from friends and family members, call each company for an estimate on how much it would cost for them to move your belongings from point A to point B within Denver.
Final Verdict
Denver is a great place to live. With its amazing weather, beautiful scenery and friendly people, it’s no wonder that so many people are attracted to this city every year! If you’re moving to Denver from out of state or even another country, we hope this article helped you understand some of the things you can expect when moving to this great city. If you have any questions about moving to Denver, feel free to leave them in the comments section below!
