In most countries, people move near the city center, however in Nairobi people struggle to occupy houses away from the city because of the rent and other factors like floods and security.
In a rainy season, some houses collapse while others become weak forcing tenants to seek alternatives which can be stressful in a way.
Below is a rundown of the factors you’d need to consider before relocating:
House hunting
House hunting can also be tedious because you have to move from one area to another in search of a better house. You may incur some costs which can be painful for a middle class Nairobian. Although, this can be dealt away with by letting a moving company do the searching for you. Our partner, Kejahunt is one such company that can find you a house in about a weeks notice.
Moving expenses
On a typical day, a pickup driver cannot charge you less than ksh 1, 000 to move your stuff from one place to another. Remember, ksh 1,000 is not standard amount; it can be raised depending on the distance. Many organizations offer relocation packages if they require their people to move to a new office location. Typically, these cover the cost of professional movers to pack and unpack your belongings, and some employers cover the cost of shipping items and storing them, if necessary.
So, before relocating to a place far from town, you need to consider pocket friendly methods and companies that will do everything for you at no additional charges.
Cost of living
If you are a Kawangware person; please don’t move to a servant quarters in Karen or Kileleshwa. These places are suitable for a certain class of people albeit the comfort. You may find it comfortable to live on your salary now, but how will your finances stack up in another location? Even if you get a raise, it may not cover the costs of living in a more expensive place.
So, it’s important to think about the difference. When you calculate the cost of living, include all your potential outgoings. For instance, consider housing. Whether you buy or rent a home, the monthly repayment will depend on your location. Besides the rent, natural disasters should also be considered because you don’t need to involve insurance companies when your home is swept away by floods. Other factors include transport and security.
Culture or lifestyle differences
Culture is another important factor that should be considered because some cultures do not accommodate everybody. In this case I am not referring to the traditional ways of life, but the normal daily activities that people are used to. For example, flying toilets were common in Kibera before toilets were built making it hard for people who are used to indoor toilets to adapt.
Family and friends
When you’re single, it’s easy to pick up your life and move to a new city or country. But when you have a family or a close-knit group of friends, the decision is more complex. If you have a partner, consider his or her job prospects. What is their employment situation now? If they have a good job with excellent benefits and a chance of a promotion, it may not be the right time to disrupt things. Also, think about how well you both deal with change, and how the move might affect your relationship.
