Why You Should Do a Pre-Visit Before Relocating to Toronto – MAC Relocation Services

Relocating to Toronto is an exciting adventure, whether for work, family or personal reasons. However, moving to a new city involves a complex process with several moving parts. One key step that should not be overlooked is conducting a “look-and- see or pre-visit” to Toronto before making your final move. Here at MAC Reloccation Solutions, we have helped countless individuals and families relocate to Toronto over the years. And our experience shows that those who take the time to visit before their big move have a much smoother transition. Many of these people had only visited Toronto briefly before their official relocation date, or not at all. For some, this doesn’t seem like an issue whatsoever, however; more often than not, once arrived in Toronto, they realize that relocating isn’t as easy as they first thought. This is exactly why we always recommend visiting Toronto prior to their move. Below we discuss some of the main reasons why a pre-visit is strongly suggested before you make the big move.

1. Housing Costs: What you See vs. What You Get

When relocating to Toronto, most newcomers start by researching rental options online. While it’s easy to browse listings, pictures, and descriptions, they often don’t provide the full picture. A stunning photo of a property can sometimes obscure issues like proximity to noisy streets, unattractive neighboring buildings, or small-than-expected rooms. You will no doubt have done some research on the cost of renting before relocating to Toronto but there is only so much available information online.

Not only this, but the rental market in Toronto is highly competitive, and even if you have a great credit score and are offering the listed asking rent price, you may still face competition from others willing to increase their offer. People are often surprised to hear this, but this is the reality of relocating to a large epicenter like Toronto.

Visiting the city before you relocate will give you a more realistic idea of what type of property you will be able to rent and will help you set your budget and expectations accordingly.

2. Explore the Neighborhoods: Find Your Perfect Home Fit

When thinking about what neighbourhood you would like to live in, it’s important to ask yourself if you’re looking for the hustle and bustle of downtown or the peace and quiet of the suburbs. Rosedale has prestigious schools, Trinity-Bellwoods is the capital of small-batch picklers, Etobicoke has low crime rates, Scarborough has lush parks, and downtown has the most transit. Your choice will likely depend on proximity to work, public transport, schools, and ultimately budget.

We encourage you to do as much research as you can before relocating to Toronto as seeing the neighborhoods in person will paint a greater picture of your new home before committing to a property virtually. Although maps are helpful, they can only show you so much detail, whereas actually driving the streets and walking the neighborhood is the only way of really knowing whether the location is right or not for you and your family. In addition to the mentioned above, the rental market is extremely competitive here and you should be prepared with second and third choice neighborhoods and properties in the event that you are unable to secure your top choice.

3. Understand the Cost of Living: Get a Realistic Picture

Toronto is rknown for its relatively high cost of living, however the effect of this on you will very much depend on your personal economic circumstances and where you are relocating from. If you are relocating to Toronto from a major city, you may find that the difference in cost of living is not that great, whereas if you’re moving from a more rural place, you will no doubt think that there is a significant difference in cost of living in the city.

Depending on your salary, living in Toronto could be unaffordable to you. This is why it is so important to visit Toronto before relocating. Even if you only visit for a few days, you will experience firsthand the costs associated with daily line in Toronto. You will see the cost of groceries, transportation, and other necessities. This allows you to create a more accurate budget, rather than relying solely on estimates you find online.

4. Experience Toronto’s Unique Culture

Toronto is a vibrant, happening, and multicultural place to live, so there is no wonder why so many people choose to relocate to our great city. Toronto is incredibly diverse with people from all over the world calling Toronto their home. With over 200 languages spoken here, wherever you are relocating from, you can be sure that you will be welcomed with open arms and made to feel like you are right where you’re meant to be.

5. MAC Relocation Solutions: We’re Here to Help

Our team of Toronto Registered Real Estate Salespeople are available to familiarize you with the city along with residential neighborhoods based on your lifestyle needs and budget.

What’s great about living in Toronto is that every neighborhood has its own unique bragging rights. Every neighborhood has something going for it and our specialists can help you find the perfect one for you – either east versus west or downtown versus suburbs.

Our Comprehensive Relocation Services Include:

 

• Toronto and GTA Area Orientations – Get to know the city and its neighborhoods with a personalized private tour.
• Toronto and GTA Area Orientations – Get to know the city and its neighborhoods with a personalized private tour.
• Destination/Settling in Services – We can help you organize things such as your Social Insurance Number, Health Insurance, Driver’s Licence, Banking, School, Cars, Pets, etc.
• Rental and Residential Re-Sale – As experts in the rental and home purchases in Toronto and the GTA, our licensed Toronto realtors can help you find your perfect new home.
• Temporary Accommodations – We offer furnished suites and luxury furnished apartments whilst you wait for your permanent real estate accommodation.
• Departure Services – We also help those leaving Canada through home sales, lease termination, closing of utilities, etc.

If you are considering relocating to Toronto or the GTA, let MAC Relocations Solutions simplify the process for you. Our experienced team is ready to support you through every step of the process, from your pre-visit to settling into your new home. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with someone on our team. All of our real estate agents and brokers are licenced with OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association) and TREB (Toronto Regional Real Estate Board). We can assist in individual relocations, family relocations, and corporate relocations. For more information or to chat about our services, please email info@macsuites.ca or give us a call at 416-222-0025 / 1(877)-239-0025.