What I Learned Moving A Family from Phoenix to Kansas City: 5 Lessons I Won’t Forget
Relocating from Phoenix, Arizona, to Kansas City was a major life transition—and like any big move, it came with its fair share of surprises, stresses, and learning experiences. While I’m ultimately happy to be settling into a new city, the process taught me some important lessons I wish I had known beforehand. If you’re considering a long-distance move or planning to relocate soon, here are five takeaways that could save you time, money, and a lot of headaches.
1. Hiring a Moving Company Was 100% Worth It
At first glance, renting a U-Haul seemed like the more cost-effective option. But after comparing quotes and factoring in time, energy, and potential risks (including driving a loaded truck cross-country), I decided to hire professional movers—and I’m so glad I did. The cost difference was surprisingly minimal, U-Haul, when I priced it out was about $1,000 cheaper but the peace of mind, physical relief, and smoother process made it more than worth the slightly higher price. Sometimes, outsourcing is not just a luxury—it’s a smart investment.
2. Buying and Selling a Home While Restructuring a Loan = Maximum Stress
Attempting to sell a home, buy a new one, and restructure a mortgage all at the same time is a recipe for stress. The coordination required between realtors, lenders, inspectors, and moving timelines left little room for flexibility and I had to made a few months of multiple payments. If I had to do it again, I’d separate those steps more intentionally and avoid stacking too many major financial decisions into one narrow window.
3. Renting First Would Have Given Me More Control
Looking back, I would’ve chosen to rent for at least 9 months after selling my house. By doing so, I would’ve had the sale proceeds in hand, giving me more leverage and breathing room when negotiating with lenders. Without the pressure to close on a new home immediately, I could have taken more time to find the right property—and the right deal—on my own terms.
4. Get an Independent Inspector, Not Just the Realtor’s Appraiser
In the rush of buying a new home, I relied on the inspector recommended through my real estate agent. While nothing overtly went wrong, I later realized I should’ve hired an independent inspector for a truly unbiased assessment. As with many homeowners, we have been hit with some unexpected cost and finding to get anyone out to work on issues, always seems to run a few thousand dollars. When the realtor uses their inspector, which is getting regular leads from the realtor, they are there to try to make the deal work. Having an inspector on your side, is a small step that can save you thousands of dollars—or help you avoid buying a problematic property altogether.
5. Know When to Relax versus Push
There were moments during the move when I let stress take the wheel, leading to frustration and discouragement when trying to build our life together. My takeaway? There are times to fight and times to go with the flow. A big life event is going to disrupt and change things. It is important to understand you are going to go backwards or even sideways in your finances. That is normal and this too shall pass.
Final Thoughts Every move is a balancing act between time, money, and sanity. While Kansas City is already starting to feel like home, the experience of relocating from Phoenix taught me the importance of planning, pacing, and having the right professionals on your side. If you’re about to embark on a similar journey, I hope these lessons help make your transition smoother.
Best,
James Hargrave, MBA, CFPⓇ, CLUⓇ