Finding a home may be one of the biggest areas of concern for new postdocs. If you haven’t already started looking for a home do so as soon as possible, there is a housing shortage in the Upper Valley. Here are some resources to help you on your hunt:
- The Dartmouth College Real Estate Office: This is a great resource for finding housing in Hanover, Norwich, and surrounding areas. Many incoming postdocs and students use this site to find apartments.
- Summit on Juniper: Rent a furnished bedroom in an apartment in a new residential community for Dartmouth graduate students (Dartmouth postdocs are included in the definition of grad students for Summit given you are part of The Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies). Postdocs and graduate students have priority for these apartments until June 1st.
- Valley News: Our local paper.
- Upper Valley Real Estate: Facebook page that has local listings.
- Dartlist: Craigslist type website for Dartmouth community
- Zillow: Zillow and other similar real estate websites can give you an idea about price rates.
- Realtor: If you're looking to buy, local realtors are always available!
- Craigslist: Be sure to look in NH and VT.
- Airbnb: If you are in a pinch and need to fill a gap before moving, Airbnb is a good option.
Another great option is to contact you advisor/current team and ask for suggestions. You'll find that most people are happy to help! For questions about housing or moving to the Upper Valley, check out our housing channel on slack!
Moving Your Belongings
Once you’ve found a place to live, the next part is getting everything here! Postdocs in the past have used a wide variety of shipping methods. You may choose to rent a Penske, U-Haul, or Ryder truck and drive it yourself, or to hire professional movers. Just be sure to understand all of the charges, so you won’t be surprised at the final bill. Be sure to ask your advisor if moving expenses are reimbursed.
Utilities
You will likely be responsible for setting up an account for each utility with the individual
company. This may include electricity, heat, or water. You may also choose to set up telephone,
cable television, and internet. Check with your landlord to determine which specific companies
provides service in your area.
Rental Insurance
You may wish to purchase Renter’s insurance to protect your belongings against theft, floods, or
fire and smoke damage. Many nationwide insurance agencies offer multi-line discounts, so you
may be able to save money by using the same company that insures your car. If not, there are
many convenient local insurance agencies that are easy to work with. Rental insurance is
generally cheap and like any insurance, helpful when you need it. Landlords are rarely
responsible for your personal items should there be some damage.
DCPDA Moving Tips:
- When looking for places to live, look along the bus route to find places farther (and usually cheaper) from campus. This can be an easy way to expand your options, especially if you don't own a car.
- Most landlords in the area are nice, but if you can, ask around before you sign a lease; Reach out to postdoc buddies or DCPDA if you have any questions.
- While not a common issue, do be aware of potential scams and never give money without a signed contract.
- If you are moving in the winter, pay attention to the weather and make sure you are prepared for snow. Check out our Weather and Vehicles page for more information.
- Look for a lease that includes snow removal in winter or be prepared to shovel.
- It can be hard to find a place from a distance, especially for international scholars. The most effective way is often to reach out to local resources (your advisor, new colleagues, DCPDA) and ask for help and advice. It could be a good idea to initially find a temporary sublet and use it as a home base to find a more permanent place.
- If you are in a pinch, you can also subscribe to and then email our faculty-social listserv (which is not used often but a mix of faculty & postdocs - send an email to listserv@dartmouth.edu with the following in the body of the email: SUB FACULTY-SOCIAL Firstname Lastname) to see if anyone has a suggestions.
- If you are coming from far away, it might be easiest to look for furnished places. Luckily these are usually easy to find.
- If you need short term accommodations, check hotels for an extended stay option (especially along the bus route if you don't have transportation). Call ahead and ask what their rates are for an extended stay - they might offer discounts not available online.
- If you work with a realtor: know that there may be finder fees associated with their services. Ask at the beginning.
- The closer to the college the more you pay.
- Dartmouth is in New Hampshire, but Vermont is just across the river; Look on both sides!
- Depending on your living situation it might be better for you to live in NH or VT; For example, there is no state income tax in NH, but property taxes are significantly higher.
- If possible, reach out to the current tenant or landlord about utilities setup.
- Moving from abroad? Sendmybag.com is a fairly cheap way of moving luggage.
- Check cell coverage in the area: most carriers work fine in town, but service can get inconsistent pretty quickly once you get away from campus.
- Verizon is a good cell carrier option and offers a 22% discount to college employees.