Congrats, Hil!

I moved over 2000 miles on one week's notice when I left for grad school.

Go there this weekend and go apartment hunting, if you spend a full weekend at it there is a good chance you can find something.

Use a moving company. If you can afford it have them pack the annoying stuff like your kitchen, and you just box the other stuff. Don't move any cheap furniture, it will cost more to move it than to sell or donate it and replace it when you there. Things like bookcases and dressers that were purchased cheaply can easily be replaced from something from Target or Ikea.

Do a clothes shopping trip after you move so that there are less items to relocate. Also purchase the car after you have moved so that you don't have to worry about transferring the registration and insurance after you have moved.

Everything NoiseDesign said.

Huge congrats, Hil! Also, moving ~ma.

I generally think it is a mistake to rent a place you have not seen. So many things you could miss either through deliberate deceit or because stuff that is important to you is not important to whoever compiles the info. Would it be easier on you if friend or family chauferred you? Or your muscle problems such that being driven and driving are equal in terms of muscle strain. Also do you have friends who know the area. If you don't want to post on board maybe you can email people you trust offlist. Cause, for example I don't know anyone in Philly, but I know people who probably know people in Philly. And find a place quickly is easier with someone who knows the area. An alternative is an agency, but there are all sorts of tricks an agency can use to stick you with a bad apartment if they don't consider finding you a place you are happy with part of their business model. So even using an agency you would want recs on a decent one who who considers getting you a place that meets your criteria and where you will be happy important, and getting their fee from the landlord not their only goal.

That is such wonderful news, Hil!!

HIL, YOU ROCKSTAR!!!

As usual NoiseDesign said it first, and better. But agencies are not bad for this kind of quick move if you can get a decent one. That fee will come either out of slightly higher rent, or at least not being open to negotiating discounts. But to get a place you like on short notice it is totally worth it. But a friend who knows the area is better.

Way to go, Hil!!

What they said about moving. Advice for apartment hunting--if you do decide to rent without seeing the exact unit you'll be getting, make sure you ask all the questions about the place. The one thing I didn't ask that I should have about my current place was about what side of the building the unit is on, because I got stuck with a north-facing unit with no sun coming in. Keep that in mind, and good luck!!

Great news, Hil!