The complete field guide to relocation - moving out, moving in, and everything in between.

The Complete Field Guide to Relocation: Moving Out, Moving In, And Everything In Between Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 1 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 3 Is Relocating to a New City a Good Idea? ............................................................ 4 Relocation: Moving Out....................................................................................... 13 Relocating: Before You Move In ......................................................................... 21 Relocating: Moving & Moving In:......................................................................... 25 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................... 32 Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 2 INTRODUCTION We live in a mobile society. Unlike our forebears, who often spent their entire lives within fifty miles of their birthplace, we have become a people who like to find our own places in the sun. Our reasons for relocating to places far away vary. For some, the opportunity to begin a career in a specific industry is the lure that causes us to move to a new location. In other cases, we may move because we want to distance ourselves from the places where we have been before, starting a new life for ourselves. In still other situations, moving may be necessary for us to take advantage of a promotion with our employer. It is not unheard of for someone to move across the country in order to be with a romantic partner. Whatever our reasons, it is important to understand they are not subject to the critique of other people. As long as our reasons for moving are good enough for us, that is all that matters. However, that does not mean we have to handle the actual move without some degree of planning and input from other people. In fact, if we are willing to solicit assistance in planning the move, we will find that life will be much easier for us. Moving involves several phases, and in each one you will need to think through several details, make important decisions, and be prepared to deal with temporary setbacks. As part of this book, you will have the chance to learn a little more about each of these phases, and find some very informative suggestions about how to handle each task with efficiency and ease. One important thing to remember is that as you read through the book, you will think of other small details that have relevance to your particular situation. While this book will cover each major phase of a well-planned move, it is important to remember that you are the final decision-maker. Should you think of an additional task that you would need to accomplish as part of the relocation process, by all means add it to the list. This book will not only help you understand the overall process, but also inspire you to identify those small details that are unique to where you are and where you are going. As with any major change in your life, be sure of your reasons, and make sure you address every aspect of the process you will need to follow in order to achieve your goal. When you apply that strategy to deciding on and planning relocation, you are sure to come out a winner. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 3 Is Relocating to a New City a Good Idea? House moves might be planned, spontaneous, necessary, or yet again, the fulfillment of a dream. Most of the time, a house move is akin to new horizons. But what if the term “new horizons” has to be interpreted literally, as in relocation move from one city to another? What does it mean then? Disruption, hassle, a tedious task? Or else does it convey ideas of thrills and a sense of adventure? The reasons for considering relocation move exist a nineteen for the dozen. Yet, it is a sad fact to say that for most part of the said reasons, not a lot of preparation and even proper thinking goes into such a big decision. Let’s start by going through some of the reasons that occur most frequently behind relocation move from one city to another. One of the first motives pushing towards relocation involves a job change or promotion. This pretty much seems an inevitable step in the way up the corporate ladder. Under other circumstances, it might be that people find better employment--or even employment, period--in other cities. The relocation move is justified as an economic decision that will bring forth the well being and maybe even the survival of the household unit. The second most common reason for relocation move is to be closer to someone. This often relates to family, or a significant other. Marriage, and even settling down as a couple, sometimes involves relocation to another city, whether to be with someone else, or simply to start a new life afresh somewhere with someone. This reason seems more motivated by the heart rather than by the mind, and sadly, many often do not think the decision through enough before taking such a huge step. Health issues are another prominent reason behind relocation moves. Someone might be moving to a sunny and warmer area, while others may be escaping from the heat to milder climates. Changes in setting and lifestyle can also form the basis of relocation move, for example moving from the country to more urban areas and vice versa or even exchanging wild plains for areas full of mountains, forests and rivers. It is a wise call to ponder upon the reasons for relocation move before actually jumping the gun. Pertinent considerations must enter the balance. For example, will you be better off in this new city? What exactly will it be like to live in this new area? Will you, and your family, be able to adapt? Considerations such as the schools available in the area are of utmost importance if children will be involved. Access to proper care facilities- for example for the elderly, for children, or people with special needs if your family has them- is another priority on the fringe list of relocation move to another city. The security of the place is also an important factor. How safe is this new town, and what can you expect to come across there? Will you have what it takes to live in this city? What if you or someone from your household is not able to withstand the temperatures or other such concerns that pertain to this new place? Will adaptation be a struggling process, Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 4 or will it flow smoothly like you never really made a move? All these are wise considerations to ponder upon before going for relocation from one city to another. Once you have been able to provide an answer to all those questions, then comes the bigger question- is this place the best place to move to? Some of the answers you may have provided will already answer this query to a certain extent. However, quite a few issues would then crop up irrespective of whether or not you have positive answers for everything on the checklist. What if you could afford the same thing in another area or city, but which would bring more satisfaction? What if the compromise you might be making here may not be needed somewhere else? It is in little details and prodding into your inner being that will answer this question. Little things that help one to cope with life and its stress- like activities, climate and even socializing- will have to weigh heavily in the balance, for it is such minute trivial issues that determine whether one can ‘survive’ in an environment over the long haul. If you still come to a favorable decision until this point, your woes are still far from over. Consider the opportunity cost of your relocation move in this case. What will you be leaving behind? Family? Friends? The only life your children have known? What if someone from your household does not want to make the move? Do you force the decision on him or her? Consider the pros and cons of both staying where you are and relocation to another city. Will the pros for the move outweigh the cons? Are you not jumping from the pan into the fire? A careful consideration in the pros and cons regards the issue of money. What is the cost of living like in the area you want to relocate to? Will you be able to afford at least the same kind of living standard you have been used to? Will you be able to provide for your family in the same way? A detail that many overlook during such a move is the fact that in many such relocation cases, someone is actually moving from a relatively cheap area to a place which is decidedly more expensive. Houses cost more, mortgages rocketing sky high in some cases. Very rarely does it happen that such a move actually lowers the cost of living. One might also be exposing oneself to tax laws and other regulations that might further drive a dent into the income. Relocation is thus sometimes akin to taking a jump from a cliff with a headband tied before the eyes. Other problems regarding such a move might also crop up. What if one spouse is unhappy with the move, as in he or she will have to give up quite a lot in the process? Support and encouragement from your significant other is not something to be overlooked- he or she can make the rest of your life hell as payment for this single decision. And what if the place you move to does not carry any of the activities you are used to? Or what if it does not cater to some of your needs, for example regarding places of worship? What if the city’s culture is one in which you find yourself lost in translation? An area which you have known for a certain period only--for example in summer--might be quite unpalatable at Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 5 other times of the year. At worst, it can bore the wits out of you especially if there is no possibility of you working off the stress through activities you enjoy. And what if you overlook the global trend of the area before you relocate there? You might thus find that a few years down the line, the quiet community you moved to has grown into a major urbanized area. However, if you are still intent on making the move--since it looks like a very good decision once you have slept on it and looked at it from all the angles--you are still not at the end of your tether. Arise now the practical aspects of relocation. One of the major concerns of a move is the packing and the unpacking of all the belongings and items that need to be transposed from one house to another. A daunting task to say the least. At this point in the preparations, it is a good idea to already know what exactly you will need in this other house. For example, if only two thirds of your actual furniture will fit in the other dwelling, it might be a good idea to sort through your furniture and sell off anything which will not be needed there or which will not fit. The same can be said about appliances such a kitchen extras. Bailing an oven over hundreds of miles only to find a similar or even better oven once at the new house will definitely be a waste of packing time, truck space, and money for the moving. There might also not be enough storage space in the new house, so getting rid of junk and unnecessary clutter would be a good step to undertake while one is “cleaning” up the house for the move. Going for a new setting and decoration scheme in the new place can also mean no need to carry stuff over. Starting a decoration scheme from scratch will imply getting everything in the new town, instead of having to trudge it all the way from the previous house. This can further be added to the idea that relocation to another city brings a new beginning- what better than a whole new setting and set-up then? The hand-on aspect of packing is probably the most tedious of all the tasks involved in relocation move. Everything needs to be sorted, packed properly, and accounted for before it goes out of your hands on the way to your new dwelling. Having the proper gear needed for your packing is already a step towards achieving better efficiency and speed. This means using sturdy boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap and packing peanuts. Newspaper, old pillows, blankets and discarded clothes can also be used as buffers for when packing fragile items. The use of appropriate tools will also work in your favor- these include razor knife and scissors, note pad, and water resistant dark marker. It is a wise idea to pack similar items in the same box- for example, all china together. Wrapping fragile and otherwise breakable items is a step that must not be overlooked during the packing process. Items needed for a single room- like all kitchen items- should best be packed in the same box as well- the box clearly labeled as such when finished. This way, it is easy to find which box goes where Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 6 when unloaded at the new place. Keeping a detailed list of what is in each box, on a notepad, is also a wise idea which helps when something is being looked for. This way, you won’t need to open and scramble through all the boxes to find what you’re looking for. As a rule of thumb, drawers and other such concealed spaces in furniture should be emptied before they are loaded up in the moving truck. This way, things won’t get lost. It is also advised to tape drawers and fridge doors to prevent from accidental opening during the move. Flammable items like aerosol cans, propane tanks, oil based paints and certain cleaning fluids, as well as heat sensitive items like candles, audio and video tapes, computer disks, and records, should not be packed. Rather have them in bags in which air can flow and where temperature will not pose a hazard. Cartons and boxes should be packed with the heaviest items in the bottom and the lighter ones on top. It is good to press a layer of crushed paper at the bottom of the box before filling it. Wrapping each item individually, and cushioning empty spaces with buffers like crushed paper or stuffed fabric is also another step to ensure nothing gets broken or damaged during the move. Heavy items should be put in small boxes so they are easier to carry. The size of the boxes should be borne in mind when uploading the truck and it is also a good idea to upload the most needed items–like children’s stuff and kitchen items- last so they’ll be easier to access when the truck reaches the new house. It is also advised to plan ahead for the first day at the new place, and thus pack a separate, clearly defined box with items that will be most needed. This box is best placed in the car you will be traveling in, or else, it should be placed last in the moving truck. This box should contain the following items: paper towels, paper plates, plastic or Styrofoam cups, plastic utensils, can opener, snacks, the telephone, a small phone book for the new town, a local map, important contact names and numbers, toilet paper, shower curtain, medications if any, first aid kit, flashlight and extension cord, as well as a few changes of clothes. Cleaning supplies should include a broom, a glass cleaner, an all purpose cleaner, a scrub brush, and trash bags. If children are involved in the move, the box should contain toys, diaper supplies, formula or snacks, extra blankets and clothes. If pets too are involved, there should be the carrier, leash, toys, treats and food, food and water dishes, litter box and litter, as well as a pooper scooper. Some useful tools should include hanging nails, hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, box cutter, pen or marker. This box might also come in handy if ever there is a delay in the arrival of your possessions- for example, bad weather conditions and traffic problems keeping the truck from arriving on time, or else if it’s a plane, catering to delays and other such related concerns. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 7 Storing the boxes might prove to be an uncomfortable task. It might be that you have too much stuff, or else you cannot bear to part with items of sentimental value. Storage in that case can be arranged with companies that provide storage facilities. But if your concern is less hefty and merely pertains to the continents of brown cartons taking up all your free space, a few tips might prove handy while negotiating this tricky sidestepping. Storing the boxes side by side rather than creating high piles will ensure proper safety. Also having all the labels of the boxes facing outward will ensure that you know at one glance what is located in the said boxes. Boxes that are to be dropped at a storage facility should be clearly marked as such and preferably be kept in a separate, distinct place to avoid confusion. Some other rules are to be followed when you and all your gear have reached your destination. Unpacking can be viewed as a strategic step in setting up for the new house. In a single step, which is done slowly but surely, everything goes in its designed place in one go. Unpacking should not be rushed. Rather, time should be taken to properly sort through the boxes and their contents. Having a proper method of working through all the stuff is a good investment. This can range from unpacking one box at a time, to unpacking all boxes for one room at a time. If going by this method, the first room to receive your attention should be the kitchen. Getting all set up in this strategic room is almost akin to one third of the organizing. It is best to unpack the essentials of the kitchen at this point- there is absolutely no need to unpack all the antique display china that goes on the shelves of the even more antiqued cupboard on the day you arrive itself. At this stage, it is also good to line the cabinets and drawers already so there is no need for un-cluttering the storage space again to line them up. The next room on the setting up list should be the bathroom. Toiletries and other supplies should be laid out. The bathroom is probably the room which will be most sought after during the strenuous and harrying days of settling into the new house. It also provides a golden opportunity to check whether the faucets, taps and water supply are in good working condition. Once these two essential areas have been set up, it is okay to let go and arrange for other practical living conditions. If time and energy allow so, the bedrooms can also be set up. However, it is not essential since everyone can crash for the night on the still bare floors using sleeping bags and other gear. The other rooms, especially the living room, should be left for last. Impromptu guests and other people will understand if your living room is not in top notch shape and does not look like an advert for a lifestyle magazine yet. Finally, the garage appears on the to-do list. This daunting task can however be simplified if the proper set-up for organizing and storage is already planned and put into practice before anything is moved in. For example, placing the shelves and hooks for hanging tools and other material will already take off a good deal of the stress of Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 8 organizing it all, and will also keep from things getting pushed into a pile while the clean up is put off indefinitely. While placing things and going around the storage boxes, it is a good idea to have pen and paper ready. The list you compiled when you were packing will come in handy here- just check off items as you go, or else find what you are looking for with a simple glance. The paper will also come in handy before you attempt the placement of furniture in a room. Indeed, it is easier to place sketches or even shapes representing the furniture down on paper and moving them on this 2-D plane, rather than hauling the sofa or cupboard from one corner of a room to another. If you thought this is the end of it, you are wrong. Other considerations arise regarding relocation. Your household might have children, pets, or handicapped persons, whose needs have to be catered for. Most of the time, children view a move as an adventure. Getting them to think of it in such terms is already half of the battle won. This strategy works very well with small children. It has to be remembered that small children are probably moving out of the only house they have known so far in their lives, so taking away this aura of uncertainty and doom is the major concern. Getting small children excited about an aspect of the move- like having their own room- is a surefire way of catching their attention. Older children and pre-teens will mostly be concerned with how their routine will be disrupted. Sticking as much as possible to their established routine will probably ease the transition with them. Teenagers on the other hand, will be more concerned about fitting in and what their social life will be like. In all these cases, getting the children involved in the relocation is a safe bet. Parents and caregivers should work hand in hand in as many aspects as possible with their children. Getting them involved- for example getting them to store some of their things, or getting their opinions on the decoration scheme of their new room- is a good way of getting them involved and to ensure they are thrilled with the move. It is also advised to check about the schools and other facilities for children prior to the move, so the transition can be worked as effortlessly as possible. Relieving the stress of children helps in relieving some of the stress which could pile up on the strain of the relocation and all its threads, so it is a worthy investment to listen to children and get them to cooperate. Pets, on the other hand, cannot be really counted upon to cooperate as easily as children will. Pets are even more disrupted by a move, since they lose all their bearings and have to adjust to a totally new environment. Furthermore, it needs to be asked whether the new environment in question will welcome the pet or not- for example, the place you are moving to might not allow pets on its premises. Ensuring that the pet in question is in good health- vaccination up to date, veterinary check-up and clearance--will already ease half of the load of this Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 9 responsibility. A pet in good health will better be able to support the strain of a move, and if the pet is not traveling with its owner by car, having all its papers and certificates up to date is a necessity. Airplanes--if the move is being made by plane- ask for health clearance certificates for all pets traveling with them. Moving companies usually require that the pet travel with its owner. Many states also require interstate health certificates when the border is crossed, so making sure of this step prior to the relocation move can prevent many hassles. Some other regulations regarding travel kennels and security issues also arise. The pet’s food and water dishes, its grooming equipment and any medication needed as well as adequate supply of its food, should be taken along with other essential supplies during the move. ID tags for the pet are a must during a move, especially if the animal is traveling in the cargo of a plane. Such ID should provide the pet’s name, the owner’s name, address, telephone number, destination address and its phone number. Having color photos of the animal shot before the traveling is also a good idea, in case the animal gets lost and a search needs to be done--the description and visual will come in handy and speed things up, further enhancing the recovery of the pet. Handicapped persons or others with disability might be concerned by the relocation, so it is a good idea of trying as much as possible to ease the move for them. The moving company will be a big protagonist in ensuring this. Thus, prior to the move, it should be discussed with the moving crew what special arrangements will be needed for the move, and also where and how things might need to be placed at the new venue. This will also ensure that a required number of people are brought in for the move, and also pertains to the fact that the delivered quote for the services reflects all the costs to be borne. Having a clear inventory of items, as well as a pre-packed bag of essential supplies will also help in easing the move. Someone on hand to help and guide the crew is also a good idea. The movers should also be notified if a clear path for maneuvering and proper movement is needed, so they know to leave an adequate space. Extra care should be taken for people with special needs where cables, furniture and boxes lying around are concerned. It is also a good idea to have all utilities already set up before moving into the house, to help with communication and everyday needs. If however the relocation is part and parcel of an office job move, the layout slightly changes. Of course, the packing and unpacking issues will have to be dealt with in the same way, and special concerns will have to be addressed as with any other move. However, office moves provide a different set up for relocation. Most offices offer a complete relocation package to a prospective Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 10 mover. In some cases, not all of the following options are included, but little by little, it is growing into a sure deal to expect such items from relocation package. The basics start with a moving truck and arrangements with the moving company. Thus, all the concerns of actually moving the items are ensured. The package might also include transfers of existing vehicles to the new location. This might however be limited to a certain amount of cars. Childcare assistance might be provided, with a list of childcare facilities, day care providers and reimbursement under special conditions. Elder care assistance in the form of lists of nursing homes and other such care facilities can also be provided. The moving of the items from one house to the relocation destination might be provided with full pack- they pack and store all the belongings, and full unpack- the moving company unload the boxes and place items in designated places. A home finding trip might be offered prior to the move- where the prospective mover gets to see the city, house hunt and look for schools- whereby the employer bears all the costs of accommodation, travel and meals. The employer might further help with house issues, like help in mortgage transactions for the purchase of a house, help with selling the house being moved from, and also provide a lease break coverage if breaking a renting contract. Lodging costs and miscellaneous expenses pertaining to the move might also be coveredsometimes at a hundred per cent- by the employer. Property management by a third party or company might be arranged for the new house, and spousal job assistance might be offered to help with adjustments in the relocation. Transportation fees- whether by plane, train or automobile- is usually fully reimbursed. If travel has to be arranged for the employee to visit his family or spouse who have not followed in the move, such expenses are usually borne by the employer. Companies offering office related relocation may also provide temporary houses for cases when the house being moved into is not available or if works have not been completed in it by the time the employee and his or her family move. Such a placement is actually cheaper than providing hotel accommodation, and is better for the family in question. This however entails a minimum stay of thirty days to be considered worthy by the company. With a little getting used to, a temporary house can be given the feel of a home, without the impersonal and detached touch of hotels. Living under such conditions can also help in getting acquainted to the town, and can transition aspects of the move- like new school and such- better while taking things step by step. Thus, not all of it snowballs onto the person moving. Placing special artifacts and framed pictures around a temporary residence is a good way of adding a personal feeling to it, thus helping to feel at home in the Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 11 surroundings. On a different note, such an arrangement may be viewed as a vacation from the usual and the expected. Though the issues around relocation have been dealt with and explained above, some other aspects might creep into the move. Merging households might be one of them. As more and more one-parent households creep up day in, day out, when two people get together nowadays, it is often with an added family cell in tow. A big concern with such a move is the sheer amount of things that both sides bring with them. It might be that most of the stuff one side owns is duplicated on the other. In such a case, it is a wise idea to sell the redundant items, or else arrange to have them stored at a storage facility if they cannot be parted with. Selling furniture and appliances might prove to be more efficient and money-saving than hauling it over long distances. It is often a case of mix and match under such circumstances. Deciding who gets to keep what might prove to be the bigger question here. The questions of schools and other facilities should also be dealt with, though they can be tackled as mentioned above. Another serious issue with merging households’ relocation pertains to insurance- many of the things that are brought in the new home might need additional or new insurance cover. Another decidedly disturbing aspect which unfortunately happens quite frequently is handling delays regarding the move. It might be that climatic conditions prohibit the move from happening on its scheduled day. Or that the house that should have been vacated before you reach the destination has not been cleared by the time your moving day arrives. Or it might be that an emergency makes you push the moving date. Or else the construction of your house might not be completed by the due date. It is advisable to inform the landlord or the apartment complex of any delay arising, so that you still have a roof over your head in the waiting stage. Postponing and arranging for a new date with the moving company as well as with utilities companies should also be attended to as quickly as possibleimagine having no electricity or water while living out of semi-packed boxes. Postponing insurance is also to be done, and change of address should be notified with the post office. Delivery of special orders made with suppliers regarding the setting up of the new house should be cancelled and postponed as well. Overall, the most should be made of this unexpected space freeing itself in the calendar. There you have it--the low down on relocation from one city to another. Relocation is a tedious task, but given proper care and planning, and bucket loads of patience, there is no reason why things should not go as planned- well, let’s hope and pray really. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 12 Relocation: Moving Out Relocation, like any form of change is not usually convenient. Having to move out of a place you are familiar with to go to a strange place, depending on the kind of person you are, may not be your idea of fun or adventure. But the truth is life’s unpredictability breeds changes that one must learn to accommodate. Finding a way to make the best of these changes that life presents us with is what determines the difference between the fulfilled person and the unfulfilled one. So a change in jobs has just come up, or is it a change in financial condition (just inherited a large chunk from an old aunt or something) or a change in marital status (just got divorced). Whether the change is a pleasant one or not, that’s not all that matters; the question is -- is the change prompting you to relocate, to move out from your present house or locality to another? If the answer is yes, then you need to pull yourself together and start working on moving forward and making your relocating experience as stress free and even as enjoyable as possible. Making Your Relocation a Pleasant Experience Is this possible? Yeah! Contrary to what some people think, moving out or relocating does not have to be an unpleasant experience; you can actually make a pleasant experience of your relocation. To make a pleasant experience of your relocation, there are certain things you must do. Have A Moving Budget To know what you can do and not do, you must know how much you are willing to spend. This is based on your budget, so that you know how to plan and make your relocating efforts cost effective. Set A Moving Date You need to have moving date set. You can’t afford to just wait until you feel like it; you may never feel like it. So get up and set things rolling, but make sure the date puts a lot of things in consideration, including the sale of your present house, how long it will take you to be fully ready to move, packing, the acquisition of a new house, etc. Plan Well Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 13 If you know a need has arisen for you to relocate or move out, don’t just sit down idly marking time; start planning. What are the things you need to do? Make a to do list? Out of the things in your to do list, what are the things that you can do now that will make it easier for you on your moving date. Plan well and you will reduce the stress and tension that is usually associated with relocating. Put Your House Up For Sale No matter the state of your finances, it is wise for you to get your present house sold first before moving into another one. We will discuss selling your house in detail later on. Familiarize Yourself With Where You Are Moving To Go and scope out the place. Visit public places in that area; try and make new friends. Find out how things work best in the area. That way by the time you are ready to move in, you won’t be a stranger. Believe me, you don’t want to get stuck in the middle of a place you are not familiar with. Get A New House Before Moving Out Make sure you have already gotten a deal on the new house you are moving to or at least make sure the deal is almost sealed before moving out; you won’t want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere. You are working on it. It will be very unwise of you to just expect that you can just move into a new place and hang around in a motel or a lodge for a while until you get a new house. Make sure you have it taken care of it before you leave where you are. Use A Relocating Agent If you really are particular about taking the stress of moving off your hands, you can consider the services of a relocating agent or relocation company. Relocation companies actually take the bulk of the work out of your hands--the sale of your house, the purchasing of a new one, moving, packing and the whole stuff. Doing It Yourself If you are the kind of person who enjoys doing things yourself rather than letting others run the show, then you might consider doing all the necessary stuff in your relocation efforts yourself. This could give you a lot of pleasure. Just make sure you plan well and pace yourself. Set a moving date that gives you enough time to plan, pack, and actualize your move. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 14 If you can’t afford the luxury of using relocation company, then you can also consider doing it yourself. It can still be a pleasant experience; it’s all up to you. How well you plan and execute your plan is the determining factor. If you can successfully put the above mentioned things to work effectively, you’ll actually make a pleasant experience of your relocation. Now let’s talk in details about selling your house. Selling the House Once you have decided to move out of where you are for another place, you’ll need to find a way to sell the house you are presently living in. But there are some very important things that must be considered in doing this effectively. Using A Real Estate Agent Using a real estate agent is an easy but expensive way out. Because real estate agents bring their knowledge and expertise into helping you sell your house, they can help you get a fair market value for your house. But the downside is their services will cost you thousands of dollars. If you can afford it, it’s less stress for you; if you can’t, you’ll have to do the selling yourself. Doing The Selling Yourself If you have to sell the house yourself, you will have be equipped for that task to get the best possible price for it. You don’t want to enter the real estate market a novice. You will fall prey to some dangerous “sharks” who are looking for people like you–those who don’t know much about real estate to rip off. So get your self educated. Come on! I don’t mean go to a real estate school; I’m talking about learning the ropes. There are so many resources on the Internet that will give you easy to understand tips on how to get the best of the market. If you prefer offline research, then check out your local bookstore. Just make sure you get the know-how on getting the best out of real estate transactions. One of the things you need to know is that deciding to sell your house yourself places you in the FSBO category of sellers. Don’t sweat it! FSBO means For Sale By Owner. This market, the FSBO market, is growing rapidly, as people have come to realize they can save thousands by selling their houses by themselves. Now this is a plus for you: it means you can easily find ready made form contracts and agreements for your state. One other thing you need to know is that generally real estate laws are not federal government governed. Usually, they are governed by the state. This Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 15 means you need to be specific in your search for references; one state’s laws may differ from another. Make sure you are familiar with yours. Other things you need to do are: 1. Find Out The Price Of Houses In Your Area Knowing the price of houses in your area helps you to have an idea of what your asking price should be in putting your house on the real estate market. 2. Place Yourself In The Position Of The Buyer Remember you too are going to buy another house to move into. Appraise your house as if you are the buyer. You see things in new light when you observe things from another’s perspective. What do you see? The things that need fixing. The lawn needs mowing. The fence needs repair. The plumbing is defective. There is need for a fresh coat of paint. Fix your house up really well and you’ll get a good price. 3. Have A Good Marketing Or Advertising Plan If you are really serious on getting a good price for your house, you’ll need a good marketing plan. People will only buy what they can see. So list your house on the internet and post photographs on sites like fsboamerica.org; submit ads for posting in your local property listings paper; you can even hold open houses for interested buyers. 5. Develop Good Negotiation Skills You also need to be able to develop good negotiation skills, so don’t let potential buyers wear you out or intimidate you with their negotiation prowess. Learn how to handle your negotiations well and how to close a deal. If you can put all these into practice, you’ll not only get a good price for the house, but you’ll enjoy the process of getting it sold. Who knows--you might even find out you are so good at this you can make a part time career out of it! Think this is too much trouble? The whole business of being an FSBO. Remember the thousands of dollars it will save you in commissions to real estate agents. Now that you have gotten a hang on the house selling business, you need to consider another necessary step in relocating. Finding & purchasing moving supplies Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 16 Okay, your house is already on the market; you are on your way to a good relocation. But that’s is not all there is to moving out. You need to start looking for moving supplies. Remember, we are talking about making your relocation as stress free as possible and as enjoyable as possible. You need to start scout for moving supplies as early as possible if you are keen about reducing costs. Need boxes for packing? How about going to your grocer for those boxes that are constituting a nuisance in his store? The earlier you begin your search for moving supplies the better. You can also go online to find cheap moving supplies. It’s all about planning ahead and starting on time. The internet is actually a good avenue for you to find great offers for your moving supplies. Compare prices and go for the one that suits your pocket and your demands most. Do you know someone who recently moved? Try and get them to give or sell their moving supplies to you. If you don’t know anybody who just moved, you can check classified ads in your local newspaper for people who want sell their used moving supplies. At times what you are looking all over for may be right under your nose. Being creative and using what you have to achieve the results you desire can sure help you in reducing the costs of finding and purchasing your moving supplies. Instead of buying stuff to pad your breakables, you can use your rugs, blankets or other things that can serve the purpose. Instead of buying bubble wrap, you can make use of crumpled newspapers. Hiring A “Move Planner” If the decision has been made to move and all the necessary things have been set rolling, but you are experiencing some hiccups in certain areas, you might want to consider hiring a “move planner.” The function of a move planner is to help you make your move as easy and smooth as possible. A move planner helps you to plan your move based on what you have to move, where are moving from, and where you are moving to. The stress of doing all the planning yourself is removed. In hiring a move planner, you have to make sure that it is one that can cater for your specific and individual needs. You don’t want rigid move planners who will tell you it has always be done this way and it must always be done that way. Also, make sure the move planner has all the necessary details about your house, what you have to move, how you will prefer it moved, where you are Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 17 moving it to and all other necessary stuff. That is the only way you get the best advise possible about hot to make your move as flawless as possible. There are online move planners available for you to get your relocation done without stress. The internet offers you access to online move planners that you can use to plan your move easily. Make good use of them and you’ll be able to come up with a good move plan that will let you have a perfect relocation. Renting a Truck In a bid to make moving as cost effective as possible a lot of people ignore the possibility of renting a truck. Eventually, most regret making that mistake because they discover that trying to use their own vehicle to move cost so much in effort and fuel consumption. Sincerely, renting a truck can really prove to be cheaper in the longer run than doing the moving yourself. So what are the necessary things you need to put into consideration to get the best truck rental service? What You Need To Move Versus The Size Of The Truck Before renting a truck, you must make sure that you have an accurate idea of the space that all your belongings, what you need to move, will occupy. You don’t want to rent a truck that will turn out to be too small to occupy what you need to move neither do you want to waste money renting a truck with too much space for you to utilize. Compare Prices Don’t just jump at one truck rental service because it falls within your budget range. Shop around. Compare prices of different moving truck rental services before making up your mind. But make sure you don’t compromise quality for price. See What You Are Booking Don’t just sit down at home and do your research through the internet or phone. Make sure you actually see what you are renting before the d-day for moving comes. Don’t be deceived by pictures ask to see the real thing. Check it out to see if it will meet your needs. You have the right to even inspect the trucks, make use of your rights; if you don’t, you will be the one to blame if anything goes wrong if it costs you less to get it right the first time. Don’t Ignore Insurance Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 18 At times, in a bid to cut costs, people ignore the insurance clauses that come with rentals; make sure you don’t make the same mistake. Seek advice from your insurance agent and see if your own insurance covers mishaps that may occur with the rental truck if not make sure you sort it out. Ask Around For Recommendations Ask around the neighborhood from people who have used moving truck rental services for recommendations. Know The Requirements Make sure you know the requirements and that you can meet them before using any particular truck rental service. Usually when you are renting a truck you will have to provide certain personal documents, like driver's license, your personal proof of insurance, credit card etc. This is usually done for verification purposes, to now whether you are who you say you are and to know whether you will be able to pay for damages is any is incurred. Finding a Moving Company Finding a good and reputable moving company is very important if you really want to enjoy your relocation efforts. Quality moving service will take the pressure off you and allow you enjoy the relocation process. But the truth is this, since the deregulation of the moving industry sometime in the 90’s, there has been a lot of fraudsters parading themselves as legitimate moving companies. So you need to be very careful not fall prey to these people. In hiring a good moving company, you must make double sure that you only hire those that are licensed. How do I mean? The Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FCMSA) regulates the licensing. So you can always rest assured when using the services of a FCMSA licensed moving company that you are in safe and capable hands. Dealing with such licensed moving companies entitles you to certain rights and responsibilities when moving. Don’t confuse Moving Companies with Moving Brokers. Though Moving brokers are also licensed and regulated by the FMCSA, the reality is they are not required to have trucks. Usually what these brokers have is just a sales force whose sole assignment is to book deals for companies that have trucks. The problem with these brokers is that they are only concerned about your money; as soon they have it, they will lose any interest they once had in you and they are off to get other deals. So where can you find a moving company that is reputable? Check out newspapers, yellow pages or recommendations from friends and satisfied customers [this is the best option]. If you know anybody who has satisfactorily Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 19 used the services of a moving company, you’ll experience less headaches as you can be sure they know how to do well what they do, moving. You must make sure you actively supervise the weighing of your load and that you get a written estimate of what you are to pay before hand. That way they can’t come back and jack up the price later. Read the fine print of their policies and regulations; don’t ignore details. Make sure that you supervise the loading and the unloading of your stuff; you don’t want to lose some important stuff in transit. Also make sure you check your package on delivery to ascertain whether damage has been made. Do this immediately; otherwise they may deny responsibility for the damage. Moving companies, if you find a good one, can help you reduce the stress and trouble that comes with moving. Just make sure you do all your best to get the right one for you. Use the internet to compare their rates and terms, but don’t just sit at home; make sure you visit the ones you are considering to actually see if they do what they claim to do, ask them for references and phone numbers of satisfied customers; make sure you don’t just take their word for it. Ask around in forums and talk to friends yo see if they are actually genuine and whether they maintain high business standards or not. If they do, you can go ahead and use them. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 20 Relocating: Before You Move In “Home is where the heart is” is a common cliché many people repeat when discussing their home purchases. While some may shudder at the repetition of worn out verbiage, the fact that the old saying has been oft repeated for decades lends credibility to the argument that the home IS where a person’s heart lies. A home is also where the wallet lies as a home purchase is a valuable equity as well. There are a number of ways that the equity of a home can be undermined and most of them can be avoided if a person takes a few things into consideration prior to the purchasing of a home and the requisite relocation to the new residence. 1.Buying a New House Purchasing a new home is never a simple matter, but it is always rewarding. For many people, making such a purchase simply involves finding a dream home, getting a mortgage loan and making settlement. Of course, the process is somewhat more involved than it sounds and this is to say nothing of the fact that there are a number of other facets involving the relocation from one residence to another. For example, many people do not realize that if a person is moving because of a new job, the person making the move can deduct a large amount of the relocation expenses from that year’s taxes. Yes, it is true! Many people do not take these deductions because they are unaware they exist. This is merely one facet of the money saving opportunities available to people when they decide to relocate. Now, long before a person decides to make the move, he or she needs to decide on what type of home to shop for. A new home is hardly worth anything if it doesn’t fit the needs of the person purchasing it. Selecting the proper location, the right type of home, the proper size of the home as well as acquiring the necessary mortgage loan and insurance policy all requires great thought and effort or else the homeowner may find himself in a significantly less than desirable position. There are other means of saving money that deserve a little bit of further attention and they are as follows: 2.Finding a Competitive Mortgage Rate Finding an entity willing to lend money for the express purpose of purchasing a home is not difficult. Now, finding an entity that provides competitive mortgage Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 21 rate, however, may be somewhat more difficult. Finding the lender and being approved for the loan is not the tough part. If an individual is willing to accept the rates of the first (and in some cases only) entity that approves their application, then the possibility of paying more interest than one would be paying if proper due diligence had be undertaken exists. There is no reason to rush to accept any singular mortgage rate and some simple, basic comparison shopping could avoid such hassles. So how does one go about finding the proper rate? When a lending institution decides to offer a competitive rate it is seeking to “compete” with other lending institutions for a consumer’s business. In order to capture the homeowner’s business, the company must make people aware of the existence of the competitive rates. In order to do this, an advertising campaign must be undertaken. The best place to look for available, competitive rates would be in the real estate section of a local newspaper. In fact, the real estate section of the newspaper should be the first place anyone looks in order to ascertain what type of rates is available. The real estate section also provides valuable information on the median rates of interest for home mortgage loans. Such median comparisons can help the borrower understand what is a good rate vs. what is a rate that is less than competitive. One of the most important factors in the selection of a competitive interest rate revolves around selecting and deciding which type of mortgage you are interested in. Now, mortgage rates can be fixed or variable. A fixed interest mortgage rate involves a flat, specific interest figure that fluctuates. A variable interest rate involves an interest rate that can go up or down based upon the economy. A variable interest rate is somewhat of a gamble because there always exists the possibility of the rate going up beyond what would have been the interest rate of a fixed loan. However, there also exists the possibility that the rate may end up being lower than what the fixed rate was. As such, one must weigh acceptable levels of risk before undertaking a variable rate mortgage loan. If there was any one method of properly insuring that a competitive mortgage rate was acquired, it would be the art, science and methodology of a proactive search for a competitive mortgage rate. That is, while research and price comparison is valuable, there is also a need for dealing directly with those who are the lending offices. If a rate that is quoted falls below the expectations of what the borrower is looking for, then the borrower could inform the lending institution that the dollar amounts they are offering are far too high and then state the figure that is acceptable. While there is always the chance for rejection, the reality is that the lender will probably try to negotiate a dollar amount that is agreeable to all parties. After all, the lender does not want to find himself losing the business of a potential client. 3.Purchasing Homeowner's Insurance Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 22 A great deal of time and hassle can be saved if one seeks to have a homeowner’s insurance quote comparison undertaken. That is, there needs to be a clear examination of the various rates and quotes that different homeowner insurance services offer. When looking at the quotes, the various terms, conditions, prices, benefits and potential negatives need to be examined in order to select the best homeowner’s insurance service available. At one time, such an undertaking could be exhausting and complicated. Today, the process of comparing homeowner insurance quotes is much more simplified thanks in great part to the internet. Today, a potential client can request an online rate quote from a number of different insurance providers by simply filling out online forms and hitting the submit button. In the past, all forms would have to be filled out by hand and to even get the forms one would have to go to several insurance agencies and pick up the material or request them through the mail. All that is now reduced to simply pulling up the insurance provider’s home page and making the request. 4. Purchasing/Renting Storage Space There is a great deal of misnomers when it comes to acquiring rental/storage space. One of those misnomers is the erroneous belief that storage space can be expensive. While it is true that storage space can cost people a great deal of money if the person goes about renting storage space improperly, a person can save a ton of money on storage space if the person opts to spend a little careful deliberation on the subject of renting space. The first thing that a person must take into consideration when renting storage space is exactly how much storage space a person will need. The emphasis people usually place on this component of renting storage space is usually on not renting a storage space that is too small. This is an important aspect to consider, however, it is more important to clearly define how “small” a storage space is. Now, the use of quotes with the word small is fairly indicative of the fact that most people dismiss a storage area as being too small when the only measurement that they utilizing is simply looking at the storage space and dismissing the space as too small. There are also those people who will dismiss the storage space without actually even seeing it, but rather their dismissal will center on looking at a photograph of the space in a catalogue or on the internet! This is simply not the proper way to go about such a venture! Let it be known, if you rent a storage space from a storage company (whether it be U-Haul, etc) and the space appears to be too small and you are not able to fit all your items in the storage space, you could simply ask the company to give you a larger space. No company is going to refuse and hold a customer to a specific storage spot without providing a requested upgrade. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 23 The problem that most people end up having with storage rental space is that they rent a space that is far to big for their needs and end up with a significant amount of space within the storage unit that they are not using. In order to circumvent this problem, it is highly advisable that no items that are placed in storage be placed there without also being placed inside a box of some sort. That is, the storage space should be filled with BOXES and not loose items. This way, space will be maximized and there will not be any areas of the storage space that is not occupied because of the asymmetrical design of the items placed inside the storage area. When it comes to the subject of cost, there needs to be a great deal of comparison shopping performed. The renter must look at all the storage areas in the local vicinity and see what storage area has the best offers available. Many storage services also offer discounts when certain time commitment leases are agreed to or will even throw in a free month or two as an enticement. It is important to also look at what one is getting for the price one is paying. That is, if a storage company is offering extra security such as video surveillance to avoid theft or has an attendant on duty for 24 hrs, those benefits are well worth paying extra money for! Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 24 Relocating: Moving & Moving In: One of the most stressful things one can experience in life is relocation to a new city. There are any number of factors that create said stress, but there are ways to lessen that stress. The best way to cut down on the stress of a big move is to be properly prepared. Though you can never plan for every hiccup in a move, it is possible to get close and cut down on the suprises that so often make moves difficult. Here are a few tips and some advice on working with your movers, unpacking, improving your new abode, and getting your utilities up and running that will help you make your relocation as smooth and stress-free as possible. Evaluate Your Move Before any other type of preparation can really help you relocate with less stress, you must evaluate the move itself. All relocations are not created equal; some are harder and more stressful than others. For instance, if you are relocating from Washington D.C. to Baltimore it is not nearly as stressfus as going from Indianapolis to Las Angeles. There are many factors to think about before starting your preparation: how far are you moving? Is your move going to be between similar sized cities or are you moving from one extreme in size to the other? Are you buying a home and selling one in the move or are you renting? Factors like these will determine a lot in terms of the stress levels you may encounter. Working With Your Movers Once you have evaluated your move in terms of size, distance, and living arrangements, you may want to start thinking about working with your movers. By understanding how to work with your movers, you can save yourself both money and stress. Here are a few of the ways you can do just that. For one, find out how your movers charge. If you are working with a moving company that charges an hourly rate, then it is in your best interest to do as much of the work as possible for they arrive. The less time the movers spend on packing up and moving furniture from room to room in your home, the more time they can spend on the big part of the move: the loading and commuting. Start by finding the simple things and getting those packed in your home. Get your clothes packed up into boxes, pack your dishes into boxes, and if you can get the help to do it, move your upstairs furniture to the main floor to really save some of that moving time. Basically, you want to find everything that you can do yourself and do it. The more you do, the less time your hourly movers will spend on that work. The less time they spend on any of the move, the less money you will end up paying. By simply making your move cheaper you are taking away one of the real stressers of the move: money. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 25 If, though, you are working with a moving company that charges by the move, you are in a different situation. The best way to save yourself time and money is to negotiate what the movers will be responsible for. If they are doing less, insist that they charge less. Additionally, try to find parts of the move you can do. For instance, offer to take care of all the kitchen and clothing in your home in exchange for a cheaper rate. In other words, negotiate and do it until you have the best possible price you can get. Finally, as a way to make the experience of working with the movers as positive as possible, supervise. While it may seem like you are hovering, the movers are working with your belongings. Keep an eye on what is going on, how things are being packed, and where they are being put in the truck. By simple watching what is going on, you can give yourself some peace of mind that will in turn allow you to relieve some of the stress of your relocation. Unpacking After Your Move Once you have made the move to your new home in your new city, you have to take on the task of unpacking. All of your belongings have arrived at your home, but simply unpacking and getting your home in order can be one of the most stressful parts of the whole relocation. Here are a few tips that will help you get past the unpacking phase of your move with as litte stress as possible. The first thing you should do is take a deep breath. Unpacking is the final part of your new journey, and it should be enjoyable to some degree. The problems and stress usually come from people now knowing where to start or how to go about their unpacking for each room. Additionally, you should give yourself time. One of the most common problems is that many people fell like they have to complete their unpacking in a day or a weekend. The truth is that you can take your time so that you lower your level of stress and raise the effectiveness of your unpacking. First, think about where you need to start. Instead of scrambling around from room to room, your first priority should be your family’s biggest needs: bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. If you can eat, sleep, and bathe, you will at the very least be functional. Once you have those done, you can take your time moving through the rest of your new home. As you do this, you should also be working one room at a time, and resist the urge to move back and forth. Here are tips on the various rooms of your home as far as when and how to unpack them properly. All it takes is a little planning and a little thought about priority. Unpacking Your Kitchen: A Good Place to Start Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 26 Your kitchen is a great place to start unpacking. Once you have it up and running, you and your family can eat in the new home, have a place to gather, and can use it as a base from which to work as you unpack other parts of the home. In your kitchen, the first thing you should do is make sure that you resist the temptation to unpack the entire kitchen and get every single item you have put away. The truth is that it will likely be months before you fully understand your own storage availability in the home. Additionally, you likely have kitchen items you use very rarely. Keep such things boxed up and stored until you are sure you have a good place for them or you need them. So get your main appliances put away, your dishes in their places, your silverware in the right drawer and get the empty boxes out. Just by doing those things, you can now make and eat a meal in your new home and have a room that is “put away” in which you can gather as you work on other things. Unpack Your Bathroom for Comfort The next room that you may want to tackle is your bathroom. The bathroom is one of the easiest rooms to put away. Before you unpack, make sure everythign in your new bathroom is working: the toilet, the sink, and the shower. Once you know the room is operational, you can unpack and put away all of your toiletries. With your bathroom in order along with your kitchen, the rest of your unpacking is something you can take your time with. The bathroom and kitchen should help aliviate some of the stress of the unpacking and allow you to take your time. Again, by putting yourself in a place where you can relax a little, you can really eliminate a lot of what causes the stress associated with a big relocation. Once you have your bathroom and kitchen unpacked, you can have a meal and grab a shower or bath. Clear off the bed and get a good night’s sleep. You are in a position where you can tackle some of the other rooms the next day. Bedroom For the first night or so, it is okay if you are sleeping on a mattress on the floor. However, you may want to get to that room taken care of right away once you are through the kitchen and bathroom. First of all, don’t work yourself up trying to unpack every bedroom. Instead, make each family member responsible for his or her own room. While that may seem obvious to many, it is easy to fall into the trap of feverishly trying to unpack every room. Instead, simply let each person take his or her own time and go about it his or her own way. As for your own room, start with the bed and work out. Get your bed put together and made up before moving on to the other furniture which has hopefully been placed by the movers. Then, you can put away clothes, sheets, and other linens Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 27 that you associate with the bedroom. Before you know it, you have the better part of your home unpacked and have done so with much less stress. Your Living Room or Family Room You are all ready to set up your living room. Since this is a room you will likely spend a lot of time in, it is one you should really plan out before unpacking and setting up. The best way to start is with a sketch of the room or a computer skematic of it if you have such resources. Figure out where things will go before you start moving anything. Where will the television go? What about the sofa and the tables? By having a plan, you can unpack and arrange your living room much more efficiently and thus save yourself some more stress. An important tip about your living room is to do the sketch well ahead of time. That way, when the movers arrive, you can have them put the furniture where you want it. You will not have to worry about moving around heavy pieces when it comes time to upack the living room. Instead, you will be able to concern yourself with how the television will be set up, where movies will be stored, and how you will decorate the room to make it as comfortable as possible for you and your family as they move into the home. Unpacking the Rest As you unpack the rest of your home: the study, the guest rooms, and any other rooms you may have, consider a few other unpacking tips. For one, make sure you always work from big to small first. Put big pieces away first, annd then you can fill in areas with smaller unpacked pieces. In other words, put the bookshelves and desks in place first before putting away the books and the files. That is the best way to not only get the room put away efficiently, it is also a good way to make sure you find space for most everything no matter what your storage situations is. Another thing to keep in mind is how frequently you use things. Unpack and put away what you use most first. If there are things you rarely or never use, they can stay in storage for a while until you are sure you have a spot for them or until you actually need them. Finally, use your unpacking time as a way to purge rooms. Store things you can to keep space in your home. Additionally, move things from roooms where they were not used to ones where they may be more useful. Use your opportunity. Improving Your New Home Once you have made the move and are unpacked, you can start making improvements to your new home. When in a new place, you may want to find Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 28 ways to make it more homey to you and give it your own little signature with a few minor projects. Perhaps the most common home improvement for new move-ins is painting. It is easy to do and can quickly change the look and feel of your home’s interior. It can be done quickly, cheaply, and even before you move in depending on the access you have to the home before you move in. Another common home improvement you can make as a new move in is to add overhad lighting. If you home is pre-wired for such lighting, you can install lights and fans on your own with very little effort. If it is not prewired, then it is recommended that you consult with a professional electrician before trying to install it. Either way, the installation of overhead lighting and or ceiling fans can make a huge difference in the look, feel, and enoyment of your new home. By making these improvements to your home, you are giving it your personal touch. Doing that allows you to make it feel like your home. In turn, settling into the new place becomes easier and less stressful. When you can reduce the stress of the stay, then you are helping yourself to reduce the stress of your relocation. Electricity, Phone, High Speed Internet, and Other Utilities Getting the services you want and need in your new home can be that last stressful hurdle that you have to jump in your relocation. Here are a few tips on getting the services you need quickly and without a great deal of stress. As with every other part of your relocation, getting your utilities up and running is all about planning and organization. Start early and start with what you need most. It is always important to prioritize. First of all, make sure electricity is hooked up or has been transferred to your name before your move in day. You will want that all set so that you can see when you unpack and organize your home. On a similar note, you will want to make sure that you have the water and heat up and running as well. These utilities usually require little more than a phone call or two. Just make sure that call is made a week or so ahead of time to give the utility companies time to switch everything over for you. Secondly, you will want to make sure your telephone, cable, and internet services are up and running and ready to go as soon as you can. Many companies will actully “bundle” these services so that you can save money while getting them all from one company. If you want your high speed internet to be wireless as well, pick up a router from your local electronics store so that you can set it up as you unpack the corresponding room. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 29 Finally, once you are moved in, you will want to call about trash pick up and recycling services for your new city. If you have to pay separate for trash pick up (some cities include it in local taxes) you can often save money by paying the full year in advance. If you can afford to do so, it is a good way to save a little money and get one expense out of the way for a full year. With utilities and services, it is important to plan ahead. The soner you start on those, the less work you have to do once you are in town and unpacking. It is just one more way to reduce your stress when your relocate. As with everything else on your relocation adventure, utilities and services are all about the planning and the foresight. Stress is all around us in the events that happen in our lives. Births, deaths, and marriages are some of the biggest stressers most people can experience. Falling just in after those big three, though, is relocating to a new city. Whether the move is big or small, the fact is that a move to a new city and a new home can be very stressful. There are ways, as were discussed previously, to lower the amount of stress that such relocation can bring on y ou. Before you do anything else, make sure you have evaluated your move. Think about where you are moving from and to. Consider the distance from your old to your new home. Finally, think about the culture and climate as you plan the move. Remember that whether your are working with the movers, a lot of the stress in relocation comes from improper planning. So first and foremost talk to your movers and negotiate a good price. Additionally, do as much as you can on your own to save money on the moving prices. Be sure to shop around and you will make the moving portion much less stressful. Do not forget to also unpack in due time. Make sure you take care of what you need first before moving on to other rooms in the house. In addition, take your time and enjoy the process of setting up your new home. Once you are in the home, take on a project or two to make sure you get the home feeling like yours. You could do a little painting, install a light, or some other small comfort-inducing project. Make the home yours. Finally, call early to make sure your utilities and services are ready to go. Look for deals for bundling to save both money and stress. Make sure everything is hooked up and in your name as soon as you can. By preparing early and by making sure you have everything in line ahead of time you can greatly reduce the stress of that relocation. There is no way to completely get rid of all the stress. Afterall, there are many factors that contribute Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 30 to the stress of relocation. So take caontrol of what you can and perhaps your relocation will be as close to stress free as possible. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 31 CONCLUSION As you can tell from reading this book, there is more to relocating than simply packing a bag and hitting the road. If your reasons for relocation are good sound ones, and you are convinced that moving is going to enhance your life, then most certainly you should do so. However, always remember that your decision to move is just the beginning of the process. Thinking through each part of that process will require a clear head, as well as a dedication to following through with detail, anticipating possible delays, and not allowing any temporary obstacle to derail you from reaching your ultimate goal. Involve family in friends in this process. After all, several heads are better than one. You can draw on the experience of persons who have gone through a move. Ask them what they would change about their relocation process if they could go back in time and do it all over. Also make it a point to discuss any part of their moving experience that they found very productive, and make sure you understand why those portions of the moving process were so pleasant. You may find some excellent ideas will arise from hearing those experiences, ideas that will inspire you to move forward with your planning, as well as helping you to avoid a pitfall that perhaps you had not considered up to that point. Exploring other sources that address the information contained in the sections of this book may also be helpful for you. Contacting one or more moving companies will allow you to obtain copies of the tip guides they publish. In addition, you may find some excellent resources from the chamber of commerce in the city where you will be living. Often, the welcome guides published by the city chambers are great sources for information. They can help you arrange for utilities, and get a firm grasp on how the school districts are configured. The guides also will help you get into the swing of the local cultural scene, with information on where and what community activities take place throughout the year. Often, suggestions about who to call if you need renovations or repairs to your new abode will also be included. Another source that can supply you with useful information is your insurance company. Often, the company that handles your homeowner's or tenant insurance coverage will have help profiles on the happenings around your new home, as well as plenty of civic information to help you get into the groove of the local political structure. You can also find helpful information regarding the water table and its condition in various parts of the city, as well as information about pollen counts and other matters that may be of interest to you, should you have allergies. Don't forget the Internet as a viable way of learning more about your destination. In addition to researching the web site for your city, go to the chamber site and scroll through the various businesses in town. You may be pleasantly surprised Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 32 to find retail establishments and restaurants that are of interest located in or near your new neighborhood. Some of the local charities and clubs may also catch your interest, and you will have the chance to make contact with them before you ever get to town. Getting involved in local activities is a great way to make a new place seem like home in no time. For those that wish to find a new religious home, many cities now have interfaith associations, which are more than happy to help a new resident find a house of worship that is a good fit. In addition, many religious organizations maintain contact information for affiliate congregations around the country. Simply locate the main web site and do a search. You may find several that would be of interest to you. It is important to use these examples as ways to expand the knowledge base provide to you by this book. Keep in mind that there are many creative ways to build on what you have learned. Now that you have a good foundation for deciding to move and understand the basics of how to prepare and accomplish relocation, you are ready to begin applying the ideas contained in this book to your own situation. Chances are that you had quite a few good ideas occur to you while reading this book, all the way through to the last page. If you did not write down those ideas while reading, take some time and go back through each section of the book, and make a list of your thoughts. As an example, if you are not looking to buy a home when you relocate, think in terms of applying the general principles you found in the book and relate them to the process of finding an affordable apartment in a pleasant neighborhood. Apply the ideas about finding a reasonable financing source to the concept of getting the best lease you can. While you may find the need to adapt several of the suggestions found in the text, the important thing to remember is that the underlying strategy is to make sure you proceed with your goal of relocation in an organized manner. By adapting the overall process to the specifics of your relocation, you are assured of having relocation plan that is concise, well thought out, and perfect to meet your needs. Great American Photo Contest – Do you think your baby is the cutest? Pagina 33