| Let's face it, relocating is not always easy. Even if | | | | 6. Bring measurements of your furniture with you |
| you arean experienced mover, anxiety can | | | | during yourhome-hunting trip. It's highly unlikely |
| permeate every aspect of theprocess. The | | | | that every piece offurniture you own will suit your |
| unknowns of moving to a new city, the mental | | | | new home, but having the size ofthe major |
| andphysical strain of getting your house ready to | | | | pieces with you will certainly help wean out those |
| sell, getting ridof stuff you don't need anymore, | | | | thatwill be completely unsuitable. Obviously, this |
| packing, etc. cause stress evenfor the most | | | | means you need totake a tape measure with you |
| laid-back of people. If you have children, you'llalso | | | | also! |
| be dealing with their anxiety over changing schools | | | | 7. Keep important papers in your possession - do |
| andmaking new friends. You may be starting a | | | | not pack them! |
| new job. There areso many things going on at | | | | Birth certificates, marriage licenses, stock |
| once that it can simply becomeoverwhelming. The | | | | certificates,divorce decrees, custody papers, |
| little details seem to pile up and begin tofeel | | | | passports, social securitycards, etc. should all be |
| gargantuan. I've put together a list of some helpful | | | | brought with you. Anything that may berequired |
| hintsthat will make your move a little smoother. | | | | to register your children in school, close on your |
| 1. Research the school district in the area to which | | | | home,or would be difficult to replace should be |
| you will bemoving. This will help you narrow down | | | | brought with you. |
| potential neighborhoodsfor your home search. | | | | Shot records, social security numbers, birth |
| Most cities have school informationon-line which | | | | certificates, and inthe case of divorce, child |
| makes it easy to evaluate and compare school | | | | custody papers are generally arequirement to |
| reportcards, academic programs, sports | | | | register children in school. |
| programs, music programs andspecial needs. | | | | 8. Get copies of all medical records, including any |
| Write down phone numbers so that you can | | | | importantx-rays such as mammograms, to bring |
| make apersonal visit to the school during your | | | | with you to your new home. |
| home hunting trip. | | | | There may be a small charge for this, but it is |
| 2. If you have children who have particular | | | | worth it for thecontinuity of your medical history. |
| hobbies or playsports, you may also want to | | | | 9. Ditto with school records; some schools will only |
| research local facilities andprograms. This may also | | | | send themdirectly to the new school, but you can |
| narrow your home search. | | | | give them writtenpermission in advance to do this. |
| 3. Locate a realtor that will be ready to help when | | | | The new school can of courserequest the records |
| you arrive. | | | | at registration, but it is much better forpurposes |
| A good realtor will ask the right questions in | | | | of planning your child's curriculum to have them at |
| advance so thatthey can show you homes in the | | | | thenew school as quickly as possible. |
| neighborhoods that will best suityour family's | | | | 10. Make a list of the phone numbers of all the |
| needs. | | | | people/companiesyou need to call to cancel |
| 4. In advance of your home-hunting trip, get a list | | | | service in your old home. Thisincludes cable, phone |
| of the locallenders from your realtor. Not only will | | | | and utilities, but don't forget lawn care,daycare, |
| it be important to havea pre-approval letter with | | | | cleaning people, etc. When you are ready to leave |
| you in order to make an offer on ahome, but | | | | andall of your paperwork is packed and on a |
| using a local lender can be a blessing if there are | | | | truck, you will not bewracking your brain trying to |
| anylast minute issues at closing. | | | | remember who you are supposed tocall. Your |
| 5. When you arrive for your home-hunting trip, | | | | realtor should be able to provide you with a list |
| use the time toalso check out daycare facilities, | | | | ofall the services you may need -cable, phone, |
| elderly care, after schoolcare, or any other special | | | | electric, gas, etc. |
| needs you may have. | | | | - in your new home. |