September 12, 2005

Relocation Made Easy

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5 Strategies for Relocating Your Family the Easy Way

- by Jeff Hoffman

© Jeff Hoffman- All Rights reserved
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Taking the new job in the new city or town is a choice for some and a requirement for others. Either way this change requires relocating your family.

Even under the most normal of circumstances moving is always full of stress, anxiety, worry, happiness and sadness. The roller coaster of emotions can be a wild corkscrew of a ride. There isn't a parent alive that doesn't worry about the emotional impact relocating to another town will have on their family.

However, there are proven to work strategies you can follow that will make relocating your family much easier.

Here are 5 strategies for relocating your family the easy way.

Relocate Your Children Before School Is Out
Moving is a significant change for children--but they do survive. It can be difficult to give up familiar places and people, meet new people, and get used to new places. Planning ahead will help minimize the stress of all this change.

Most families try to move to a new location after school is out. Surveys have shown that children transition easier if they come to the new school in the middle of the year, since teachers can have more time to deal with them as individuals and having new friends before school lets out makes the summer less lonely.

When you arrive at the new destination, help your children explore the new area. Go for bike rides to explore the neighborhood and meet new children. Sign up for soccer, softball, little league or any type of organized youth activities your child has an interest in. Arrange “play dates” with new friends to help get your child feeling part of their new circle of friends. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce website and get a feel for activities and services within the community you’ll be relocating to.

Have A Plan For the Family Pet(s)
Plan for your pet just as you would any other family member. Here is a quick list of "to-dos" for the family pet:

1. Get a list of recommended veterinarians, groomers, and boarding kennels in the new location.

2. 30 days before the trip, schedule an appointment with your local veterinarian to make sure that your pet has all the required vaccinations, identification and completed paperwork.

3. Acclimate the pet to a traveling crate approximately one month prior to departure. Place an old blanket or pillow and a soft toy for the pet to call its own. Do not replace the blanket and/or toy when it is time to leave. It is important to surround the pet with familiar things during the trip.

4. On the actual move day, feed your pet at least four to six hours prior to departure to avoid your pet becoming ill. Make sure to give water to your pet prior to departure; do not leave an unsecured bowl in the crate.

5. Once your pet is in the new location, the very first thing to do is to make sure that it gets food and water. Place the bowls several feet from each other, so that the pet doesn't gulp down the water too fast.

Follow the Five Step Moving Process
One of the important decisions when relocating is selecting a mover. Consider using a brand name, reputable, AMSA certified mover to ensure your move goes smoothly. Here are the five steps to picking a mover:

Step 1: Get a Ballpark Price of how much your move will cost. Costs are dependent on 2 key criteria: the weight of your household goods and the distance it travels.

Step 2: Request Estimates from up to 3 reputable, brand name movers. Plan in advance, movers get very busy as it gets closer to the summer months.

Step 3: Someone from the moving companies will contact you to answer questions, verify information and schedule an appointment. For small moves, they may quote a price over the phone, but typically a moving professional needs to visit your home to give you an accurate estimate.

Step 4: Get your estimates, learn about the moving companies, and find out about any specific features/services they provide, then book your move.

Step 5: Move to your new home!

Here is a great resource full of Moving Tips & Advice with everything from moving tutorials, FAQ's and information on consumer rights and responsibilities.

Select a Real Estate Agent in the Area You Are Moving To Who Is Experienced in Relocation
Top notch relocation real estate agents understand the complexities of the relocation process. Here are 6 important questions to ask a real estate agent in the area you are moving to before you hire them:

1. Do you specialize in the town I am moving to?

2. How many homes have you sold in my new town within the last 12 months?

3. Can you e-mail instant notification of new listings that match what I'm looking for?

4. What types of homes do you typically deal with? Are these similar to what I am buying in style and price?

5. Do you specialize in exclusive Buyer Agency? (a relationship where the Realtor's primary fiduciary duty is to you exclusively, not the Seller)

6. Do you offer written satisfaction/cancellation and performance guarantees?

Do Your Community Research Before You Arrive
Here are three websites you can visit to get a good start on knowing more about the town you’re moving that will help you get acclimated quicker upon your arrival.

- Move.com has a great resource box “Find a Neighborhood” that allows you to compare cities, find a great neighborhood, and a community close-up link.

--MonsterMoving.com connects you with the service providers and information you need for your new town including school reports, utilities, real estate, and insurance.

-Relocation123.com is really cool. It offers city information and history, school information, crime reports as well as local Realtors, Online Mortgage Loans, online Insurance quotes and more.

Relocating your family is never easy even under the best of circumstances. Having a plan and sticking to it is a great way to relocate your family with the least amount of stress and worry. Follow these 5 strategies to relocating your family and you'll be so popular with your family that even the family dog will jump up and give you a kiss!

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Jeff Hoffman is the President of Hoffman Realty Group, Inc. and has assisted in over 100 relocation transactions during his real estate career. He is the creator of a powerful home selling system designed for the home seller not the real estate agent. To learn more about his Smart Seller Home Selling System visit
www.SmartSellerListing.com

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