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Are you thinking about moving? Well, there are a few things to consider before you take the big leap into that new neighborhood, state or even country. Making the move can be very stressful. To alleviate some of that stress, we have compiled information from many sources to help you make this move easier.
Once you have decided to make the move
- Talk to your family
- Spend time with your children. Talk with them about their feelings about moving and comfort their fears. Have a party so that the children can say goodbye to their friends. Read your children the following stories about moving.
- The Berenstain Bears' Moving Day
, by Stan and Jan Berenstain. This is a book directed toward younger children
- The Moving Book: A Kid's Survival Guide
, by Gabriel Davis.
- Goodbye, House: A Kid's Guide to Moving
, by Ann Banks.
- Locate real estate brokers in your area.
- By locating a broker on R E HUNT.COM, you can sell your house and the broker you choose can contact brokers in the area you want to move to via our "Referral Network."
- Start locating moving companies and obtain written estimates.
- Check out our "Related Services" section for moving companies and other necessary services needed when moving.
- Contact your children's schools and inform them of the move. Ask for a written record of your children's status in school.
HUNTING For a Location
- Plan a trip to the location where you plan to move to
- Bring with you:
- A notepad (attached to a clipboard) with a pen to take notes
- Tape measure to obtain dimensions of houses
- Camera for later viewing of houses that caught your interest
- Dimensions of all large pieces of furniture you own to make sure that they will fit in the houses you see.
- Obtain from perspective neighborhoods:
- Information about schools
- Local "Yellow Pages" for later reference
- This will be helpful in finding utilities companies, schools, doctors, etc.
- Visit the houses you have decided on with your real estate broker.
- Take pictures of the house outside and inside.
Once you have decided on the house
- Contact the moving company you have chosen, ASAP. Give them at least one month's notice (two months during the summer season).
- Begin to pack all items you do not plan on using in the next 4-8 weeks.
- Notify:
- Your local post office. Obtain change of address cards.
- Credit card companies
- Your doctor and dentist. Ask for recommendations of new doctors in your new neighborhood.
- Obtain medical records of all shots and prescriptions.
- Insurance companies
- Arrange for transfer of the policies so that you will be protected during the move to the new house and in the new house.
- Banks
- The Department of Motor Vehicles
- Federal and State tax authorities
- Make plans for the moving of plants and animals.
Prepare your home to be sold
- Give your home a thorough cleaning
- Pay close attention to windows, kitchens and bathrooms.
- Move all unnecessary items out of the view of perspective buyers.
- Pack away small, valuable items when showing the house.
- Make small repairs.
- Hold a garage sale.
- Have your carpets and drapes cleaned.
- Have these items packed and put away for the move.
- Make sure your home in bright, cheery, and free of any odors.
- Pleasant odors to have in a house when you are showing it are coffee brewing, cinnamon buns in the oven, and perfume in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Pack up what you can to avoid charges by moving companies or breaking of valuables.
- Use strong, hefty containers.
- Label all containers on THE SIDE, not on top!
- Never pack jewelry or things of great monetary value.
Last minute preparations
- Have utilities discontinued
- Garbage and Recycling pick-up
- Cable TV
- Gas
- Water
- Telephone
- Electric
- Give away all items not sold in garage sale
- Note all items given away so you can name them in your taxes.
- Return library books
- Have car serviced
- Polish furniture to prevent damage during the move
- Drain gasoline from lawn mowers, snow blowers, chain saws, etc.
- Drain water from hoses.
- Create a kit containing all necessary items you will need upon your arrival in your new home.
- Screwdriver (regular and Phillips)
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- First-aid kit
When you finally move in
- Introduce yourself and your family to the neighbors.
- Join local groups and associations.
- Get acquainted with your children's school.
- Register to vote.
- Open up a new bank account.
- Go to the post office and see if any mail has been forwarded.
Following this helpful outline will hopefully help make your moving experience stress-free.
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