Moving one street over is hard enough, so relocating presents a whole range of challenges; some big and some massive. There are the planning aspects, the logistical battle, managing your money, dealing with the doubts, and helping your kids understand what, where, and why you are moving. There’s a myriad of things to consider, and all of them need to be considered and considered carefully. However, none of this will be possible if you don’t manage your stress levels and find a way to think clearly, which is where we come in. We have compiled a list of what we believe to be the three most important areas you should address thoroughly to make your relocation go as smoothly as possible.
The Checklist
There is a ton of stuff to do and think about, we’ve already accepted that. So the worst thing you can do is try and remember everything and try and make sense of the swirling mess of thoughts that are in your head. So make a checklist. This doesn’t have to be a right-first-time list; it can be added to. Just remember to tick things off when you have done them. This should be stuff like informing your bank of your new address, telling the post office to redirect any letters, paying off your utility bills, speaking to your service providers, and finding out whether you can transfer anything, like your cable TV package. It is also worthwhile telling your friends and family of your new address and number, which you could do by making a Facebook group to save time.
The Help
You are not going to be able to do everything yourself. You have children. And even if you didn’t have children we wouldn’t recommend it. Relocating is stressful enough, so use all the help you can afford. Get your kids to help you pack, and your parents too. Weigh up how much you think you have, then add another 50%, and then assess how many trucks you will need. Decide whether you want to do all the haulage yourself, or if it would be better to hire a company that specializes in moving interstate. It could be that you just want to let go of all the stress and hire someone to deal with the whole move for you, and you just oversee it. As a sort of recommendation, though, we say if you can afford the help then take the help. It’ll save a few grey hairs from appearing.
The House
Always try before you buy, especially when relocating. You’ll want to get to know the place you are moving to before you commit to buying, so always rent first. Perfection takes time, so just get down, and then be patient; you don’t need to rush to find the right place in the right area. Get to know the different neighborhoods, talk to people about schools, and learn what you want from a place; is it a city pad or somewhere in the suburbs. Buying is a pretty permanent decision, so you’ll want to make it right for you and your kids.