How to Choose the Right School after You Move

There are so many factors to consider when moving to a new location (economy, neighborhood, distance from family and friends, etc.), but none more important than ensuring that you choose the right school for your child/children. This article will help you on how to choose the right school after you move.

Transportation almost always seems to be at the top of the list. Because of this, most parents will try to find schools closer to home. This will help determine whether or not your child/children will be walking to school (wherein safety is a major concern) or taking a bus (unless you decide to drive them). Being closer to the school tends to have its advantages, especially on days when you or your child/children are running late.

The next important item on the list is the school rating. This is broken down into five different grades; A, B, C, D & F. The corresponding grades represent the overall performance and accountability of the student body and staff. The higher the grade, the better the school, but is usually harder to get into.

If you are looking into private schools, not only will you consider distance and rating, but costs as well. Some private schools even offer boarding if the commute to and from school is too great on a daily basis.

While public school students tend to have a greater sense of individuality based on freedom of expression through their own unique styles, private school students tend to display a greater sense of equality through a strict dress code.

When choosing the right school after you move, whether public or private, the next item should be the programs offered for children with special needs. Whether mental, physical, linguistic or emotional, these needs must be addressed.

Another very important factor when choosing the right school after you move is before and after school programs. These are especially helpful for parents who need to be at work early or get off of work late. Some of these programs include; sports, the performing arts, the creative arts, cramming classes, boys’ scouts, girls’ scouts, YMCA, cadets, etc.

All these programs are excellent for the mental, physical, emotional and social development of your child/children and should be investigated further by visiting with school staff members. Allowing your child/children to attend the programs even if you are not restricted by your work schedule can have amazing results.

Another excellent benefit of choosing the right school, are the scholarship programs offered for students who excel in a particular field of study. A full scholarship to an accredited university can pave the way to an exciting career.

Sports are another opportunity for your child/children to excel where they might not in academics although a certain GPA must be maintained in order to participate in athletic programs in most schools. These can also lead to scholarships to major colleges and universities and the possibility of being drafted into the pros (every dad’s wishes).

One of the last things to consider when choosing the right school after you move is the school calendar. This will show you what holidays and religious days are recognized as well as when school starts and finishes. Depending on where you reside, snow days become a factor too.

Hope this article provided you with enough information to help you make an educated decision when it come to choosing the right school after you move. It will benefit you and your child/children greatly.

Communication is vital to any successful relationship, and it’s essential if you’re moving to a new home and one of the partners won’t be there when the move happens.

Plan to start early and start earlier than you planned. The person who will direct the move alone will be under a lot of pressure, and not just when the movers are there. Even if you’re together when packing, it will take more time than you planned.

The end result of the move needs to satisfy you both, but only one of you will be there when it actually happens. It will be stressful. Be supportive of each other.

Moving can be a matter of arranging utility transfers and changing the mailing address, copying computer files, collecting important papers in one place or deciding what items go in what rooms.

But No. 1 Under any list of moving tips for couples, whether together or apart during the move: DECIDE JOINTLY WHAT TO KEEP AND WHAT TO TOSS.

This sounds far easier than it actually is.

You don’t want to sell or trash something that you don’t realize is important to your spouse. Be proactive or it could balloon into the part of the move that causes you the most stress.

What she may see as a useless old golf ball, he treasures as the one from his only hole-in-one. A tattered, yellowed, useless cookbook to him may be an heirloom passed down from her great grandmother. When in doubt, wait, use the phone and ask.

It’s best to start boxing items while both of you are at home. Label boxes “Her Stuff” and “His Stuff” and fill them with items of sentimental value that could disappear during the move. You won’t find everything that each of you insists on keeping, but you’ll have a productive head start.

You’ll be using a moving company. Decide on one together. Price is always a consideration, but some will do the packing and some won’t. Prioritize what you want from a mover, and then do some research to see previous clients’ opinions.

Moving is a great time to streamline. Shed possessions that, while they may be perfectly good, don’t have sentimental value and, if you’re truthful with yourself, you know you’ll never use. Hold a garage sale or donate to a charity.

This will be harder than it seems. Negotiation will be necessary. We all have a little hoarder in us, and nearly every husband and wife would love to toss some of the other’s possessions that have annoyed them for some time and seem to have no use.

It may seem like a good idea to help such items “accidentally” vanish during the move, but it will only lead to trouble down the line. Communicate. Negotiate. “OK, I’ll get rid of my old jeans with holes if you’ll throw away those old maternity clothes.”

Otherwise, you could be telling stories like this one that a Jean R. posted in an online forum about moving. “About the same time that my husband seemed to forgive me for throwing away his barbed-wire fences collection while we were moving,” Jean said, “I noticed that my stuffed animals were missing.”

If you’ll still be moving your lives. It also helps to ask the absent spouse what he or she wants unpacked first in the new home.

Remember, be supportive of each other. Moving is stressful, even if you’re happy to be making the moving. You’re partners and you need each other, even when one of you is not there.

(Keywords: moving tips, moving tips for couples, moving company)

People with disabilities cherish their independence, but moving into a new home can be intimidating for them. Moving is a job in which everyone generally requires help, whether they have physical challenges or not.

There are ways to help make things easier. Some involve preparing the new home to accommodate the person’s disabilities, but there are other ways to be helpful as well. Understand that changing homes can be stressful for anyone, but particularly for those with special needs. Listen, be supportive and focus on the positive aspects of the move.

Remember that by depending on you to help them move, disabled people have the goal of becoming more independent after moving.

Some valuable moving tips for how to help disabled people relocate to a new home:

• Moving clutters the mind. Meet several times with the person you’re helping and go over all details big and small. The interaction will bring up aspects of the move that you both may have forgotten.

• Financial help with moving expenses may be available for disabled people who have financially challenges as well. Investigate government and community resources.

• Ask neighbors-to-be about the area. They may know of nearby organizations and/or services for the disabled that may be of value.

• Ask moving companies that you are considering hiring if they have any experience in relocating people who have physically challenges. Hire one that does.

• It may be better to hire a moving service that will both pack everything in the old home and unpack it in the new home. Meet with the disabled person to decide what will go where, and then help direct the movers.

• Moving is a good time to streamline. Help the disabled person go through his or her possessions. Encourage them to part with the ones they no longer need and help them preserve the things they absolutely want to keep. You might find yourself assisting with a garage sale.

• Gather all of the person’s medical records and keep them separate from everything else being moved and easily accessible.

• Locate the nearest emergency and heath care services in the area, such as hospitals. Create a readily accessible list of essential contacts. If the disabled person is retaining a doctor that may not be in the area, plan how to get him or her back and forth.

• Notify the person’s doctors and any support specialists of when and where their patient is moving. If the disabled person receives in-home care, make sure that all arrangements are made so that the service will be uninterrupted.

• Locate a nearby pharmacy to fill prescriptions and have that information transferred there.

• Make sure that all utility services are transferred and operating before the move. The person may have medical equipment that absolutely requires functioning utility services. Phone and Internet services are as essential to the disabled as electricity, water and gas.

• Address accessibility concerns. Ramps, lifts, bars and other supports may be necessary, and doorways and hallways may need to be altered. Make sure all of that work is completed before time to move. Do whatever necessary to ensure that the disabled person can be as independent as possible. Their appreciation will be immense.

“Disability is not a brave struggle or ‘courage in the face of adversity.’ Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live.” - Neil Marcus, award-winning playwright, actor, poet and performance artist

It’s never easy to downsize and let go of items you have had in your possession for a long time  (along with having to move out of  your home after many years of residing).  Today we are going to help you whether you have a parent, grandparent, or someone who is elderly that needs to relocate into a smaller environment (and cannot take everything with them).  If you have a loved one moving into a retirement community, their new home will be much smaller than where they previously resided.   Below are some simple steps you can take to help you determine what they should take with them and what they should part with.

BLUEPRINT OF NEW HOME:

Before you start throwing away everything your parent or grandparents own, you should know the size and layout of their new home, and figure out what will fit.  Measure each piece of furniture, so you can determine what they can take with them.  It’s important to figure out if the new living space will have a kitchen or if meals are prepared, if it is a single room or an apt/condo configuration,etc.  Will they be sharing space , or are they going to be in an individual residence?  Is the new living space furnished or non furnished.   By figuring this portion of it out, you can help determine what they can take with them without a guessing game.  Room tags can help identify which room the items that are being taken will go into.

GET A DUMPSTER-DONATE-GARAGE/ESTATE SALE:

You should definitely start with one room at a time.  Start with areas like the attic, garage, basement.  These are the easiest places to get rid of unnecessary items.  Start making groups of items to get rid of. An easy way to do this is by sorting with piles.  Make a garbage pile, donation pile, garage/estate sale pile, and a pile they may want to give to your friends or family (with family, at least the senior can see it’s going to good use, perhaps a grand-daughter, or son, or niece/nephew, etc).  It never hurts to see if friends or family may be interested in some of the valuables.  As far as charities go, most charities will accept items in good condition (free of pet dander, odor free, and stains).  Many charities do not take office furniture, etc.  There are also places that allow people to give items away and connects the giver with the receiver.  This can be helpful if the senior connects with who their prize possessions are going to, by knowing they are going to a good cause or someone truly in need.  Another idea is having an estate or garage sale, and use the money to go towards new furniture (if space allows) for fresh beginnings. 

THINGS TO HELP YOU PURGE:

When deciding what needs to be let go of, there are some general rules of thumb to follow, (along with doing a floor plan, figuring out size and space):

Some questions to ask your senior (if you are helping a senior who is purging):

When was the item used last, and how often do they use it?  If they you haven’t used it very often, or don’t use it, then get rid of it.

Do they own more than one?  With downsizing, they really don’t need to take more than one, especially if there is limited space.

What does this piece mean to them?  It’s ok to take a few of their memories with them, you don’t want to take everything away from them.

What condition is it in?  If it is falling apart, or not in good condition, there is no reason to keep it.

Will it fit in their new home?  This is key, obviously if they don’t have space for it, then they can’t take it with them.

If there are items such as old medications that need to be disposed of, you should never flush medications down the toilet.  You should keep them in their original container, and cross off the patient’s name, and do not put it in a recyclable bin.  There is a lot to remember when downsizing your senior, remember every bit you give helps, and though there may be a struggle trying to dispose of items, you need to be strong but supportive!  Your goal is not to take everything away from them, and allow them some reflection time before disposing.   Make sure they are involved with the decision process.

Whenever you move into a new home, it’s always good to have things fresh before moving your items in.  You may not be able to clean before you move in, but everyone wants to start with things in good condition.  Even though most homes will be clean before you move in, you may want to perform a more thorough cleaning. 

Whether you hire a professional cleaning service or not, before you move in, here is a guide to help you cover all areas of your home.  Many of the same rules apply as a moving out cleaning but moving in cleanings definitely require more detail, and will cost more if you hire a professional cleaning service.

Kitchen: 

The kitchen is always one of the first places that will be used first, so its best to start your cleaning here.

Refrigerators:  Make sure to unplug the refrigerator, it will help you with the cleaning process before you put your food in there.  Pull the fridge away from the wall cleaning the wall behind, the sides, and underneath.  Make sure to wipe down all drawers and shelves, and make sure they are dry before plugging back in.  An all purpose cleaner can be used on the refrigerator, along with warm water for best results. 

Stoves/Ovens:  Make sure to clean the stove/oven inside and out.  You can use an oven cleaner which will usually take 20-30 minutes, in the mean time focusing on the top part of the stove.  Once again, an all purpose cleaner can be used.  Make sure if there is a hood, to wipe inside the hood, (putting down a towel, or piece of paper so you don’t get everything dirty again, that you have already cleaned), to catch any dirty drippings.  Pull the stove/oven away from the wall, and again, make sure to clean underneath, the sides, and the walls before finishing. 

Cabinets/Drawers:  Clean inside and outside. If wood cabinets, use a wood cleaner such as Murphy’s Oil for the best results.  It’s a good idea to line the cabinets when you are done, a sticky mat, or non sticky mat can be used, and this will help keep your cabinets stay clean where your dishes and utensils will be placed.

Dusting: Make sure to remove all cobwebs, wall stains, etc.

Sinks:  Make sure to clean sinks and polish them with a chrome cleaner, or sink cleaner.

Floors:  Make sure to get the floors swept and mopped, you may have to get on your hands and knees to get hard to reach places and corners.  I always recommend doing the floors last, that way any dirt from the appliances, walls, etc can be swept up and mopped up.  Now you have finished the kitchen.

Walls/Baseboards:  Make sure to wash all walls and baseboards, magic eraser can be used, but make sure you test out the areas first so you are not removing the paint for hard to remove stains or rubs. 

Bathrooms:

This is the 2^nd most used area of the house, so you will want to clean and disinfect right away.  Bleach, lysols, pinesols, bathroom cleaners can all be used in this area.  You want to make sure that you clean out the tub and shower areas, removing any mildew, disinfect the toilets including bases and all around, clean any mirrors, etc, including cleaning out cabinets and drawers, and realigning if necessary.

Utility Closets:

  Make sure, if you have an existing washer and dryer, you pull these out and clean the appliances, floors and walls like with any other appliances.

Cleaning Walls/Doorframes/Lightswitches:

Cleaning walls can be a huge job to tackle.  If the interior walls have been freshly painted, then you do not need to worry about this task.  If you notice there are finger prints, stubborn stains, etc, then you will want to tackle this chore.  It’s a good idea to start with removing cobwebs and dust first.  Take warm water and add some all-purpose soap to the water, and use a sponge to tackle washing down the walls.  Make sure to wipe all molding, baseboards, door frames, and light switches.  Murphy’s Oil can be used for any of the wood work.

Windows/Blinds/Patio Doors:

Make sure to wash the windows with a window cleaner inside and out.  Most windows you will be able to remove the screen, and can spray them down with a hose.  Use a newspaper, or paper towels to dry off the windows to avoid leaving streaks.  As for blinds, you can clean your blinds with an all-purpose cleaner, or dusting spray, with a soft cloth to wipe them off.  Make sure to be careful not to bend the blinds.  For patio doors, make sure that the track of the door is clean, you can use a vacuum cleaner extension to get these hard to reach areas, or a damp cloth to get the dirt and debris out.  If the track gets too dirty, your patio door may not open and close correctly.  For the actual door, you can use a glass/window cleaner with a non streak cloth to get this area clean. Make sure to clean handles, and door knobs to protect from bacteria.

Light Fixtures:

Just like everything else, light fixtures also get dirty and collect dust.  Make sure the lights are off, you may want to turn off the circuit breaker.  Remove the bulbs, and light fixture (if it is easy to get off the ceiling or wall).  If glass fixture, use a glass cleaner, or soapy water to wash all the dust away.  Make sure the fixtures are dry before reinstalling the light bulbs, and turning the circuit breaker and light back on.

Carpet/Hardwood Floors:

Cleaning your floors should be the last project tackled.  If you have hardwood floors, make sure to sweep the floors well before mopping.  Murphy’s Oil works very well with warm water for cleaning your floors.  Use a mop or non scratch cloth to wash the floors, allow enough time to dry before placing furniture back on.  If you have carpet, you may want to consider getting a professional to come and clean the carpets before you move your furniture in.  You can also rent a carpet cleaner for a day (with cleaning solution).  Allow 24-48 hours for carpets to dry. 

Like with any type of cleaning, use your senses, make sure everything is sanitized to your satisfaction before moving in.  Make sure you and your family are protected from dirt, and bacteria, and your new home is in the best shape it can possibly be in.  Cleaning should be done on a weekly basis, and this is a start to help you adapt to your new home.

 Moving out of your apartment can be a very stressful time, but when you rent or lease an apartment you want to make sure you leave it in the condition it was prior to your move in.  Its always a good idea to hire a professional cleaning service if you can afford it, (and if time allows).  If not, here are a few ways to cover your responsibilities so you will be able to get your security deposit back and not be charged with extra fees.

Before cleaning your apartment, you should make sure all holes in walls including nails, tacks, tape, etc have been removed.  If necessary, you may need to patch these up to avoid additional fees.  Magic eraser is a good tool to remove stains , just make sure to test the area first, so you do not remove the paint.

 KITCHEN CLEANING TIPS

• Wipe down all appliances and counter tops
• Stove/Oven: Clean with oven cleaner
• Clean refrigerator, wiping down all drawers and shelves
• Pull out refrigerator only if on rollers, and clean behind
• Open and wipe out inside of all cabinets and drawers
• Clean and polish sink and all chrome
• Sweep and then mop floor with a germicidal detergent

WASHROOM CLEANING TIPS

• Clean mirrors and medicine cabinets, inside and out
• Clean sink and all chrome fixtures
• Clean commode, inside/outside, and the space behind
• Clean shower/tub and walls (Grout also, if not permanently stained)
• Sweep ceramic floors and then mop with a germicidal detergent

 BASEBORDS AND WOODWORK CLEANING TIPS

• All exposed wood is to be wiped down, free of dust and smears

 FLOOR CLEANING TIPS

• All carpeting is to be thoroughly vacuumed.  Attachments should be used along the edges.  Any stains should be removed (professionally if necessary)
• Hardwood floors swept and damp mopped

 WINDOWS/GLASS DOORS CLEANING TIPS

• Indoor/Outdoor light fixtures and windows are optional for the individual tenant depending on the lease terms
• Patio doors are to be washed both on the inside and the outside

 The above listed duties should enable (if properly performed) you as a renter to recover your security deposit. Before performing your move out clean up, pull out your lease and look at what your responsibilities are when you move out.  If there is a “move in” walk through checklist, match it up with the units current condition so you aren’t charged for something you didn’t do.  It’s a good idea to take pictures once your apartment is empty and have the landlord sign off condition.  Then when you do an inspection prior to your move out, obtain a copy of the move out inspection for your records.  These tips should help protect you from unnecessary liability.

First of all, different states have different laws regarding local or intrastate (within state) moves.  You need to understand local moving regulations so read state moving regulations.   Find out how local moves are handled in your state, how they are priced, and your rights and responsibilities as a shipper.  Then decide whether you want an onsite or phone estimate.  If you want a phone estimate, read Local Moving Quotes Over the Phone, if you want (or need) an onsite moving quote follow along below, that’s what we are covering in this article.

Call your potential movers and set up time for their representative to come out.  It may be less convenient for you but schedule them separately, you can get more information from the estimates one at a time (and the moving company representative will appreciate the respect of an individual meeting). 

When the move estimator arrives at your home, hopefully they are on time, or have communicated that they will be late.  Once they get inside they should basically go through 2 parts of the moving quote. 

First, it’s good if you walk around your home with the estimator as he or she determines the level of service that you need.  You need to convey to them if you require packing services for your boxes, ( or if you are planning on not taking certain items, etc), so they can determine how much is going and what needs to be done with your items to make them move ready.  The move estimator will usually use a “cube sheet” (whether paper, or computerized)that lists furniture by room and a section for boxes.  As the estimator goes from room to room he or she puts a tick mark next the coinciding items in the room.  Because of this, it’s important that the estimator opens ups all cupboard and closets for accuracy.  It’s also important to visit every room and review any attic storage, crawl space storage, outdoor items, sheds and garages.  Accuracy is the key in getting a quote so the more information the better. 

After you visit every area of your home, the move estimator can either ask you a list of questions, and get the quote back to you or sit down and calculate your quote on site, giving you the opportunity to discuss and ask questions.  This onsite approach is the preferred method for most move customers and movers.  Once the estimator totals up the size of the move, he or she should review with you how your charges will be calculated (hourly, etc) and why (how they determine time, crew size, etc).  This logical approach will give the process validity.  The estimator should explain material charges like stretch wrap and tape and how the furniture and your home will be handled and protected from damage.  Finding out about the size or longevity of the moving company is good but a nuts and bolts explanation of the move is probably more helpful in making an educated moving decision.  Always make sure you discuss your insurance options, the movers’ liability, as well as methods of payment, timing of payment and line of communication meaning who is the contact person?  Are cell phone numbers given out for company representatives? Is the estimator available after the quote process etc? 

Finally a written quote (or moving estimate) is good to have to avoid confusion and aids in clarity of covering services and costs.  If you local onsite move estimator follows these rules, you have a good chance of getting good quotes that can be compared and contrasted easily and ultimately help you make the best decision in choosing your moving company.

In most states a “local move” or “intrastate move” is based on time so if you get your quote over the phone there is certain information that your local moving estimator should gather.  A visual “onsite” estimate is usually more accurate but for small moves like studio or one bedroom apartments a local quote can be given over the phone and still be good. There are generally 3 areas that should be covered to insure the proper information is conveyed to the move estimator.  Those areas include how much do you have to move, what are the logistics of your origin and destination, and how far and what type of drive is it from your origin to your destination.  This is assuming you don’t need your boxes packed for you.  If you do, an onsite estimate is a better idea.

The first area to cover is how much do you have to move?  You need to determine what’s in each room (not just how many rooms you have) so it’s best to go from room to room while on the phone with the local move estimator listing the furniture (and boxes) you have.  Each room is different so the more detail the better (even the smaller items matter).  Any local estimator worth his or her salt will also ask questions prompting you like is there any artwork? Are there any lamps? (what style, what size, etc).  Calculating your number of boxes can be difficult for a novice but the estimator should, again, ask questions, like how many linear feet of closet rod do you have (for wardrobe boxes), how many, and what length shelves  of books do you have? (For book boxes) how many cabinets do you have in your kitchen? How full are they? Of what? (for dish packs and large cartons).  These questions can help figure out the most difficult part of your local or intrastate moving quote.  Once you complete what’s in your apartment (or condo) your local moving estimator should check with you to see if you have any storage either in the building (or off site) or any garage or outdoor items like patio furniture, bikes, grills, or sports equipment.  It doesn’t matter whether you think something “isn’t much” or “isn’t a big deal”, the more precise you can be with your list of goods to be moved; the more accurate the local move estimator will be on his or her moving quote.

The second part of the local moving phone estimate equation is the logistics of your origin (where you live now), your destination (where you are moving to), and any restrictions that need to be followed related to the move.  Your local move estimator should find out what floor you live on, whether it’s an elevator or walk up (and the number of flights or stairs that are involved).  All these factors can affect your quote so be as detailed (and truthful) as possible, misinformation can only hurt you in the end.  Other questions should be is there a dock or loading area in the building? how far is it from the building to the truck parking (known as the push by movers) what is the distance from your unit to the elevator, etc? It sounds nitpicky but the logistical aspects of your move (on both sides) can make a difference of 25% to 35% in the time it can take to move out or move in.  Other areas of interest include are there time restrictions? If you live in an elevator building, do you have to make an elevator reservation? and is it exclusive use?  Are there height restrictions for the truck to get into the dock?  Do you have closing times?  The more information you give the better chance you have to get an accurate phone quote.  This is often the most over looked part of the local phone estimate process.

The third part of the local phone estimate is the distance and type of drive it is from your origin to your destination.  The local move estimator needs to get addresses (or at least neighborhoods) and the mileage between the two points to determine the time it will take a moving truck to get from point A to point B.  For instance, ten miles in a rural setting goes much faster than ten miles in a tight urban area.  Remember, in all traffic conditions a moving truck takes longer than a car to travel the same distance.

Once the local phone estimator retrieves all this information, he or she should be able to give you a quote including pricing (and how it’s determined), approximate length of time of your move, moving truck size, and approximate cost of materials, etc.  Also, if you can get 3 estimates you can compare and validate the quote you go with.  Like with any other part of the moving process, the more knowledge you have and your moving company has, the better decision you will usually make, and the more prepared your moving company will be to do you move.  Remember, you should always get the moving quote in writing after getting a phone estimate to insure there is no confusion.

Whether you have recently moved into a new home, or are relocating in the near future, your child should be comfortable with the concept of starting a new school.  This can be very stressful, so you want to make the transition as easy as possible on your kids or teens.  We’ve covered some areas that can help in making the move process and adaptation into a new school a little easier before and during the 1^st few weeks of the change.

Before you move and before school starts, make sure you discuss with your child that the move will be taking place.  The key to this is to stay positive and focus on the good points as we discussed in Helping your teen cope with a move.  Make sure your child or teen is included with the whole process.  Whether your focus is they are going to have a bigger home, or be closer to a grandparent, try to make it as positive of change for them as possible.

Remember it’s easier for a child or teen to start a new school at the beginning of a new school year.  Really try not to break up their school year, if it can be avoided.  This will make for a smoother transition, and studies have been shown that grades are less likely to be affected if the child is allowed to finish out the remaining time of their current school year. 

Include your kids and teens when finding a new school, and getting them registered.  Whether you arrange for a tour, attend school orientation, or have them at registration, make sure they are aware of their surroundings.  You may want to have your teen learn their bus route, or route they will take to get home for comfort levels.  For younger children, it is helpful to have them check out their classrooms, familiarize them with bathrooms, office, teachers, and surroundings.  When teens are entering high school, sometimes the school will have mentor–leadership programs for new students to familiarize themselves with the surroundings, it’s also a good idea if your kids are in middle school to check with the principle or dean to see if they have some type of buddy program or mentor program to help your student get more familiar also.

Get your teens and children involved.  The key to this is get to know what your child or teen wants to do, whether it’s them participating in a sport, activity, club, or hobby.  See what they most enjoyed about their old place, and try to make it as similar as possible.  Remember new friends can be made anywhere, so by helping them get involved with new clubs, sports, classes, libraries, etc, it will help with the success of their transition.  Making friends is important to your child’s development.  If your child or teen has a familiar face in their new classroom, it can also make things a little easier. 

Being Knowledgeable is key!  The more you know about the area and school and what they have to offer, the more you can ease your child’s anxiety, and the more you will be able to address any of your child’s or teens concerns.  If your child or teen is unhappy, figure out what exactly is the root of the problem.  Are they mad because they have to quit a club or sport?  Are they sad because they are leaving their friends?  Are they afraid they are not going to make new ones?  Are they concerned about new teachers?  This will help you address the potential problem, and surely ease a child’s concerns.

Encourage your child.  You as a parent need to be encouraging to your child, by reminding them of previous life changes that they have gone through.  This can help eliminate or decrease anxiety, or depression.  For instance, remember the first day of high school at your old place how scared you were?  Or when you first started junior high, or baseball, or anything new they might have done?  Assure your child or teen how they conquered their last task and got through the situation.  This can help your young one see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

When your teen or youth finally starts school, remember it is very important on your part, to stick with a routine.  A stable home environment will be more positive for your kid and they will have an easier time getting through the moving process.

Be prepared for a fight.  Most likely you will get some sort of a fight from your child, whether they are being rebellious, or going through crying stages, or fits.  Know that this is normal.  Once they have had a couple months to adjust, things will get easier.  If things have not changed after about 6 months, you may want to get a counselor or someone your child can talk to involved.

Now that you’ve settled in to your new area, get involved.  Whether you are being a little more social yourself, by setting up play dates, organizing a party, or social event, help your kids or teens get a little more social life.  You may want to even consider volunteering at a school or club, to help your kid.

Last but not least.  Keep in touch!.  Don’t forget your old friends, there are many ways your young one or teen can communicate with their old friends.  Skype, MySpace, face book, and phone are all good communication tools for the kids to use.  It’s much easier these days than 20 years ago to communicate.

Allow time! And you will succeed.

A delay in your move can add to the stress of the relocation process, but delays are very common and do occur.  With today’s economy, there are certain circumstances that can occur that are out of your control.  If you are better prepared for them, you can make matters a little easier to cope with.

First, you should understand there are many factors that can occur that may cause your move to be postponed; we have covered some common things that happen to people on a daily basis.

DELAYS:

1.  Delays in a job promotion or transfer may cause you to postpone your move.
2. Construction delays, these happen all the time, whether its contractor related, weather related, or village related.  This is very common; especially when building a new home or doing a renovation.
3. Buyers back out for financial reasons, etc.  This will cause longer delays because you will be starting from step one, and having to go through the whole process again.
4. Seller hasn’t met punch list by the time your home inspection occurs-this may cause a few days up to months to solve depending on how severe the item may be that needs to be resolved or repaired..
5. Contingency issues, your buyer can’t go forward, because their buyer backed out etc (domino effect).
6. Mortgage Lender, Attorney delays-this can occur with paperwork, if everything is not signed properly, misspellings, missing documents, something typed wrong, etc.  These can cause a delay in closings, which will have you postpone your move.

Whatever the situation may be if your move must be put on hold, here are some things to help you use your time wisely, along with things that need to be done to avoid any further complications.

BE PREPARED

1.  Notify your landlord if you are renting.  Whether it’s seeing if you can have a month to month extension, or week to week extension, see how flexible the person you are renting from will be, and if they will work with you.
2. Look at storage options, whether it’s with your moving company, portable storage company, or self storage company.  There are many options to choose from, figure out which one is best for you.  Checking out http://www.emovingstorage.com/storage/different-types-of-storage-and-the-pros-and-cons-of-each/, can help you determine which option is best for you.
3. Reschedule or cancel your move date with your moving company or truck rental company as soon as you know of the delays, the companies will appreciate as much notice as you can give them, so they can refill the slot.  This may motivate them to be more flexible to work with you in the future.
4. If you have already cancelled insurance policies, contact your agent, and see whats covered and what you need to do to have continued coverage until things are resolved.
5. Don’t go shopping for things for your new home, even if there are sales, this will cause you to have more to move.
6. If you are relocating out of state or country, take advantage of the time you have left with your loved ones, friends, family that are close while you can.
7. This is also a good time to help you purge more, and give you more time to get rid of items whether it’s hosting another garage sale, or selling your items on line like www.craigslist.com, or www.ebay.com.
8. Packing and Organization.  Time you will definitely have more of.  Take more time to get everything in order; do not unpack everything, only the essentials.
9. If you have not found new employment, take advantage of finding new opportunities and use the extra time as an extra bonus in your job search.
10. Take advantage of getting to know the new neighborhood, it will make you feel less of a stranger when you get to your new home.

If you have to live in a temporary residence because you have to vacate your current home, make the best of it for yourself, family, children, and pets.  Try to keep routines as normal as possible, and stay calm to keep everyone else around you less uneasy. 

A delay could be positive.  Sometimes a delay can reveal problems like new home inspection problems that could potentially cost you-things like foundation problems, radon or mold can be issues that have to be dealt with.

Understand your rights and responsibilities in any contract whether buying or selling your home.  Have legal counsel review to see what happens in case of delays, earnest money, daily charges, charges for expenses are all things to understand.  Remember delays happen, but by remaining calm, and taking advantage of the extra time you have before your relocation, you can make things a little easier on yourself and your family.