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Best Advice for Relocation
When you are considering a relocation, remember that it is no different than any other project. Any relocation deserves a proper timeline and project considerations just as any other major project would. Careful planning and consideration is vital to making the immigration a dream instead of a nightmare.
First and foremost, make it a point to start tracking your expenses and keep your receipts right from the beginning. Some relocation expenses are tax deductible, but it is important to check with your tax accountant to see how the rules apply in your situation. As with any relocation, the expenses add up fast and some well needed relief can be redeemed at tax time if you have been diligent in your expense tracking.
As with any moving project, it is a perfect time to think through your organization system. Use this time to declutter every single last room in the house and start fresh with a clean slate. Get out your labeler and stick to a system you design. If you just have no clue where to start when it comes to organizing, professional organization consultants are great to call upon if you lack the talent necessary. If you find yourself holding on to most things and not letting go, getting a professional to help speed the process may be a very worthwhile investment.
If you plan to hire movers or a relocation service, make time to call for estimates and get a full list of all the services they provide. Often relocation services may be no better than a moving service, unless you do thorough research into what it is exactly that they provide. The experience between a relocation service and a moving company can also be night and day in comparison. As always, it is a case of you get what you pay for. If you're moving yourself, plan far ahead to get the moving truck reserved or beg your best friend to borrow their truck. Relocation by yourself can be a terrible ordeal, so it is important to ask for help to avoid injury or over exhaustion. Plan on supplying your best friends with plenty of beer and pizza if this is the case. It is customary to feed and/or compensate any individual that offers to help you move so don't let kind helpers walk away with an empty stomach.
Around two weeks before you actually move, start making your phone calls to the local utility companies to close your accounts or move your service. If you have a cell phone, give this number to anyone involved in the relocation effort. Make a stop at the post office or file online an address change so as not to miss any important postal mail. Scour your house for any library books, rental movies, or other borrowed items and return them to their owners. Last but not least, make sure you have your children and Fido covered by getting any necessary certificates for required vaccinations and plan to carry them with you on moving day. You may need these sooner than you would like for school or the vet.
As with any major project, it is important to customize the timeline to your needs and not wait until the last minute to take care of important items. The longer you wait the more likely your relocation will be a stressful mess instead of a clean slate to build a new life.