Moving day is a week away. The to-do list, now with lengthy appendixes, is almost too scary to consult.
Still, as overwhelming as things get, you can handle the details, the mechanics of moving. But experts say too many people fail to prepare themselves for the emotional and psychological wallop of moving.
Relocation is one of life's top stress makers. Leaving your town involves several losses: of friends, identity, place, routine. With some planning, though, the jolt of relocating can be softened, the effort to get established in a new place made easier.
Melody McGarrahan moved to Kansas City from Virginia a year ago with her husband, Roger, and two young boys. She missed everything about the old place, including her trees and the neighbors' friendly waves. She missed the small-town atmosphere of the old place in ways she didn't realize until later.
McGarrahan's top piece of advice is to spend some time, several weekends if possible, in the new city before moving.
Her other urgent tip: Besides getting children involved in activities, pursue your own, which can help start new relationships with people who share your interests. McGarrahan took some college classes and took a part-time job as a preschool teacher. Her husband became a soccer coach.
"It's important to find a niche," she said.
Plan ahead. With careful planning, the stress of your move, and the possibility of encountering last-minute crises, can be greatly reduced. Begin planning at least a month in advance. Confirm your closing date with your real estate agent before setting your moving date. Make a list of all records that must be transferred to the new location, including school, financial and medical records.
Send change-of-address cards, available free at the post office, to magazines and organizations. Provide change-of-address instructions on credit card bills; leave forwarding information with the post office.
Begin packing early. If you have hired a moving company, request boxes and packing paper. If you're a self-mover, ask local grocery or beverage stores the best time to get boxes from them. Label boxes clearly, packing items for rooms together.
Make a list of things to be packed and kept separate, within easy reach: maps, prescription medicines, toys for children, relevant phone numbers. Keep items you will need to settle in (cleaning supplies, light bulbs, and tools), during the first few days of arrival (food, utensils, and appliances), and important papers (medical and insurance records) together. Pack a suitcase that could could live out of for several days if necessary.
Two weeks before moving, contact utility companies with service disconnection dates. Arrange for utility service in your new home. Plan for the transfer of bank accounts.
On moving day, make sure heavy boxes go on the bottom and are tightly stacked. Make a final check of all rooms and closets, and lock all doors and windows. Have an empty box handy for those items that got left out of other boxes.
When you arrive at your new home, check the fuse box or circuit breakers to make sure everything is turned on. If the house is not in the condition you expected, address concerns immediately with your real estate agent. Don't try to unpack everything at once. Since you organized while packing, putting seldom used items together, some boxes can wait until you have settled. Take your time unpacking, doing it together as a family.
