Archive for August, 2011
Moving with a teenager doesn't have to be difficult. Check out our tips for making this move easy!
By Dermound Becker
Special to Relocation.com
The stresses, strains, upheavals and turmoil of moving are difficult enough, but when you add teenagers to the mix, chances are things will be even more complicated. Not only do teenagers have raging hormones and pendulum-like mood swings, they generally, do not react well to change. When a family moves, they will have to leave everything that is safe and comfortable including their school, sports and other extramural activities and, most importantly, their friends. This could be a recipe for catastrophe, if it is not handled with a delicate hand and a lot of understanding.
The most important step to inform your family that you will be relocating to another area early on. Sit down with them and explain the reason for the move – whether it is for financial reasons or a new job. The main thing is to be honest and direct with your teens. Many teenagers feel that they are already adults and therefore need to be consulted on such a momentous decision; others will suddenly feel that they are not yet adults at all and will feel very vulnerable to the consequences of the move.
Throughout the process of planning, organizing and packing, take the time to listen to what your teenager has to say. Having a sympathetic ear may just be the lever needed in order to get him or her to get involved with the move, start sorting their possessions and maybe even begin packing a few boxes of their own. You may be surprised to learn that your teenager may even relish the thought of a move, if perhaps his or her current peer group is a bit boring and they actually need a change.
If at all possible, try to plan your move at the end of the school year, or at least at the end of a semester, as this will be the least disruptive to your teenager and will have the least impact on their social life and their school work. If you have no choice as to when you have to move and it is very close to the end of your teenager’s school life, think about organismic for him or her to stay with relatives or friends until the completion of their studies.
Another aspect which is imperative when relocating a teenager is to ensure that he or she is not completely cut off from their friends. This means that they should be given one of the latest gadgets to allow him or her to e-mail, tweet, or send MSM messages to keep up with the latest news and to be able for them to report on their new lives. Organize a Skype connection with a camera so that they will be able to see their friends as well.
Finally, if you will be buying or renting a home in the new area, involve your teenager and listen to his or her opinions to make them feel that they are important members of the family and that their opinion is valued.
These tips will make your miliary move easier
By Dermound Becker
Special to Relocation.com
In general, families in the military move from one base to another – and even from country to country – about once every two years on average. Since moving is such a great upheaval it can be especially difficult for military families to cope and manage with the constant packing and unpacking.
As with all moves, basic organization and planning are the keys to a successful and less stressful relocation. Listed below are some tips for military families who have to move often.
The first step is to set up a meeting with the transportation office on the base where you are currently located. During this meeting you will be given certain forms which must be filled in, in order for those in charge of this office to process your details and ensure that you have all the information you may need to, for example, apply for a Dislocation Allowance (an allowance to help pay for all sorts of miscellaneous expenses); for a temporary housing allowance, or for any other of the numerous financial benefits which may be available to your family. You will also be given information on the two ways of making the move, because military families have two programs to choose from when it comes to moving from base to base. One is that the government will actually transport your household possessions for you. The other option is the DIY method. Should you choose to move your belongings yourself, you will be reimbursed about 95 percent of what it would have cost the government to use their moving services.
Along with the planning and organization, families should also downsize and get rid of absolutely everything they don’t need. With clothing, this means anything that you have not worn in the past year. Downsizing will ensure that you do not have to pack and then unpack (and find place for) items for which you no longer have any use. Donate these items to charity, ask friends or family if they would like to have them or, as a last resort, have a garage sale.
For safety and security reasons, keep all your personal important and legal documents with you – do not pack them into boxes for the moving company to take away for transportation.
Take photographs of any of your valuable items so if anything gets damaged or lost, you will have a record of such objects.
Finally, make a list of what you have packed into each and every box and, once they have been sealed, write on them in clear handwriting exactly which room in your new home the boxes need to be put in. This will help enormously when it comes to unpacking and organizing your new home.
Sharing food with your movers is a great way to kick-off moving day.
By Richard Farrell
Special to Relocation.com
On moving day, it is highly likely that your kitchen will be chaotic on move day so preparing and actually cooking food there will not really be practical in most cases. In a perfect world we would love to have the entire moving affair catered with an endless tray of gourmet snacks and dishes. In the real world it is not going to happen like that though, because there are far too many distractions not to mention costs. What are the alternatives then? Greasy Chinese food sounds good or maybe a cardboard pizza, or wait, what about a tasteless sub? None of the above, so why not rather go with the following suggestions:
The quickest and easiest option to purchase ahead of time and share with your moving company.
Here are some food suggestions to keep you and your movers fueled for moving:
1. Colorful veggie and fruit trays. A blend of grapes, bananas, berries and apples will keep you full and energized.
2. Cheeses, crackers, various spreads and cold ham or salami are very to prepare. Have them out for your movers, volunteers, family and friends.
3. Have a variety of frozen appetizers handy that you can quickly heat up in the oven.
4. Chips and dips like salsa and guacamole.
5. Homemade pizza. If you have some time you might want to create something more substantial like homemade pizza…or better yet you can order a pie for the crew.
6. Spaghetti and meatballs. If you have time the night before, make a huge pot of this classic dish.
7. Nachos and chicken wings are quick and easy foods that every mover will love.
8. Desserts. Offer some brownies, Popsicles, cheesecake or ice cream.
9. Drinks. Make sure to have an assortment of lemonade, cold water, tea and coffee for the movers.
Follow our tips on how to make moving easier for your dog.
By Richard Farrell
Special to Relocation.com
Apart from being “Man’s Best Friend,” dogs are as much concerned about their routine and environment as we are, and so sudden changes can be very stressful for them too. When moving, you will have a lot of tasks to complete from locating moving companies to packing. You will also have to make the transition easy for your dogs by not upsetting their routine. Here are some tips to making your moving day smooth and stress-free for your four-leggeded friend.
Before the Move:
First, get an up to date copy of your dog’s veterinary record so that your new vet can be brought up to speed with their medical history, vaccinations, etc. If moving to a new state, call local veterinarians to find out if you must provide any documentation when your dog arrives. Check with your new local authority too about their licensing requirements. Make the necessary arrangements to have your dog transported, or if traveling with you in your car, ask your vet about perhaps sedating your beloved pet.
During the Move:
Here are some valuable tips to make the moving of your dog as easy as possible:
• Feed your dog approximately five to six hours before the actual traveling starts. Water can still be taken in up to two hours ahead of the move, but be careful not to let your dog dehydrate particularly in hot weather. If medication has been recommended administer this around an hour before travel too.
• Take sufficient quantities of food and water with you when you travel and make frequent stops to water and walk your canine friend.
• On arrival at your new home, keep the dog confined until it is familiar and at ease with its new surroundings. Walk your dog around the new home and let it sniff and smell new odors – remember a dog can smell up to 100 times stronger than we can.
• Put out the dog’s bedding, toys and familiar bowls as soon as you arrive too. Remember to feed and water the dog as soon as possible after arriving.
• Initially walk your dog on a leash until it is familiar with the new outside surroundings and boundaries.
• Keep a regular schedule with your dog until it is at ease with the new set up. This may take up to a week depending on the animal.
• Hopefully you will have located a vet close to your new home. Make an appointment to take in your dog’s records and register it for a check-up and future treatment.
Additional Tips:
It is vital to get a health certificate from your vet before moving. Trying to arrange this after the move is time wasting and stressful – after all you moved not the vet! Certain states will ask to see the health certificate as you are crossing state lines, even if you are only in transit. If flying your dog to a new area purchase a kennel for your pet to travel comfortably in on the plane. And don’t forget to check with your vet for calming medication should this be required before the flight.
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By Relocation.com
A home inventory checklist documents and tracks of your possessions, allowing you to keep tabs on what and how much you own. This can be a time-consuming process, so give yourself a week or so to complete it. Tackle one room each day, or set aside a weekend to get it done.
• Step 1: Make a spreadsheet. There are several sites that offer tips on how to document your belongings, including FEMA and the Insurance Information Institute. Individual insurance agencies also offer checklist guidelines; check with your agent for the specifics of your plan and what it covers.
• Step 2: Start documenting your belongings. A basic home inventory spreadsheet is divided room by room, with columns for: item description, quantity, model/serial number, year purchased, place purchased, and cost. Make sure all big ticket items have back-up such as receipts, appraisals, or serial numbers for electronics and appliances.
• Step 3: Take digital photographs of the items on your list and store them in a computer file with your spreadsheet. Include photographs of the outside of your home, overview shots of each room, and close-ups of any big-ticket items. For less expensive items, take a group shot. For example, empty your toolbox and take one photo of its contents.
• Step 4: Make sure all your data is backed up online so that you can access it if your computer is stolen or damaged. If you’re using hard copies, store one set in a second location away from your home, such as a relative’s house.
• Part Two: Use Your Inventory. Hopefully you won’t have to use your inventory in the event of a disaster or burglary, but you will be able to put it to use in your day-to-day life. Most people, when faced with the task of documenting their belongings, realize that they own too much stuff.
• Step 1: Go through your list, room-by-room, and ask yourself how many of each item you really need. Highlight each item that can be reduced. You may realize that you only need five t-shirts instead of fifteen, two sets of sheets instead of four, or one frying pan instead of three. (Don’t do any physical decluttering yet; just work on your list. Physical decluttering brings up emotional attachments and associations that add another layer of difficulty to the process.)
• Step 2: Set up an outbox in your home: a station where you collect the things you’re getting rid of. This is a strategy used in AT’s 8-Step Home Cure that really works. Items stay in the outbox for a little while, so that you have time to emotionally detach as well as the ability to retrieve something if you REALLY need it.
• Step 3: With your list in hand, tackle each room. Give yourself plenty of time for this process, at least one day for each room. Don’t get discouraged; it will take longer than you think but you’ll feel great once it’s over. Go through each room, whittling down your possessions to the number you’ve benchmarked on your list and placing items in the outbox. Schedule times to empty your outbox. In our experience, once a week is usually pretty realistic.
• Step 4: After you’ve finished de-cluttering, update your list. Whenever you make a new purchase, add it to your inventory. By keeping your records up-to-date, you’ll develop a clearer picture of everything you own, making it much easier to realize when you do or don’t need something. Once you understand the time and effort that goes into owning something, it becomes a lot easier to buy less and buy better.
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