Moving - What to Think of After You Done Moving?

By: G Kharchenko

After you move, show your children the photos to remind them of all the fun they had at these places. Then say, "Let's find a fun new place." Capture their imagination by leading them on a new adventure. Take photos at these places and of them playing with their new friends. Show your children the new pictures and explain that they can have fun and friends in both places. This will help kids adjust to the move more quickly.

Each person in the family can help complete the following list. Places to list on the chart can include playground, zoo, library, favorite restaurant, children's museum, school, park, friend's house, shopping mall, or swimming pool.

Even if you've had a going-away party, don't forget to say good-bye to your favorite neighbors. Give them your new address and phone number so you can all stay in touch. And make sure your children give their friends your new street and e-mail address children gel really excited when they receive mail at their new home. Encourage correspondence. A pen pal is a good learning experience; one that will help children with their writing and communication skills. Writing also provides a bridge from their old life to their new life and Tills the gap until they are able to make new friends. And it's a good activity for them to do when you are busy unpacking.

My significant other and I moved every year when our children were in preschool through third grade. To make the transition to the new place more enjoyable, I would make each child a cake lo take to school on his or her last day. The cake was decorated with an outline of the new state and its name. It would also say "Good bye Monika" or "Good-bye Sean" and include a picture of something about the new state. When we moved from Maryland to California, for instance, one cake was decorated with a yellow sun and the other with a surfboard. It was a great way for my kids to celebrate the upcoming move and say good-bye to their friends at school.

You can take control over your move through good lime management. The following moving tips created to show you how to record all aspects of your move. The examples here illustrate how I scheduled one of my family's moves.

At a minimum, fill in the following key dates on your planning calendar:

- Notify landlord in writing of move-out date (renters.)

- Obtain loan preapproval.

- Sign the real estate contract to sell the current house.

- Accept or decline the company buyout offer.

- Sign the real estate contract to purchase a new house.

- Sign the rental contract on a new apartment and pay applicable lees (renters.)

- Obtain a moving estimate.

- Obtain loan final approval.

- Schedule the house appraisal.

- Schedule house closing date(s), location(s), and time(s).

- Obtain new auto and homeowner's insurance coverage.

- Make travel arrangements (il moving long distance.)

- Schedule packing days.

- Schedule moving day.

- Schedule final walk-through of the new house.

- Schedule move in and unpacking.

- Submit change of address form to the local post office or complete it online.

- Call to verify that your loan has been funded by the required dale.

- Cancel utilities at the old location and add utilities to the new location.

- Cancel home deliveries and services.

- Obtain new driver's license and motor vehicle license (if moving out of state.)

- Submit claim form to the moving company for any missing or damaged property.

- Obtain security deposit refund after you have moved out of your apartment (renters.)