Organizing a new home can be daunting - you never seem to be able to find things. Try these tips to put things in the right place the first time:
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One of the toughest challenges of moving to a new location is losing your support systems. Likely, in your old home, you had folks you could call to watch the kids for an hour if you needed to run out or if you wanted a night out. In your new location, it will be important to your peace of mind to establish those connections again. If you were not lucky enough to drag your babysitter, nanny, daycare or family member with you on your move, there are great resources available to find quality child care.
It is vitally important that you let your new school know that you are coming right away. Enrollment figures change throughout the year, and especially in the summer when many families move. You will help the school out and maximize your chances of getting your child placed in the most appropriate classes by registering early.
The best solution for this is to go to the school office as soon as you have your rental contract or deed to your new home as proof of address. This will normally determine which school your child is eligible to attend. The requirements of each school may be different, but you will also need:
One of the most challenging aspects of moving is handling the many expenses. In the past, I’ve always carried a ton of cash on moving day. Cash for tips, for the moving company, for sending friends or family members out to grab lunch or extra supplies. This can be a little scary considering how harried you are and how insecure your personal belongings are with tons of extra people on site and doors wide open.
Dreading that last moment? Here’s what you can expect and how you can handle the sniffles…
Let your kids pack their own bag of extra special goodies
Whether you are moving around the corner or across the country, the movers will have your household goods locked up for a while. Finding that special blanket, teddy bear, doll or set of trading cards in hundreds of boxes will be a tearful nightmare. Avoid this by allowing each child to pack a special backpack or duffel bag full of their most precious items before the rest of their toys are packed. This bag should be kept away from the general packing so that it can go with you to your new home in the car, or on the plane.
Preparing for a move doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are some creative tips to help you simmer down and sail into your new home.
- Pack a little every day - go to Staples, U-Haul or Home Depot and pick up boxes, packing tape, a Sharpie marker and a hand truck (you’ll thank me!). For about $100 in supplies, you’ll be able to have boxes on hand to throw things into that you won’t need until after you move. If you move the boxes into storage (think neat, orderly rows in your garage or storage facility) you’ll even declutter to improve the look of your home for showings.