In the Process of Moving? Some Helpful Tips To Reduce Stress

Making the last days before the closing as stress-free as possible for all parties will work to ensure a smooth closing.

Moving Checklist

The trauma of moving can be an added stress for buyers and sellers. The following is advice to make things calmer before closing.

1. Weed out items you won’t be moving; hold a garage sale or donate them to charity.
2. Get estimates from moving companies.
3. Make a list of people and organizations—credit cards, magazines, college alumni associations—that will need to be notified of the move.
4. Look at schools and day care facilities in new area. Forward school records.
5. Complete change-of-address forms.
6. Contact doctors and ask for referrals if you’re moving to a new city. Forward medical records.
7. Check homeowners’ policy to see if possessions are covered during the move.
8. Decide how you’ll move valuables.
9. Get information on driver's license, insurance policy, license plates, and auto stickers if you’re moving to a new city.
10. Contact utility companies—gas and electric—in both cities.
11. Register with an Internet service provider.
12. Contact phone service—see if your long distance, cellular, and pager carriers operate in the area.
13. Contact satellite and cable TV providers.
14. Empty and defrost refrigerator.
15. Map out driving route to new city.TIP: Pack one or two boxes of must-haves—children’s toys, toilet articles and towels, can opener, flashlight, light bulbs, paper plates and cups—and carry it with you so you can find it fast after the move.

Tips of Handling Moving Trauma

1. Recognize that regardless of the reason for a move—an exciting job transfer or a great new house—moving can elicit feelings of bereavement.
2. There are practical suggestions about reducing stress—eating and sleeping properly and using stress management techniques, such as yoga or breathing exercises.
3. Don’t use panaceas like, “There, there, everything will be fine.”

The above suggestions were obtained from Old Colony Realtors website. For more helpful tips, email me or stay tuned for another future entry in my real estate blog.