Category Archives: Moving Tips

You’re in love. After years of balancing your dating and professional lives, you and your significant other are finally moving in together–and you’re delighted.

Despite your excitement, you are about to merge all of the items in your apartment with all of the items from your spouse’s apartment into a combined space. If you don’t plan this transition efficiently, it could be a logistical nightmare.

Before you put strain on your relationship and add tension to your living situation, review our top three tips for moving in together. Read on to learn more.

1.) Choose a Home That Meets Both Your Needs

So many factors come into play when you choose to live in a new place. With couples, the two most important factors are space and price. You’ll want to know you have enough space for both of your items, and that you’ll both be able to afford the rent or mortgage.

Money puts pressure on every relationship. If you make more money than your spouse, try to choose a home that’s within his or her price range.

One person often moves into the home the other person already lives in. While this type of move may be temporarily convenient and cost effective, it may make organization within a combined living space very challenging. For example, if your boyfriend lives in a one-bedroom apartment, then you’ll be combining both his and your stuff into a space that’s ideally suited for one person.

It may be better to wait until you both sell your homes, or until your respective leases are up. As you wait, you can both weigh in on your new living space. You’ll be able to rent or purchase a new home with sufficient space and the amenities you both require.

2.) Create an Inventory of Both of Your Items, and Eliminate Redundancies

Let’s say you and your significant other love to cook. Your passion for all things culinary is what brought you two together.

Because of this shared activity, you both own food processors, pizza stones, bottle openers, wine racks, and other cooking utensils. Therefore, when you move in together, you’ll be combining two kitchens’ worth of items and trying to pack those items into one kitchen. This is a recipe for disaster.

Mitigate item overflow by creating an inventory of you and your spouse’s items. Note what you have that your spouse also has. If you have the same items, decide which item you are going to keep and what you’re going to do with redundant items. You may want to get a storage space. Or, you may want to have a garage sale and get some extra cash for that food processor.

Repeat this process for your furniture, linens, window treatments, books, and bedding sets. The more meticulous you are, the fewer redundancies you’ll have in your new home.

In addition to reducing redundancies, a written inventory lets you see what your new home will need. Figure out what your new home won’t have, and shop for those items together.

3.) Hire a Professional Moving Company

Nobody likes moving. It’s physically strenuous. It’s stressful. It’s mentally draining. You want your new life with your spouse to be fun, caring, and serene. You don’t want to be fighting over who packed the mirrors and where they are. You don’t want to hassle over the cost of the moving truck. You don’t want to pack, load, and unload two homes-full of belongings, and then unpack them in a new place.

Instead of doing it all together, hire a professional moving company to pack, load, unload, and unpack you and your spouse’s things. An experienced international moving company will know how to quickly and efficiently relocate you, your significant other, and both of your possessions.

Tagged in: Cohabitation, Moving In, relationships

You know you need a passport and a visa to move to a foreign country. But what about your family members with fur, feathers, or scales? Do they need a permit to cross international borders as well?

Wild and stray animals freely cross borders all the time, so it may seem counterintuitive that your healthy, domesticated animals would require paperwork of any kind. However, your pets will require documentation, and the amount of documentation will depend on the country you move to.

This blog post can’t cover the pet relocation requirements for every country in the world, but it can give you an overview of the basics so you know what to expect. Remember that you should start the documentation process for your pet several months in advance, just like you would do for your own documentation. Read below to learn more.

1. See If You Can Legally Bring Your Animals into the New Country

If you have a fairly common pet, like a cat or dog from a popular breed, then you won’t have any trouble taking it to a new country as long as you follow the steps in this post. However, if you have a more exotic pet, you might have trouble moving it across borders. You’ll have a particularly difficult time if your animal comes from an endangered species.

You may also have trouble if you have a cat or dog from a dangerous breed. Some countries restrict dogs and cats from breeds that have a reputation for violent temperaments. Even if your pets are sweet and well-behaved, you may have trouble getting them into the country. Explore your options beforehand.

2. Research Permits and Pet Passports for Your New Country-Even If You’ll Live on a Base

No matter what, you will need permits and pet passports for your furry, feathery, or scaly pets. The type of permit or passport depends on the country, so make sure you do your research long before you leave. Keep in mind that you may need this documentation even if you’ll live on a military base. After all, you’ll likely take your animal off the base during outings.

3. Schedule a Checkup with Your Veterinarian and Solve Health Problems Beforehand

Many countries require that people have medical examinations before they travel. The same goes for animals, so take your pets in to see the vet before you leave. The vet may need to give your animals more vaccinations before travel, especially if you move to a country with lax health restrictions or more pet diseases. Keep all the documents from your vet as proof of vaccination and other treatments.

4. Move during Non-Restrictive Temperatures

Some countries may restrict you from bringing your pets during seasons with severely cold or hot temperatures. These polices are meant to help your pets, since some animals don’t acclimatize well if they suddenly experience extreme temperature. If possible, plan your move around seasons when the new country will have similar temperatures to your current residence.

5. Determine If Your Pet Will Face Quarantine

Usually, if you have a pet passport, arrive during the right season, and take your pet to the vet for all the necessary preparations, your pet will completely or partially avoid quarantine. However, quarantine measures vary from country to country, so you may still face separation from your animal family members for a time. Research quarantine times in your new country so you can prepare in advance.

International moves often prove tricky, even when you don’t have pets. Learn how to navigate them with ease by reading other posts on our blog. You’ll start your international adventure on a good note instead of a stressful one, and that can make all the difference when you adjust to a new culture.

Tagged in: International Moves, Pets, relocation

Moving is a stressful experience, and it’s even more so if you’re on a budget. Here are six essential tricks for moving while also saving money.

1. Pack Wisely

A smart move starts months before the physical moving. Start collecting packing materials long before you leave. You can collect boxes from presents, online purchases, or office orders at work.

When you finally do start packing, use clothes, towels, and other soft materials you already have to protect your fragile belongings. Make sure that the things you’ll need sooner are easy to find and retrieve. Doing so will help you avoid frantic, last-minute searches.

2. Sell Old Belongings

A move is the perfect opportunity to declutter your life. Get rid of what you can to help you start fresh. Additionally, moving with a lighter load can save you money. Weight is a common way for professional movers to determine the cost.

So why not take it a step further and sell your old belongings? Whether you use online listings or hold a garage sale, make a few extra bucks by selling everything from old t-shirts to unneeded furniture. At the end of the sale, take the leftovers to the thrift store and donate them. Ask for a receipt and get a break on next year’s taxes.

3. Budget for Restocking

If your new home is close by, you can probably move the milk from one place to another without any problem. However, if your move is a long distance move, you’ll have to restock perishables when you arrive.

Depending on the size and nature of your move, as well as how much stuff you get rid of, you may have some larger items you need to replace as well. Plan and budget for these replacements so that you’re not stuck looking at a new couch only to realize you don’t have the money for it. For some items, like that couch, make a stop at your local thrift store and buy a couch that’s already broken in.

4. Use Professional Movers

Many people’s first instinct when trying to save money on a move is to steer clear of professional movers. However, hiring professional movers may actually be cheaper than trying to move on your own. Not only will the move be faster and more efficient, but your belongings will also be better taken care of so you don’t have to spend money on repairs or replacements.

When you move yourself, you have to get help from friends and family, which might require paying to feed them. You also need to rent a truck to drive, which presents its own set of potential problems. You have to pay for the gas, and you may stress over driving a vehicle much larger than you’re used to. Additionally, the chances of needed maintenance on the road increase the longer the trip.

5. Plan Utility Costs

When you’re working on shutting off your old home’s utilities and turning them on for your new home, plan for the costs. Some utilities may require a deposit, depending on your credit score (which you’ll want to budget for).

Some utility companies also won’t prorate your bill, so consider shutting utilities off early to eliminate the extra cost. You won’t be able to do this for water or electric, but you can go a week or two without cable.

6. Schedule the Move Wisely

We all know the saying, “time is money.” Plan your move wisely so that you don’t have to take too much time off work. If at all possible, move on a student’s schedule. Various rent, cable, and internet deals may coincide with the start of the school year.

Professional movers will also have more tips to help you save even more money, so don’t be afraid to ask.

Tagged in: budget, moving, Save money, tips

In the Disney/Pixar movie “Inside Out,” an eleven-year-old girl named Riley moves across the country with her parents. At first, she sees the move as an exciting adventure, but she soon realizes how much she misses her friends and her life back home. While she’s normally happy and bubbly, she starts to feel depressed and angry.

Moving is hard for anyone, no matter their age. But moving can be especially difficult for children. As an adult, you’ve likely moved a few times before and you have a better idea of what to expect. Children may have never experienced a move before. They’re used to a certain routine, and moving disrupts this routine and may throw their emotions for a loop. Fortunately, there are ways to make moving easier emotionally on your kids. Here are a few suggestions.

1. Keep Communication Open

Your kids want to know what to expect, so you need to tell them. Don’t leave them in the dark; talk to them about the following:

• How they can prepare their belongings for the move
• How long it takes to get to your new place
• What your new area is like
• How they can keep in touch with friends

When you talk to your child about your new place, show them pictures of it. If you’re not moving too far away, take a trip with them to your new city.

Talk to your kids about the potential emotional impacts of moving as well. You can share your past experiences with moving and how you felt. Assure them that while they might feel sad at first, they will feel better once they meet people and get used to their new area.

But don’t just talk to your kids once and let it go. Leave the lines of communication open. Ask your kids every few days how they’re feeling.

Make yourself available to answer any of their questions. Don’t get so overwhelmed with moving tasks that you aren’t sensitive to their feelings.

2. Let Them Help Make Decisions

If you involve your kids in the moving process, they’ll feel like a part of the decision. This will make the transition easier for them.

If possible, bring your children house shopping and ask for their input. When you decide on a house, let each child choose which bedroom he or she wants. Let him or her take ownership in decorating and setting up his or her new room.

As you pack, have your kids pack their own bedrooms. Let them decide what to give away and what to keep.

Even little choices can help your children feel more comfortable and independent. Even the youngest children can decide what entertainment to bring for the move.

3. Watch Books and Movies About Moving

Your kids may warm up to the idea of moving if they watch movies or read books about the concept. Some movies about moving include:

• “The Karate Kid”
• “Toy Story”
• “Cheaper By the Dozen”

Books about moving include:

• “Alexander, Who’s Not (Do You Hear Me? I Mean It!) Going to Move” by Judith Viorst
• “Goodbye House” by Frank Asch
• “The Berenstain Bears’ Moving Day” by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Watch or read with your kids and talk to them about their feelings afterwards.

4. Stay Positive

You probably feel unsettled about moving too. But if you let your kids hear you complain about the upcoming move, they’ll likely adopt the same feelings.

Instead, talk positively about the move. Tell your kids about all the things they can look forward to, such as the fun things to do and see in the new city.

Like Riley in “Inside Out,” your kids might have a hard time moving at first. But like Riley does in the end, your kids can learn to love their new place. Follow these tips and make the move easier for both you and your kids.

Tagged in: children, communication, moving

When you move from one city to another, you experience a lot of changes. You need to learn how to get around, where the closest grocery stores are, and what your neighbors are like.

But to change not only cities but speeds of life adds new complexities to the stresses of moving. Rural life and city life move at different paces. Everything from transportation norms to recreational activities shifts with the change of environment.

If you are leaving a quiet town and moving into the big city, consider these ways to adjust to your new lifestyle.

Learn to use public transportation.

Public transportation is the key that unlocks the city. If you don’t learn the metro and bus systems, you’ll feel like an outsider forever. As soon as you get a handle on getting around using public transportation, the city will fall wide open to you.

First, get a public transport map of the city. Below are some of the websites for major U.S. cities:

To become familiar with these maps, identify the closest subway or bus stop to your home. Then, locate a few key places and how to get to them using your map. For example, find the closest stops to popular parks, tourist sites, and the public library.

Subscribe to an events calendar.

One of the most exciting things about living in a big city is its vast array of cultural events and entertainment. Many of these events are free. Most cities have some kind of online events calendar for residents to explore. These calendars list all kinds of local events, including:

• Concerts
• Art exhibits
• Sporting events
• Comedy
• Lectures
• Shopping highlights
• Restaurant recommendations
• Poetry readings
• Dance recitals
• Hobby enthusiasts’ meetings

No matter what kind of entertainment you enjoy, you can find it happening in your city.

You might also buy a traveler’s guide to the city. Though you might be anxious to feel like a resident and not a tourist, it can be fun to visit recommended sites and restaurants. Then you can move on to finding the real local gems.

Make connections.

A big place starts to feel like home when it is full of friends. Make connections and get to know people to feel at ease in your new environment. You might get involved in a local chapter of your church. You could sign up to volunteer with a service organization. Sign up for an exercise class.

When you do things you already love, you’ll soon meet those who also enjoy your hobbies. This makes for an easy first conversation. These new friends will help you feel less far from home and will help show you the ropes of your new city.

Spend plenty of time exploring.

True, the city may not have hills, rivers, and open space as readily available as the countryside does. But that doesn’t mean you need to hide indoors. Cities provide the chance to explore different kinds of landscapes. These landscapes include skyscrapers and art museums, vast parks and locals-only cafes. Get your feet wet by having your own first-hand experiences with these places and you’ll soon come to love the city as your own.

And if you do start to ache for the countryside, visit the parks and gardens in the city. Reconnecting with nature, even amid skyscrapers, will help you recognize that you don’t need to be alone in nature to reap many of its benefits.

There are many ways to adjust to life in the big city. Perhaps the most important thing to remember is to be patient with yourself and your new environment. Try these tips to make your adjustment even smoother.

Tagged in: City, moving

Hopefully, when you move to a new area, you experience an outpouring of attention from your neighbors, coworkers, and other peers. This outpouring may help you quickly get on your feet and adjust to your move.

But what if your neighbors and other friends shower you with so many parties and gifts you start to feel like the community project? Or what if you spend so much time socializing that you don’t have a spare moment to fully unpack or take a deep breath and relax?

This blog will help you learn how to respectfully say no so you don’t alienate your neighbors. You deserve to have a little alone time if you need it.

1. Give Yourself Time to Reply before Giving Your RSVP-Show Serious Consideration

When someone first extends an invitation, say you’ll check your calendar. Give yourself an hour or so to think things over before you say no. That hour can give you enough time to come up with a kind and understanding response.

Taking some extra time to think can also show your friend or neighbor that you didn’t just turn them down out of hand. You demonstrate that your peers’ invitations matter enough to you that you give them serious thought.

2. Explain What You’ve Already Said Yes to Before Giving Your No

You don’t always need to give someone an explanation for saying no. However, if you have a previous commitment, you can simply say that you and your spouse designated a particular night as a date night. Or you could explain that a certain night every week is for family activities, yoga classes, and other commitments.

If you’ve already been to several parties going and need preparation time (a.k.a. recharge time) between each one, you can use that as an excuse as well.

However, you shouldn’t lie to your friends and colleagues. They will probably notice the hesitation or lie in your response and feel hurt afterward. Be as truthful as possible, even if you have to be blunt about how exhausted you feel with the number of parties.

3. Have a “Bunbury” in Place for Emergencies

Sometimes, even if you kindly explain your reasons for saying no, you might get an upset response. However, you should not let the other person’s emotions overwhelm your decision. Remember-you deserve to have a break if you really need one. It’s okay to have some way to escape the situation.

In the play “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, the titular character has an unruly made-up brother named Bunbury that he uses as an excuse to escape London when he gets into trouble. You can have a “Bunbury” of your own that you use to escape when the situation gets uncomfortable.

This isn’t to say you should lie and make up a troublesome brother who needs your rescue. But you can use your spouse’s, your children’s, or your boss’s needs as an excuse if someone gets upset with you for turning down their offer. Just make sure you use the other steps on this list too so you don’t offend your friend or coworker.

4. Do Not Say No to Every Invitation From the Same Person

If a neighbor whose friendship you want to cultivate extends an invitation multiple times, then you probably shouldn’t refuse him or her every time. Try to go to the first party if possible, then decide how often you want to see this person after that. If you can only see him or her once a month, pace yourself accordingly. But don’t say no every time if you value the relationship.

5. Let People Know How Much You Would Like to Attend Under Normal Circumstances

After you give your excuse for not going, make sure you explain how much you would like to attend future functions. Emphasize that you would attend this party if you could, and clearly express how you would like to spend time with this person when you feel less overwhelmed. Your neighbor or coworker should take you seriously, especially if you suggest an alternative date.

You don’t have to attend every party that people invite you to. Use the tips above to say no. For more advice on managing life after a move, check out the rest of our blog posts.

Tagged in: Neighborhood, Neighbors, Party

For many people, winter weather brings a lot of exciting opportunities. Fresh powder gives skiers and snowboarders a chance to shine. The chill breezes give couples an excuse to snuggle just a little closer. And of course, the holidays wouldn’t be the same without a white Christmas.

But not everyone enjoys the cold climate. Frostbite, slippery floors, and poor road conditions make living in a colder state a hazard. And if you have any health issues, the low temperatures could worsen the symptoms.

If you’re thinking about moving to a warmer state, you’ll be happy to discover that the transition comes with multiple benefits.

1. Increased Vitamin D Production

According to health experts, vitamin D plays a significant role in your health. It inhibits cancer cell growth, stimulates insulin production, and regulates your immune system. This essential nutrient also aids in calcium absorption for strong bones and teeth, and it supports lung function by increasing respiratory muscle strength.

Although you can find trace amounts of vitamin D in the foods you eat, your primary source for vitamin D comes from sunlight. The sun’s energy converts the cholesterol in your skin (7-dehydrocholesterol) into vitamin D3. From there, your body carries vitamin D3 to your liver and to your kidneys where it coverts vitamin D3 into vitamin D.

When you move to a warmer climate, you’ll have a much easier time absorbing sunlight and producing adequate amounts of vitamin D.

2. More Opportunities for Outdoor Exercise

Although cold weather climates have their unique sports, many of these outdoor activities require specialized clothing and gear to fully enjoy (otherwise you may freeze). And during particularly bad weather, you may prefer to stay indoors in front of the TV rather than brave the ice and snow.

But in warmer weather, you have plenty of opportunities to exercise outdoors without the need for accessories. Depending on your mood, you could walk, sunbathe, fish, picnic, or swim. And with a little creativity, you can find even more ways to exercise.

In fact, studies show that physical activity tends to decline during colder seasons. But in areas that enjoy good weather year round, residents view outdoor exercise as the norm.

3. Save Money on Winter Gear

During the cold season, you need to bundle up in multiple layers to stave off winter’s chill. Snow boots, thick wool socks, long underwear, furlined jackets and coats, gloves, and hats all work together to ensure your extremities don’t freeze.

In addition to suitable cold-weather clothing, you may also need to invest in other winter gear to stay warm and safe. Snow shovels and ploughs, sidewalk salt, snow tires and chains, and space heaters can cost you a small fortune every year.

But if you were to pack up and leave to a warmer state, you could invest that money in more exciting essentials, such as swimwear and sunglasses.

4. Exciting Job Opportunities

With hard work, education, and experience, you can usually find a well-paying job anywhere, no matter the weather.

However, states that have warmer temperatures year round often house major tourist attractions and become recreational destinations. To accommodate tourists and vacationers alike, many warm-weather areas feature resorts and hotels, theme parks, clubs, restaurants, bars, shopping centers, and clubs.

If you want a change of pace, or you want to start your own business, you may find more financial success when you switch to a warmer climate.

So Which States Have the Best Weather?

As you can see, warm weather states have a lot to offer you and your family. To enjoy the above benefits (and more), consider moving to states such as California, Texas, Florida, or Louisiana. These states see comfortable temperatures, dry weather, and clear skies throughout most of the year.

Tagged in: California, Florida, Louisiana, relocating, Texas, Warmer States, Weather

As you approach your upcoming move, you have plenty of tasks to complete. Between arranging to purchase or rent your next home and sorting through your belongings, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks.

When you have too much to do, you could make your move more stressful, less organized, and less efficient. For some homeowners and families, the solution to this overwhelming dilemma comes in the form of a home concierge.

A professional home concierge works with you to ensure you have the time (and energy) to focus on the most important aspects of your move without distractions. Whether you’ve never heard of a home concierge or you’ve put hiring one at the top of your to-do list, read on to learn more about how a concierge can benefit you.

1. A Concierge Has Access to Industry Resources

During a move, you work with a slew of professionals, from your real estate agent to the interior decorator responsible for your new home. Because home concierges plan and handle every aspect of a move, they have access to vetted professional resources.

These resources may include:
•    Packing supplies distributors
•    Real estate professionals
•    Storage facility managers
•    Trustworthy, specialized movers

Your concierge may contact these professionals on your behalf or provide you with comparisons of multiple industry resources.

2. A Concierge Saves You Time

Because a concierge takes care of research for you, you save hours you’d spend reading reviews and interviewing potential professionals.

A concierge can handle many of the logistical aspects of a move for you, including:

• Checklists
• Expected expense lists
• Itemized lists of your belongings
• Packing lists
• Utility-related tasks

Your concierge can also help you create a timeline for your move and schedule important events.

3. A Concierge Helps You in Your Home

Because moves involve so many steps, it’s easy to miss things. Part of a home concierge’s job is to perform basic household tasks before, during, and after your move-in date. These tasks may include:

• Child care
• Houseplants and garden care
• Laundry, dry cleaning, and clothes preparation
• Mailing and shipping
• Pet care

Not sure how you can handle a specific task? Talk to your concierge. While he or she may not have the resources to take care of it for you, your concierge will help you reorganize your schedule to create more open time. When you work together, nothing falls by the wayside even during this busy time.

4. A Concierge Offers You Better Organization

As mentioned above, a concierge creates timelines, checklists, and schedules to help you become more organized during the moving process. In addition to these services, a concierge offers practical suggestions.

Your concierge could advise you about the safest ways to pack keepsakes or the most environmentally sustainable ways to transport your belongings.

5. A Concierge Gives You Peace of Mind

A move comes with a lot of uncertainty. Hiring professional movers, working with a reputable real estate agent, and planning ahead eliminates some inherent stressors. But these typical measures may not grant you full peace of mind.

Working with a home concierge can. With the help of a concierge, you move out of your old home efficiently and safely, and you arrive at a new home with your cable, internet, and utilities already connected. When you have peace of mind, you feel ready to take care of yourself, your family members, and your pets without fear of forgetting an important moving step.

To make your move simpler and less stressful, partner with an experienced concierge. Many home concierges even offer services after your move officially ends, including nannying and pet watching services, meal planning, and event or wardrobe consultation.

Professional home concierge’s also specialize in different types of moves. For example, the National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM) helps older adults as well as their families through the process of downsizing, as well as moving into a new home. Wheaton World Wide Moving is one of NASMM’s preferred van lines, and we provide special discounts to seniors, as well as years of experience in handling their specialized needs. Learn more about moving concierge’s or NASMM by contacting your local agent.

Whether you decide to work with a concierge for the duration of your move or throughout the process and your daily life, choose a professional partner to take advantage of the benefits listed above.

Tagged in: Moving Concierge, NASMM, Organized Move, relocating

You’ve just embarked on a great adventure. You’ve left the community you know behind and stepped out into the unknown. You’ll get to meet new people, see new marvels, and make new memories. You can’t wait to decorate your new house, landscape your new yard, and join new fitness classes or book clubs. Perhaps you have a shining career change waiting for you on the other side of relocation.

You couldn’t have more going for you. So why do you feel stressed, anxious, or even frightened? You may even feel a deep-seated ache that borders on depression. And at the same time, you also feel guilty because you know you have much to be grateful for-you don’t have room to complain, right?

Wrong. You feel valid-and normal-emotions. Many people feel anxious, stressed, and sad after they move. To recover, you just have to determine why you feel the way you do, and then you can use activities and other tools to boost your mood.

Why a Move Brings on the Blues

A move can make you feel blue for any number of reasons. Common reasons include:

•    You relocated because of a stressful situation, like a lost job or a death in the family. You may have also lost your home to a bankruptcy or a disaster. Divorce often leads to relocation as well.
•    You have left your support system behind. Your support system consists of your family and close friends, as well as anyone you interact with in your community. Your church or other organizations could also count as your support system. Without this system, you can feel vulnerable. You’ll also miss your friends and family members, no matter how independent or adventurous you consider yourself.
•    You feel confused and lost because of the new culture in your area. Even if you anticipate cultural differences before your relocation, they may still shock and frustrate you. You will not feel as comfortable among the unfamiliar as you did in your old community.

No one expects you to adjust to your new life instantly, even if you move somewhere exotic like the Caribbean. But if you pinpoint why you feel blue after your move, you can move on to the list of cures below to try to lift your spirits.

How to Dispel Those Blues

None of the strategies below give you an instant cure. Your recovery may take a long time. It may take months or even years. But the tips below can distract you from your sorrows and help you have a more positive attitude while you adjust.

Keep in Touch With Your Family and Friends

Just because you no longer live near your support system doesn’t mean you have to live without it. Those people still care about you, and they want to help you feel happy. They’ll tell you about the happy things that have happened in their lives, and they’ll want to hear the same thing from you. But they will also help you if you need someone to listen while you cry.

Find a Way to Meet New People

A listening ear and a few kind words don’t usually do as much as a physical hug. You need to build a new support group-and while you won’t have one instantly, you can start making new friends. Meet your neighbors. Say hello to people at the grocery store. Join a church congregation, a club, a fitness class, or some other organization. You’ll start building a support system pretty quickly.

Re-Create Your Old Routine

Routine reassures your brain that you haven’t landed on an alien planet. It surrounds you with the familiar and helps you feel more centered. So stick to your routine as closely as possible. Get up and run errands at the same time you would normally do so. If you used to exercise, do that at the same you used to as well.

Watch Funny Things, Play Games, or Read Uplifting Books

Fun and humorous things will distract your mind and build pleasant memories in your new space. Watch funny videos and movies, play games with your family (or by yourself), read, or express yourself artistically. You’ll see your mood improve in no time.

You don’t have to feel sad or overwhelmed because you relocated to a new area. For more tips you can use after your move, check out the rest of our blog.

Tagged in: adjusting, moving, Post-moving blues, tips

When it comes to moving, many people think about removing bubble wrap, cleaning carpets, and giving the interior a fresh coat of paint. However, many people overlook the outside of their new home.

You want the exterior of your property to look as good as the inside. After all, this house is yours, so why not make the landscaping yours as well? Make your new landscape fit your style and personality with these five tips.

1. Talk with the Previous Owners

If you buy a previously owned home, the former homeowners represent a great resource for learning about the landscape. Ask them about the kinds of plants or flowers that they’ve planted and had success with. If you inherit some of their trees, bushes, or other plants and you want to keep them, ask the owners how to care for the foliage.

2. Decide What to Keep from Your Own Garden

You might have to say goodbye to that oak tree in your old backyard, but relocating smaller plants doesn’t usually present much of a problem. However, make sure you can legally move your plants to a new location-especially if you move to another state.

For example, some states might prohibit transplanting out-of-state plants to control disease, insects, and other plant-related issues.

Once you’ve determined you can move your plants, give them a good drink of water so the roots don’t dry out. Then remove some of the leaves and stems to make for easy transportation as well as reduce the shock of moving. Dig a circle at an angle around your plant, cleanly cutting off the roots. Then take the plant out of the ground and wrap it in burlap or put it in a pot.

Relocating your plants is always a risk because your plants might die of shock when you transplant them. To avoid this problem, try to move your plants in the winter when they are dormant.

3. Survey the Landscape for Problem Areas

Before you start doing anything to your yard, check it for potential problems. If you have pets or children, you need to make sure there are no holes in fences, loose boards, or any other dangers.

If the previous owners did some landscaping, make sure the trees and other plants are in good condition. Any rotted, infested, or otherwise damaged trees might pose a problem later on. You might also want to have the soil tested to see what kind of nutrients it contains. The test will help you determine what you can plant there and whether your soil needs any help before you start planting.

4. Map out Your Landscape

Once your yard lacks obvious problems, you can start planning what kind of a landscape you’d like to create.

Make sure that there aren’t any restrictions you need to follow. Some neighborhoods or states might prohibit certain fences, trees, or yard decorations. Also, find where the sewer or water lines lie so you don’t risk cracking them. You don’t want to plant anything where water can’t reach or put a picnic table right by a sprinkler either.

Draw a diagram that shows where the water sources are. Add other features to your diagram, including where the sun and shade will be. Additionally, do you want a cobblestone path, a fishpond, or a garden? By mapping out what you want and where it will go, you can have a realistic idea of what you can do to your landscape.

5. Pace Yourself

You don’t need to create your new landscape overnight. Just as it takes time to unpack and set up your new home, it takes time to get your yard the way that you want it. Pace yourself-you’ve moved to a new area, so you don’t know what the seasons are like.

It doesn’t matter if the landscaping process takes two months or a year. Once you have a plan, you can start gathering materials and tools and then get to work personalizing your new yard.

Tagged in: exterior, Landscaping, lawn care, New Home