A new job, a new city … Relocating is exciting – an opportunity for a major life change. But, if not carefully planned, it can also be expensive, stressful and a recipe for disaster.
Here’re some of the major tips how to make your relocation less stressful:
1. Decide if you’re going to move yourself or hire professionals. If you’re hiring a moving company, you’ll need to start the process in advance. Before you hire, know what to look for and how to choose the best. Contact a minimum of three and set-up estimate interviews. 2. If you need to use storage facilities, check out your options, compare prices and book the space.
3. Start looking at what, if any, packing supplies you’ll need. Make a list, and if you’re ordering off the Internet, order your supplies now.
4. Purchase a lockable box and/or file box to keep important documents
5. Arrange to transfer or obtain your child’s school records.
6. Make a running list of people you need to notify of your change of address. Keep it handy (on the refrigerator) so you can add to it as the days tick by. Complete an IRS change of address form.
7. Transfer bank accounts and close safety deposit boxes. Pay any remaining bills and close off the accounts. Keep copies in your files.
8. Cancel subscriptions to local newspapers, magazines, bottled water or any other home delivery service you currently receive.
9. Make all your travel plans such as flights, hotels or calls to family members you might need to stay with at your destination or along the way. If you’re flying your pets, make sure you have the necessary documents and carrier.
10. Pack. Try to label each box with what’s inside, where it goes and any special instructions. Be as detailed as you can. This will make it easier when you’re unpacking to know what needs to be unpacked first. You can even put a big bright sticker on the boxes that contain your essentials, for easy identification.

Here’re some websites which will help you to relocate smoothly:
http://www.movecentral.com/
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http://www.topmovingcompanies.com/
Use tools like salary calculators and cost of living calculators to determine whether you new salary will pay the bills in the local area where you want to relocate.
Salary Calculators will give you average pay for a specific position in a specific location.
• Salary.com is an online salary, benefits and compensation portal that was created to help its users to obtain current compensation information. Individuals are asked to submit their job profile and salary data, which Salary.com compares to statistically determine accurate real-time salary information.
• Jobsearchintelligence.com includes a free personalized salary calculator and career planning tools
Cost of Living Calculators will tell you how far your current salary will go in a new city and/or will compare the cost of living between two different cities.
• http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costofliving/costofliving.html
• http://www.bestplaces.net/COL/