10 steps to an easy move

This story was originally titled "Moving On Out," in the June 2008 issue. Subscribe to Canadian Living today and never miss an issue!

Moving is right up there with death and divorce when it comes to stressful life events. It requires physical effort – sorting and packing – and mental effort – hiring a mover and saying goodbye to friends, says Dr. David Posen, a physician in Oakville, Ont., who specializes in stress management and is the author of Staying Afloat When the Water Gets Rough (Key Porter, 2005). "The question to ask is not, How is this going to work out? The question is, What can I do to make this work the best way possible?" We've turned to the experts to bring you 10 strategies to make every stage of your move  as easy as possible.

1. Look ahead
Research the place you're moving to before you give notice or accept that promotion. "Make sure you understand all the new costs and lifestyle that you're moving to," says Tim Verbic, director of business development and marketing for Royal LePage Corporate and Government Relocation Services. A $15,000 raise may not cover the rise in housing and living costs, for example, if you're moving from Halifax to Calgary. Ask your real estate agent to connect you with an agent in the new city to offer guidance on real estate values and an overall portrait of what the market is like there.

2. Rally the troops
"If you are in a family, you absolutely have to get buy-in from your spouse and children," says Verbic. "You need to work as a team." Give everyone lots of lead time to start thinking about the move and have the chance to voice any opinions and concerns. "If somebody is absolutely refusing the idea, the best way to get buy-in is to hear the concerns, honour the concerns and address them," says Posen. If your 15-year-old daughter is frantic at the thought of not seeing her friends, for example, offer the solution of inviting her friends to visit – hopefully not all at once. Plan a trip to the place you're relocating to ahead of the move, which can relieve a lot of anxiety, or subscribe to a local newspaper or magazine.

3. Give it time
Verbic says the minimum planning time for a move is 90 days, because there are a lot of things that you don't even think about, such as arranging temporary accommodation during the transition, but it can be done in less time. A move is more than transporting your valuables, says Verbic. Posen agrees the more lead time the better to visit the new city, say goodbye to friends and ease your way out of the place you're leaving.

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