There comes a time for all of us when moving—whether it’s down the street, across town, or across the country—becomes a necessary step. It might be for a new job, going off to school, getting closer to family and friends, or finding a smaller, more manageable home when the costs and upkeep of your current one become overwhelming.
Moving is by its very nature change, and change as we all know, is not always easy.
The decision to pick up from one’s familiar surroundings and begin again someplace new is a monumental decision. Emotionally, it can be challenging after we have grown accustomed to a certain lifestyle in a certain area. Upending this lifestyle, which took years (sometimes even decades) to create, can be overwhelming and often brings a mix of excitement, anxiety and even grief.
Since we have watched hundreds of clients relocate over the years (some multiple times!), we like to think we might know a thing or two about this topic.
So where to start?
Just start with the decision to make a change.
- Where should I/we move? Same state, different time zone, different climate?
- Should I/we rent or buy in the new location? Would it make more sense to rent first until I/we get familiar with the area, then buy later?
After you have made the decision to relocate, you will face a seemingly never ending stream of additional decisions to make and things to think through.
- How do I/we rebuild social connections?
- How do I/we find a new bank, primary care physician, dentist, pharmacy, or even the nearest Home Depot?
- What and where are the best restaurants?
- How many boxes are needed to pack up all of the stuff in the house? Can I downsize or do I have to take everything I/we have accumulated in the house all these years/decades?
- How do I get the utilities turned on at my new place?
- Who will handle lawn care? Or does my new HOA or community association take care of it all?
- Where is the nearest car dealership when the car needs work done?
- Do I need a new driver’s license? Where do I go to retitle my car? What about updating my voter registration?
- Does my estate plan need to be revised now that I’m in a different state? (Short answer: YES.)
Commit to a timeline for completing the move, and make it a point to accomplish at least one task every day.
Moving brings endless decisions—and let’s not forget the boxes. Piles of boxes everywhere. In every room. Packing up your life is an emotional roller coaster, a mental and physical exercise filled with to-do lists, deadlines and unexpected challenges.
Yet, when the dust settles and the movers are gone, what awaits is the opportunity for fresh beginnings, new memories, and the next chapter of your story. The story, as they say, goes on…
I think this quote on the subject of moving sums things up perfectly: “Sometimes you just have to recognize when it’s time to move on. You collect your memories and your thoughts and your appreciation, and you take them with you”.
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