10. Not having enough details & demographics about your new hometown.

Gather as much information as possible about your new destination, from sources such as the Chamber of Commerce, newcomer packages, information sites, location magazines, websites and your Realtor.

9. Not having your home priced and ready to show for selling.

Check your home thoroughly for all needed repairs before listing it for sale. Pay attention to details such as worn paint, cracked caulking, chipped tiles, it's often these little things that potential buyers will notice. Have the home professionally cleaned, including carpets. Request my detailed checklist PREPARING TO SELL YOUR HOME from this website for items to make your home more marketable. Request a COMPARABLE MARKET ANALYSIS from this website. This will show what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for recently. Overpricing your home initially will result in slow showings and delays in selling. DOWNLOAD RELOCATION SOFTWARE from this website.

8. Poor research of what your money can buy in your new home area.

Many factors such as differing salary, cost of living, taxes and housing prices affect what the same dollar can buy in different parts of the country. Go the SALARY AND FINANCIAL CALCULATORS on this website. Also, resources such as the Chamber of Commerce, Realtors, and Runzheimer Reports can give you this information.

7. Not getting a mortgage pre-qualification or pre-approval letter before house-hunting.

While pre-qualifying with a mortgage company doesn't provide final loan approval, it does give you a realistic price guideline and shows sellers that you are a serious and qualified buyer. I can provide you with mortgage options to pre-qualify you within 24 hours. Another valuable tool is your credit repor. It's smart to see what it contains and to clear up any inaccurate information before pre-qualification.

6. Not protecting yourself with the best home inspection possible.

This principle applies to both the home you're selling as well as the one you're buying - the buyer usually pay for the inspection. A good inspector should be: a member of the ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors); Bonded, licensed & insured; Able to provide references; Upfront about their fees and what is included (are termite inspections extra, for example.) Contact me for recommendations for certified inspection company. Also see REAL ESTATE RELATED INFORMATION on this web site.

5. Not setting up adequate interim housing between destinations.

When you first arrive in your new town, you'll most likely need to have temporary housing arrangements until you can close and move into a new home, or find a permanent rental. Doing adequate research and working with a reputable company to arrange your temporary housing will make all the difference in the world to the initial adjustment period of your move. Please contact me because in conjunction with O'Conor, Piper & Flynn ERA, I can guide you toward appropriate temporary housing.

4. Your spouse having difficulty with a career transition.

If your spouse had to quit his or her job for the relocation, or if you are both looking for new opportunities via the move, this aspect is vital to the economic and emotional well-being of your family. Most people fail to utilize and take advantage of all the resources available for their career needs. The key to this endeavor is building and cultivating a network of contacts. This network can be established starting with friends and colleagues in your departure city; be sure everyone you know and come in contact with knows about your search, and ask them for referrals. Subscribe to the newspaper and business journals in your destination city, making use of on-line job databanks and employment agencies, recruiters, career counselors, professional and networking associations and any resources your employer provides strengthens your network. Also consider purchase of The Insider's Guide to Relocation by Beverly Roman. She offers sound advice regarding the transition.

3. Difficulty finding the best schools and daycare providers in the new city.

Families considering relocation are wise to place the quality of their children's education and care at the top of their priority list. Evaluating school districts and childcare options of each neighborhood before you make final housing decisions is important. You can do this by looking up our SCHOOL REPORTS on this website, and then contacting the individual school district for complete packages which most will mail to you complimentary. If possible, visit the schools under consideration with your children (or at least your spouse). You can also call the National Committee for Citizens in Education (1-800-NET-WORK) for their excellent low cost education brochures available in English and Spanish.

2. Fears that your children are not adjusting well to the move.

Children may feel lost and experience a wide range of emotions during relocation. They may feel sad or angry about leaving their friends and familiar surroundings. Moving can be a traumatic or a positive experience, and often how we present and handle it is what swings the pendulum one way or another. Often we, as adults, are under so much stress and have so many details to handle during relocation that we can become too focused on what needs to get done. The temptation is to get settled in as soon as possible so the family will feel at home in your new surroundings; but taking time to talk with your children about their feelings and allowing them time to adjust is vital.

1. Being hit with a case of "culture shock" AFTER your move.

When people are physically removed from their cozy secure existence and transplanted into another culture, the changes can be traumatizing. Culture shock can manifest itself in feelings ranging from mild apathy to severe anxiety, and may display itself in headaches, stomachaches, impatience, difficulty sleeping and possibly anger. These feelings can and do pass in time; if they do not, consider seeing a physician. One coping method is to make your new life as pleasant as possible and incorporate things that were pleasant to you in the past. This can mean plants, books, treasured mementoes, or finding local classes, organizations, and activities that you were previously involved in. You should be able to talk to someone about your adjustments; occasional trips back to your original home may help. It normally takes six to ten months for someone to feel at home in a new environment.