Metro Phoenix Relocation Guide 2008 - (Page 75) The Move friends be? Can I still be a Scout? Will I ever see my old friends? Will my new room be as nice as my old room? The more information you give a child in advance about his new environment, the more secure he'll feel about the move. Here are some techniques parents can use to smooth the transition: • Neighborhood: Before you buy, ask your Realtor® to help you find out if there are many children in the same age range as yours in the neighborhoods you're considering. When visiting your new town, an after-school drive-by will give you a pretty good idea. • Schools: If at all possible, visit the new school with your child, preferably while school is still in session, so your child can get a picture of it in his mind. Ask the principal and guidance counselor if there are special programs at the start of a new school year for new students. School officials may be able to refer you to one or two local children who will serve as "buddies" or pen pals for your child before school starts. • Activities: Ask your Realtor®, the local chamber of commerce or newcomer's club for contact lists of organizations which offer activities for children. If possible, make arrangements prior to moving for your child to be enrolled in groups or activities of special interest. Knowing the name of his new Little League team or his new Scout troop number will give your child something positive to think about. Encourage your child to become active with clubs and/or sports as soon as you move. The faster children get involved and start making new friends, the faster they adjust. • The New Home: At the start of the home buying process, involve your children very directly – ask them what they like and dislike about your current home, how they would like to decorate their new bedroom. Open discussions not only generate excitement and give the child some sense of control, they help the parents define their home buying needs. • The Moving Process: To keep children enthusiastic about the move during the time prior to moving day, involve them in the preparation process. Give them a photo of the home's exterior to show to their friends and a sketch of the floor plan of their room so they can plan where they want to place their possessions. Begin to orient them to their new area by showing them on a map the locations of the nearest parks, schools, movie theaters, and other attractions. A child who is motivated about a move and comfortable with the idea of a new environment can make the experience more pleasant for parents, as well. When you relieve the stress your children are feeling, you reduce your own stress enormously. Then you are freer to concentrate more clearly on the other aspects of your move. Moving with your Pet Prepare your pet for a move Make sure your pet is in the best possible physical condition. Before the move, schedule a checkup at a veterinarian clinic, making sure your pet receives preventative treatments such as vaccination and deworming. Ask your veterinarian about regional diseases which a pet might encounter. With cats, there is a concern about their catching feline leukemia, which is a viral-transmitted cancer. In urban areas, where more cats are apt to run loose, there is a greater chance of transmission. Have a new ID tag made before you move. Pets are most often lost soon after a move, since they are confused about where home is. Special considerations while traveling Before the long drive, acclimate your pet to travel by taking it on short trips. When traveling, some of the IMPORTANT RECORDS THE BANK: Savings accounts, checking accounts, Christmas club accounts, safety deposit boxes and other bank items should be transferred to your new city. Ask your banker if they have a corresponding bank in your relocation area. This could not only simplify transfer of accounts, but could also facilitate the establishment of credit, help in receiving a new mortgage and speed bank and credit card applications. Wills, birth records, tax records, other important papers and jewelry, etc., should be moved only after you have rented a new security box, so as to avoid possible theft or loss of valuables. INVESTMENTS: If you presently deal through a brokerage house or investment service such as a bank trust department or mutual fund, they might have a branch or member office where you are relocating. If not, special arrangements will 75 have to be made, since most securities are held in “street name” form and red tape delays are common. ACCOUNTANT, FINANCIAL ADVISERS, LAWYER: Many people use an accountant or tax service who normally store previous years’ records for their clients. These could be left behind; however, should you be called in for an audit or need these records for any reason, you could run into trouble if you encounter any delays or losses in sending documents by mail. The same holds true for files held by your lawyer or other financial and legal advisers. MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: Some other things should be transferred or advised of an address change. They include doctor, dental and hospital records, eyeglass prescriptions, school transcripts, credit card accounts and any periodicals and other continuing mail-order items like book and record clubs. Relocation Guide™
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