There are two drastically different sides to moving: being able to have a fresh start versus the hassle of learning a whole new habitat. Luckily, humans are easily able to adapt to the downsides, while there are many upsides to moving. Moving is no easy feat. To many, it’s downright scary. Yet it also brings with it many benefits for your mind and body. Once you realize that the challenges of moving can be overcome, you can focus on the many advantages. 1. You Learn More About Yourself Moving to a new place is like unlocking a new level of your potential. You’re forced to socialize in a new culture, find new hobbies, try different foods, and come up with ideas for unique situations you’ve never faced. In doing this, you learn more about yourself in previously unexplored ways. It might seem like you know yourself now, but see what a move can bring out of you and you would be surprised. Even the challenges from moving will show you your imperfects and give you an idea of areas you need to work on. How would you have reacted if your home had to be relocated due to an eroding coastline as the four families did this year? 2. You Leave the Worst of it Behind In moving, you probably know what exactly you DON’T want based on your prior location. You will also be more experienced in choosing the right moving company for a seamless transition. If you weren’t getting the help you need in terms of health, make sure you can in your new area. Moving allows you to leave behind certain people or situations which bring about stress. A breakup or divorce, a fallout with a friend, or recent unemployment may leave you overwhelmed. Your fresh start can help unload the weight of such challenges. 3. You Gain a Wider Perspective and Broader Network Based on how far away you’re going, your perspective can change significantly simply from moving. Even a small move will allow you to see outside your comfortable box. Experiencing certain issues firsthand, whether they be educational, religious, or economical, will positively impact your ability to see things in new ways. In gaining new perspectives, you’ll be talking to people you would never have spoken to if not for moving. New friends often mean beneficial connections and could be a stepping stone in your career. 4. You Learn to be More Grateful One of the most rewarding traits is having a sense of gratitude. Moving helps you achieve it in many ways. You learn to appreciate the people you now have to leave behind who won’t be around anymore. When packing, you probably won’t be able to take everything, so you’re more grateful for those items you can keep. When you finally move, you learn to be grateful for your former home and its lessons, and for your new abode. 5. You Become More Independent You might be moving somewhere that has no one to help you upon arrival. You’re forced to rely on yourself, and while that can be annoying, it forces you to be more independent, which is arguably always a good thing. It means you’ll develop bravery, and will be better able to handle tough situations in life. While you should still be willing to take help, you’ll probably learn what’s right for you on your new journey. Conclusion If you do your research properly, moving to a new place can indeed be everything it’s cracked up to be. Although there will always be unforeseen situations, they almost never override the positives of moving. (Choosing professional movers decreases the chance of any surprises). The benefits of moving on your mind and body should not be disregarded. Even the most luxurious home won’t be as enjoyable if you don’t appreciate the unseen aspects of a move Be aware of what you can’t see or touch when you make your next move.
So, do you really need a will?
According to a poll from CTV News a whopping 51% of Canadians do not have a will. If you’re one of the 51%, you may be wondering if it’s really worth it to have one or what the purpose of a will is. At Relocate Stress Free, we handle many estates and have some great insider knowledge to share with you. What does a will do? In the event of your passing, a will ensures that any property and assets you own are distributed the way you want them to be. Ensuring that these items are taken care of in advance will take a lot of stress off your loved ones during such a difficult time. If you have children, having a will in place can also protect their future(s) and ensure they receive the best possible care should you pass while they are minors. When do you need one? There is some debate among different professionals on who needs a will and who doesn’t. If you’re married you need a will because your spouse is closely tied to your life and without one they don’t always gain control of your assets. Having what you want to pass to your spouse in writing and clear terms ensures there is no room for interpretation or negotiation in your absence. It’s especially important to note designations in subsequent marriages or common-law partnerships. If you have children, you need a will because they are likely to inherit your assets if you pass away after your spouse. Whether you want your children to inherit your assets or not, it’s crucial you have it in writing for legal reasons to avoid room for errors or interpretation from the courts. When your children are minors, you will also need to name an executor of your estate and guardian of your children. The executor is someone responsible for the distribution of your assets and the guardian is responsible for raising your children. It’s a big decision for parents to choose family members or friends to fill these roles and it can be uncomfortable to talk about, however, it’s necessary to protect your children’s future and ensure they are raised the way you would want them to be raised. If you have a positive net worth, you need a will too. It’s nice to be able to plan for the future and assign your assets to loved ones, friends, charities and more keeping the power in your own hands-after all it’s your hard-earned money that purchased your assets and grew your savings. Assigning these assets in advance also helps to manage any tension between family members that can arise under these unfortunate circumstances. The time of death of a loved one is a stressful situation for all parties involved. Unfortunately, it’s all too common that unassigned assets add to that stress and can lead to long drawn out court battles for loved ones. Taking care of this necessary, and sometimes uncomfortable, task is an important part of planning for your future and that of your loved ones.
Our Top 5 Tips For Moving In The Fall
The fall is a busy time of the year. Getting back into a normal routine after the summer can be stressful and exhausting as it is, never mind if you’re trying to move too. Moving in the fall has its perks and its negatives just like any other time of the year. To make the most of your move in the fall and ensure a smooth transition, take a look at these tips. Declutter from the Summer You may have clothing items, swimwear, beach gear, outdoor furniture, toys and other items that are on their last legs. Instead of wasting space packing these items and moving them just to throw them away next year, discard them now. If there are items in good shape that you know you won’t use, donate them and ditch the items that are a little worse for wear. It’s always a good idea to thin your wardrobe at the end of each season. Donate items you or your family members never wore, or that you/they don’t like. It will save you a ton of time, space and money! Reconsider Storage Options When living in a place with challenging seasonal weather like we have here in Alberta, consider the benefits of putting some items in storage. Doing so during your move will help keep your moving truck clear of heavy or bulky items that you may not use until spring or summer again. Outdoor furniture, gardening tools, BBQ’s, lawnmowers and more are all common items you can place in storage. Placing items you know you don’t need in storage, saves you time during packing, saves space in the moving truck and makes the unpacking process easier. Pack by the Season Packing seasonal items together makes it easy to find everything you need when you’re on the other end of your move. If you move at the beginning of September you may be dealing with weather very similar to summer but by the time you get settled and totally unpacked it could be cool fall weather. Packing all your seasonal items ensures everything you need shortly after you move is easily accessible. Setup Utilities in Advance There is nothing worse than getting to your new home on a cool fall day to find that you still need to set up electricity and gas. Getting new accounts setup can take a few days, which is fine if the weather is warm but if not then it can be a chilly few days. Take a few minutes during your packing to make a call to your utility companies and let them know what day you move into your new home. Put Down Plastic When Moving When moving in and out during the fall it’s possible to track in wet leaves, dirt or mud depending on the weather. Setting down plastic in the place you’re moving out of will make the cleanup process easier, ensure that the new buyers are happy with the cleanliness of their new home upon possession, or if you’re renting, makes sure your damage deposit comes back to you. When you are moving to your new place, using plastic will save you clean up time too since unpacking is already so much work as it is. Moving in the fall doesn’t need to be a stressful situation. Relocate Stress Free is here to help if you need assistance packing, moving and unpacking too!
Tips on what to pack last
There’s nothing worse than unwrapping a neatly packed and sealed box after realizing that something in the box is still needed. A nice packing strategy is beginning with those items which won’t be needed before the day of moving. But which items should be packed last? Here’s a simple guide on that. What to start with Items that should start the packing process in preparation for the move include formal dining crockery, books, papers, shoes and off-season clothes. Items which are fragile should never be packed last. Breakables such as china cups and wine glasses are best surrounded by items that can act as padding. Items that can be sued as padding include pillows, towels or spare clothes. If all the clothes are packed already, the moving boxes with clothes may need to be unsealed to find pieces of cloth that can be used to surround the delicate glassware. What to end with Several empty moving boxes should be left to pack the clothes removed on moving day plus the towels. Wet towels should be wrapped in plastic bags. Other items to be packed last include are those needed during the journey before arriving to the new home. These include toiletries, phone chargers, tissue papers, snacks and drinks. They should be left outside till the last minute or in an open box and set aside. Additionally, items that will be needed right after arrival to the new home should be packed last. Everything needed after arrival will be easier to find when packed last. Some of these include clean clothes, towels, sheets and overnight necessities. They should be packed last and be put on top of the other boxes. Other items to pack last include: first aid kits medications tape measure work gloves scissors batteries flashlights extension cords eating utensils coffee makers sugar powdered milk snacks pet supplies light bulbs screwdriver hammer alarm clock They should kept in easy to access boxes, which can be left open or sealed lightly. Professional Calgary Moving Company and Relocate Stress Free can also offer assistance on what to pack last prior to moving day. As a result, this should make the journey to your new home easier and stress free.
How to make a stress free move
Moving is considered one of the most stressful events in life, so home owners need to make sure that they are doing everything at their position to make the even less overwhelming. With a good moving guide, it’s possible to relocate stress free to the new home. Here are tips to make the move much easier. Get organized Moving involves a lot of things, from canceling utilities and services, hiring movers, finding new medical services. There’s plenty of paperwork to be completed and keep track of. Therefore in order to have everything catered for, a moving checklist is going to be really necessary. Research the new location This is one good way of saving oneself weeks of chaos and stress. Things to be looked at include schools, transportation, shopping centers, hospitals, fitness centers among others. Researching early will make the transition process much easier once the move if complete. Create a budget Moving can be really expensive if not budgeted for well. A budget is essential in ensuring that all major costs are covered. Make early preparations Several weeks to the moving date, sorting, purging and organizing items should be done. Unwanted items should be disposed of appropriately. Related items should be grouped together for easier packing. Moving boxes and supplies should be sought form the moving companies so that early packing of less needed items is commenced. Early preparations will ensure that one doesn’t get exhausted faster trying to fit the many tasks in a short time frame. Important documents be placed in one box It can be stressful to lose documents during the move, hence all documents should be placed in a single box or file and kept safely where it can be found easily. It’s wise to create copies of the documents by scanning and saving on a computer. Make use of the moving checklist Without a moving checklist it’s possible to forget most of the important things that ought to be done before and during moving. A checklist contains comprehensive guide on things to be done and the stage they should be done. Create a survival kit A survival kit simply contains essential items such as toiletries, water bottles, phone chargers, snacks and drinks. Consumables should be kept safe from other items. These items should have easier access in the course of travel to the new home, especially if it’s a long journey. Hire professional moving companies To relocate stress free, professional moving company will be needed to handle the transportation. Working with professional movers is a guarantee of an almost stress free move. Contact Relocate Stress Free to help you with your move!
Moving Checklist
Moving can be stressful without a well prepared moving checklist. It’s always advisable to plan the moving process at least 8 weeks in advance, but sometimes that cannot be possible. Relocate Stress Free has created a simple moving checklist that can be printed and kept throughout until the moving process is complete. 8 weeks to moving date Create a budget for the moving expenses. Create a move file to keep track of receipts and moving information. Research the new community. 7 weeks to moving dates Compile medical, shot, dental, prescription records. Ask for doctor referrals in the new community. Arrange for transfer of veterinarian and school records transfer. Gather copies of financial and legal documents. Call the insurance agents to determine changes to policies. Contact groups, health clubs and organizations to transfer or cancel memberships. 6 weeks to moving date Separate things into keep, discard or donate piles. Plan a garage sale. Use items the non-allowable items such as aerosols, bleach, frozen food. 5 weeks to moving date Order packing boxes and moving supplies. Pack items that are less frequently used. Label every box according to its contents and destined rooms. Finalize the moving date. File address change with postal service. 4 weeks to moving date Book a move with moving company. Notify utility service providers such as electricity, water and cell phone. Create travel arrangements for pets. Copy of pet immunization and medical records put in the moving file. Host a garage sale. 3 weeks to moving date Plan on how to transport plants. Dispose of corrosives, poisons and flammables. A comprehensive list can be issued by the moving company. Get automobile serviced. 2 weeks to moving date Notify professionals such as attorney, accountants, doctors, dentists and insurance providers. Also notify schools and financial planners about the move. Notify service companies including auto finance company, finance companies and credit card providers. Notify government offices about the move. Confirm travel arrangements for family and pets. 1 week to moving date Notify friends and family of the new address. Drain waterbeds and water hoses. Drain oil and gas from lawn mowers, heaters, gas grills etc. Defrost fridges. Clean the house. Moving day Start early and confirm with the moving company. Check rooms one last time to ensure nothing’s left behind. Travel with family and pets to new home. This moving checklist that can be helpful to any person moving either to new province or within the city. At Relocate Stress Free we can assist you with various pieces of your checklist, contact us today!