Most of you will find yourself moving with fine jewelry.  Handling your special items with care is so important to make sure it is safely transported.   The first thing you should do is to have your items appraised, especially those that are extra special or those items with significant values.  Furthermore, you want to review your rental or homeowner’s insurance policy.  If you have certain pieces of jewelry itemized on a rider, you want to make sure the value reflects its current replacement value.  You also want take photos of your jewelry along with your other household goods.  This very important because it will give you a digital inventory of all of your goods.  After you have taken inventory, call your insurance agent. This is critical because most moving companies will not cover collectible items and jewelry.  Once you sell or move from your home, you will no longer have access to your rental or homeowner’s insurance policy.  Therefore, you need to discuss this with your insurance agent to clarify your options.  You definitely want to have the appropriate coverage for the replacement value of your precious items.  

Further, most of us have an amount of jewelry that we can personally transport ourselves.  However, even if you are transporting your items yourself, you still need to insure them.  For those of you who have more items than you can transport yourself, discuss your options with your insurance agent and mover.  Your professionals, here at Starline will do their best to meet your moving needs.  Therefore, it is important to identify your high value items ahead of time so that the right steps can be taken to handle your items safely and insure them adequately.

Single? After you move, it is so important to meet new friends and build a support network.  This is the cornerstone of settling into your new life.  However, if you are single this can pose some challenges.  If you are moving for work, the good news is that you will have access to work colleagues.  This will allow you to interact and meet new people.  Consider joining a professional organization.  This is a great way to build contacts and meet new people in your profession. 

Another great way to meet folks in a new area is to pursue your interests.  If you like sports, find an athletic club or league to join.  This will give you an opportunity to meet other people, who share your love of the sport.  If you like to cook or bake, consider taking classes.  If you love art, find art galleries or art classes in your new area.  There are other types or resources on line that can help.  MeetUp is a great way to find groups of people, who share your similar interests in your area.   The important take away here is to get involved.  The more opportunities you have to get out and interact with others, the more opportunities you will have to meet new friends and build a support network in your new location, which makes all the difference in a successful move.

If you are planning on purchasing a property in Canada, the first item on your list may be finding a realtor.  There are some great resources available for you online to find just the right professional for you.  The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) is a great start.  Realtors, who are a part of CREA take a code of conduct and have a standing relationship within the real estate professional community.  Therefore, when conducting your search, look for the realtor symbol.

Once you have done your research, make contact with them.  If possible, call and set up appointments to meet them.  If not, ask if they have access to Skype and conduct your interview this way.  Face-to-face communications do make a difference at this stage.  Consider drafting up some questions that you can ask the realtor.  You should consider asking them about their experience, knowledge of the area, their specialties, and if they have worked with families. If you ask the same set of questions to the realtors you interview, it will help you compare answers.  Remember, you are also looking for personality.  You will be working with this person during a stressful time.  Therefore, you need reassurance that you will be able to get along with this person.

If you are on a corporate relocation, it is important to note that your company may already have a standing relationship with professionals in the area.  Your human resource representative or relocation coordinator will be able to give you the contact details of the companies they use.  This helps because often times these companies have been screened and have an established working relationship with your company.  Therefore, they are familiar with your companies policies and procedures.

Keep in mind that your realtor should be a member of your relocation team.  By taking the time to get to find the right team player will pay dividends in the future.

The Canadian Forces Integrated Relocation Program (CF IRP) is the program developed to help CF members and their families relocate.  Once the CF member gets notice of their new duty station, they are offered benefits to help them move.  As a CF member, you are entitled to a CF Coordinator, who will help you understand and clarify your benefits and consider reimbursements.  

However, most of the coordination of the move is left to you.  Therefore, it is imperative for you to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures from the National Defense and the Canadian Forces regarding your move.  Further, keeping organized really helps you throughout the process.  Many times during these transfers, important paperwork is needed at various points of the move.  Therefore, consolidating this information in one convenient location will help you find your things during the busy time of the move and prevent them from being misplaced.  

Your professionals at Starline understand the nature and time constraints of relocations and will do their best to help you make your move.  For further information, please visit the National Defense and Canadian Relocation Directive and Starline’s Moving Tips and Information. 

If you are moving with school age children, transferring them to a new school takes some preparation.  Once the decision is made to move, you definitely want to have a chat with your child’s teacher and principal to make sure you have all of the important documents and understand your child’s current standing in class.  At the very least, you should have the transcripts for your child.  If your child has any special needs, you definitely want to have copies of any doctors’ reports and/or special need assessments.  Having these documents will help your new school make sure they can work with you to best meet your child’s needs.  

Definitely do some research online of the schools where you will be relocating.  This will give you a head start before you get there.  Call and make arrangements to take a tour of the schools that you have short listed.  Most schools will take the time to show you around and answer questions.  This is the perfect opportunity to identify any special needs your child may have and discuss programs the school offers.  Further, most schools require some health assessment forms from your child’s doctor.  Therefore, make sure you have gotten health release forms before you leave in order to get the applicable health documentation released.

If you are moving to Canada from the United States public education ranges from primary, secondary to post-secondary and is funded by federal, provincial and local governments.  In most provinces the compulsory age is 16 with the exception of three provinces (Manitoba, Ontario and New Brunswick) where the age is 18.  

If you are moving from Canada to the United States the funding mechanisms are similar.  Education is funded from the federal, state and local governments.  However, education is compulsory, ranges from elementary, middle and high school and the ages vary from state to state.  Children begin in kindergarten from ages 5 to 8 and may end at 14 to 18 years of age depending on the state requirements.  Most children complete high school at the ages of 17 to 18.  Post-secondary school or college is regulated separately.  Therefore, doing the research ahead of time is worth doing so you can prepare and take the right steps for your child.

For further information about the educational system in Canada, please visit the Councils of Ministers of Education and for more information about the educational system in the US please visit the US Department of Education.