1. What are the specials offered?  This helps you understand what other classes and activities are offered beyond the core curriculum.  This will help you get a feel of the school offerings and if coincides with what you want for your children.
2. How involved is the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) or PTA (Parent Teacher Association)?  This may not seem important but it is.  This will give you a barometer of the parental involvement of the school.  If you have a very active PTO, chances are the school is an integral part of the community.  Further, fundraising and community activities are a successful part of the school because of this support. Get the contact details of the PTO or PTA president and ask them about their school.  He or she should be able to give you ongoing plans for projects that they are working on for the school.  
3. What is their standing amongst their peers and academic performance of their students?  Do your online research ahead of time before you go to the school to meet with administration.  With this information in hand, ask for specifics and what is the school planning to focus on based on their results.
4. What are the special services offered?  This is important to know so that you are able to understand what services are offered for students, who need extra academic support.  Even though this may not apply to your child, you still want to understand what is available in terms of gifted and talented programs, as well as other support systems for students, who need extra help.  This will help you understand how the administration prioritizes its needs.
5. What type of curriculum do they follow and why?  This is very important to understand.  Schools follow all types of curriculum and you need to understand what it means for your child and his or her academic success.  Ask the school what is followed and why it has been chosen.  Ask how it relates to the overall academic success of the school.

Moving your child and starting a new school offers both a challenge and opportunity.  Taking the time to get answers to your questions will make the difference in helping you find just the right school for your child.

Most of you have moved sometime in your lives before you hire a professional mover.  Moving with a professional mover is a different experience than moving yourself.  Therefore, preparing yourself ahead of time will allow you to take full advantage of the experience.  Whether or not you are on a corporate relocation, you want to take the time to understand what your needs are, what encompasses your expectations and what is your budget.  Clarifying this will make a big difference in the direction of your move and help to manage expectations.  

Moving with professionals makes your life easier.  Instead of trash bags, you will have boxes designed for your items.  You will be assigned a crew and a crew leader, who will act as your point of contact during the move.  If you have any questions, ask your crew leader.  Your crew will work diligently to get things done.  Therefore, if you have any questions, let them know right away before something is packed and in the truck.  

Keep in mind, even though you have professionals handling your move, you are still needed at your house to give guidance and direction.  It is important that someone be there.  This will ensure that your wishes are carried out and that your crew is not waiting for you to give them information.  

Your professionals here at Starline will do their best to make your experience as easy as possible.  Starline offers a variety of services from packing and unpacking, crating, storage and transport.  Understanding your budget and if applicable, your corporate relocation policies will help you make important decisions that will have an impact on your move.

Moving with professionals like Starline will make your move tremendously easier.  We are here to help you.  Please feel free to contact us anytime with questions or concerns.   

Closing can be stressful for anyone, especially for the first-time home buyer.  Therefore, take the time to learn about the process as much as possible so that you are keenly aware of what will happen.  There are steps that you can take ahead of time to prepare yourself to make closing as smooth as possible.  This includes making sure your finances are in order.  Beyond being pre-approved, you need to have the earnest money for the transaction. Further, you need to communicate with your lender what steps you need to be in place for closing.  Once you get your closing instructions from your realtor, follow them in a timely manner.  You want to make sure everything is ready on the day of close.  This includes having your earnest money, your homeowners insurance and identification and any other forms of documentation noted in the closing instructions.  A delay in closing is a nightmare that everyone involved wants to avoid because it has cascading affects from your move date to the transfer of money.  Therefore, all of the professionals involved will do their best to make that closing date.  Keep in mind that once you have agreed to the terms of the sale, a realistic closing date is approximately a month later.  There are cases where you will be able to close earlier and there will be situations where you will close later.  Be patient and flexible and do your best to meet your responsibilities and hope that your counter part in the transaction will do the same.  If so, chances are closing will happen without any trouble.  Often times this is the case.  However, there are times where problems can arise that can derail the process and delay closing.  Keep in mind that a conventional sale of property is the easiest of the transactions.  However, a short sale or bank-owned property can be tricky.  Therefore, if you are purchasing a short sale or bank-owned property, be patient and listen to your realtor.  You may be getting a fantastic deal on the home but it will cost you time and some patience, so be prepared.  

In the end, the better prepared you are by having all of your documents and financing in order, closing should be an hour at best with you leaving with your keys in hand.

Moving out of an apartment takes some planning and forethought.  It is important to do your due diligence to ensure that you have everything ready for the day you move.  Take the time to understand your apartment complex’s regulations about moving.  Find out from your leasing or management office or landlord what is expected.  There may be scheduling requirements that you need to consider.  Therefore, you want to contact them as soon as you know you are moving.  This is especially important if parking is limited and/or you have a freight elevator to reserve.  These steps are critical and you do not want to overlook them, especially as you work with your professionals here at Starline.  You need to coordinate schedules between access to your apartment facilities with the date of your move in order to prevent any trouble on that day. Your professionals here at Starline will do their best to be flexible.  If there are any changes, keep in mind to notify your Starline representative as soon as possible.

Don’t forget to coordinate stopping service with your utilities along with your move out date.  Clarify with your utility company what you need to do and give them your forwarding address for your closing statement. 

 Most of you will move your computer as a part of your moving experience.  Even if your personal computer is mobile and you will be taking it with you, you still want to take the time to prepare for the move.  You want to make sure that you back up all of your files on a separate device from your computer.  This is very important in case your computer is lost, damaged or stolen, while you are in transit.  You want to make sure that you have any flash drives, power cords and other accessories that you may need if you plan to take them with you as well.

On the day of the move, mention to your professionals from Starline that you want your wireless equipment packed last.  This will enable you to conduct your business without interruption on the day of the move.  

Another important thing to consider is whether or not you are moving to another country.  Take the time to research whether or not the country has the same type of electrical circuitry.  If not, it will significantly impact the use of your machine.  If you are not careful, it could even harm it.  Therefore, you want to take the time to find out what is available in your new location and how it will impact you and your equipment.  Follow up with a phone call to your computer company to get answers to any questions you may have.

As you prepare for your relocation, taking the time to find the right corporate housing is an important part of your move.  The key to finding the right corporate housing for you and your family is to identify your needs ahead of time.  Start with your length of stay, budget and you and your family’s needs.  This will help you assess the type of facility you will need.

There are all types of accommodation on offer to make life easier while you are on relocation.  If you are going to be in transition for an extended period time, you may want to consider a place that has convenience items like linens, dishes, laundry and kitchen facilities.  This is especially important if you have a family with you.  It will save you money and keep some sense of normalcy during the process because you will be able to eat in and do laundry.  There are places that will accommodate young children.  They have special bunk beds, themed rooms and gaming equipment.  This will help keep your children entertained and give them an opportunity to participate in choosing where to stay.

Taking some time early on will pay dividends in the future.  If you find just the right place, you and your family will have the comforts of home before you move to your new home.

Moving to a small town can be an adjustment, especially if you have grown up in a large city.  A small town will have a quaint feel and a small community.  The lack of the ‘city buzz’ will be the first thing you will notice.  No traffic.  No rush.  No noise.  People you don’t know will greet you without reason.  Their cordialness may surprise you and take you back.  

The one blinking traffic light in the center of town will clue you in to the fact that you are in a small town.  The one main street in town will be the hub of activity.  People will recognize you as the ‘new’ person in town.  As long as you are seen as making an effort, folks will warm up and get to know you. 

It will take some time for you and your family to adjust to the pace and environment of a small town.  From the smell to the noise and the way folks interact, everything will be different.  Even though folks may take some time to fully embrace you within their community, keep in mind that they will be friendly and cordial.  You will have to make the effort to make these connections in order to make the transition.  Take the time to find out about the social activities and events in town.  It may just be a small bar where everyone meets one day a week to socialize.  Once you know what folks have on offer, take full advantage.  It is important to realize that even if you have found yourself in a place that is outside your comfort zone, making the effort to assimilate will make all the difference in the world.

In the hustle and bustle of the move, you may not have medical records on your mind.  However, if you will have to find a new doctor in your new place, it will be important to make the effort.  Making sure that you have access to your records and medical history will make it much easier to find your new doctor. It will also help you educate your new practitioner on your needs and health issues.  

Before you move, you want to discuss this with your current doctor and find out the right protocols for transferring your medical records.  Make sure that you fill out the adequate paperwork ahead of time to allow for the transfer.  This will make it easier for your new doctor to request your medical records and cut down on any delays.  

In addition to taking these steps, a great tool is having your own medical journal.  It is a fabulous resource because it enables you to catalog your own medical history and you can have that to hand when you visit your doctor.  This will help your medical practitioner learn about your medical conditions prior to waiting for your medical records.  This is especially helpful for those, who move frequently or have health issues.

Another thing to keep in mind is your medicine.  This is so important.   You want to make sure that you get all of your medicine refilled and that you have an adequate supply to make your move. You want to have enough medicine to give you a grace period on either end of the move.  This will help you give you time to find a new doctor in your new location.  Take the time to discuss your impending move with your doctor.  This will allow your doctor the time to help you prepare for the move. 

Your professionals at Starline will do their best to ensure safe transport of your goods. Unfortunately, moving does come with inherent risk.  Therefore, taking these steps ahead of time will not only help to mitigate risk but also prepare you for any claim you may need to make.

1. Before you move, take photos of your goods.  This is especially important for high-valued items.  This will allow you to have an electronic catalog of all of your items.
2. Make sure you are adequately insured.  If you have any questions, make sure to ask your professionals here at Starline.  They will be more than happy to help.
3. If you are advised to crate an item, seriously consider it.  If you do not crate it, it will compromise the ability to get your goods from start to finish.  It may also transfer the risk to you.  Therefore, take their advice.  Crating services will be an additional expense.  Do a cost-benefit analysis.  If the cost of crating the item is less than the replacement value of the item, seriously consider doing it.
4. If you are moving appliances, make sure to prepare them for transport.  This is particularly important if you have items like an ice-maker or front-end washer and dryer.  Your ice-maker should be blown out to make sure all the water is drained and your front-end drums should be bolted down for transport.  This is all to prevent damage later.

Even after taking these steps, you may find that unfortunately you may still have a claim.  If so, your professionals here at Starline will do their best to serve you.  Keep in mind, you must submit a claim within 45 days of taking possession of your goods.  For further information, please visit Starline’s claim procedures.

Whether you are moving yourself or your elderly relatives, you will have to weed through all of the things.  As you do that, you may come across a large amount of stuff that may seem like junk.  Given time constraints or frustration, you may be tempted to just throw things away.  However, a word of caution.  Your trash may be someone else’s treasure.  This is especially true if you are helping elderly relatives downsize.  

Depending on the health of your relative, they may be able to help give you the background of some of the items.  If anything is of importance or value, set it aside.  You will also have to be cognizant of how the downsizing with affect them.  There may be a great deal of emotional attachment to some items that clearly can’t follow them.  You will have to navigate between what will have to go and what they can realistically take with them.  

If you have a great deal of items that are old and may have significant value, try to contact someone in your area who can help.  There are folks called ‘pickers’ who will weed through items and buy them to sell and refurbish.  Their expertise in identifying items of value will come in handy.  However, if you are completely overwhelmed with the sheer volume of things and under significant time constraints, you can hire a person who runs estate sales.  They typically take a percentage of the overall sale.  Therefore, it is in their interest to make it successful.  They will also have at their disposal appraisers who can help you value the items so that you get a fair price.  Taking these extra steps will help you or your relative move into a new environment and have some extra cash to help fund care.