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.

Unpacking is a challenge and adding your kids to the mix can make life complicated.  However, there are several things you can do to help keep them occupied.  Once the boxes are delivered, the fun begins.  Your movers will put your beds together and if you have chosen to have your things unpacked, your movers will begin and start to put your things where you need them.

If your children are old enough to communicate, you could have them stay in their rooms and help give guidance to the movers, who are unpacking.  If you are unpacking yourself, you can have your child start to unpack their room.  You will have to help by giving them some guidance and opening the boxes.  However, they will be glad to take ownership of the task.  It will give them some control and feel empowered.

Once they have helped with that task, see if you can find other tasks that are age appropriate that will give them an opportunity to help without causing you major rework later.  If you outline these tasks and reward them, it will work in your favor.  They can put packing materials away and help breakdown boxes.  They can help you unpack other rooms in the house that you feel they can do.  They can also help wipe out drawers and lay shelf liner.

Keep in mind that your child is not going to be as motivated as you, so they may take a great deal of breaks.  You can come up with activities they can do to burn steam.  This way you will not be interrupted as much while you are busy unpacking.  If you have an outdoor space for them to play take full advantage.  Further, you may want to make it a priority to unpack their favorite activities so that they can occupy themselves with their new found items.  It is a fine balance and taking the time for your kids will make all the difference with their transition. 

Moving important documents require some preparation.  As you prepare for your move, you will have to take the time to weed through your important documents, which include your tax documentation.  Before you start to shred things, keep in mind that the Canada Revenue Agency suggests that you keep your tax documents for six years.  These include your receipts and other supporting documentation.  For further information, please visit the Canada Revenue Agency website. 

If you are worried about moving all of this paperwork, consider scanning them electronically.  This will allow you to transport a great deal of documents on a small memory disk, CD, portable hard drive or on your laptop computer.  It is so efficient because you can move a great deal of information in a very small space.  You could even take it with you. 

Also, you want to consider scanning other important documents like copies of birth certificates, wills, government identification and passports.  It is very important to have backup copies of these documents in case they are lost or destroyed.  Also, having an electronic copy to hand will help you to have easy access to this information quickly.  Keep in mind that even if you do not have the equipment to hand to scan these documents, there are companies that offer access to these machines at a low cost so that you can still do it.  Therefore, you want to start the process early so that you have enough time to complete the task.

Keeping your kids busy during a move is so important for both you and them.  When the kids are busy, you can be more productive and it will alleviate frustration for the both of you.  Therefore, you want to include them in finding activities and games they can do while you pack, move and settle into your new location.  

Start with taking them to a store and give them a budget.  With your help, have them pick out several things from activity books, movies, electronic games and toys.  Be selective to ensure they pick out things with longevity.  Also, have them pick out a journal.  This is so important because they will be able to catalog their feelings and experiences during the process and note contact details for their friends and family.  

While you are packing, have your child pack a special bag that contains things that they find comforting, plus all of the new activities they have chosen on the shopping trip.  If you have older children, have them set aside their clothes and toiletries for the journey.  Keeping them engaged during the process helps them feel included and retain some control.

When the movers arrive, arrange to have a sitter watch them or take them to the park.  Consider having your child spend time with a close friend or relative.  This allows them to get as much out of the last few days as they can.  It will be harder to keep them occupied in your new location because you will be leaving your support network behind.

Do some research ahead of time to find things to do for your kiddos in your new location.  Scope out the parks and activities.  Look to see if your new parks and recreation department offers activities for children in the summer.  Tiring them out during the day will help you get your things done at night.  If they are old enough, you can have them help by setting up their rooms and unpack.  If they are still babies or toddlers, you will have your work cut out for you.  Consider having access to a play pen or gate for their safety.  It is hard to contain little ones while you unpack but is important for their safety.  Therefore, take the time to have a special place for them before your begin.  

Moving with children can be an adventure.  Remember that you set the tone for the move and the more excited and positive you are, they will be.

Top five countries that Albertans plan to move

Starline Overseas Moving  listed their top destination countires for Albertans emigrating from Canada. In 2011. As can be expected, English speaking  Commonweatlth countires topped the list, with the United Kingdom and the Australia being the first choice with close to 700 families planning a move. The USA ranked third with 232 moves and surprisingly, Germany with 210 families.  New Zealand ranked fifth with 149 move enquiries.

Source:  Starline Overseas Moving

For further information contact Don Kachur 780-451-0123

Your first corporate relocation is a wonderful opportunity as a professional and an exciting time to expand your perspective and experience.  Once you have been offered this opportunity, you want to take the time to educate yourself on your employers relocation policies and procedures. This is so important because it will directly have an impact on your budget.  Depending on your position and reason for the relocation, your employer may cover limited relocation costs.  Therefore, educating yourself ahead of time will prevent any misunderstanding and confusion.  

Time is of the essence in the midst of a corporate relocation.  Planning will go a long way in making the most of your limited time.  

If you have any questions, your professionals here at Starline will be happy to help you understand your relocation benefits as it relates to moving your goods.  If there are questions that need further clarification, we will do our best to get you the answers you need or refer to you someone who can.  It is important to make sure you have a list of all of your contacts regarding your relocation in one place.  This will prove to be a valuable resource in the event you need to speak to someone right away.

If you are in need of a storage facility when you move or after you move in, understand your options.  Take the time to do your due diligence and learn what will work best for you and your things.  Here are a few questions to ask to help you make the right selection.

1. Experience.  When looking for storage facilities, you want to understand their longevity and reputation.  You also what to know if they are a stand alone operation or a part of a larger corporation.  Also, check with professional organizations and the Better Business Bureau to see if the company is in good standing.
2. Facility. Take the time to evaluate the facility to see if it will meet your storage needs.  Make sure that it has the size requirements and climate controls you may need.
3. Insurance.  Ask the proprietor about insurance and what is covered and what you will have to insure.  This is important in order to protect your things.
4. Policies and Procedures.  You also want to understand what are their policies and procedures in the event of damage or trouble.
5. Access and Availability.  You want to know the accessibility and availability of the storage facility.  Many allow you extended hours to access your things.  Just confirm this so that you know your options and how to get in the facility.  Also, you should ask about security to see if they have taken measures to monitor it at all hours of the day.

If you are moving and planning to rent, there are several things to keep in mind.  This is especially true if you moving with an international assignment.  First, you need to familiarize yourself with your rental agreement or lease.  Understand what your landlord expects of you and your responsibilities.  This even includes taking possession of your property, when you move in.  You should also clarify what is and is not included in your lease.  Different countries have different requirements on both sides of the transaction, so educating yourself will pay dividends in the future.  If you are fortunate enough to have access to a professional who can help you, take full advantage of their advice.  They will be able to educate you on what is standard business practices in that country.

If you do not have access to this type of professional or cannot afford one, ask your new work colleagues and friends to help you.  Asking for advice will go a long way.  It is worth the time to ask and get clarification until you understand to prevent anything that could be lost in translation.  This is an important element to prevent additional or unforeseen costs.  You want to make sure you have a clear understanding, which will help you and your landlord agree to terms that are amicable to both of you.