There is a lot more to buying a new home than mortgages and moving vans. Don't ignore the emotional stress and turmoil. Moving to a new location, giving up friends, making new friends and adapting to a different community and lifestyle can be unsettling. Children, in particular, often need help with the transition.

With very young children it may be best to save the news until just a few days before the move. With older children, it is important that you don't surprise them - give them plenty of notice and be prepared to fully and thoughtfully answer all their questions. Try to give helpful, encouraging answers, talk positively and don't make promises you can't keep. Seek out information about their particular interests in the new location - horseback riding, community sports activities, swimming programs, little theatre, etc. The adjustment period for children may last two or three months, so try to spend as much time as possible with them. Plan family outings on the weekends so you can explore your new community together.

Your Realtor works for you. He or she must know the area and the market well in order to accurately represent your needs and desires. Experience and a strong network of satisfied clients are essential when choosing your Realtor. Skillful negotiation is a must. Most importantly, you should feel comfortable expressing your questions or concerns and confident that your needs are being attended to.

• Obtain a telephone directory from the new location
• Acquire a local street map
• Notify the utility companies as to when to start service in the new location and stop in your present location (most companies need a minimum of five days notice to begin service). There is a list of the companies that service the High River area on the Contacts page of this website.
• Arrange to have phone, cable & internet service hooked up or transferred to your new location
• Verify that you have adequate insurance coverage for all your belongings during your move
• Carry moving company documents, household inventory list and address book with you
• Notify local police if your new home will be vacant for a period of time prior to your arrival
• Transfer memberships (church, clubs, civic organizations, CAA, etc.)

• Check the pilot light on the water heater and furnace
• Check CO2 and smoke detectors
• Have your new address recorded on your driver's license
• Register your children in their new schools
• Select a new doctor, dentist, pediatrician, etc.
• Consider having the locks changed
• Be sure to obtain adequate insurance coverage

• Town of High River (for water, sewer, garbage & town utilities)
• post office
• magazine & newspaper subscriptions
• charge accounts and credit cards
• insurance companies (health/medical, life, auto, homeowner, auto)
• investment companies
• bank
• stockbroker
• family & friends
• organizations & clubs
• gov't

• prepare a household inventory
• get a spare set of keys cut
• obtain schools records, transcripts and list of current academic subjects for children
• obtain medical & pharmacy records (general practitioner, dentist, optometrist, specialists)
• obtain pet medical records
• obtain legal records
• take telephone book from place you are moving