Connect With People in Your Area

Never underestimate the wisdom you can gain by talking to someone who already lives in your new city. You’ll be surprised at how many people are happy to take time for a cup of coffee or a 20-minute phone call to share what they’ve learned from moving to a new city and what they love about it.

This is an especially helpful exercise when it comes to helping ease children’s anxieties in a move. “A move to a new city for children can be exciting and frightening, all at the same time,” says Jamie Allen, author of How to Survive a Move: by Hundreds of Happy People Who Did and Some Things to Avoid, From a Few People Who Haven’t Unpacked Yet. A great way to help with the transition is to have your kids talk to their friends about moving or find kids in your new city who they can start an email exchange with.