Finding Your Ideal Place to Live Part 1: Questions to Ask Yourself About Moving

by Maria Marsala

Summary: Part 1: Questions to Ask Yourself About Moving

Are you looking to bridge the gap between where you are living and where you really want to live? How can you make this move practical and enjoyable for yourself? My first suggestion is to write a few lists so that you can "see" your thoughts in writing. This is a practical solution to curb the fears or doubts about a potential decision you are considering. Share your lists with a Coach and a few close friends who support your decision to move and who can give you some suggestions that might help you walk through the fear(s). If you have family members to consider, now is the time to get them involved by asking them to write their own lists. Examples of some list(s) you might want to write are:

1. What is holding you back from moving, include all fears?
2. Why do you want to move? What do you expect to accomplish through this move?
3. Do you want to be near a certain type of church, type of hospital, or support network?
4. What are the things (interests) you enjoy doing that bring a smile to your heart? Find out here WOW List or ask your Coach for a copy of the 100 Smiles Program {tm} Coach U, www.coachu.com.
5. What kind of people do you "generally" want to be around i.e. families, many young children, singles, teens, lots of people, few people, etc?
6. Get very specific on your wants and needs around the areas such as the ocean, lakes, mountains, flatlands, farms, a big metropolitan area, small city, town, the country or somewhere in between. What do you want to see when you look out the window or drive around your new "home-town"? Specific means, is living near the ocean, right on top of it, or 15 minutes away important. OR do you want to live "on" a mountainside, in the valley, or just be able to see the mountain?
7. What type of housing are you looking for? How much can you comfortably afford to spend each month on an apartment or home? How many bedrooms do you need? How much land can you personally take care of, afford to take care of or want to purchase?
8. What are your favorite weather conditions? In addition, what is your least favorite?
9. When are you looking to move? When can you move?
10. How much money do you have set aside for moving costs and set up costs for your new home?

Once you've answered the questions above, you're ready to go to a web site that will help you narrow down your "ideal location". Check out: www.bestplaces.net. Could be, that your ideal location is where you are!

Finding Your Ideal Place to Live Part 2: Connecting with What You Want or Need

by Maria Marsala

Summary: Connecting with what you'll need and want to do when you get ready to move.

Are you getting closer towards bridging the gap between where you are living and where you really want to live? After you think about the glories of moving, do you then experience waves of terror running down your spine? You are not alone! According to "A Quick Stress Test" by International Psychological Services www.eap.com.au, change of residency brings on a stress level of (20) out of a possible (100). Let us not forget a business readjustment (35), new mortgage (31) or retirement (45). So it is easy to see why moving can bring on feelings of excitement and fear --those two "feelings cousins".

Whether or not you have chosen the exact place to live, this top ten will help you narrow down your search and make your move practical and enjoyable. a few good web sites for you to view are: general: www.town-usa.com. country living: http://www.ruralize.com, www.icserv.com/changes/index.html

• Give Yourself a Break
  Move when the time is right for you. Do not set an exact time limit on your move at this point in your journey. Yet, remember to consider things like the school year ending, and moving during "hot weather" or across areas where it snows or ices up during the year. The exact time you will move is the exact time you are supposed to move. When it is time, you will just "do it".
• Clean Sweep ÔStress From Your Life
  When you move, the old saying is so true "wherever you go - there you are". Through Coach U's, Clean Sweep Program www.coachu.com, you can identify four major areas of your life that may be weighting you down; your environment, well being, money and relationships. By bringing your Clean Sweep score up closer to 100 you will remove extra emotional and physical baggage before you make your trip. This program gives you the incentive to sort through your entire home now at your convenience.
• Update Your Credit
  As a result of this suggestion, you'll know exactly what is on your credit report, get a chance to clean it out, while keeping any correspondence for future use. When you move, if you need a credit check for a rental, or mortgage, car etc., you will know what your report will tell them about you. There are 3 major Credit Bureaus; Experian (formerly TRW), TransUnion, and Equifax. Contact all three Bureaus since some lenders will do the same. I suggest that you start with the bureau closest to you and when that report is clean, then request the other two reports. The National Foundation Credit Counseling site contains some helpful information on consumer credit companies.www.nfcc.org.
• Research - Government
  Most states and countries have at least one site. Contact state and local Agencies/Departments as an individual, on behalf of family members, as a business owner, potential job applicant or volunteer. Take the time to let them know about your situation and they'll suggest the rest. Departments to start with are Revenue, Motor Vehicles/Transportation, Insurance Department (health, car, home etc.), Attorney General http://www.naag.org, Employment Security Commission, Small Business Administration www.sba.gov , Education, Banking and least not forget, your "moving packet" from the Post Office http://www.usps.com/all/welcome.htm?from=doorwaybar&page=0019allproducts
• Research - Profit or Non-Profit
  
• Companies such as AAA and in some cases your insurance company
• Chamber of Commerce (County/Town)
• Travel, Visitors or Tourism Center (State, county and town)
• Moving companies - many larger companies are on line and offer you helpful hints about moving.
• Research on the Web
  Check with your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Many full service ISP's such as Prodigy and AOL, have links to regional directories for the area's you are interested in moving. Some other web sites to explore are:, Yahoo's http://dir.yahoo.com/Regional/or Excite's www.excite.com/. Most of these sites have links to regional demography, rental property, real estates, newspapers, etc.
• Get Connected
  
• Join e-mail lists, newsgroups and/or request newsletters. Start your own group or join a group at http://groups.yahoo.com/local/news.html or www.topica.com
• See if you can find the organizations or church you belong to on the web. Contact the local chapter chairperson and find out when meetings/services take place.
• Helpful sites to start with are: www.homefair.com www.town-usa.com
• Keep on Top of Things
  To keep on top of the weather and news, find a multi-purpose site such aswww.excite.com. This page will give you weather and news automatically for whatever areas you are interested in viewing or comparing. Visit the area's local newspaper on line.
• Go on an Adventure
  After you have gathered all the material you can, take a trip to the place(s) you are considering -- an extended trip if possible. Fly, drive, rent a car, live in hostels www.hiayh.org , a retreat center (they may be empty during the week), hotel or stay at someone's home. Consider longer-term rentals such as corporate rentals if you have narrowed your site down to a city/town. Visit the places that are most important to you and your family. Go to Real Estate Agencies. Get a good feel for the area.
• Keep Your Adventure Alive!
  Look through those newspapers, phone books and other literature you have gathered. Narrow down your search! This is a journey, and adventure you're sure to enjoy for a lifetime.

©2007 Maria Marsala, former Wall Street Fortune 200 executive, business strategist, author and speaker. As founder of Elevating Your Business, Maria helps business owners and independent service professionals work smarter and earn more. Learn more and receive free business tools at ElevatingYourBusiness.com

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