Anyone who has anything to do with relocation... the transferee and family, corporate and relocation service company representatives, etc. -- can profit by reading The Complete Relocation Kit. This how-to book is designed not only to educate the relocation novice, but also to sharpen the skills of those with more experience.

Those relocating for the first time will find invaluable advice and helpful hints about changing homes, jobs and communities. Those who are old hands at relocating -- whether a relocation administrator or a well-seasoned transferee -- will benefit from the book's highly useful charts and checklists that can help keep every relocation organized and on track.

The book is divided into two sections, "The Decision Process" (Should I relocate?) and "the Move" (How do I relocate?). There is also a comprehensive glossary of common relocation terms and an excellent list of resources for additional information. Although The Complete Relocation Kit does not promise to relieve all the anxiety of a relocation, it does offer practical advice based on the authors' 26 years of experience in the relocations industry.

The first section, "The Decision Process" helps the prospective transferee assess important aspects of the potential move, including evaluating the new job, family considerations, and the company's relocation policy. It also suggests methods for addressing the "dual-career couple dilemma". Since most relocations also involve selling a home, this section discusses how to determine the value of a residence (with the help of experts). Finally, it advises the transferee on investigating the new community and gauging the quality of life there.

The second section, "The Move" is useful once the decision has been made. It walks the reader step-by-step through the relocation process, and incorporates valuable hints on choosing a broker to sell the home, putting the home on the market, finding a house in the new community, offering to purchase a new home, finding the best financing and closing on a new home.

As most relocation professionals would agree, the moving process is, at best, a stressful situation, and no manual or book can wipe away the anxiety entirely. With The Complete Relocation Kit on hand, however, most people can sail through a relocation with minimal problems. At the very least, they can be fully prepared and well-informed about what is going to occur. Place this book on the "must-read" list of every family you know that is relocating.

Published: June 24, 1998

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