When you’re relocating, a checklist can reduce moving stress considerably. In a recent blog post, one author recommended specific items for a checklist.

This article is especially valuable because the author identifies different checklists you need at different stages of the move. I’d add you also need a career planning checklist.

Moving checklist phase 1: Make a master plan. Decide what you will need and what you won’t need. It’s never too early: when you plan ahead, you can sell unwanted items on Craigslist or Amazon, getting cash to offset the investment in your move.

During this phase, round up your important papers and put them in a safe place. You will be asked to show all sorts of identification as well as documents related to your home ownership or lease agreement.

If you are moving for a job, make sure you have a written offer. Get a written clarification of the terms of the offer and of relocation. If your new company pays the move, review exactly what you are being promised. For instance, a relocation signing bonus is not the same as relocation expense reimbursement. These items may be handled differently for tax purposes and may be regulated differently by your new company.

Moving checklist phase 2: Collect phone numbers and URLs. Have a list in one place of the numbers you will need to

– turn on utilities at the new home and turn off utilities in the old home
– change addresses
– be kind to the new resident as well as the environment: Change addresses on all your catalogs (often these changes take up to 3 months to process).

For your job, know exactly where you will go on your first day. Map the directions and if you are driving, it’s not a bad idea to take a test run the day before. It’s easy to make a wrong turn that will cause you to be late on your first day. (I know: I did this once and missed an hour of orientation!)

For additional tips on relocation, visit http://www.RelocationStrategy.com
For career change tips, click here.

Richard Florida introduced the notion of cultural creatives to the world. He tells us that tolerance of diverse population groups – old, young, gays, straights and more – predicts happiness with a community.

Now he introduced a new book, Who’s Your City. The premise of this book is that where you live matters. Most new college graduates choose a place to live almost at random, but your city choice influences your career and life trajectory in a profound way.

True. And you can get a self-help version in my own book, Making the Big Move. I even include suggestions for choosing a place to live. I look at the social side; Florida looks at a more macro perspective, like, “Where will you find financial institutions?” and “Did you know that Chicago has more flight attendants than other cities?”

A reader sent me this question:

Q. I basically want to sell all of my things, pack up the car and move out west with nothing. I am looking for a resource on how to do just that. Most specifically, how to sell my items off to help finance the move. I don’t know if I am just not using the right search terms or if the info is not there. I thought given your expertise on moving, you may be able to point me in the right direction. I thank you for any help you can provide.

A. Try “estate sale professional,” especially if you have valuable items. You could also try “How can I sell my furniture.” OR you can just go to craigslist, if you live in a town with craigslist.

But I wouldn’t urge you to rush to do this. Make sure you have a Plan B and a safety net. More here.