The following steps are recommended to ensure that when it comes time to move to a distant location, the process is smooth and simple. At the end of the day, it is all about research.

First, Get Organized. When moving many miles away it makes sense to organize a list of the key information required before deciding where to live. Important questions that will need to be answered include:

• What is the cost of living? How far will the new money go?
• What is the price of a similar sized house in the new location?
• What is the community like? Crime rates?
• How is the school system?
• What is the noise factor?
• Will this be a good area for my spouse to find work?
• What is the public transportation system like?
• How long will my commute be?

Due Diligence. To learn more about the typical lifestyle of the new town, as well as community events and crime rates, get a few back copies of the local newspaper, or log on to the local paper’s Web site. This third party information, together with what you learn from the local Chamber of Commerce, will give you a sense of the personality of the area.

Use the Internet. For perhaps the biggest decision in the entire process, finding a home, the World Wide Web is an invaluable tool. Web sites such as www.ColdwellBanker.com can provide visitors with an abundance of incredibly useful information. A function like the Home Price Comparison Index on the site will calculate approximately how much a house will be worth in the new market, which as a result will provide insight into the cost of living. Visitors also can find a variety of community and neighborhood information including median age and income, percentages of married couples and children, recent home sales, and a listing of elementary and high schools with demographic information on the schools.

Feet on the Street. When you have a chance to physically visit the new city and have begun working with a real estate sales associate look to see how much new construction and remodeling work is taking place. This will tell you whether the neighborhood is popular, and whether current residents plan to stay. Also, have the sales associate take you through the neighborhood “after hours.” See what the neighborhood looks like when all have returned from work and school.

Small Talk. If possible, try to have a few conversations with the “locals” near a prospective home. More than anyone, they have their fingers on the pulse of the neighborhood and the community at large.

Work With Your Employer. Make it clear to your new employer that your spouse now will be in need of a job. The company likely will have relationships with relocation experts and executive recruitment firms to help in the spousal job search process.