Here are some other things to consider.

1. If you are traveling to your new location by airplane, make sure you CHECK WITH YOUR AIRLINE to determine their requirements. When we moved from Minnesota the airline had a policy that pets could NOT fly in the cargo hold if it was going to be below a certain temperature on the day of the flight (seems to me it was 40 degrees for our airline at the time but this was years ago - in any case it is NEVER that warm in the winter in Minnesota).

NOTE: Airlines will likely require a bill of health from your vet! And if you can't get one (e.g., when we moved to California we had (and still have) a cat who was 20 at the time and there was no way the vet could provide a clean bill of health - this was a major reason for us deciding to drive, plus concern he might not survive the flight. BTW he is still with us 16 months later! Regarding temperature - we were NOT able to fly out of Minnesota with our dogs as planned so at the last minute we had to rent 2 cars and drive overnight to Ohio where we had family (and it was warmer in the winter) so we could fly from there as could the dogs. We also had 2 young girls at the time and lots of household stuff so the 14 hour drive, much of it in the fog, was a real treat!!

2. Also check with the airline about other special requirements (carrier - they all specify different types and sizes of carriers and won't let you fly if you have one that does NOT meet their requirements). Also find out what the airline charges - we spent $60 per dog when we flew back to Boston. Plus we had to buy new carriers that met the airline's size and weight requirements.

4. Be prepared for possible problems and make sure you have a back-up plan, such as contacting friends or family members who can assist with your pet while you transition, e.g., you need to leave them for a period while you leave then come back to get them (we left our dogs with family who later got them into their carriers and to the airport - bless them!);

5. Do some dry runs if you have not traveled with your pet. Obviously you can't fly or take a long trip, but if you are planning to take your pet in your car and have NEVER done so I recommend finding out how they react while in the car - some are frantic and others could care less. I know some people who need to drug their pets for travel so you will need to know about this and talk with your vet. Find out if you should put your pet in a carrier while in the car or not (another story - on the first day of our 7-day car ride to California we had our 2 cats in separate carriers - they yelled for 4 hours. The next day and for the rest of the trip we spread out towels on top of the luggage and let the cats find their way around the car [we had a jeep]. They were pleased to be able to lie where they wanted, be near us, use their litter box, have food and water in the back of the jeep, and EVERYONE was pleased the entire trip...well, mostly. They seemed reassured that they could be near us and we could pat them, although occasionally one would attempt to come up to the front seat).

6. If your trip will be overnight by car, make sure you get some information on where you will be staying and if the hotel accepts pets. Yep, you can lie and sneak them in, but why risk it? We found a huge number of places were pet friendly, although some did charge a small fee.  As an aside, we found that having AAA plan our trip was the best thing we could have done, since we didn't need to worry about the roads we would take and they provided many travel books for free which let us find hotels on the way that were pet friendly in areas where we wanted to be (e.g, on our side trips to the Grand Canyon and to Santa Fe). The other good thing about AAA, if you don't already know, is that your membership gets you great discounts on hotels.

NOTE: I doubt many hotels will give you a problem with the turtle/hamster in a cage routine, but you never know. Snakes may be more of an issue! Cats and dogs seem to meow and bark more when in a hotel which gives away their sneaking in...and most cats feel it necessary to scope out the windows and sit on the sill on the wrong side of the curtain to watch the world go by - sort of gives up the secret.

7. When traveling make sure you have plenty of your pet's food, water bowls, favorite toys, perhaps their favorite towel or bed if they use one, leashes (not OUR cats!), treats, and anything else that you feel will help them feel more at home. This will help in the car, in the hotel, and especially when you get to where you are going. It goes without saying that your pet may act differently when you arrive at your destination, and likely on the trip. Don't be too alarmed, unless they seem to be suffering - not drinking for example. If you are especially concerned you can probably find a vet along the way to take a look to make sure all is OK.

8. At your new home be prepared to have your pet act differently than in their old home - new smells, new surroundings, new noises. It will feel different to you and it will to your pet. I have found that having the pet in a small room for an extended time (hours, perhaps even overnight) such as a bathroom allows them to acclimate a bit at a time instead of being overwhelmed by a whole new house. This is especially true when your furniture arrives (if it is not there when you arrive). Not only do you want to protect your pet from the movers, boxes, and from escaping out the door (movers don't shut doors I have found) but they will likely be freaked out by all the commotion. I know people who have kenneled their pets while they were physically moving in - I generally don't like kennels and haven't done this, but if it works for you...

9. If you have kids you want to make sure you talk with them about the pets and what is going to happen, how you will al travel together, how the pets might feel with the move (nervous, not eating, unfriendly, clingy). They all react differently, but let's face it the kids are transitioning too - more on that in another post - and they will enjoy being part of the family planning for the pet's more to your new home!!

Hope this helps. I know it doesn't cover everything, and as I think of other stuff I will slip it in. Anyone with comments? Other experiences to share? 

 Some other resources are Pets Welcome, Dog Friendly (US and Canadian travel and city guides for all kinds of dogs), and Pet Vacations for more helpful tips and suggestions. Any other great resources you know of?

Is it better to rent first or buy in your new location?!

That's a tough one, and it depends on your personal situation, how you want to live, if you have a house full of pets, your financial concerns, children and schools, etc. I've done it both ways. We rented when we moved from Minneapolis back to Boston; we bought before we moved from Boston to California.

The advantage to renting first is that you can take the time to really get to know the area and decide where you want to look , plus you have time to look more carefully before you buy. Say, for example, renting for 6 months. On a house hunting trip you are limited in time and may have to buy quickly even if you are not ready. I think renting can work if you really don't have time to find and buy a home while you are relocating. It's best, I believe, if it's a conscious decision and not one that is forced on you.

In my opinion, there are some disadvantages - (1) you have to move twice in a short period of time,  (2) you may not have all your furniture and "stuff," (3) finding a rental that takes pets can be a challenge, (4) finding a short term rental can likewise be tough (although perhaps less in this slower market), (5) finding the right rental in the same town where you want to buy so your kids don't have to change schools twice in 1 year may be hard to do, (6) financially it may cost you more since you have to pay the rent plus 1-2 months security and maybe the last month's rent in advance, (7) psychologically and emotionally it can be hard to move to a rental in a new place (and the condition may not be what you are accustomed to).

I can't give you the answer, but am simply suggesting this may be something to ponder, and think about the pros and cons.

Here are a few thoughts on packing stuff yourself, form someone who has done it at least 12 times!

1. One thing to keep in mind - this can save you a fair amount of money with the movers, since they will charge you for packing. So do what you can yourself. But see #2!!

2. Things that YOU pack will likely NOT be covered under the liability insurance provided by the carrier. Make sure you pack WELL, and do not pack things that are better covered under the insurance.

3. Most movers will provide the appropriate boxes and wrapping paper to you in advance (they may deliver to your door). You will be charged for these just as you are for all moving supplies the movers use in their packing. Be sure to ask for all you need and more - they will take back what is not used and you will not be charged for that. Other great sources of boxes include some liquor stores, copy paper boxes from work (great for magazines and books). NOTE - one of the relocation services I provide is to provide recycled moving boxes, bubble wrap and packing paper to my clients (I have tons from my moves and from recycling boxes from my clients who have moved) for FREE. I drop them off and pick them up so if you are in my local area here in San Diego, let me know.

4. Packing stuff early is GREAT for helping to sell your home. You have to move anyway, so why not get all the clutter out of the closets, off the shelves, out from under the beds, out of the garage, etc. The more you can pack away the better your home will look. While it is not the same as staging, if you can de-personalize your home it will show better to buyers and they will be able to think about living there themselves, as opposed to getting distracted by all your personal photos.

5. Label ALL the boxes carefully and thoroughly. We make big blank labels on the computer with information such as ROOM, FLOOR, CONTENTS, etc. Then we tape a blank form on each box and fill in the information as we go. It's amazing how you can forget what is in a particular box, and inevitably you will get to your new home and HAVE to find a particular item before all the unpacking is done, but won't know where to look.

6. Put the labels on the END of the boxes so when they are stacked you can see the labels (putting the label on top defeats the purpose). MARK FRAGILE BOXES on multiple sides using a dark magic marker or similar pen. BTW the boxes you pack will be marked by the mover as PBO (packed by owner) in their inventory.

7. Be generous in use of wrapping paper and bubble wrap. Newspaper is OK but it gets ink all over everything so I advise against it, especially on your glassware and dishes.

8. Pack your paintings or other artwork in the special boxes provided by the mover or let them pack them (again, a liability issue). When packing painting in bubble wrap, it is smart to put several sheets of packing paper (NOT NEWSPAPER) directly on the painting if not under glass before wrapping in bubble wrap - this is important especially if moving in warmer months where moisture can gather under the bubble wrap, which you DON'T want to get on the oil painting itself. Check with the mover on what expensive items should be noted (e.g., they will likely want a list on the day of packing, e.g., items valued at $1500 or more, for insurance purposes).

9. Check on what items CANNOT be packed and moved (e.g., hazardous items such as paints, gasoline, certain cleaning products). also check about plants - moving to some states will prohibit bringing in agricultural products from other states (e.g., California). other states will require the movers to check gardening equipment and outdoor furniture for Gypsy moths, larvae, etc. before packing.

10. Pack a special box for each family member that you carry yourself - toiletries, TP, tissues, bandaids, shampoo, medicines, special toys for kids - and at least one for the kitchen (coffee maker perhaps, coffee and filters, can opener, bottle opener, wine opener for the celebratory bottle when you arrive, and other things you expect you will need right away). Pack pet supplies (food, dishes, leashes) in a separate box and carry with you too. Stuff you forget you can buy when you arrive if the movers are going to be late arriving.