Divorce is never easy for anyone. But it can be particularly difficult for children. In the long term, divorce can actually benefit children more than parents staying in an unhappy marriage would. Although many couples remain together in order to prevent their children from experiencing the apparent trauma associated with divorce, in reality, the toxicity of living with unhappy parents can affect children even more negatively. They may not fully recognize the benefits of their parents’ divorce while they are young, but they can grow up and eventually understand that their parents made the best decisions for their family. But this doesn’t stop parents from experiencing some difficulties as they adjust to the realities of raising children while divorced.

Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of raising children post-divorce is moving with them. Parents may do their best to avoid moving and to stay in close proximity to each other after a divorce. Of course, some parents also purposefully chose to move following a divorce in order to have space from their ex-spouse. Without children, this would be fairly straightforward. But divorced parents must stay within contact with each other as long as their children are minors, even if they are not required to live in close proximity.

Parents may need to move to new areas for new job opportunities, however. They may also move to be with new partners or to live in areas with better school districts. No matter what your reasons may be for moving as a parent following your divorce, there is much that you need to consider. Let’s explore what you should know before you attempt to move as a divorced parent.

1. Know Your Laws

Divorced parents are not able to simply move when they wish without thinking about their ex-spouses; there are laws in place to protect both parents, though they vary depending on the state in which you live. It is one thing if you are moving a mere hour away from your ex. It is another issue entirely if you are moving far from them. Both custodial and non-custodial parents need to be aware of the laws in their states. While custodial parents cannot simply take their children with them wherever they please, non-custodial parents cannot assume that their visitation rights will remain intact if they move far away and expect the custodial parent to bring the children to see them.

Some states address this by requiring that custodial parents moving must inform the non-custodial parent about their move in writing. This gives the non-custodial parent the right to object to the move and bring the matter to court. Other states are more relaxed regarding moving, and you may not need to do much at all prior to moving. If you are the custodial parent, however, you should think about how your move will affect your children’s relationship with their non-custodial parent. Typically, children will spend 277 days out of the year with their custodial parent. If your move will result in your child spending even less time with their non-custodial parent, you should evaluate your decisions carefully.

You should also look over your custody agreement again. Many lawyers ensure that there are provisions regarding moves in the custody agreements that they draw up for their clients. Your move may well be in violation of your current custody agreement. This means that, even if both parents consent to the move, you should have your custody agreement revised to reflect the new terms. The last thing you want is to be held in contempt of court because you did not follow the rules regarding your custody agreement.

2. Change Your Co-Parenting Strategies

If you and your ex are both involved in parenting the children and will now be living far apart from each other, you need to develop new co-parenting strategies. Even if you’ve been successfully co-parenting with your ex for years, your move may very well change the way that the two of you approach co-parenting. Changes to visitation should be addressed early; if you’re the parent that is moving, you may need to compensate your co-parent for part of their travel expenses.

Additionally, you want your child to be aware that their non-custodial parent is still a present parent that needs to be respected, even if they live far away. Therefore, you and your ex should become comfortable with addressing new rules and talking to your kids together through technology like Zoom or Facetime. Additionally, regularly scheduled chats aside from the calls and texts your child may share casually with their parent throughout the day will ideally help them all feel more connected.

3. Focus On Making The Kids Comfortable

Your kids may feel uncomfortable or even scared when they move, especially if they’re leaving their non-custodial parent behind. You need to focus on making them feel at home as quickly as possible. Transport old routines, like walking the dog, to your new neighborhood. Furnish your new home as quickly as possible, paying special attention to your children’s bedrooms.

This can all be challenging, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer, as 25% of Florida buyers were in 2019. But try not to get preoccupied with your new house before your children settle in. Get them involved in extracurricular activities that will have them making new friends as quickly as possible. This can help combat the emotional turmoil that can come with moving.

4. Be Patient

Your children may blame you for your move. Even if your move is legally allowed, your ex may also be angry at first. But if you truly believe that your move was the right decision for the whole family, all you can do is be patient and wait out the anger. Listen and understand without wavering.

Most of the time, families are able to adjust to these types of moves and continue on. But you need to be understanding of the fact that there will likely be some aches and pains, even emotionally, that come with moving after a divorce. So be ready for challenges, but push ahead with confidence and knowledge.

Whether you are a homeowner who plans on living in your home for a while longer, who plans to sell, or who wants to rent the house to tenants, there are several ways to increase your home’s value, especially if you are on a budget. A JLL study found that spending on tenant improvements rose 10% in 2017 and 13% in 2018. If you plan on renting, find ways to improve the home before tenants move in. This plan will save you money in the long run because you won’t constantly be making fixes. Instead, do it all at once, and complete projects that will last a long time. While it does cost some money to keep a house looking nice to increase its value, it doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some ways to improve your home’s value on a budget.

Deep Clean the House

First, start by deep cleaning the house. This includes sweeping, mopping, dusting, vacuuming, washing carpets, and utilizing cleaning sprays and detergents to clean every accessible nook and cranny of the home. This is definitely a task you can accomplish on your own, or you can bring in some help. In addition, deep cleaning can accompany new organization in the house. If you live in the home yourself, be sure all of your possessions have a place in your house. You may consider adding more storage space, like a pantry or shelves. Prospective buyers or renters will certainly seek as much storage and organizational space as possible.

The median sales price of a non-distressed home was $216,000, while the median sales price of a foreclosure home was $155,000, or 28% lower than non-distressed home sales. By deep cleaning your house, you are starting the process of increasing its value and getting it to a higher price when it comes time to sell it in the near – or far – future.

Add A Fresh Layer of Paint

Whether you like the colors of your walls in your home or not, consider adding a fresh layer of paint. You can go over the colors you already have, or you can use this opportunity to find a new color scheme. Neutral tones, such as light grey, eggshell, white, or soft peach, look nice to prospective buyers or tenants. A new layer of paint looks polished and will make your house feel new – even if it’s not.

Update Your Floors

An update to your home’s flooring is a widely sought after home improvement task because it can transform the look of a home from drab to polished. Even if it is cleaned frequently, old carpeting can look unkempt simply because of wear and tear as well as age. Therefore, consider replacing older carpet with new carpet or with hardwood flooring.

Before you do anything to your flooring, first check if you have hardwood floors hiding underneath your carpeting. If they’re still in good shape, you can restore that flooring instead of worrying about replacing them. However, if that is not an option for you, and if you want to add hardwood flooring to your house, this project can certainly be done yourself with the proper research, materials, and plenty of patience. Hardwood flooring, especially if it is new, may draw in buyers or renters, as it is often a feature many people seek in a home. By doing this yourself, potential buyers will also be relieved it’s not a project they will have to tackle themselves after they move in.

Replace Old Doors

The 2019 season yielded 18 named storms, six of which became hurricanes, including three major ones Category 3 or higher, with maximum sustained winds of at least 111 mph. If you are located in an area that encounters tropical storms and the damage they can cause, be sure to fix up any areas of your home that have been affected or damaged. This may include replacing old or damaged exterior doors.

Since the front of the house is what prospective buyers or renters see first, be sure the exterior doors – including the garage door – look inviting. This project doesn’t have to be expensive. If replacing an exterior door can’t be done entirely yourself and the project is not in your budget, you can rejuvenate any exterior doors with a deep wash and a fresh layer of paint. You can re-stain doors yourself to save money, too. You can do the same with your garage door, or consider replacing it with something more modern and polished.

Whether you just bought a house and plan on renting it to tenants or you want to sell your house in the near or distant future, completing some budget-friendly home renovation projects can increase your home’s value more than you think. Think about what you’d want in a house you would buy and go from there. Not only can it be simple and cost-effective, but you will thank yourself when prospective buyers or tenants are interested down the road.