Relocation Information Blog

Asking Friends for Help

Admin — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:24:27 +0000

When relocating, the costs of moving can be very high. One way to offset these costs is to ask friends and family for help. Having a few extra people to help pack, load, and unload a moving truck can save hundreds of dollars in labor. While asking for help is not always the easiest thing to do, chances are you have helped other people move before, so asking to return the favor is not that hard.

After you assemble a few friends to help you move, assign tasks so everyone has a job to do. This will make the process along and allow people to work on more than one task at a time if necessary. When friends and family are done helping, you should thank them by buying them lunch, dinner, or something else that shows your gratitude for helping.

Which Rooms to Pack First

Admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 22:37:36 +0000

When packing, you need to develop a plan so you can utilize your time wisely. Begin packing up rooms that are the least used. This could be a guestroom, office, basement, or attic. After tackling these rooms, then you should move on to bedrooms, closets, and other living areas. If have large furniture to move, you should leave it until the movers come.

The rooms you should pack last are the bathrooms and the kitchen. This is because these rooms have everyday items that you may need. You can remove extra towels, decorations, and equipment you may not need, but wait until your moving day to pack the essentials.

After packing, you should go through each room in your home to see if you missed anything. The same goes for closets, crawlspaces, and cabinets to make sure you didn’t forget any items.

Transporting Your Car

Admin — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 03:11:06 +0000

Depending on the length of your move, you may need to have your car transported on a truck by a moving company. But before you hand your car over, you should take pictures of it from different angles, note any dents, scratches, and other markings, and remove all belongings from the car. Usually the car will be inspected by an agent before it will be allowed to be transported.

The amount of time it takes to move a car from one location to another depends on the weather and the distance. When your car arrives, you may need to pick it up at one of the car transport company’s offices. Go over the car again to make sure there are no new dents or scratches. File a claim with the company and your insurance company if you see any significant damage to the vehicle.

Getting Pets Ready for a Move

Admin — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 17:16:35 +0000

If you have lived in your current home for most of your pet’s lives, they may be very attached to it and will not be eager to move. Buying pet crates is the best way to contain pets while on the road. You can use the ones you have already, or you can buy larger versions for cross-country moves. Most pets will be a little moody after a long trip, so be sure to have plenty of food and water available when you arrive.

At first, your pet may be anxious about leaving the crate and exploring. Let your pet explore your new home when it is ready. Once pets begin, they will want to find every corner in the home in order to claim their territory. Resume your regular feeding, grooming, and walking routine after a day or so. Your pet will need the structure.

Selling Unwanted Items

Admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 01:40:12 +0000

A great way to move with less is to hold a yard sale. Selling unwanted items provides additional cash you can put toward your move and other bills. When you get ready to start packing, place items into three piles: stuff you are taking with you, stuff to throw away or donate, and stuff to sell.

Depending on the time of year you plan on moving, weekends are the best time to hold a yard sale. If moving during the summertime, plan your yard sale in the morning hours when it is not as hot. There will be many people out looking for a bargain between the hours of 9am and Noon. Items you don’t sell can be sold the following weekend or they can be donated to local charities.

In addition earning some extra cash from a yard sale, you can also ask for a receipt for any items you donated and earn tax credits.

Going to Rent A Truck, How Big?

Admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:34:22 +0000

Which Truck to Rent?

Many people are confused when renting a moving truck. Because they are unsure how much stuff they have, people who are moving usually rent a truck that is too big. This can end up costing them a lot more money than they would have had to spend. Also, larger trucks are more difficult to drive than smaller ones. So, if plan on moving yourself, keep this in mind.

Most moving companies have comparison charts for you to read that can help you choose the right truck. Depending on the rooms in your home or apartment, most people do not need as large a truck as they think. After going through their stuff and disposing of broken items, trash, and unwanted items, many people realize they do not have as much as they originally thought. Since smaller trucks cost less to rent, most people are relieved when they realize the size truck they actually need.

Moving Yourself Or Hiring a Moving Company

Admin — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:30:39 +0000

Depending on your moving budget, you may want to save the cost of hiring a moving company by packing, loading, driving, and unloading stuff yourself. While this may take a few extra days, you can save a lot of money in hiring movers and drivers.

One way to make this easier is to ask for help from family and friends. Usually someone will have some spare time to help. If not, you may have to plan your move more carefully in order to have enough time.

Hiring a moving company does have its advantages, however. By hiring movers, you will not have to work as hard moving heavy furniture, boxes, and other items. If you need to start your new job right away, you can instruct the movers what to do and expect your stuff to arrive within a few days of the planned move date.

Radon : Should You Be A Concern When Purchasing a Home

Admin — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 17:10:22 +0000

Radon is a cancer-causing natural radioactive gas that you can’t see, smell or taste. Its presence in your home can pose a danger to your family’s health. Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. Learn how you can protect your family.
Exposure to Radon Causes Lung Cancer In Non-smokers and Smokers Alike
Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. The untimely deaths of Peter Jennings and Dana Reeve have raised public awareness about lung cancer, especially among people who have never smoked. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of lung cancer. Although lung cancer can be treated, the survival rate is one of the lowest for those with cancer. From the time of diagnosis, between 11 and 15 percent of those afflicted will live beyond five years, depending upon demographic factors. In many cases lung cancer can be prevented; this is especially true for radon.

All homes should test for radon, regardless of geographic location or zone designation

There are many thousands of individual homes with elevated radon levels in Zone 2 and 3. Elevated levels can be found in Zone 2 and Zone 3 counties.

The EPA has a map of Radon Zones, See www.epa.gov/iaq/whereyoulive.html and click on your state for contact information.

All users of the map should carefully review the map documentation for information on within-county variations in radon potential and supplement the map with locally available information before making any decisions.

The map is not to be used in lieu of testing during real estate transactions.
Note: Consult with your state’s radon coordinator for current information about radon in your area.

Before You Buy A New Home - Do Your EPA Homework

Admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 17:58:37 +0000

When researching houses for sale, one thing that is over looked is EPA hazards and reports. you can search prospective communities through this handy EPA web site. You can find information on, pollution, hazardous waste sites, and other regulatory information, Environmental conditions and activities in watersheds throughout the United States, “Live” and customizable computer-generated maps of regulated sites throughout the United States, Ultraviolet (UV) Index Forecast,
a daily forecast of the expected intensity of Ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

The Dangers of Overfilling Boxes

Admin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 14:12:27 +0000

During your move, you will be tempted to overfill boxes, crates, and other containers in order to get everything packed and ready to go. But overfilling boxes can be hazardous to you, those who are lifting the boxes, and to the items themselves.

To avoid overfilling boxes, wrap and place items in the box one at a time. Layering dishes and glassware will allow you to fit more inside. Periodically, check the weight of the box. If you are having trouble lifting it, then it has too much stuff inside. Just because you can fit more items into the box doesn’t mean you should.

This is especially true of books, computer equipment, and other items that seem to weigh less before they are packed into a box. After the box is full, place newspaper or bubble wrap over the items and seal the box with packing tape.