Posts Tagged ‘Relocation Services’

Relocating to U.S. Territories

Thursday, February 16th, 2012

The United States constitutes a lot of land on the planet Earth, but not all of that land is incorporated into the nation as a state. There are many territories throughout the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean that are considered U.S. territories, but have never been granted statehood. Some are large organized and incorporated territories like the islands of Puerto Rico and Guam, while others are small and unorganized like the Midway Islands or the Johnston Atoll east of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s not possible to move to many of these places because they are protected wildlife refuges or used by the department of defense. Large territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, however, have quite large populations that people move to all of the time.

While islands like Guam and Puerto Rico are territories of the United States, they have slightly different rules and regulations when it comes to moving and living there. It’s a great idea to visit Puerto Rico’s website to find out about any special paperwork you need for transporting your household goods there. Most things in Puerto Rico are exactly the same at the federal level as they are in the continental states, but local laws can vary a lot. If you’re planning on working there, it’s essential that you research the local economy and find out what skills and connections you need to find a job to help support you and your family. Moving to Puerto Rico or Guam can be very exciting, so do your proper research before moving to make sure your move is successful.

Overcoming the Challenges of Moving

Wednesday, December 14th, 2011

Even though going through a complicated domestic or international relocation can be difficult, there are tons of tools and services out there to help you get through your move in the easiest and quickest way possible. One of the most effective services you can get is through a global relocation service. This type of company can plan the transportation of your household goods from door to door, across oceans, large continents, anywhere you need your stuff to go. They can set up all of the complicated transactions that would make your head spin

Even though a relocation service can help you set up the move of your household goods from door to door, you still need to take care of packing your goods in boxes and making sure all of your valuables are secure. The best way to do this is to make sure that all of your important items are packed properly in the right containers and with the right packing material. Bubble wrap and packing peanuts are the favorite of shipping companies around the world, but you can also use everyday household items like newspapers to create cushion and spacing between items.

After everything is packed securely, a global relocation service can arrange the shipment of all of your household items in a safe and efficient way. When you use a relocation service, you can be assured that your household items are going to reach your destination quickly and safely because they have the expertise and knowledge to arrange all sorts of different transportation methods to get your goods where they need to go. There’s no need to go through all the hassle of arranging shipments when you can let the experts handle it for you.

Getting Supplies for Your Domestic Move

Wednesday, December 7th, 2011

Anybody who is planning on moving finds out eventually that they don’t have all the supplies they need to go through with their domestic move. The list of needed items can sometimes seem a little expensive: boxes, tape, labels, padding and a variety of other tools used to keeping your stuff safe and secure during a move. Many people choose to go the retail route when getting supplies for their domestic move, such as going to any retail outlet and purchasing brand new supplies at high prices.

Purchasing brand new boxes can be an unnecessary expense. The first thing you should do is find out if it is possible to get boxes from your place of employment. Most companies that do any kind of shipping or receiving will be getting rid of lots of cardboard boxes on a daily basis. Don’t be afraid to go to the shipping department and ask for a few boxes for your move; the shipping people are used to it. You can save lots of money by getting slightly used boxes from work or friends and family that have recently moved.

A long term cheaper option for people who relocate household goods often is to get a collection of plastic bins. Regular cardboard boxes have a life of maybe one or two moves, while good plastic bins are virtually indestructible and can last a very long time. This option may not be great for people planning on moving only once or twice in their lives, but for people who find themselves moving somewhat often the initial investment will payoff in the long run. Plastic bins aren’t even that much more expensive than boxes, and may even be cheaper depending on whether or not they are on sale and where you buy them.

Safety Hazards When Moving

Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

Most jobs done during a move are completely harmless, but occasionally you will have to take on a job that will require heavy lifting or moving that can cause injury if not done correctly. There’s nothing that says you have to take on a job like this, as you can consult with a relocation service to set up movers for you, but if you do decide to take on the job yourself, it’s important to properly observe all safety cautions so that you reduce and chance of getting injured. Moving is already stressful enough as it is. There’s no reason to make it unsafe as well.

Proper lifting techniques start and end with the legs. It’s important to remember that when you bend lift things you should be bending at the knees instead of at the waist. This will ensure that the energy in your body used for lifting comes from the big muscles in your legs instead of the much weaker muscles in the lower back. This technique will provide for much greater lifting power and less risk for injury. You may also want to consider using a lifting belt to help ensure proper technique.

Keeping safe during moving also involves using all the tools available to help make the job easier. These items include, but are certainly not limited to dollies, carts, rubber stoppers and jacks. It also requires the use of assistance from friends or neighbors for heavy items that have the potential to cause serious injury. One of the best ways to eliminate the chance of injury is to leave the work to the professionals. A global relocation service can set it up so that movers can take care of the relocation of your household good all the way from origin to destination.

The Moving Checklist Part Two

Saturday, November 26th, 2011

Our last post was a checklist for moving from six weeks to two weeks out. This time we will go through the steps that will help you with your move all the way up until delivery day.

One Week before Moving Day

  • Ensure that you have enough prescription drugs to last you for at least a month. You don’t know the next time you’ll be able to get some.
  • Begin packing your traveling clothes and fill a suitcase with everything you may need for the trip.

Two Days before Moving

  • Empty the fridge and defrost the freezer
  • If you’ve hired packers, start to clearly label the fragile items
  • Aim to have all the packing done by today if you’re packing yourself
  • Go through everything in the house to make sure nothing gets left behind

Moving Day

  • Go through a final walkthrough of the house and ensure that all lights are off, electricity is off, gas is off, doors and windows are locked.
  • Supervise the movers closely when they arrive
  • Make sure that the  driver has the correct address
  • Read the Order of Service and Bill of Lading carefully before signing.

The Moving Checklist Part One

Thursday, November 24th, 2011

This is part one of our moving checklist guide that will help guide you through the steps of going through with a stress free and painless domestic move. This first part will go through the steps you can take a week or more before the moving trucks arrive at your door.

Eight Weeks before Moving Day

  • Decide whether you are going to do your own packing or hire someone else to do it
  • Arrange to have your kid’s school records transferred
  • Go through all of your stuff and decide what to keep and what to  get rid of

Six Weeks before Moving Day

  • Start going through and consuming all your perishable foods.
  • Create a folder or file with all moving related paperwork inside.
  • Notify gas providers, water service, family, attorneys and anyone else that would need to know that you are moving and give them your new address.
  • Begin packing the least used items in the house, label carefully
  • Arrange for the transfer of your medical records
  • Complete the change of address form through the post office

Two Weeks before Moving

  • Remove any valuables stored in safe deposit boxes
  • Packing should be about 75% complete by this point
  • Obtain large moving labels or clear markings for boxes and containers
  • Notify your employer of your move and any time you may need off if applicable
  • Purchase traveling gear for pets if you need it
  • If you have house plants and are moving out of state, plan to give them to friends or neighbors.

Some Facts to Keep in Mind When Moving

Friday, November 18th, 2011

The facts surrounding the moving industry can be a bit disheartening, but by examining some common misconceptions and potential pitfalls you can avoid a lot of the bad circumstances that trouble so many movers. Many problems arise from erroneous quotes given by movers. Most relocations end up costing more than double the original amount quoted. Many moving companies mislead consumers so much on claims that the customer ends up dropping it.

When it comes to insurance, Federal law mandates a minimum relocation insurance of 60 cents per pound per item on interstate relocations. Minimum covereage for local relocations can be half this amount.  Make sure to take these insurance prices into account when calculating risk during a move. Federal law also prohibits the practice of holding goods hostage to extort bigger payments from their customers.

As far as finding a good relocation service to help with your move, there are a few things to keep in mind. Check with the BBB itself to investigate claims made from companies that claim to be in good standing with the Bureau as they can sometimes be a lie. Most relocations involve hidden fees usually assessed after all your things are moved onto the truck. You can become less vulnerable to these problems is you familiarize yourself with common business practices of shady moving companies.

A Guide to Hiring Movers

Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

Hiring movers may seem like a somewhat trivial task, but it’s important to hire people who you can trust to handle your most important valuables and get them where you need them to go. Evaluating whether or not a mover is trustworthy may not be readily apparent, but can be accomplished through several different methods. This involves doing research online, asking around, checking certifications and getting a general feel for how the company operates. However you decide to make the final decision on a mover, make sure you have as much information as possible

One of the most reliable ways to hiring a good moving company is to get recommendations from friends. This will provide you with a detailed experience of how the company operates and whether or not they can fit to your needs. Make sure to ask any friend that gives you a recommendation plenty of questions about what the company is willing and not willing to do and how well they do it. It’s a good idea to supplement any recommendation you get with outsider reviews and evaluation.

Always have more than one option available before making your final decision. This will allow you to compare and contrast movers based on a variety of factors: price estimates, online reviews, services offered, reputation, BBB status and any other factors that you might feel are important. It’s a good idea to narrow down your choices to between 3 and 4 companies before going through with the final decision. Relocation services will typically offer a much wider variety of services than a typical moving company, including vehicle transportation and international moving services.

Finding a Job after Your Move

Friday, November 11th, 2011

It’s always a good idea to have a job ready for any new location you’re moving to. Having a ready source of income for your new home is both a reliever of stress and one less thing to worry about when going through the process of relocation. If you don’t have a job ready and waiting, however, there are some things you can do to get the process of finding employment rolling before you begin your domestic relocation and arrive at your new home.

First, scan jobs around the area of your new home through any of the number of job search engine websites out there today. Put in applications for anything that looks interesting and make sure to put in the address of your new home so that businesses know you will be a local candidate. You can start this process months ahead of time, as it sometimes takes companies quite a while to sift through applications and pick out candidates eligible for a first interview. If you get a call for an interview, schedule it for a soon as possible after you arrive.

If you still haven’t been able to land any good prospects for employment by the time you finish your move, take the opportunity of settling in to the neighborhood by making contacts and establishing a personal network in the community. It’s fairly common knowledge that networking is the easiest way to get a job.  Talk to neighbors, store owners, employees and anyone else near your new home that may know of job openings. You’ll not only be able to find valuable contacts for the business world, but you might make some long term friends as well.

Save Money on Moving with Tax Deductions

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Moving can be very expensive, but thankfully the IRS wants to help you out with some very valuable tax deductions for moving expenses. In order to  be eligible for these savings, however, your domestic relocation must be related to your employment, you must move a certain distance away from your old home, and you must stay at your new job for a certain amount of time. If you fit within these criteria, then you can take advantage of the tax savings offered by the IRS.

The distance test for determining eligibility is slightly confusing, so here is a breakdown. Your new place of employment must be 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job location was from your old home. For example, if your old job is 20 miles away from your old home, your new job must be at least 70 miles away in order for you to qualify for tax deductions if you relocate. A similar eligibility test is given for time. First, you must start a new job within 12 months after your domestic relocation. The second test is that you must maintain full time employment for at least 39 weeks within the first 12 months after your move.

Taking advantage of deductions will require that you keep all applicable receipts related to your relocation. The costs related to deductions are costs spent moving household goods (with professional movers or self-service),  storage costs, insurance fees, utility connections and disconnections, auto transport costs and certain travel and lodging expenses associated with the relocation. A full list of potential deductions is on IRS Publication 521.