Moving on a Budget – Finding Cheap Ways to Move

Posted on March 14, 2013 by Guest

Relocating your home or office is usually a non-optional task. Many who move are doing so because they are forced to. Whether it be because of a career change, downsize, or other reasons, it may be in your best interest to move for as cheap as possible.

There are a few parts of the relocation process where you can save big and a few that you just have to deal with. Here are a few areas where you can save money during your move.

Packing Materials

Many moving companies will sell their boxes to the customers and they are not cheap. Movers will charge anywhere from $1 to $10 depending on the box, and by the end of the move you realize that the best packing materials to use when moving can cost hundreds.

A good place to go (besides using dirty, broken grocery store boxes) for inexpensive boxes or packing materials is Lowe’s or Home Depot. They recently added a moving section to their stores and are quite reasonable with the prices. Another great place to look is Craigslist by simply searching for “boxes” in the search box of your city. You can also look for others who are moving into you neighborhood and see if you can buy their boxes for a discounted price. Ask your movers if they will rent used boxes. Some movers will do this for a small deposit.

Other materials such as tape and packing paper are cheap enough as is but if you are really on a budget then you can bargain for such items with the movers in exchange for your business.

Get a Head Start on the Move

When moving on a budget you can easily save a lot of money by moving and packing certain items yourself. This usually pertains to local moves. Since local movers charge by the hour, any packing or moving you can complete ahead of time will certainly save money. Leave only items such as dressers, beds, sofas, tables, large appliances etc. Any part of the move that can be done yourself, you should take advantage of the opportunity to save money.

If you are moving long distance, then you can save money by selling some items. Long distance movers charge by the weight of your goods. If you have items such as a weight set, it may be more expensive to move that across country then selling it and buying another one at the destination. Other items such as large entertainment centers or any others that are going out of style anyways should probably be sold. Furniture items are getting less and less bulky nowadays so take advantage of this opportunity on your long distance move.

Find Good Movers

Find a moving company that offers a good price. Don’t always go with the cheapest moving company because many cheap movers provide cheap services. Never hire a cheap moving company because usually they are low balling the price in order to get your business. Go with a company that offers reasonable prices and has excellent reviews with the Better Business Bureau and Yelp.

When to Move

In some cases, moving companies will charge more on busier times of the week, month, or year. Usually moving companies are busiest on the weekends, end of month and summer season. Not all movers have different rates but it can’t hurt to ask them if they can discount your move if your schedule is flexible.

Reasons for Moving to San Diego, California

Posted on March 11, 2013 by Guest

San Diego is one of the most popular cities not only in the state of California but also in the whole United States. This is because this city has a lot to offer both to its residents and to tourists. You should consider moving to San Diego, California if you want to live in an exciting place.

There are several reasons for moving to San Diego. Review the paragraphs below to know more.

Good weather all year round

Imagine living in a place where the weather is great all throughout the year. You can experience the perfect weather in San Diego where summer is not too hot and winter is not too cold. In fact, most people compare the weather in San Diego to the Mediterranean climate. You can enjoy everything that the city has to offer no matter what month it is.

Great beaches

California is a coastal state and is known for its great beaches. If you love the ocean, you will surely enjoy living in San Diego. You can go swimming, surfing, and do other water sports in one of the city’s numerous beaches. You can also enjoy an early morning jog or a relaxing drive along the coast of the Pacific Ocean. You can go to the beach everyday whether it is summer or winter.

More housing options

You can choose different kinds of houses in San Diego. There may be a lot of people in San Diego but you can still find properties or homes on large tracts of land. You can also purchase a house near the beach if you love the ocean so much. There are also condo units and apartments in the center of the city that have nice ocean views. California is teeming with Spanish influence. You can also find Spanish style homes or historic homes that you can restore.

Recreation, amusement parks, and culture for everyone

This is also a great city for fun and relaxation not only for kids but also for teenagers and adults. There are golf clubs, amusement theme parks, theaters, restaurants, bars, clubs, zoos, museums, and other great places to visit for people in different age groups. You will never run out of things to do if you are living in San Diego.

Warm and friendly people

It is a known fact that people in the West like Californians are friendlier than people in the East like New Yorkers. Some say that this is because of the great weather all year round. It is not unusual for strangers to greet or smile at each other. This means that it will be easier for newcomers to adjust to their new surroundings since the people are warm and friendly.

About the author: Margarita Hakobyan is a writer and content manager at MoversCorp, an online portal of local movers and moving labor providers. She also writes moving and storage related stories for MoversCorp Blog.

Photo via Flick user Tostie14.

Moving to Phoenix, AZ: A Guide

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Guest

Phoenix is the capital of Arizona and is considered as the largest city in the state. If you are thinking about moving to Phoenix, Arizona, you have to be prepared to having a busy and hectic life, especially if you are from a small town. You are going to live in the sixth most populated city in the United States and if you do not like crowded places, this is not the place for you.

When it comes to moving to Phoenix, you need to learn a few important things. These things will help you have a hassle-free move from your old place to Phoenix. Check out the paragraphs below.

Seek the help of professionals

If you hire professionals like professional movers or real estate agents, you will have fewer problems relocating to Phoenix. When buying a home, it is important that you get the services of a real estate agent who has a lot of connections. The agent can help you find a home that suits your family’s needs and lifestyle. For example, if you have kids who are attending school, you need to live in a neighborhood with available schools. Your real estate agent can help you find the right neighborhood for you based on this need.

Hiring professional movers will also ensure that the move itself is trouble-free since you do not need to worry about transporting your things from your old house to the new one.

Learn about the climate

You have to know that Phoenix has a “subtropical desert climate”. This means that summer can get really hot and winter is not so cold compared to other states. If you are the type of person who prefers warm climate, then Phoenix is the perfect place for you. And since it is a desert, you may experience dust storms caused by the strong winds which can affect even the heart of the city.

Cultural activities and cuisine

If you are interested in cultural activities, you will surely enjoy living in Phoenix because it has numerous museums, theaters, and restaurants that offer different kinds of cuisines from all over the world. Since it is near Mexico, you should expect a lot of restaurants and diners that offer Mexican food. Mexican culture is also evident in Arizona.

Transportation

You will not have any problems commuting in Phoenix because of the efficient public transportation system. This is an important consideration if you are planning to work in Phoenix. You can also drive your own car but be sure to get a driver’s license that you can use in the city and get a Phoenix registration for your vehicle.

About the author: Margarita Hakobyan is a writer for Movers Corp, an online marketplace of local moving companies and moving labor providers. You will find more moving and storage related stories from her at the Movers Corp Blog.

Tips for Using a Self-Storage Unit During a Move

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Guest

Post Courtesy of Moveline

OK, so you’re preparing for a move, but due to circumstances beyond your control, it’s not as simple as moving your stuff from point A to point B. Whether you’re downsizing into a smaller space or staying in temporary housing after a long distance move while you search for the perfect home, there’s a storage unit in your immediate future, and the movers you’ve hired (or the friends you’ve persuaded to help with the haul) are the only thing standing between, say, you having access to your stuff and something you really need getting stuck in the middle of a box in a climate-controlled 100-square-foot room. Not to worry; we’ve got a few tips to help you get organized, make the process seamless, and keep your sanity intact and your stuff where you need it most.

1. Know what can’t go into storage

First things first: know what goes where, and why. Common sense plays a key role here, but sometimes in the chaos of a move, it’s easy to forget the basics. While those spare cans of paint, for instance, might have no place in that temporary corporate apartment you’re moving into, they can’t go in a storage unit either, nor can those propane tanks you bought for that camping trip you never took. Anything combustible, flammable, toxic or otherwise hazardous is never permitted in a reputable self-storage facility, so you might need to call on a friend to store those kinds of items in their garage for you for a while. When in doubt, call the facility and ask them directly.

2. Use a ruthless keep/toss approach

Since you’re embarking on a two-part process, start packing early, and divide those boxes into two groups: new home and storage unit. Don’t assume you can just pop into the storage unit any old time to grab something you end up needing at the new place; it might not be that simple. Think hard about what you’ll really need on hand vs. what you won’t, and be honest with yourself. A little forethought and planning can go a long way.

3. Label, label, label, and use a color-coding system

As organized and sensible as your packing system might be, there will come a time when you need to find something quickly, and your memory might fail you. Instead of just labeling a box “Kitchen Items,” consider adding a short, more detailed list underneath, like “Knives/Blender/Toaster/Oven Mitts.” If the day comes when you need to fish something out of one of your many boxes, the task won’t be such a headache. Use a simple color-coding system, too, with brightly-colored stickers indicating where each box and piece or furniture should land. It makes it infinitely simpler for the movers to make quick decisions and place everything where it’s supposed to go.

4. Talk to your movers early and often

If you’re working with a moving company, make sure they’re able to access the storage facility before they drop off your goods. On most long-distance moves, your company will be delivering your shipment in a 18-wheeler with a 53-ft trailer, which requires a flat surface and plenty of turning room to park. If the truck shows up to unload and can’t park at the storage facility, you may face unexpected fees because the job will take more time for the crew. However, if you get the right information in advance, your crew can make other plans, and you may be able to avoid extra charges. Just ask the manager of the storage facility for access and parking information, and relay those details to the dispatcher at your moving company.

5. Location, location, location

Let’s cut you a bit of slack and assume the day will come when you need something from the unit. If there are items you know you absolutely won’t need – those boxes of sweaters since you’re only renting the unit for the summer, for instance – then have the movers place those in the back of the unit. Label your boxes as such, and group them together. If you use this approach, you’ll have three pods of boxes for the movers to tackle one at a time: “Back of Storage,” “Front of Storage,” and “New Home.” You’ll thank yourself later. One last tip: if you’re getting help from a professional crew, ask them to leave you a pathway to walk through the storage unit, and load from the sides in (instead of back to front) so you can maximize your chances of finding the box you need if you have to return to the unit.

6. Use your resources

If you’re using movers that employ an inventory system with numbered stickers and an accompanying list, great. Generally, such systems are reserved for long-distance moves, but even if yours is local and you simply have a lot of stuff, it may be helpful to you as well. Presuming you’ve grouped your boxes into location-specific pods like we recommended earlier, you can ask your movers to number them in three chunks as well, and fill in a few reminder notes to yourselves before you leave the storage facility on moving day. Fast forward a month or so: Did all those board games go into the unit? you might wonder when your family comes to visit your new place over a holiday weekend. One check of the master list and you’ll know for sure.

7. You can’t be too organized

Sure, it’s great to take a laid-back approach to a process as stressful as moving, but in a situation that involves a middle location like a storage unit, there’s no substitute for smart organization and advance planning. Let your inner nerd out to play for a few days while you’re dealing with (or overseeing) the packing process, and you’ll avoid a great deal of stress in the future.

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About Moveline:

Moveline (http://www/moveline.com) provides a simple way to get organized, compare prices, and plan your next move. The online startup offers easy, innovative resources — including your own Move Captain — to make the moving process as seamless and sanity-saving as possible.

(Visit Moveline | Like Moveline on Facebook | Follow Moveline on Twitter)

Importance of Auditing Self Storage Units

Posted on March 1, 2013 by Brian Shreckengast

All those who owns a car might be aware that how important it is to maintain it regularly. Why? Because it’s their personal property and should always be maintained. And yet the same people fail to see the value of getting their self-storage facility assessed. By assessed here it means maintaining a regular check via a thorough operational audit. Audits are something which are essential to operate a self storage facility as efficiently and effectively as possible.

They are important at all the levels. Starting from employee theft to operational efficiency everything needs to be checked thoroughly. This is a most important responsibility of a self storage owner to conduct a self storage audit. If not done in a proper manner it can lead to lost asset value or probably to an overall theft disaster. Here is a list which tells why it is important to audit a self storage facility:

· Discrepancy in money matters: An example of such a mishandling is when you have hired a brand new manager who manages every thing well but not great at giving employees the right amount of money. This will not only perturb the system but also create a rage amongst the employees as well. This can lead to an overall disaster. But if you conduct a regular audit of your self-storage, you can save yourself from a massive mishap.

· Important documents: Documents like lease papers and other important tenant files are important to be surveyed regularly. Any kind of discrepancy in these documents can lead you to major problems in future. Things that require a proper and regular check include:

Ø Complete insurance forms which should be properly signed.

Ø Tenant’s identification card and its copy.

Ø All the lease documents including price, name, address, address proof.

· Any under the table renting: 99 percent chances are there that your new manager is likely to rent a unit under the table. He will make sure that you shouldn’t be able to find out this by any chance. But thanks to self storage audit, it keeps everything under control all the time. It can probably save you from many such scams because these days trust if not enough.

· Other activity checks: Right from the list of tenants to your operating system, everything requires a clear check. This is necessary to ensure that everything is in place and in proper working conditions. Make sure all your equipments are working efficiently. Start from the locks, bar codes, security systems and rent roll. This will obviously be time and money demanding but will save you from the forthcoming mishaps. This is extremely to protect your interests form theft and neglect.

Some people are often reluctant to perform such audits and are totally dependent on their onsite managers. But they are not aware that their trust can be violated anytime. So, it is important to rock the boat at times because this business is highly competitive. You can choose removal and storage companies keep a regular check on such services as they never want to keep their investment at stake. Self storage audit is always important because Trust Is Not Enough!

Moving to Dallas? 4 Blogs That Will Tell You Everything You Need to Know

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Brian Shreckengast

Moving is not without its own set of headaches. Not to mention moving to a city as large as Dallas. Thankfully, here is a handy list of five blogs that will tell you everything you need to know about moving to Dallas.

1. www.iliveindallas.com- You cannot go wrong with the blog that won readers choice for best blog in Dallas. Their archives are a gold mine for any new transplant. Their areas of expertise is so wide from theatre, to art, to restaurants. Visit their site and lose hours reading posts. Their most popular post is particularly great- 31 Fun Things to Do in Dallas (http://www.iliveindallas.com/fun-things-to-do-in-dallas) . A comprehensive list of all the great tours, touristy activities, shows, and truly Dallas things you should take in while living here. Short on cash because of your move? Be sure to check out their list of free activities.

2. www.advocatemag.com- When you first visit this site you will be asked to pick your neighborhood. This guarantees you will get the most local information without having to wade through a bunch of information 30 miles from your house. Once you reach the landing page for your neighborhood you can access all sorts of pertinent information from pet licensing, to classifieds, to their online magazine. They also are a great resource for Dallas news. The best part of this blog is the Hot Topics section. Here you will find all the information about what is going on in your neighborhood. Want to know how the construction on the local Trader Joes is going? (http://lakewood.advocatemag.com/2013/02/10/trader-joes-update-construction-progress-photo/) They will keep you updated!

3. www.dallasobserver.com- What sets the Dallas Observer apart is two things- their calendar and their promotions. This is the blog to check and religiously follow if you are interested in keeping up with the current events in Dallas. Their calendar can get a bit long so be sure to select just to view the top picks. All the best events in Dallas in one place sorted by which ones are guaranteed to be the very best. If you are looking for a great time and not to break the bank be sure to familiarize yourself with their promotions section.

4. dmagazine.com- One of the very best magazines in the US. And you get to read it to get to know Dallas better. D Magazine is well known for the “Best and Worst” ratings. They regularly rate the very best (and worst!) restaurants, bars, and shops in Dallas so be sure to peruse for establishments to explore.This online magazine is also known for its candid editorial positions and strong positions so be sure to read up. It is a great way to learn the pulse of this city. Lastly they follow and track celebrities all over town and post party pics so if you are interested in the party/club scene this is a great place for you to start exploring Dallas.

About the Author: Chase Heckendorn was born and raised in Dallas, TX and owns a local business that helps people find lofts and apartments. Find out more at http://dallastxlofts.com/.

Registering Your Car in Atlanta

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Brian Shreckengast

Have you recently moved to Atlanta, Georgia from out of state? If so, you have thirty days after establishing residency to register your vehicle before you’ll face fines. Here’s how to do it:

1. Transfer Your Driver’s License

Before you can register your vehicle, you’ll need to be in possession of a Georgia driver’s license. To transfer your old license to a Georgia license, visit a Department of Driver’s Services office. There, you’ll be issued a temporary driver’s license while you wait for your own in the mail.

2. Find a County Tax Commissioner’s Office

Atlanta being in Fulton County, this means of course that you’ll need to visit the Fulton County Tax Commissioner’s office. Here’s what you’ll need to bring with you:
• Your current title from out of state
• Your out of state registration
• Proof of residency
• A copy of your lease contract (if the vehicle is leased)
• Your Georgia insurance provider must have downloaded your insurance into the State Motor Vehicle Database

You’ll also need to pass the Georgia emissions standards test if your car is older than the three most recent model years. Finally, you’ll be required to fill out and turn in an MV-1 form

Donation Drop-off Locations in Atlanta

Posted on February 19, 2013 by Brian Shreckengast

Is your Atlanta home beginning to look like a potential candidate for the show Hoarders? If so, the fact of the matter is that you have too much stuff. Now, you really have only three ways to solve this problem: first, you could simply throw everything away, either by tossing it in the dumpster or taking it to a recycling center. Second, you could find a local Atlanta storage facility and move much of your clutter into a unit–which of course is only a good idea for things you’ll need in the future. Finally, you could take you unused items and, instead of disposing with them or stuffing them in a storage unit, give them to someone who could use them.

In order to do that, you’ll need to take your items to one of these Atlanta donation-drop off locations:

Location	Address	Phone	Latitude	Longitude	Type
Atlanta Step Up Society Thrift	733 Monroe Drive Northeast	(404) 892-3392	33.774557	-84.370815	Atlanta Step Up Society Thrift
Atlanta Mission	156 Mills Street Northwest	(404) 588-4015	33.764808	-84.391912	Atlanta Mission
Make-A-Wish Car Donation	191 Peachtree Street Northeast #3300	(855) 869-9474	33.758969	-84.387149	Make-A-Wish
Atlanta Habitat For Humanity	519 Memorial Drive Southeast	(404) 525-2114	33.746608	-84.371253	Habitat for Humanity
The Shepherd’s Inn	165 Ivan Allen Blvd NW	(404) 588-4015	33.764661	-84.392803	Atlanta Mission
My Sister’s House	921 Howell Mill Road	(404) 367-2465	33.779866	-84.410316	Atlanta Mission
Fuqua Hall	144 Mills Street	(404) 367-2508	33.765135	-84.392075	Atlanta Mission
Atlanta Mission Administrative Offices	2352 Bolton Rd	(404) 588-4000	33.819922	-84.46099	Atlanta Mission
West End Store	888 Ralph David Abernathy Blvd SW	(404) 755-6440	33.737911	-84.416844	Goodwill
Northside Drive Store	1460 Northside Drive	(404) 367-0077	33.794937	-84.4085	Goodwill
Ansley Donation Center	1589 Monroe Dr	(404) 249-9736	33.798216	-84.369514	Goodwill
Collier Road Donation Center	1180 Collier Road NW	(404) 351-7855	33.810938	-84.426481	Goodwill
Lindbergh Plaza	2350 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE	(404) 636-1075	33.819431	-84.35187	Goodwill
Loehmanns Donation Center	2490 Briarcliff Road	n/a	33.825836	-84.333152	Goodwill
Avondale Donation Center	1295 Columbia Drive	(404) 728-8614	33.751051	-84.264799	Goodwill
Northeast Plaza	3337 Buford Highway	(678) 891-0100	33.843225	-84.328363	Goodwill
North DeKalb Mall Donation Center	2050 Lawrenceville Highway	n/a	33.807983	-84.277296	Goodwill
Buckhead Store	3906 Roswell Road	(404) 869-3112	33.861857	-84.381085	Goodwill
South Vinings Donation Center	4715 South Atlanta Road	(404) 799-5586	33.838045	-84.481172	Goodwill
Salvation Army Family Store	746 Marietta Street Nw	404-523-6214	33.772566	-84.402985	Salvation Army
Donation Center	1424 Ne Expressway	n/a	33.833588	-84.331914	Salvation Army
ATLANTA, Adult Rehabilitation Center	740 Marietta St. Nw	404-522-9785	33.772875	-84.402565	Salvation Army
Salvation Army Family Store	2857 E. College Avenue	404-299-0703	33.775167	-84.273437	Salvation Army
Salvation Army Family Store	700 Highway 138 Sw	770-477-0506	33.549075	-84.413508	Salvation Army

If you’re unable to drop off the items yourself, remember that many of these organizations will send out a truck to pick your stuff up. And if you still think it’s too much of a hassle, remember that these donations are tax-deductible.

What Do Home Renters Want?

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Brian Shreckengast

When addressing the apartment and home rental landscape across America, there are some interesting statistics that compare states with the highest amount of vacancies and with the cost of rent per month in and outside of city centers.

Below you will see why Americans move to new neighborhoods and the reasons they choose rental properties. You might be shocked by the cost of living index between New York City and Brownsville, Texas, and the percentage of Americans that relocated for their jobs in years past. See why people are moving, what cities are very expensive and where to relocate if on a tight budget.

Check out this infographic via ForRent.com that highlights the rental market and some reasons why the perception of renting is growing more and more positive.

“The Apartment & Home Rental Landscape – What do Renters Want?” created by ForRent.com

How Self Storage Owners Can Improve Revenues And Reduce Expenses

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Guest

As businessmen, we continuously look forward to cutting-edge ways to generate more revenues and increase turnover. Now days we see many self storage business running on a stringent budget with innovative ways to improve revenues. There is plethora of self storage business running, some of which are successful and others are not. The profits of successful business not only depend upon the inflow of cash. It involves various parameters like spending less and staying in budget for all the items, managing our investments wisely, applying different methods that can cut costs and improve work efficiency.

It is not necessary that only the middle class businesses are required to cut costs. If looked with a different pair of glasses there are plenty of opportunities for every class of business to reduce expenses.

Lets us see how making some wise choices can make a considerable difference in reducing overall expenses and improving cash flow:

Tax on property: The levy that you have to pay on your property is largely affected by economical ups and downs. At least this is what we have learnt this from the last economic crisis. But you can certainly change the way how it works. You can lower the value of your property and this will lower the property tax.

Good team: This is the heart of any organization. Hiring a good manage, good staff and good team workers will increase the input and thus increase the inflow of cash. Highly qualified employees will surely lead to increase in profits due to their superior capabilities.
Training programs: Training employees to rent units and run the business effectively is a very important program. How much time do you spend in training your people and teach them in right manner also reflect their quality of work. This way you can have an overall control of your program.

Utility expense and maintenance: These are the reoccurring expenses every facility has. Expenses like electricity bills, water bills, trash pickup and cleaning encompass a great deal of expenditures. In self-storage there are many more things other than things that tend to cost you even more. Climate controlled units, motion detectors, alarms and pest controls are the things that involve extra expenditures. Making some smart choices can reduce these reoccurring expenses to a certain extent.

Administrative costs: Unlike manufacturing costs administrative costs are fixed but there are ways by which they can be reduced. Like some meetings with different clients doesn’t have to be expensive all the time. You can always arrange the budget oriented meetings. If you can telecommunicate with the clients, it is the best way to cut travel costs and meeting costs. Always consider price shopping for all the administrative needs, this will certainly reduce some costs.

No matter how small they seem the costs incurred by small expenses can amount to huge expenses. So in order to make your secured self storage a profitable business, make sure to keep an eye on every small expense.

This post was brought to you by Lock & Leave Storage.