Make a master checklist of everything that must be done. So that you don’t fall behind, schedule a deadline for each task and check off each task when it is done. There’s so much involved in a move that you may forget what has already been accomplished.
· Pack one room at a time.
· Pack a couple of cartons a day.
· Mark all cartons with room and box number.
When all boxes are packed enter total number of boxes, such as 1 of 90.
When packing all items, keep in mind that larger moving boxes can quickly become extremely heavy: try lifting a box before you seal it with tape to make sure that its weight is manageable.
[polldaddy poll=1220253]
SAN JOSE, CALIF. — Increasingly middle-aged, dependent on two paychecks and worried about the economy, America is settling down like rarely before.
Just 13 percent of the U.S. population changed addresses between 2006 and 2007, the lowest share of Americans to move since the Census Bureau began keeping records on mobility after World War II.
A new survey by the Pew Research Center — conducted to analyze the trend — divides America into a nation of “movers” and “stayers.”
According to the study released last week, six-in-10 Americans have moved to a new community at least once in their lives, but more than a third of Americans still live in their hometowns, and 57 percent of Americans have never lived outside their home state.
But for movers, the survey finds, life is far different.
After decades of lighting out for the territories, millions of Americans have been left with family and friends scattered across the states — tied together by long-distance phone lines and Facebook pages.
Among people who have lived in two or more places in their life, nearly four in 10 say they aren’t living in their “heart home” now, Pew found.
“The idea of mobility, of being able to put down roots wherever you want, has been enshrined in American culture,” said D’Vera Cohn, co-author of the Pew study.
“If you ask people who have moved where do they consider their true home, a fairly notable share will say it’s not the place where they are living. But they don’t necessarily want to go back.”
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6174653.html
Decide Who’s Footing the Bill
Before you begin your job search, you need to decide if you are willing (and able) to pay for your relocation, or if you need your employer to do so.
Relocating an employee is expensive: Companies who relocate new employees pay an average of $49,469 for homeowners and $14,001 for renters, according to the Employee Relocation Council.
Some companies are very generous with their relocation assistance. But many more don’t offer financial help for relocation, especially in a tight job market.
I recently tried to find movers for an upcoming move, and the experience left a bad taste in my mouth.
Some threw out so much moving industry jargon (like “binding estimates” and “released value”), I felt helpless trying to compare. Others seemed impatient with my questions. It didn’t help that when I went online for guidance, I mostly just read horror stories of people with bad moving experiences, such as damaged belongings, movers that didn’t arrive on the day they were suppose to, or prices doubling the original estimate.
I eventually chose a nationally known moving company figuring that at least I recognized the name. But the experience got me thinking about how small companies in industries with bad reputations can stand out from the crowd. Here are some ways:
– Be friendly and transparent. Customer service can make or break a business, especially in industries where customers are leery — like residential moving, airlines, remodeling or health clubs. Make sure you have friendly, patient people manning the phones who really understand the business and what they’re selling so they can calm customers’ nerves. And make sure they fully explain (with as little jargon as possible) what the customer is getting.
- Make your customers ambassadors. Enlist previous customers to be your best marketers – perhaps directing them to Web sites where they can leave a review about their experience and to tell their friends. Word of mouth is especially important in these industries.
- Manage your online reputation carefully. People more and more get their referrals from online customer-review sites such as Angie’s List or CitySearch. It’s extra important then to ensure a couple bad reviews aren’t tainting your reputation. Figure out which sites your prospective customers use to read reviews in your industry. If you spot a negative review, respond to the complaint to show you’re willing to address problems or upset customers head on. Some customer-review sites, like Yelp.com or Google Business, even include tools in which business owners can now set up their own profile and add a photo. Creating a dialogue with customers and prospects will evoke trust.
- Third-party validation. Many consumers check sites like the Better Business Bureau or their local magazine’s “Best of” listings to find out which businesses are reputable. Some awards require businesses to to apply for them. Winning awards for business practices is always nice, but it’s especially important in industries with a bad reputation.
Did I miss anything? What practices have you seen businesses use to bolster trust among consumers?
If possible, pack computers in their original cartons. As long as proper packing materials are used (bubble wrap, newsprint, foam sheeting, comforters/blankets, pillows, etc.), computers can be safely packed in sturdy boxes.
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