Make a moving day calendar

The weeks leading up to moving day can be busy, especially if you're completing an out-of-state move. Thankfully, developing a calendar helps you track daily tasks and effectively manage your time before moving day. 

Check out the tips below to make a reliable moving day calendar. 

1. Consider short- and long-term goals
Moving begins the moment you acquire your new residence. The ultimate goal is to safely move all of your belongings between locations, but achieving this aspiration is rarely simple. 

Take a step-by-step approach to moving day. Rome was not built in a day, and a successful relocation includes many issues that need to be resolved in advance. 

In your calendar, incorporate daily goals that will help you get ready for the big day. Outlining everything that needs to be completed before your move and incorporating a few items into your daily calendar is crucial for a successful relocation. 

2. Stay the course
Unexpected challenges can arise at any time during the moving process, but you can prepare for potential difficulties. 

Maintain flexibility with your daily calendar, and if a problem requires immediate attention, devote extra time to this issue. Ignoring the complication could only cause it to worsen, and if you overcome this problem instantly, you can move onto other tasks. 

Stay focused on your goals to enjoy a successful moving day. The calendar could change at times, but you can dedicate the necessary attention and resources to issues to ensure you're ready for your relocation. 

3. Get expert support 
Inexperienced movers could struggle from the get-go, as these people could encounter a wide variety of challenges and only a short amount of time to prepare. 

Thankfully, expert assistance is available from the talented moving professionals at Mooney's Moving & Storage. These relocation specialists provide additional guidance and have earned their reputations as first-rate out of state movers by delivering consistent support for local and long distance trips. 

Hiring relocation movers gives you access to a vast array of resources before your move. The skilled moving professionals at Stevens understand that no two moves are exactly the same and will ensure that you are fully satisfied with the support you receive throughout the relocation process. Within a short period of time, the relocation movers at Mooney's Moving & Storage agent for Stevens Worldwide Van Lines will get you ready for the big day and help you enjoy a worry-free move. 

Tips for finding and staying in temporary housing

During most corporate relocations, employees have to live in temporary housing after moving out of state. Companies hire state to state movers to help their workers relocate according to the corporate schedule, so many permanent residences are not available on the arrival date. Displaced staff members have many options when it comes to finding temporary housing. Additionally, employees should be prepared for slight lifestyle changes while they wait for their future homes.

The following tips can help you live comfortably in a temporary residence.

Research your options

According to Moving.com, there are three options for displaced employees - hotels, extended-stay hotels and rental properties. The first choice is the most common because workers can easily find rooms at a chain for a reasonable rate. Additionally, many workers don't have to wait longer than a few days for their houses, and standard hotels provide the best accommodations.

Extended-stay hotels combine the conveniences of inns and permanent housing. The news source writes that this lodging option allows renters to stay in a comfortable environment that resembles a regular house without paying for utilities. Workers can stay as long as they want. Meanwhile, rental properties like apartments require leases and displaced workers have to pay for basic services.

Moving.com leaves out a possible alternative to those three choices - staying with loved ones. If you have friends or family members in a new area, ask them if you can stay for a few days before your permanent residence becomes available.

Pack light

Regardless of which housing option you choose, you won't be staying there for long. In most cases, there is a brief overlap between homeowners leaving and you moving in, so the wait will likely only last a few days. You do not need all of your belongings during this period. Leave most of your possessions with your household moving company. Most services offer short- and long-term storage so you do not have to worry about your personal items while living in temporary housing.

Only pack the essentials when you're staying in a rental property. At most, you should have two bags full of clothes and other necessities like phone charges. Sort through all of your belongings and decide what is most important. Pick the items that you use every day and keep them with you at all times. The rest of your belongings can be given to corporate relocation companies for storage.

Why people move

The decision to move is not one that people take lightly. The process usually takes months before someone finally hires a household moving company, pulls up their stakes and heads to a new location. In 2012, the percentage of Americans who decided to move increased from a record low in 2011. The United States Census Bureau reports that 12 percent of the population relocated last year, up from 11.6 percent.

Finances are always part of the decision, but money matters are rarely the primary motivation to move. Important aspects of everyday life like proximity to family, employment opportunities and other considerations play more significant parts in most relocation plans.

Moving on up

The most common motivation for moving is a better house. The National Association of Realtors recently reported on a survey from the Census Bureau that shows that 15 percent of all movers want to improve their living conditions.

The news source speculates that economic recovery has a significant impact on how Americans move. Since the recession ended, people have found stable financial footing and can afford to make changes to their lifestyles. Some homeowners had to delay their relocation plans during the tougher years and can now afford to buy new houses.

Family

According to the survey, family was the second most popular reason to move. Over time, families start to spread around the country. In some cases, it becomes important for members to come together and eliminate the distance that separates them. In most cases, far-flung relatives choose to relocate to where most of their family lives.

Alternatively, the popularity of multi-generational homes has begun to grow lately. Families have been saving money by keeping three or four generations under the same roof. The frugal strategy forges bonds and helps keep families close together.

Employment opportunities

The job market has steadily improved alongside the economy, but some areas have added more positions than others. Moving out of state to find work is a popular strategy for many job seekers, especially recent college graduates. It is easy for young workers to relocate for employment because they do not have many ties to their current homes.

If you're moving into a better house to be near family or find work, call Mooney’s Moving & Storage. Experienced state to state movers ensure that the transition runs smoothly whether you're moving to a neighboring town or across the

Moving and packing tips for the holidays

The holidays are a stressful time - between shopping and seasonal obligations there's barely time to relax. If you're moving in December, the most wonderful time of the year can quickly turn into a nightmare if you're not adequately prepared.

Whether your lease is set to expire or you simply want to be in your new home to kick off the new year, you might be unable to fully enjoy the holidays during your move if you don't plan properly. Read on for some packing and moving tips that can help you celebrate the spirit of the season as you transition from one house to another.

Pack your decorations last
It's always important to plan ahead before packing - homeowners can easily forget small necessities as they focus on larger belongings like electronics and furniture. When listing your essentials, consider boxing your seasonal decorations last.

As soon as you arrive in your new home, you can quickly unpack your ornaments and lights and hang them. This can help bring seasonal cheer into your new house while you settle in and unload the rest of your belongings. Additionally, packing your decorations last encourages you to only bring the ones you love most to save space.

Plan for travel delays
Vacationers frequently schedule annual trips around the holidays. If you're moving out of state or into a big city, you may be faced with lengthy traffics delays as travelers hit the road to visit their loved ones. It can be stressful to stay in the car when you want to enjoy your new house and start celebrating, so plan ahead and consider moving on less-hectic travel days.

Traditionally, the busiest days are the ones directly preceding the holidays, and rush hours usually feature heavily congested traffic. If you're able to move during December's first couple weeks, you can avoid some delays. You can also reduce the amount of time spent idling if you drive at night instead of during the daytime.

Participate in local celebrations
Long distance moving may mean you won't be able to hold your usual festivities with loved ones this year, as it can be difficult to hold parties at home when you're unpacking and settling into your new house.

Before your move, research local celebrations in your new neighborhood. Most cities and towns hold events throughout December so you can participate in seasonal traditions like tree lighting and caroling. You can also introduce yourself at these gatherings and start making new friends.

3 tips for moving from the suburbs to the city

There's nothing quite like living within a city. The lights, people and buildings are attractive

to many. However, for those who are transplanting from the suburbs, there are some real considerations to take into account. Often, city apartments are smaller than suburban homes and require spaces to pull double duty. Metro properties also rarely feature the attics and basements traditionally associated with suburbs.

All of these qualities and more can make moving into a city a difficult process. Therefore, follow these three tips for moving from the suburbs to the city:

1. Pare down clothing. Bedrooms are prime real estate in cities. As a result, an individual can pay a lot of money for limited space. With storage at a premium, a walk-in or wall-length closet is considered a hard-to-come-by commodity. Each square foot can cost a pretty penny, and that money can add up. Therefore, new city residents may want to consider going through their closets and paring down their wardrobes. While this may be difficult for some who live in regions with multiple seasons or just love fashion, it is a needed step. Rarely do people require multiple sweaters, t-shirts or black pairs of shoes. Therefore, these items are often easy to streamline.

2. Hire professional movers. A moving and relocation company can drastically improve the entire moving process. Decrease the stress levels of safely getting belongings from point A to point B by hiring professionals who are experienced with not only transporting items, but also moving them up potentially narrow staircases. A company such as Stevens Worldwide Van Lines has the experience necessary to make the transition from suburb to city life easier and get a person to where they are going faster.

3. Measure rooms. Before ever packing up household items, make sure to measure the space of the new apartment. Furniture and the number of home accessories that were ideal for a suburban house may not go with the décor of an apartment. Therefore, use the dimensions of the city apartment to determine what in the current home should be transported and what should be sold, given away or thrown in the trash. It can make the entire moving process easier and advance the quality of the first night spent in a new place.

The best cities for families

When parents decide to relocate their family, there are many factors that contribute to their choice of location. In fact, trying to find the best city to raise a family can become so fraught with importance that accurately weighing the options can feel impossible. Knowing this, the editors at Parenting Magazine decided to compile a list of the nation's best metros for raising children.

Of course, no list can make such a complicated decision for a family, but it can lend insight into which factors to consider when making the choice about where to relocate. Whether moving out of state for a job or just looking to try a new region, the magazine's list can be a useful tool.

Criteria
The makers of the list tried to stick closely to statistics to determine their rankings, but they also included input from readers and more subjective standards such as quality of life.

When relying on data, the source focused most heavily on topics such as education, economy, health, culture and community. In the end, the decision for one region's inclusion over another's was an aggregation of objective and subjective components.

"It wasn't formal. [We] are constantly checking in with our audience via our website and Facebook page, so based on the user comments to last year's Best Cities list and conversations we saw throughout the year, editors took note and made sure to incorporate user feedback as much as possible," Ana Connery, a Parenting editor who oversaw the list, said to The Washington Post.

Patterns
The list covers a wide range of regions and climates. Metro areas ranging from Portland, Maine, to Cheyenne, Wyoming, made the cut. City size also appeared to be inessential, as small and large cities both earned spots.

The Cities
Those metros included on the list were scattered across the country and had a wide variety of strengths. Boston, which topped the list, was chosen for its strong emphasis on education and decorated history.

Other smaller cities, such as Burlington, Vermont, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, were selected for their low unemployment rates and strong senses of community.

Relocation
For those looking to experience some of these family-friendly cities, relocation could be a viable option. With their commitment to education, safe streets and welcoming communities, these metros have been known to entice parents and their children.

If you decide to move to one of the areas on the Best Cities for Families List, hiring relocation and moving services could be a big help. A professional household moving company can make the process of moving simple and straightforward, allowing families to focus on starting their new life in one of these welcoming locations.

What to know about relocation assistance

Moving out of state to begin a new job can be a difficult process. Finding the right moving van lines, learning about the new region and getting all your possessions in order can take a lot of time, energy and patience. However, in these less-than-ideal economic times, moving for the right job may be a wise move, even if it's not easy.

One thing that can help is if your future employer agrees to help compensate you in some way. Unfortunately, it can be tough for many people to ask for assistance without feeling like they are putting their new job in jeopardy. However, the right questions and expectations can drastically help a move.

With this in mind, here are few tips for identifying and receiving a good relocation offer.

Ask HR
Going directly to your future boss or the person who hired you can rightfully make you a little anxious. Therefore, directing your inquiries to HR can help you feel confident in your questions. Asking them if they have a document they typically use is a good way to broach the subject. Seeing if you can speak with someone at the company who recently went through a similar process is another good option.

Transportation
One of the costliest parts of moving for a job is, well, the moving. Whether it's airfare or a rental car, you will likely need to spend a lot of money on transportation. It is best to look into reimbursement before you foot the bill yourself. If the company uses a specific airline or rental agency, for example, it is good to have this information as early as possible.

Home buying
If you are lucky, your future employer might even help in the process of buying a home. Whether this is connecting you with a real estate agent or even contributing some of the differential in prices compared to where you came from, this can be a huge service to you. Either way, they likely have information about good locations and deals in the area.

Insurance
The gap between jobs can create a sticky situation in terms of insurance coverage. With relocating involved, it is quite important to see what your new job can offer in the way of health and travel insurance.

Moving expenses
Another thing to discuss with your future employer is reimbursement for hiring a household moving company. Many companies provide assistance in this regard, which can make the process a lot easier - and have you showing up for your first day in good spirits.