Movers Watch

Many of us have pets, and most of us consider them a part of the family. So it is important to understand that moving to a new location is as tough, if not tougher, for them as is for any other member of the family. Knowing about the move, preparing for it mentally and physically, and settling down afterwards is something we go through. But our little animal friends cannot really know of the move, and so prepare themselves for it. So it is very important that you start preparing your pet as soon as you know for sure that you’ll be moving out.

Pre-plan - Visit the vet and make him aware of the shift. Get a thorough check-up done including all required vaccines. Most states have their own laws regarding the entry of animals. It’s a good idea to call up a good vet in the state capital if moving to a new state, and find out what documents you need. Procure the same from the local vet.

Moving by road: If moving by road, take your pet out on frequent short trips (like when running errands) so that your pet gets used to traveling in the automobile. This will also get your pet used to you leaving the car for short intervals. See if the animal feels more comfortable in a pet carrier or finds a safe spot in the car. In case you see signs of anxiety, consult the vet regarding sedatives. Make bookings with a hotel/motel that allows pets, and keep the numbers of vets in the area in case of emergencies. Keep all the things that you will need including pet food, water, bowls, and chews and don’t forget a first aid kit. Newspapers or sheets are a must to keep the car clean. Also make sure your pet has proper identification - tags with name, your address, cell phone number and rabies tags. You want your pet to be safe in case it gets lose.

If you’re flying to your new destination, try and book a direct flight. Enquire about counter-to-counter service if you can afford to spend a little extra. Your pet will be carried on and off the flight by an employee of the airline. Ask the vet if he can provide tranquilizers for the pet before you head to the airport.

Once you arrive at the destination, do the best you can to get your pet adjusted to the new environment. Try and set up the bed and toys in a location similar to the earlier home. The regular feeding and exercise routine should be resumed as soon as possible. Also introduce it to the neighbours and staff if any. If you can, hire a trainer who can be with your pet for some time.

Most of the above has been written keeping in mind mostly cats and dogs, but some part applies to all animals. So, if moving with an unusual pet, contact the local pet store for recommendations.

Moving is never an easy task, but if you don’t have too many restrictions while deciding the moving date, there are some things that you should keep in mind.

If you have children, it is but obvious that you will need to consider their school term and vacations. Most people try and wait for the term to end, so that they can comfortably move during the vacations. This is fine as long as you don’t move immediately after the term ends. Give your kids some time to get used to the idea of moving, to say their goodbyes to friends and neighbours. Also allow yourself and the kids some time to settle down. Take the kids to the new school, and introduce them to their new teachers if possible. Some people are of a different opinion and say the kids won’t have friends to spend time with during the vacation. I say that always holds true, and this way they would have time to adjust to their new home and be better prepared for the new school year.

The same applies to you as well.

Try and avoid moving prior to major holidays which is when you’re supposed to spend time with your family. These may include Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and so on. Same goes for birthdays, anniversaries and the like. Move some time before the starting of the holiday season so that you get a sense of belonging and being a part of the community by then. Even moving immediately after a holiday isn’t a bad idea. It’s a rather good time say your goodbyes to friends as well as family at get-togethers.

As for the cost, rates are bound to be high as summer is peak season for moving. Make sure you check with the movers regarding bookings, availability, and service. Often students wanting summer jobs replace full-time employees leading to a change in the level of service. Keep that in mind. It does cost extra to move during the summers, but then moving in winters is not easy. Travel is tough, and there is a risk of items getting damaged in case of sudden and/or extreme climate changes. Summers on the other hand provide near perfect weather, school is off, and help is easily available.

Moving doesn’t necessarily have to be something you only pay for. You can make decent money (of course not always enough to cover the moving cost) in the process. How? Sell stuff of course! Yes, host a yard sale/garage sale. And money isn’t the only benefit. A garage sale is a very effective way to sort through your stuff as well. Keep the stuff you know you’ll need, and put the rest up for sale. In the process, you reduce the weight of the goods to be transported, and save on transport cost as well.

Decide on a tentative date for the sale and give yourself at least three weeks to prepare. Fridays or Saturdays are the best for a garage sale because its the weekend and people don’t have to go to work the next day. Avoid Sundays as your tentative customers might have plans for a weekend outing. Set a sale time that is convenient for you, and should get max customers, say 10am to 5pm.

You can host the sale in your yard, garage + driveway or the basement. In case you’re moving out of an apartment and don’t have these options, a friend’s yard or if nothing else, a flea market is where you need to go.

The success of any sale is dependent on the publicity it gets. So advertising, and good advertising, is very important. The more people know, the more customers you get and the more you sell. You could use any or all of the following methods to advertise the sale:

• Newspaper Ads
• Public Bulletin Boards
• Word of Mouth
• Signs showing the way

Give an ad in your local daily with a suitable title and your address. Depending on the charges, promote the best items in your sale to attract people. Libraries, laundry-mats, stores have bulletin boards where people can put up notices. Put up fliers there, and hand out more to the crowd at these places. Of course, tell your family and friends, and tell them to tell their friends. Word of mouth spreads easy, fast and cheap. Also, on the day of the sale, put up big clear signs in your area that lead to your place, or wherever you’ve hosted the sale.

The advertising is done, now to set up. Put price tags on every item. Categorise - put the furniture one side, electronics and appliances one side, the clothes one side. If you want to make it look more attractive, set up the clothes on a rack, stack the books neatly and so on. Also make sure everything is clean and shiny to enhance the feel good factor. Remember to keep lots of bags, boxes and newspapers for packing the sold items. Hopefully, things will be good.

Of course you won’t be able to sell everything (unless you’re super-duper lucky), so you’ll have some stuff left over. The best thing to do with this is donate. If it was in the sale, you probably didn’t need it anyways. So go ahead, do a good deed, and you shall be rewarded.

Shifting houses is by no means an easy task. Add to that handing over all your belongings to some cap wearing strangers who drive trucks — Stress unlimited! Ok, I may be exaggerating a bit, but the fact still remains that choosing the right moving company is almost as critical to the move as choosing the right place to move to. And making the wrong choice can no doubt prove disastrous. So here are some things that should be kept in mind while choosing a relocating company.

Research is the keyword when making this decision. Check the yellow pages, surf the web, talk to your friends or colleagues, get all the info you can. Do this and make a rough list of the supposedly good ones. The next stop should be the BBB or the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org). This is where you can check out the if the companies have any complaints registered against them, and most probably you will find some. Also, check with the Department of Transportation (DoT) regarding the companies’ licenses. The last thing you want is to be scammed by a new company with a name similar to an already established one.

Once you’ve done this much, relax for a while. You’re halfway through! Ok now, back to work. Whatever queries you have in mind, write them down on a piece of paper. Remember to include pick-up, delivery, expenses etc. Now call up all the shortlisted companies, put to them all the questions that you wrote, and note down whatever they tell you, so that you can compare later. Any good company will send an estimator to your place who will provide you with an estimate regarding the weight of your goods and the corresponding cost of transporting them. If a company is unwilling to do so, please willingly efface its name from your list.

Next, obtain a WRITTEN quote from the company. This quote would depend on the weight of the goods, the distance of the move, fragile items, pickup and delivery, and the day/date of the move ( weekend and holiday rates are usually higher than other days). You can choose from a variety of plans depending on what your movers offer, for example movers pack ‘n’ move, or you pack and they move. As such, a company cannot charge you more than 10% above the originally quoted price, but to be on the safer side, get a NOT TO EXCEED clause included in the contract. This protects you from being overcharged even if the cost incurred by them is more. All this must be documented in paper. This is your only scam protection.

Well, you’re almost done. You have the research, the reviews and the rates. Just see what suits you best, and come to a decision. Also, remember to make bookings a month or two in advance. You don’t want to be stuck at the last moment. Just keep all this in mind and you should have no trouble at all.

You must be pretty apprehensive if you plan to move in the near future, especially if you have young kids with you. Moving is a mentally taxing business, and having to handle children makes it all the more difficult… but it is important that you understand your kids’ feelings and help him accept the move without too much anxiety and mental stress. Moving with kids can be thought of in two ways: Preparing the kids for the move and the actual move itself. There are a number of things you can do to make your kids more comfortable about all of it:

PREPARING KIDS FOR THE MOVE

• Make sure that your kids meet all their best friends before leaving town…if possible, arrange a small party for them. You can get some presents for them to make them feel special. It would also be a good idea to create a photo album for them so that they can cherish their dearest memories…
• Getting the kids to psychologically accept the move is very important. Sit down and talk with them frankly and on a regular basis before the move. Make them understand the necessity of the move, and how your new place will be better for them to grow.
• To get your kids excited about the move, it would be a good idea to make your new home beautiful and enjoyable for them. Decorate their rooms with posters and paintjobs based on their favourite characters…get their favourite toys for them…basically create an atmosphere in which they feel welcome.
• Before the move, try to get acquainted with some of your new neighbours, and if possible get your kids introduced to their new playmates. It would also be a good idea to take them to visit their new school, and some of the best sights of your new neighbourhood.

MISSION: MOVING!!

• Ensure that they are satisfied with the way their belongings are packed, and comfortable with the idea of the move.
• Don’t expose them to the hardships associated with moving… If possible send them to a friend’s house when all the rough work is being done. It’s essential that they stay comfortable all the time.
• Do something special to make them feel special during the actual travelling… you could take some special mode of transport which you normally wouldn’t.
• Once in your new neighbourhood, try to make settling into the new atmosphere as easy for them as possible… get them their favourite things to eat, and take them out often.

Make sure that your kids are in their comfort zone before, during and after the move. Don’t let them loose their cheerfulness. Try to make life more colourful for them!!

Even though it looks like simple, getting your addresses changed is one of the most arduous tasks associated with moving to a new locality. Life seems difficult if bills, magazines and other important mails keep getting delivered to your old address after you’ve moved… Credit card and mobile phone bills specially create a lot of problem because of overdue payment fines. But this difficult task can be made simple if you follow a certain simple guidelines, and go about the process of getting your address changed in a procedural and systematic manner.

It is very important that you have a clear idea regarding all the places you would want to get your address changed. It would be a good idea to sit down a few weeks before your planned move and think of all such places… Make a list of everything that comes to your mind. The first ones would be mobile phone service providers, magazines and banks… but you’ll discover that there are many others as well.

Visit your local post office and have them change your address officially. It would be a huge bonus if you can get your mail redirected too. This procedure is generally not too difficult, and if the officials happen to be cooperative, it can be carried out with relative ease.

Sequentially arrange all the subscriptions you currently hold. Apply to have the important ones transferred to your new address (This facility is easily available these days…). If you have some business concerns (such as stocks, etc.) then get in touch with the people you deal with and get your mail redirected.

Next comes your cell phone. If you intend to keep your current connection, apply to have the billing address changed to your new place. Otherwise, you can get your connection cancelled. Its very easy to procure a new one these days, you should face any problems on that front.

If you’re not changing jobs, ensure that your residential address is modified in their records…else you might miss some important correspondence. Also, if you intend to have your kids study in the same schools, then have your address changed with them so that all report-cards and the like are delivered safely.

Last but not the least, get in touch with your bankers and have your address changed with them. It’s really important that you receive your bank statements and credit/debit card bills at your new address (otherwise the fines are really hefty…)

If you follow these simple steps, you shouldn’t face too much trouble in getting your mail at your new home… But despite your best efforts, it’s possible that some of it might still creep into your old mailbox ;-P. It’s advisable to get a friend of yours to check your mailbox at some convenient interval and redirect it to you…!!

When moving overseas, you can move your stuff either by air, or by sea. Moving by air is obviously shorter but more expensive while taking the ocean route is longer but comparitively inexpensive. The latter is the more common choice, but more and more people are opting for transportation of their goods by air. You can opt for either after considering the cost (make sure you include the cost of renting furnished apartments for the time it takes for your goods to reach by boat). Goods are shipped by sea in large containers. You can go for a single container, but a shared container provides more value for your money.

Look for a good international moving company, and let them do their job. It might be slightly expensive, but trust me, the peace of mind is worth it. As is routine, you will get an estimate from the movers based on the weight of the goods to be transported, and most companies ask for prepayment for overseas shipping. You will get a refund, or be billed according to the difference in cost incurred after completion of the job. Do not forget to get all your items insured before the move. Again, your mover will provide you with this option. Get a policy based on the value of the goods in the country you’re moving to. Important documents and jewellery should be carried by you only. Check with the embassy of your country for specific information about customs and other taxes and duties on your shipped goods. Your mover will be able to help you with this.

Owing to the highly expensive nature of the task, try and keep the weight of your goods to a minimum. A good way to do this is to hold a yard sale to get rid of stuff you don’t need. If you’re left with some stuff after the sale, donate it. As for the furniture, if you’re moving long-term, then only consider taking your furniture with you. If you’re moving for say a year or two, first find out about furnished accomodation in your new destination, then see what is cheaper. If moving short-term, you can keep your furniture in storage.

Your vehicle is also an important consideration. My advice would be that unless your car is very valuable, or is modified to suit your needs, or is of sentimental value to you, sell it, and get a new one once you get to your new home. If you have to move it, you can get a shared (or private, if your pocket allows) container and get it shipped by sea or air, whichever suits you. Do remember to obtain an international driving permit if you have to drive your car there. You will also need at least three attested copies of the vehicles make, model, colour and license. Again, your mover should have an idea about this.

If you have a pet, you will again need to consult the embassy regarding rules and regulations for moving pets. Your pet will need to have all their shots and vaccines, along with all required certificates no older than two weeks before the date of your arrival.

You can find more information at some of the following websites:

Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO) - www.aaro.org

Expatriate Resources & Resources for Global Relocation - www.expatexchange.com

Employee relocation involves two things: relocating an employee to a different location as a result of a posting/transfer/promotion, or relocating multiple employees, whether as a project team, or while relocating the whole office, employees included. Whatever the case, you as an employer need to make sure that the move goes as smoothly as possible. There are some things you can do here to help the employee(s). I will use ‘employee’ in writing but consider it ‘employees’ wherever applicable.

First and foremost, inform. Tell your employee about the transfer giving him/her enough time to prepare for the move. Also, communicate with your employee and clear any doubts that they might have regarding issues like long-term job security at the new location. Additionally, prepare a small guide for your employee, especially in case of full office moves. It should include information on how to pack, what to pack, moving kids, moving pets, changing address and other related issues. This will save a lot of time and effort on both ends. Also include instructions on what to do before and after the move. Offer pre-move visits to the new location for the employee and family to see the place and meet the people around. Also, if you are currently providing accommodation to the employee, you need to do the same further. If not, give them contact details of real estate agents associated with the company, if any. You can offer temporary accommodation as well if required.

If you can, hire a reliable mover for your employee. If you have a business that involves frequent relocation of employees, you probably have a regular mover. It will be easier for the employee to trust the mover if the employer does. Also, it is your duty to bear the expenses of the move. And even if not, if an employee needs financial assistance, help them out. Offer some sort of relocation benefits, if nothing else. Negotiating some sort of concession with the mover shouldn’t be difficult. You should ideally provide career counseling services to help the employee’s partner look for a new job. Provide help in areas like elder care, education and if possible, other services like a doctor.

All this might seem like a lot to do especially since you’re the boss. But keep in mind that to maximize your employee’s productivity, you need to have them in the right frame of mind. For this, you have to support them through the move, otherwise its no use.

Relocating just a house is so difficult, imagine how tough it must be to relocate a whole office. with all the furniture and the equipment and so on. But like all problems, this too has a solution. You just have to do things in a systematic manner and be careful about certain aspects.

The objective is to make the move as convenient and as cost effective as possible. A good thing is to involve your employees. You obviously have to tell them about it, so why not involve some key employees and have a brainstorming session. Hold surveys, ask for their ideas regarding better use of workspace, and reward the best ones. This’ll help save money, and make the employees happy as well (which is important because they’re very much a part of the office that you’re relocating). If needed, negotiate release from current lease of office space.

Take your time, and pick a reliable mover. Along with the mover, pick a good architect or a space planner for proper utilisation of your new workspace. Keep some space for possible future expansion. You never know when you’ll need it, and anyways, having some room for additional equipment or employees is good. Design and plan the new workspace and as that is done, take care of other things as follows.

Take care of the address change through the post office. Also contact the ultility companies to take care of water, power and other services at the new as well as current office (removal in this case). Get custom wiring done for telephone and network services. If you have lots of electronic equipment, you need to have enough power outlets. This done, you can now get to the actual moving of items.

Remove all materials from desks, shelves, drawers and put them safely into cartons. Important papers like cheques, documents etc. need to be carried by you. Of course, do some sorting and get rid of the extra paperwork. The movers will not assume responsibility for these. Cabinets don’t have to be emptied before moving, just locked properly. Coming to the electronics, all equipment (including computers and other electronic machinery) should be dismantled and then re-assembled at the destination with the help of a professional. other equipment like water dispensers and vending machines should be emptied before moving. If you’re moving any hired machinery, the owner should be informed about it.

This should take care of the basic stuff. But moving an office involves so many small details that all of them can’t be listed here. I will list some of the important ones:

• If buying new equipment, arrange for employee training on the same.
• Get new stationery printed having your new office address.
• Update your website.
• Also update business licenses, insurance policies, tax exemption certificates.
• Hand new passcards or keys to employees.