Monday, August 26, 2013

Bulletin, Bulletin, We are Moving

Corporate, office or business relocation will require communication with everyone. All of your information and materials need to be moved from point A to point B. Design letters for your customers or clients, vendors and utilities.
  • Be sure to have your telephone number changed. This is especially true if you are moving to a new city. You can request a recording from the phone company that tells the caller what the new number is. Do not forget to include your fax number as well.

  • All of your marketing materials including stationary, website, and business cards need to be changed. If you are changing your email address, that should be included. Remember any online directories, brochures, print ads, media ad and online ads. It will also be time to reorder pens, notepads and other marketing pieces you may use.

  • Develop a communication plan. If you do not have a communication department, it will be necessary to carry that task or delegate the responsibility to a reliable person. The plan for communication should include phone calls to all customers, suppliers and anyone that needs to know. Inform the media of the period involved in the move before you place your order. You will not want them advertising your new location a month before you arrive.

  • Moving is a good time to update your business cards, stationery and your logo. It may cost some money but it will allow you be noticed and the new address noticed. It will be well worth the expense when your move becomes apparent with your new look.

  • You should have some type of marketing campaign in mind. What will the advantages of a new location be to your customers and clients? Will it be a more convenient location? Will parking be easier? Will it ensure better service to the customer? Whatever the high points are in your move, let your clients be aware.

  • Decide what materials you do not want to pack and transport. Recycling your paper products would be an advantage. You can also use some of the older marketing materials in other ways. Paper can be cut into scrap size pieces and used until they are gone. Be careful with your letterhead on the paper. You do not want to use it for any paper that will be outgoing.

This can be an exciting time or a potentially devastating experience if things are not organized. Keeping up with daily tasks and eventually hourly tasks will help to get your move underway and your commercial relocation the best thing you ever did. Business can increase. Employees may have a better work environment. You will be experience a win/win situation.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Successfully Storing your Items when Moving


Not every home or business that moves is able to take all they have and put it into the new location immediately. Perhaps you are going to stay in a hotel for a month or two while you wait for a new home but you have to get your items out of the old one. Maybe you are relocating for business but need to store some items. It is possible to do this without problems with office relocation help.

Only take Necessities

Such relocation assistance is also available for your personal belongings so don’t be hesitant to take advantage of it. With this type of set up, you get help to get the necessities you need transported to your new location. The other items will go into storage until you are ready for them. Then arrangements can be made for them to be delivered to you.

Make sure you carefully go through all of your items and you only take what you must have. Take along a few special items too that will make you feel at home such as a couple of family photos. The less you take with you to a temporary location, the less you will have to re-pack to take to your permanent home or work location when it is ready.

Package Well

With such assistance, you can get everything well packed. There are specific boxes that have the right strength for the items that will be put inside of them. The last thing you want is to pack items in boxes that can’t hold up well. They can come apart and damage or ruin what you had inside of them. Most moving companies offer very strong boxes that they can help you to pack your items in.

They also have other items such as bubble wrap to help ensure your breakables are well protected. They will take these items and place them in a secure and dry storage location. Your items will be safe from the elements and from various forms of rodents or bugs that can ruin your items.

Labeling

Proper labeling is very important when you are packing items to go into storage. It doesn't matter if you are packing them or a moving company is doing it for you. A complete inventory is a good idea to have too. That way you can make sure you got all of your items when they are delivered. You don’t want to discover months down the road that some items are missing.

Conclusion

Temporarily storing the majority of your items when you are moving your family or your business can be a great idea. It can help you through the transitional period of getting from one location to the next. It can reduce anxiety about where you will keep all of your items until your new office or your new home is ready for you to move into.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

What you should know about Corporate Relocation

Corporate Relocation
The need for corporate relocation is more common than you might think. In some scenarios, you have a decision with it – to go or to stay. However, in other instances you either have to relocate or you have to find another job. If you choose not to go, will you be offered any type of severance package? If you decide to go will they help you with it?

Cost of Living

Before you give the company your decision, find out all you can about the place where you are moving to. What is the cost of living there? If it is much different than where you currently reside, will they be giving you a raise? If not, you could find yourself in a financial crunch. What is the housing market like in that new area? Will you be able to buy a home or do you need to rent until you sell your current home?

Corporate Relocation Expenses

You will often find that the business asking you to relocate is willing to help with the expenses involved. They may pay a certain dollar amount of the move and you are responsible for anything beyond that. They may pay for the entire move and even hire an entity to do it as they can discounts relating to corporate relocation moving costs.

You need to carefully read through everything they offer and ask questions if you have them. You can also try to re-negotiate anything that you aren't happy with. For example, the cost of living in a hotel while the transition takes place. You may have to go for work now but your family won’t be moving for another month to the new place.

Tax Breaks

You may not be aware that you could qualify for tax breaks if you move for work more than 50 miles from your current residence. There are some stipulations though such as you must be relocating to work full time. IRS Publication 521 or your accountant can help you to determine if you qualify and if so, what you qualify for relating to such tax breaks.

Conclusion

This information is going to put corporate relocation in a better perspective for you to think about. There are plenty of perks that can be involved, but it all comes down to a case by case basis with the company you work for. Never make any assumptions and always strive to get all the help from the for the cost of moving and the actual moving process as you are able to.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

How to brace yourself for relocation

When we live in a particular place for many years, we get used to everything about the place and start loving it too. We tend to develop this typical “frog in the well” – a frog does not know the world beyond the well - attitude and are opposed to the idea of relocating to another place. Our friendly neighborhood is another deterrent and prevents us from stepping out of our comfort zone. If you have kids, it is another point to ponder because kids hate the idea of leaving their school and friends and going to a new place altogether. A new place calls for a lot of readjustment mentally and physically, especially for kids. But, when relocation becomes inevitable due to official or personal reasons, it is always good to welcome it with an open mind and healthy attitude

All these things apart, there are some positive sides to relocation, which cannot be ignored. We human beings are basically social animals that need to look for newer surroundings and newer people. Moving to a new place gives you an opportunity to mingle with people of all types and ethnic backgrounds, which gives to wide exposure and expands your intellectual horizons. You become fearless, more adventurous, and broad-minded and above all, can become well-braced to tackle any situation any time. In any sector, a well-traveled person is looked upon as more knowledgeable and enterprising individual. In corporate arena, such a person has an edge over the rest in the career graph.

Now comes the children part. Children being what they are, will be averse to the thought of leaving their school and friends. At home too, they would have formed many friends in the neighborhood and will not welcome the idea of any kind of displacement. Having said that, it is also true that kids are very adaptable by nature and in no time they will form new friendships at the new place and will gradually love their new school or college too. As a parent, the onus is on you to convince your children about the benefits of foraying into new regions or cultures. You will need to convince them that a change of scene will help them to form new bonds and new associations.

Once you have succeeded in convincing your loved ones, it is time to start making initial preparations for the move. First and foremost, you will need to look for good tenant or a buyer for your home, depending on whether you want to retain your present residence or sell it at a good price. Allot enough time for this purpose so that you are able to get the better end of the bargain. Next, you will need to finalize a reliable mover like PA moving company that has carved a unique niche in the market owing to good customer feedback and commendable performance over the years, and will extend every kind of relocation assistance. Once a reputed moving company has been identified, all other formalities become easy and manageable until you are ready to move!

Monday, July 29, 2013

Planning an organized move – relocation assistance

Years ago, moving was considered extremely stressful and depressing, both physically and emotionally. In those days, we had to personal look into all aspects the move like, obtaining several official documents needed or the move, arranging for packing materials, packing things personally – as not all could afford labor fees -, loading transporting and then unloading at the destination. 

Unpacking and arranging personal belongings in the new place would take up not less than a week. Things have become much simpler and quicker in modern times. Though even now, moving can become tedious but it is by no means terrifying. A few hints given in the following paragraphs can make your relocation organized and an enjoyable experience for you and your loved ones.

Prior to leaving your old home:

Go to each room of your home and take an inventory of all your belongings. Throw away junk items without hesitation. Arrange a garage sale for those items that you do not need and are yet useful to others. Now, you are left with only useful items for packing and transporting.

If you have kids, you should involve them in your packing job too. Ask your kids to pack their toys and story books and other handy items in their own bags so that they can continue to use them till the last day.

Prepare a lever file that contains all essential documents like birth certificates, passport, medical records and other urgently required documents, etc., and remember to carry this file with you personally.

Make sure that your home is cleaned thoroughly once you have removed all the furniture so that you leave a good impression in the mind of the next visitor or occupant.

Settle all the bills before your departure. Also, make necessary arrangements so that unpaid bills, if any, are forwarded to your new address for settlement.

Use the services of an expert and affordable mover like PA moving company to transport your personal belongings to your destination and any other relocation assistance. Obtain an undertaking from the moving company about safe conveyance of your belongings, without damage or loss.
Notify your local post office to forward your mails to the new address.

Let all your close friends and family have a copy of your change of address.
Remember to pack fragile and vulnerable articles and jewels personally and carry them with you along with your other personal items.

Do not forget to label all the boxes clearly so that unpacking and rearranging becomes easy in your new home.

On reaching your new home:

Sort the boxes in and place them in their respective rooms.

You may take the help of a professional organizer, who will help you in unpacking and arranging your belongings.

Involve your kids too in your task of arranging things to help them get used to their new home sooner.
Make sure to call the newcomer services to familiarize yourself with new offers and coupons for your new area. This will help you to save some money as you will be eating out for a few days until you ready to use your kitchen.

Once you have settled in your new home, it will be nice to realize that moving wasn't so stressful after all!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Tips for a Greener Corporate Relocation

Like it or not, corporate relocation has a huge impact on the organization’s carbon footprint perhaps more so than the usual day at the office. Why? Think of all the packing paper, boxes and tape that will be used and will eventually end up in the trash, not to mention the ecological impact of the moving trucks and the renovation materials in the new offices, among others.

Fortunately, the organization’s carbon footprint can be minimized by planning a greener office relocation project. Such an eco-friendlier moving plan shall not only lessen the carbon footprint but will also save on costs – recycling, reusing and reducing has that overall effect – while enhancing your goodwill in the community. This is a win-win situation that can truly benefit everybody involved in the relocation.

Getting Rid of Items

Every corporate relocation project is an opportunity to make a comprehensive assessment of the company assets from the inventory of products to the office supplies, furniture and equipment, among others. Said assessment will yield various items that the company should have been rid of months ago for several reasons like the costs of storage have outpaced the possible profits, the items are obsolete, and the assets are considered as non-performing resources.

Instead of throwing everything into the trash, try these options for a greener office relocation project:

• Do your research. Ask around the community, browse the Internet and ask employees for suggestions where the to-be-discarded items can be donated for a good cause and sold for a good profit on the depreciated values.

• Donate the items in good condition to local charities and organizations where these assets can be put to good use. Examples include donating the computers to local schools, the furniture to small businesses, and the food inventory to the food bank.

• Sell the stuff. You will be surprised at the eagerness of many individuals in buying items from organizations that can be reused in their own premises. Not only will you be able to lessen your impact on the landfills but you can also make money off the items, said money of which can be used as part of your corporate relocation budget.

Of course, you should also reuse and recycle many of the items in your new office. You can then skip on buying new items, thus, saving on relocation costs while also providing a sense of familiarity for the employees in the new premises.

Using Eco-friendly Packing Materials

Corporate relocation projects are most often on a larger scale than home relocations for obvious reasons. The result: More packing materials are used, thus, increasing the carbon impact. The solutions:


• Avoid packing items that can be moved in their own coverings, so to speak.

• Use reusable containers.

• Ask the moving company for eco-friendly options. (In fact, you will want to choose the moving company based on its green approach to its job such as planning the move via the shortest possible route.)

In the end, a corporate relocation project will only be as eco-friendly as your steps to make it so. Start planning your steps and start doing your share for our home planet!

Friday, July 12, 2013

Relocation Assistance for Senior Citizens

Did you know that over 12% of Americans are considered as senior citizens – 65 years old and above? Many of these citizens will require relocation assistance during their moves from their present residences to their new homes, which can be in the suburbs, retirement communities, and retirement homes. Many will move in anticipation of their future lifestyle of leisure, or of their new economic status, or of their desire to be nearer their families.

Regardless of the reasons for relocation, you will find the activities associated with it to be physical and emotionally difficult, to say the least. The more assistance provided on your move, the more chances for relocation success sans the usual hassles. Here are a few tips that you can keep in mind in this regard.

Hire the Right Moving Company

Unless your family and friends are willing and able to provide relocation assistance, hiring the right PA moving company is a must. Then again, even when your family and friends offer assistance, getting the professionals to do many of the relocation jobs is strongly recommended. Doing so can expedite the process of relocation, thanks to the professionals’ expertise in packing, moving and storing items from heavy furniture to fragile porcelain.

Take an Inventory

In 65 years, you have probably collected an amazing amount of odds and ends aside from the usual furniture, fixtures and furnishings, among other material possessions. Since many of these items cannot be taken to your new place, you should take an inventory of all the possible items in the house. If possible, ask a relative’s or friend’s assistance during the inventory to make fast work of it.

The list of items can then be evaluated on several aspects. What can be taken to the new place? What will not fit into the weight and space requirements of the moving trucks? What types of items are required in the new residence?

Basically, you are making it easier for family and friends as well as the PA moving company to lend relocation assistance. The lesser number of items, the faster the relocation can be achieved.

Stick to a Timetable

To avoid the last-minute hustle and bustle of packing, storing and moving, you are well-advised to follow a timetable. This will provide a step-by-step detail for what needs to be done a few months, a few weeks and then a few days before moving day as well as on the actual day itself. You can ask the moving company for assistance on this matter.

Keep in mind, too, that your timetable should include important matters like transferring insurance plans, medical prescriptions, and legal papers, among others. This is especially true when you are moving out of state, say, from Philadelphia to New York. You may also ask for relocation assistance on this matter from the concerned service provider like the insurance agent, lawyer, and doctor, to name a few professionals.

Most important of all, you should adopt safety practices when packing, moving and storing items before these are transported by the moving company. Examples include using masks and gloves for certain chemicals, avoiding lifting of heavy objects, and packing in small boxes. You want relocation assistance instead not medical assistance during the process!