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!

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!

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!

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!

Business Continuity in the Midst of Corporate Relocation

Most, if not all, modern workplaces rely on information and communication technology (ICT) for their daily operations, strategic planning, and policy setting activities for good reasons; the technology makes gathering reliable, relevant and accurate information as well as communicating information easier and faster. As such, the business continuity of ICT systems must be preserved and protected during corporate relocation lest the organization suffer from data loss and information theft, among other risks.

Fortunately, businesses can tap into the professional relocation assistance services provided by reliable and reputable moving companies in the United States. These relocation companies are well-versed in the principles and practices of protection of data and information protection during relocations. Still, it must be said that clients also have their share of the roles and responsibilities related to data and information protection.

Physical Move of ICT Equipment

Many offices regard the physical movement of their ICT equipment including desktops, laptops and servers from the old to the new premises as the first priority. This is because these pieces of equipment are sensitive on two levels, namely, sensitive because of their electronic nature and sensitive because of the information contained in their applications.

Planning for corporate relocation then requires implementing safety and security measures to prevent physical theft of the ICT equipment. The best moving company will be able to discuss in detail the appropriate measures including locked moving trucks, secure storage, and comprehensive monitoring of whereabouts. These are still in line with the company’s relocation assistance services so clients are well-advised to take advantage.

Protection of Data and Information

Said moving company may also recommend security experts in data and information protection during relocations. Clients may or may not hire these security experts depending on their needs and wants in the service (i.e., an in-house security personnel will take care of the job).

The bottom line: The protection of data and information systems is a must during corporate relocation. Otherwise, the corporation can suffer adverse effects including information theft and disruption of business, both of which are detrimental to the company’s competitiveness.

Assessment of ICT Systems

Did you know that office relocations are also opportunities to assess the present ICT systems of your organization? Yes, indeed, considering that an ICT inventory must be made before moving day so as to determine the changes (i.e., new equipment and accessories) required in the new office. This is a good time as any to evaluate the corporation’s future ICT requirements, thus, maximizing the costs incurred for the corporate relocation project.

A few examples of the possible changes in ICT systems:

• Change in Internet service provider/phone provider

• Rerouting in cabling requirements for the new office

• Increase in the number of phone and fax lines

• Upgrading of ICT system in anticipation of future requirements

• Testing of new additions to the system to determine their computability with the existing applications

Indeed, with the workplace largely dependent on ICT systems for smooth daily operations, the importance of a smooth transition during a corporate relocation project from the old to the new office premises cannot be overemphasized.