moving to Lincoln Nebraska
/ By / Moving Tips • Moving To Guides/ 0 Comments

5 Things to Know About Moving To Lincoln, Nebraska

If you’re planning a move to Lincoln, Nebraska, you’ll likely want to know a bit about your home-to-be. As the capital of the Midwestern state, Lincoln has a lot of charm and entertainment to offer its new residents. Before you plan your move, take a look at our list of five things to consider about a transition to Lincoln, Nebraska:

1. Plan for the weather. While you may not be able to predict exactly how the weather will be on a day-to-day basis, you should know what kinds of weather you’ll be experiencing in Nebraska and prepare for it. Nebraskans get all four seasons, which means you’ll get the full range of temperatures to enjoy, from hot in the summer to freezing in the winter. Be sure you and your family are ready to face it all, especially if summer or winter is coming up when you move.

2. Know how you’ll be able to maintain your lifestyle. You’re in luck: the cost of living in Nebraska is low, and pay is known to be at a high level generally in Lincoln. Understand what your expenses will be before you go so you can accurately assess the lifestyle you’ll be able to maintain. Depending on what part of the country you move from, you may be able to afford slightly more than before (as cost of living here is lower than average).

In addition, Lincoln has a thriving nightlife scene you’ll be able to enjoy. If you’re interested in the social scene, you will be able to take a trip to O Street, the center and main street of the city, to explore the options in establishments, from dive bars to nightclubs.

3. Consider the thriving opportunity to grow in Lincoln. Lincoln is an exciting place to be right now: The city has recently become noticed for its growth in business and careers, being pointed to by Forbes magazine as one of the top growing cities in the nation. There’s also a wonderfully healthy atmosphere; Lincoln is known for being one of the happiest and healthiest cities in America as well. Because of this, you’ll find a city full of great exercise habits, great outlooks, and plentiful options in activities, dining, and employment.

4. Be aware of Lincoln’s huge football scene. The University of Nebraska is a large college which is housed in Lincoln, and inspires a large amount of excitement and loyalty in both the college students and the general population. The college and awareness of the football scene is big in Lincoln, so you’ll definitely come into contact with this aspect of the city in your move! Before you move, know the name “Huskers,” and be ready to hear it.

5. Know you’ll have lots of nature at your fingertips to enjoy. Lincoln has 125 parks to explore, which means you’ll be able to get in as much nature as you’d like. One such option is the historic Sunken Gardens, built as a project during the Great Depression, and today, a peaceful and beautiful place to visit (near the zoo, as well, for a full day trip option). You also have the Pioneer Park and Nature Center open to you, at which you can play disc golf, view buffalo, hike, or just sit back and enjoy the amazing scenery.

6. Understand your food options. Lincoln has begun to offer a variety of dining options that foodies can now enjoy across the city. While American food is dominant among the many restaurants, you’ll also find a well reviewed array of Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and Italian within the top rated restaurant types in Lincoln.

For more information on living in Lincoln, Nebraska, or tips on your move, don’t hesitate to contact us today.

moving to Las Vegas
/ By / Moving Tips • Moving To Guides/ 13 Comments

What You Should Know About Moving to Las Vegas

 

Moving to another city can be intimidating, depending on who you are and what your situation is. However, moving to Las Vegas is pretty exciting and the opportunities are endless. If you are moving to Las Vegas, there are a few things you should know about “The City That Never Sleeps” and what to expect when living in this iconic city.

Things are Happening 24/7

There is truth in the phrase, “The City That Never Sleeps” because it’s not just the casinos that are open all day and night. Imagine being able to order take-out any time of day or pick up groceries at 3 A.M. Things are always going on in Vegas and it’s not your typical 9-5 type of city but who wants that anyway?

Peace and Quiet

While Las Vegas has excitement going on around the clock, that does not mean that you cannot find peace and quiet. There are plenty of locations to live that offer quiet, family living. Like many famous towns, there is a stereotype that if you live there, it’s a non-stop party. Actually, Vegas is like any other town when it comes to living a quiet life. You have the Strip and then you have the rest of the areas that have suburbs with dry cleaners, government buildings, churches, and homes that are away from the hustle and bustle of the main drag.

Work is Abundant

There are plenty of jobs in Las Vegas and some of them pay more than you might think. Some bartenders clear around 100K per year and no matter what job you find or have lined up, Vegas has the lowest taxes in the entire country, which means you’ll see more of your earnings in your pocket instead of going to Uncle Sam. This is because all of those tourist dollars are helping the city so you don’t have to help as much.

Transportation Matters

It is important to know that you will most likely need a car if you are moving to Las Vegas. There is public transportation but the city itself is enormous. While you may be familiar with the Strip area, there are other surrounding areas such as North Vegas, Henderson, and Summerlin. Not to mention, if you live further out in the suburbs, you’ll need to be able to drive into the main part of the city.

Just so you know:

  • Parking is not only easy to find, many times it is free
  • You can use the RTC for just $5 per 24 hour period
  • The roads can be confusing but you’ll get used to knowing how to get around

There is Plenty to Do

Ask anyone who doesn’t live in Vegas what there is to do and most likely they will mention the casinos and shows. However, there is plenty to do that is more family oriented. There is an amazing five dog parks in the area, there are bowling alleys, cultural events, museums (three major ones include: the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Las Vegas Art Museum, and the Las Vegas Museum of Natural History) and there is always the desert, which offers hiking, sightseeing, and amazing photo opportunities.

Las Vegas is more than just Sin City and while it may have the reputation as a town that is all tourists or celebrity sightings, it is an amazing place to raise a family or settle down for a quiet lifestyle.

When you are ready to move to Las Vegas, you need the best moving companies available and we are ready to help. We specialize in finding long-distance moving companies that are the best in the business and if you want to learn more or have any questions, simply contact us or browse our site to see what we offer.

 

/ By / Moving Tips/ 17 Comments

Seven Tips to Share After Moving Across The Country

Moving across the cross country can not only be fraught with anxiety, but can also be extremely difficult to manage from a logistical standpoint. By the time you finally get to the new destination that you will be calling home, you can be in such a state of tension and end up making basic mistakes you would normally never make. Thankfully, the task of moving to a new state thousands of miles away doesn’t have to be as difficult and stress inducing as it is for many people. Let me share with you the lessons I learned after recently conducting my own cross country move all the way from Colorado to Washington.

My Story And How It Can Help You

The preparation for my big move took the best part of a month to get completed. Having never undertaken such a big personal move before, I was met with surprises and had to adapt in order to deal with the realities of the big task, which was a bigger and harder task than I imagined it would be. Fortunately, after successfully completing my long distance move I feel that I learned a lot from the experience and am able to share my tips for dealing with both the practical logistics and the emotional aspects involved. Hopefully these will prove helpful to you and make it all go a little more smoothly!

It Can Be Hard To Know Where To Move To!

which way should i move across country?If you find yourself in the position that I found myself in, which is to say that I positively decided it was time for me to move to a different city, rather than having to move to a particular city for a job I’d applied for or been assigned to, then you’ll quickly discover just how many options you have. Normally options are a good thing, however sometimes too much of a good thing can be overwhelming.

Firstly, you have to decide which city to move to and then you have to narrow it down to specific neighborhoods where you’d be happy to live. Fortunately, it’s now possible to find out almost everything you need to know about a place just by using Google for a couple hours on your laptop or tablet. This allows you to find out information about the job market, housing costs, entertainment, the general culture of the city and a bunch of other useful things which are helpful to know about a place.

Once you’ve chosen a city be sure to use a site like Yelp to get a good of what the area is like street by street. After you’ve settled on a neighborhood within a city that you want to move to it’s then time to set a date on the move. If you have any flexibility in your schedule, then you should move at a time other than the summer months. Generally speaking, a higher percentage of people want to move in the summer which forces the price up on everything moving-related. Pick another time of the year and you can save a fair amount. Also getting multiple moving quotes from a reputable website online can save you the hassle of contacting companies one by one.

You’ll Need To Deal With All Your Stuff

sell-stuff-to-move-easier-cross-countryOver the years you end up accumulating tons of stuff, a lot of which you never use. When moving across the country you basically have to decide whether you want to transport stuff or sell it (or give it away) before leaving. A good strategy is to do a bit of both. Give yourself a clear weekend to go through all the stuff you currently have and decide what’s to be shipped and what’s to be sold. Once you’ve decided what you’re going to sell, two great places to start selling it off quickly are Craigslist and eBay. Selling things can be a little bit of a hassle, but a huge bonus is you generally raise more money than you would expect to. This can give you a nice amount of cash to pay for renting a truck and the gas you’ll need to transport it all cross-country.

Sorting Out A Rental From Afar Is Tricky

This part surprised me as I genuinely thought that in today’s internet world it would be easy to rent an apartment in Washington from the comfort of my sofa in Colorado. As it turned out it was actually quite tricky. A problematic aspect is the whole deal with putting down a deposit on a place which you haven’t yet seen in person. Obviously, nearby you would always want to see an apartment first before you put down any money. However, with the distance involved this can be hard to get landlords to agree to. In the end I found a workaround which involved staying at a friend’s house for a few days to check apartments and neighborhoods out until I felt comfortable putting down a deposit. If you don’t have friends or family to stay with, then consider taking a hotel or Airbnb for a few days.

Dealing With Appointments Can Be Crazy At First

Moving to a completely new places is like living in a whirlwind for the first few days when you get there. You need to meet with landlords, register with a doctor, dentist, meet new friends, workmates and employers. This all happens at breakneck speed and it can be easy to miss an important engagement. To avoid this happening, make sure you get a good calendar app to help you manage your schedule and be able to easily slot in new appointments as and when they appear.

Don’t Trust Your Memory – Make A To-Do-List!

To do moving listWith so much going on it can be easy to lose sight of what’s important and forget to get vital tasks done. Remove this possibility by making a to-do-list every day to keep you on track. Everyday in the build-up to moving cross-country right up until it was completed successfully I made a new to-do-list every morning and stuck to it. You can use an App such as Wunderlist if you like keeping things digital. I relied on using a small piece of paper with the key tasks written down in order and always kept it in my pocket.

I Found It Incredibly Stressful To Move Cross-Country

Sometimes it’s better to acknowledge a problem rather than pretend it isn’t there. Moving long distance caused me a lot of anxiety and I didn’t always find it easy to cope with. A couple of times I had a minor breakdown where I needed to remove myself from the stressful situation and take some time to breath. One of these was when I was told that some of my stuff, which I’d chosen to ship, was going to be delayed in getting there by two days. That sucked and made an already difficult day even more trying. I learned to cope with the stress by listening to some meditation apps on my phone and making sure I got plenty of sleep. I tell you this not to discourage you from moving. Rather I just want you to know that moving can be stressful and you should be prepared to deal with it.

Get On The Ground To Really Know The Place

A key thing I learned was that getting my feet on the ground and walking around the area got me acquainted with the neighborhood I’d moved into far better than travelling by car ever would have done. You really gain a much better feel for an area when you go through it on foot compared with passing by it in a car. Even if you’re going to rely on your car most of the time, it’s still a good idea to go for a good walk in the area to get to know the area better.

Summing Up

It can be hard moving cross-country. However, it has been so worthwhile for me and I don’t regret it all. Hopefully the lessons I’ve learned will help you cope better with moving and make it a better, less-stressful experience. Good luck!

/ By / Long Distance Moving • Moving Tips/ 21 Comments

Things To Think About When Moving To Phoenix Arizona

Phoenix AZ Arizona City ShotMoving to another state can be daunting both emotionally, psychologically and physically. It can be heart breaking especially if you’re moving away from your home town. However, learning a little bit about Phoenix Arizona might help put your mind at ease. Phoenix is a fine place but unlike other states in the country, can be too hot for your liking. This is the only feature that seems to bother people. However, winter in Arizona is nothing like other states that experience snow. Even though their weather is very hot, you can cool off in pools, the beach and they also have great air conditioning in houses and places of work to keep you cool. Apart from this, there are a few other things that you should think about when moving to Phoenix, Arizona.

1. Who’s Going to Move you

moving truck sketchThe first thing that’s going to put your mind at ease before moving across country to Phoenix is finding a good moving company. A bad one will make the relocation more stressful than it already is. However, a good one will help you accept the change and put your mind at ease. Your moving company of choice needs to be as professional as possible. It needs to handle your belongings with utmost care and aspire to get them to Arizona in one piece. They also need to have proper customer service. Your needs should be listened to and met regardless. They should come pick up and drop off your belongings off at the right time that you’d both agreed upon. For a moving company to be qualified to move you across state, it needs to have a US DOT number from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA). They should have a license to operate in Arizona as well as the state that you’re moving from. You should verify this information to guard against being scammed by rogue movers.

2. Who’s Going to Cover the Cost

stack of moneyMoving to another state can be very expensive. If you’re job is the reason behind the move, it is only proper for them to cover the moving expenses. For most companies, this is common and one does not even need to ask. However, if your company is silent on the issue, feel free to approach them. Moving away from your comfort zone is sacrifice enough.

3. Cost of living

Since this is the first time that you’re going to live in Phoenix, Arizona you need to know the cost of living there. After this, compare it to what you’re used to. It might be cheaper or more costly but getting the information first hand will help you plan better. If the cost of living is higher than your current city of residence, you can make the necessary arrangements to survive. This will include; the type of job to get, amount of salary to ask for, which schools to put your kids in and the kind of house to live in.

4. How is Phoenix Arizona

A new state is just as strange as transferring to a new school. You need to do a little research about Phoenix. This will make the relocation less taunting. Some of the things to look into is the cost of housing, cost of living, distance to social amenities such as schools, hospitals, gas stations and job, weather, culture and traffic. This will help your mind conform to the idea hence making the shift bearable.

5. Quality of Schools

Rear view of a little school children raising their hands in the classroomWhile at it, consider the quality of life and social amenities. Are the schools good? How are the hospitals? Are there entertainment joint close by? Take time to survey and find out the number of schools that are near your new area of residence. Go a step further and find out how well the students perform, how many teachers are available, students per class. This will help you determine whether your child will be given the needed attention to settle in and catch up with the others.

6. Prepare to Adjust

You already know that Phoenix Arizona is very hot. Probably hotter than the state that you’re coming from. If you’re coming from a cold state, get ready for the change. Shop for warmer clothes, swim wear, air conditioning and open shoes. If you’re coming from a cold city, chances are that summer clothing is cheap.

7. Availability of Jobs

If you’re moving for personal reasons then you need a job when you get there after all, life must continue. You need to do a little research on the job market. You can look around for a job online and even send your CV around. You can also go to Phoenix ahead of time and apply in all the firms and companies that you possibly can. The last option is moving first then job hunting while you’re there.

8. Downsizing your Belongings

The more the stuff you have to take with you the more you have to pay the moving company and the more stressful it will be. Sort out through your belongings. Some items that you own will not be of use in Phoenix especially winter clothing. You can choose to sell at a yard sale, give to friends or donate it to charity. Aim to travel as light as possible.

9. Say Goodbye

Some people take a pass on this but always end up regretting later on when its too late. You need to say goodbye to your home, neighbors, family and friends. You need to visit your favorite spot for the last time, historical sites and your favorite restaurant in order to let go and accept the new changes, relocation. You can even throw a go away party and invite everyone that matters to you. Allow your kids to say their goodbyes too and anything else that they need to do in order to be mentally prepared for the relocation.

Moving to Phoenix, Arizona doesn’t have to be a sad affair. If you give yourself enough time to prepare and plan for the relocation, it can be fun and exciting. This is an opportunity to explore and make new friends. There is a perfectly good beach 4 hours away from Phoenix for when it gets too hot. This is a chance to sun bathe and live the summer feeling more than you were used to.

/ By / Long Distance Moving • Moving Tips/ 0 Comments

How to Save Money While Moving Coast to Coast

family getting ready for moveMoving is fun and exciting. However, at the same it’s too heavy in the pocket and hectic. Whenever, you consider the option to move you leave something behind and move into a new life. So you need to be prepared for sudden surprises which life might throw at you. Every single buck will count so why not save from the beginning. Read below to find how to lower costs when moving coast to coast?

Your decision will change you and your life completely. It might be a new city, a new job or relocating for moving ahead. Whatever might be the reason; you can plan and move towards making you moving cost cheap, secure and trouble-free. You will need to focus on too many things simultaneously so if your movers and packer service suit your need and situation it simplify and streamline the entire moving process resulting in a stress-free life. Read some tips on how to lower costs when moving coast to coast? It will help you make the best of moving.

Things you need workout before starting packing

The most common question that pops up for everybody whenever thinking to shift is “How much will be the cost of moving”. Moreover, you will get your answer only after you start taking quotes from moving companies. Don’t rely on one company instead keep discussing and get started with the best-offered deal.

Usually, it has been found that the cost of moving depends on a few factors mentioned below

• What do you need to carry?

• What is the distance to your destination?

• How much time is it going to take?

• When you need to get it done?

• Is there any specialty service needed?

movers blue bgAfter deciding on the above question selects a list of few companies you want to take the service from and then start hunting for the best bargain. Once you get a fair idea of the quotes from them now try these tricks on how to lower costs when moving coast to coast? Make it as cheap as possible.

1. Don’t keep the dead bird hanging: As discussed earlier charge depend on what you carry and where you carry. So, reconsider what do you need to keep and what’s a waste. Removing excessive baggage will help you cut the cost.

2. Selling will become an aid: Heavy and old furniture adds to the cost. Why hang on to the broken sofa or your damp wooden bed? We don’t throw things so easily. Like the chair, you have used all your life is broken but you still feel it is something I cannot throw because I won’t get something as comfortable as this one. There are so many things which have just kept for the heck of keeping it. So, open a garage sale and sell them or donate them to the needy. You can always try online portals to sell. Click the picture of the furniture and upload it on the portal. There many people who are keen to buy second hand furniture. This will even raise some extra bucks for you and indeed be of use in future. Even one less box will be worth the effort.

3. Time is the key to discount: Time of the move decides on the cost but it something you can only luckily plan. If you have the choice to plan the move prefer going towards the winter season. You will definitely be offered off seasonal discounts. Always try moving on Mondays or Tuesdays as people hardly prefer it and mover companies are comparatively free and that will slash the rates by almost 5%.

4. Moving Boxes Are Not Created Equal: If you planning to arrange your move all by yourself and you plan to buy moving boxes then always buy equal sized or proportional boxes. This will occupy less space and be carried safely. Same goes for the heavy furniture like bed, sofa, dining table etc disassemble it and carry it safe.

5. Competition will keep your perks high: More the competition more will they lower the rates for you. So get the quote from multiple vendors and it will help you get maximum discount on the deal.

6. Deduct and save from yearly taxes: As per government law, moving expense can be deducted from your taxable income.

While speaking about moving from one coast to other, movers are always the best option compared