Moving Guru Blog

Common Moving Problems

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Devie Lin

Moving is not easy. It’s fraught with pitfalls that can make your move a mess – a financial, personal and physical mess. There are some moving mistakes that can cost you over $1000, and others that can take years off your life with stress.

So, how do you avoid these common moving problems? What are these moving mistakes that you must watch out for? Here are the 5 worst moving mistakes that you can make:

  1. Procrastinating – Don’t wait until the last minute to plan a move. If you do, it’s already too late. Start planning at least a month before your move.
  2. Not having a contract – You need to have a moving contract, plain and simple. Learn about terms to include in your moving contract.
  3. Not transferring services – Forgetting to transfer home services is a brutal mistake. It can leave you in your new home without heat during the winter, without AC during the summer, without Internet for weeks (gasp!), and without bills until collections calls.
  4. Not researching movers – Movers aren’t universally reliable. The only way you can ensure that you hire a trustworthy moving company is by doing the necessary research online and by asking the right questions over the phone.
  5. Moving what you don’t need – Moving, say, a large couch costs money on multiple fronts. It costs money to get it out of your house, and it costs money for the space it takes up in the truck. Sometimes in the grand scheme of things, it’s not a big deal, but other times it can be the difference between hiring movers and renting a moving pod, between $800 and $900, between packing up your car and renting a truck. Try to get rid of things; it’ll save you money.

 

Once you know the mistakes to avoid, learn about some moving tips that will help make your move smoother than velvet.

Posted in Moving Logistics, Moving Safety | Leave a comment

Moving Company Problems

Posted on August 18, 2013 by Devie Lin

Moving companies are businesses, and anyone who has dealt with businesses knows that some interactions go smoothly, and some are, well, problematic. It’s not always easy to know when a problem will arise, unfortunately. However, if you know what problems to expect, you can do your best to avoid them.

Moving company problems arise in a few key situations. Here are the top three moving company problems to avoid:

Overpayment – Some movers are out to charge you every penny possible. If you hire predatory moving company or a moving scam, you’re in for unreasonably high charges. However, even if you hire a good company, miscommunication can lead to unexpected charges. Make sure you have a good moving contract in place to avoid that.

Broken items – Broken items are caused by lazy movers, bad packing, and, sometimes, just plain old bad luck. However, you can avoid these problems by finding good movers, packing correctly, and, above all, getting moving insurance.

Untimeliness – What can be worse than living in your new home without all of your stuff? It can happen. Again, make sure to hire a reliable moving company, and make sure to give them the precise information of where you’re moving. Also, discuss with them how long it will take to get from point A to point B, so you know what to expect time-wise. Finally, transfer services so you have heat/AC/cable when you move in.

 

Learn how to hire a reliable moving company to avoid moving problems.

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Best Neighborhoods in LA

Posted on August 17, 2013 by Devie Lin

Los Angeles is one of those places. It’s just one of those places. I mean, beyond its warm beaches, it offers fantastic ways for people to blow their salaries on the more pleasurable things in life, like 5-star dishes, music and cocktails. And though many cities have similar amenities, few do them quite like LA. Certainly, at the very least, few have its sunny weather and laid-back vibe.

Yes, moving to LA is a bomb idea. Bomb like good. However, it can also be a really bomb idea, bomb like bummer, if you pick the wrong neighborhood. In a city where driving 10 miles can mean 45 minutes of traffic, it’s important to live in the right spot.

Here are six of the best neighborhoods in LA:

 

Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills is known for being the home of the rich and ritzy, the celebrities of the celebrities. It’s beautiful, of course. It has great schools, and the police keep it safe, too. But all of this comes at a price. It’s one of the most expensive areas in the city in the country.

Downtown

Downtown LA is a downtown. It has big buildings in close quarters, and it’s very walkable for those who live in its concrete bowels. The food around here is amazing – we’re talking burritos of absolutely epic class. The art scene is good, too, supported by a monthly art walk. And rents are affordable considering the offerings. Of course, it’s downtown. Expect some grime, crime and crazy shouting from street corners.

Hollywood

While Beverly Hills might be the home of the rich and famous, Hollywood is the place where they rub elbows with the masses.  It is the epicenter of the world’s entertainment world, and it has the glamorous dining and clubbing scenes necessary for all those involved. It also is somewhat affordable and has unique housing that dates back decades. That being said, it also attracts the unseemly side of the city, and traffic. The traffic, oh dear…

Santa Monica

Santa Monica is sleepier in LA terms. It runs up into the coast, and it has its own beach, which is very popular and attracts traffic like garbage does flies. But there’s nothing garbage-like about Santa Monica. It’s very pretty and has a lot to offer by way for food and nightlife. It’s location is prime, and though prices rise steeply near the beach, inland is more affordable.

Silver Lake and Echo Park

If you’re young and a bit of an oddball, this is the place for you. Located near downtown, these neighborhoods are all grit, art and cheap rent. And bars. They are the havens for the hipsters, the locations for the young adults who judge their dive bars by the sleeves their jukeboxes have to offer. Food is good. Beer is better. Walkability is inconvenient. Crime is ever present.

Venice

Venice has charm. It was designed that way – to have charm. It rolls up to Venice Beach, which has plenty of weird things to look at along its main drag, and before the beach, Venice offers a, well, very Venetian maze of canals that residents can boat slowly through. Housing is more affordable here and a bit more suburban. It’s also tightly knit, both in terms of community and space. Though charming, Venice has never been able to completely charm away the crime that took hold in the 1970’s, when it was a mecca for affordable housing. Still, it’s not a cesspool by any means, and it has, well, like I said, it has a lot of charm.

 

Learn more about LA, including the pros and cons of Los Angeles.

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Should I Hire a Moving Company?

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Devie Lin

Good question. Unfortunately, sometimes there isn’t a good answer. Deciding whether to hire a moving company can be a delicate balancing process, depending on your financial situation and the specifics of your move.

There are three basic factors you’ll need to weigh when deciding whether to hire a moving company: (1) your budget, (2) your moving needs, and (3) whether you’re willing to part with things.

Should I Hire a Moving Company?

The budget – If you have more than enough money to cover any sort of move, or if your company is paying for your relocation, then you can hire a moving company without much concern. However, if money is tight, you’ll need to do some movers soul searching – is their help worth the cost?

Moving needs – What do you need to move? If it’s just a few things, perhaps what you have in a single bedroom apartment, then you can probably handle moving on your own. However, if you need to move a four-bedroom house, or if you have a lot of furniture, then it’s more difficult. Additionally, moving across town is easier to do solo, while moving across the country is best left to the pros.

Getting rid of stuff – Let’s say you don’t have much money, but you need some moving help to handle your larger items. Well, this problem can be resolved if you’re willing to simply sell those larger items and buy new ones in your new hometown. Selling items, or leaving them behind, is the best way to make an unaffordable move affordable.

 

Learn more about your various moving options at Movingguru.com.

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Moving Checklist PDF

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Devie Lin

Our checklist is coming soon. Check back in a week or two!!

 

 

Posted in Moving Logistics, Other | Leave a comment

Moving to California DMV – What to Do

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Devie Lin

If you’re moving to California, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is the entity you will be dealing with regarding your vehicle. There are two things you will need to do with the DMV:

  1. Register your vehicle
  2. Get a new license

You should do these things within 20 days of moving to California, otherwise penalties can kick in.

Here are some more things you will need to do:

Registration

Smog check – your car will need to pass a smog check, which will require you to go to a smog check place, which will cost somewhere between $50 and $100. If your car fails the smog check, you can’t register it. Many cars fail smog check, by the way.

Old registration – you will need to provide the DMV with your vehicle’s old paperwork to show where it came from, etc.

Fee – there’s a fee to register your car in California. It varies by car. Expect $150-$250 per year.

License

Test – If you have a driver’s license from another state, you will still need to pass a written, multiple choice quiz, which you take at the DMV. There’s a pamphlet of laws you can learn before taking it. It’s not too difficult, but still study up for a few minutes.

Appointments

You can save a lot of time at the DMV by making an appointment online before you go there.

 

Learn more about dealing with the DMV after moving.

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Moving to Another State

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Devie Lin

Wondering what you need to do before and after moving to another state? Truth be told, it’s essentially the same as moving in-state. You need to take care of all your basic moving issues, from picking a moving date to settling in (check out our moving checklist for more info).

That being said, there are a couple additional things you’ll probably need to do when moving to another state. Here they are:

  • Register with the state’s DMV (or DoT) – Each state has its own vehicle registration requirements. You’ll need to check with your new state as soon as possible regarding your vehicle.
  • Check for pets/plants – Some states restrict what kind of plants and animals are allowed in. Check your new state’s rules before moving.
  • Address alcohol – A couple states have archaic laws regarding importing alcohol. Make sure bringing your liquor collection with you isn’t an offense. How to transport alcohol across state lines.
  • Tell insurance carriers – Insurance premiums may rise or fall depending on where you move. Let your insurers know so that there aren’t difficulties (or worse, non-coverage) when something goes wrong.
  • Get a new utility company – Chances are that if you move to a new state, you’ll have new electricity, Internet and cable providers.

 

Learn more about what you need to do when moving to a new state with our moving checklist.

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Sample Relocation Agreement

Posted on August 10, 2013 by Devie Lin

If you’re looking for a sample relocation agreement, look no further than MovingGuru.com.

We have two sample moving agreements, one for flat rate moves and another for hourly moves. Though both might not be right for your move, they can give you great insight into the terms that you should include in your moving contract.

Here are links to our sample relocation agreements:

Sample Moving Contract for Hourly Moves

Sample Moving Contract for Flat Rate Moves

 

Learn more about what is a moving contract?

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Relocation Repayment Agreement

Posted on August 8, 2013 by Devie Lin

A relocation repayment agreement is also referred to as an employee relocation agreement. Whichever term you use, the agreement concerns which moving costs your company will cover for you, and which it won’t.

Not all companies offer relocation agreements. However, most large companies do, and if a company is trying to entice you to move to take a job with them, there’s a good chance you can negotiate a relocation repayment agreement with them.

Costs to address in the agreement include:

 

Note that if you already have an employment agreement with the company, it might address relocation costs. However, if it does not, talk to your superior about whether costs will be covered, and make sure to get the details written down. That way you’ll be able to rest assured that the costs you expect to be covered will, indeed, be covered.

 

Learn more about employee relocation agreements at MovingGuru.com.

Posted in Moving Financials, Settling into Your New Home | Leave a comment

Best Neighborhoods in San Diego

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Devie Lin

San Diego, California, is one of those few cities that conjures up a single image for just about everyone: the beach. San Diego rides up onto the Pacific Ocean, and has miles upon miles of the sandy stuff.

San Diego is more than just sunny beach fronts, though. It has some serious culture, too, from a local cuisine that blends the best of Mexico with the fruits of the sea, to a vibrant and varied nightlife.

However, while San Diego has it all, not all of its neighborhoods do. In fact, San Diego is one of the more segregated (not racially) cities around. Pick the wrong neighborhood and you might be miserable.

So, where will you live when moving to San Diego? Here are the six best neighborhoods in San Diego:

 

Ocean Beach (surfer hippies) – Besides the beach, which is one of the city’s more popular, Ocean Beach has many good restaurants, bars and shops. However, what sets it apart is its earthy vibe. This isn’t the place where people go clubbing after the beach; it’s where they lean back and put on Bob Marley. Ocean Beach rides up into the hills, where you can play good luck finding parking. Houses and small apartments dominate the housing scene. Prices are high.

Pacific Beach / Mission Beach (surfers bros) – This is where people go clubbing after the beach. Again, there are many great shops and restaurants around here, along with the beach, but come nighttime, the area sets itself apart as party central. Grand Ave becomes littered with the inebriated. Parking is known for not existing in the surrounding neighborhoods. Again, houses and small apartments dominate the housing scene, and, again, prices are high.

Downtown (Gas Lamp) (young professionals) – Downtown has it all, really. Jobs, food, shops, the ballpark, fancy clubs… It’s the heart of San Diego. Highrise lofts and large apartment buildings make up the bulk of the housing. Prices are higher.

South Park (broke graduates) – South Park is an up-and-coming area that’s bent on the arts. While its nightlife scene is still budding, its coffee shop and gallery scene is blossoming, watered by the availability of cheaper rents and an art-centric populace.

La Jolla (wealthy families) – La Jolla is the ritzy area of San Diego. People who buy homes here have mega money. They drive boats. La Jolla is known for its beauty and high-end lifestyle. Oh, and it has its own beach. If you can afford La Jolla, living here is not a regrettable decision. The only major con is it’s further from downtown than the rest of the neighborhoods on this list.

Normal Heights (broke college students) – Located inland, in the middle of San Diego, Normal Heights has more affordable housing yet still plenty of good shopping, restaurants and bars. San Diego State University is nearby, making Normal Heights a good neighborhood for young adults and students.

 

Learn more about the pros and cons of San Diego, CA.

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