how to move with a pet

It’s true what John Donne wrote: No man is an island. Although we’re pretty sure he was actually waxing poetic about the ways in which we each make up the overall fabric of society, we like to attribute a more basic meaning to his words, and man’s best friend is a perfect example of what we’re talking about. Dogs, cats, birds and other domesticated creatures just seem to take the edge off, even when they’re driving us nuts with their incessant barking/meowing/squawking and undying need for attention. No matter how insane they may drive us, we love them unconditionally, and for good reason: they just make life better.

So, when we’re moving from an old familiar home to a new place, our furballs, feathered friends and other beloved pets could probably use a little extra consideration to make their transition as smooth as possible. Here, we’ve rounded up some tips to keep our four-legged (and winged, and gilled) friends as happy as possible during a relocation.

Before moving day, microchip and spay/neuter your pet

It’s a fact of nature that cats and dogs in particular are curious creatures, and it’s not uncommon for them to feel the need to wander when placed in a new environment. Spaying and neutering not only reduces the pet population to a more controllable (i.e., humane) level, but also reduces the little critters’ inclination to run wild and chase down every pheromone in the new neighborhood by a staggering 90 percent. But in the unfortunate event that Fido or Fluffy does scamper off, microchipping them in advance increases their chances of making it back home by more than 200 percent. That math, to anyone who loves his or her pet, is inarguable. And even better: some animal clinics and shelters offer microchipping for free, while adding your pet to the national microchip registry is less than $20. Money well spent indeed.

Keep pet essentials on hand

While it’s tempting to pack everything — and we mean everything — into boxes while prepping for a move, it’s important to keep your pets’ most familiar elements in use. The familiar sights and scents of food bowls, beds, crates and toys are comforting while traveling and adapting to a new environment. It might feel natural to buy new stuff for your pet to go with the new house or apartment, but actually, it’s wiser to wait until they’ve adapted to their new surroundings before you go switching up their daily essentials and potentially freaking them out.

And speaking of essentials: throughout the move, it’s smart to have an envelope in your bag or dashboard containing up-to-date shot records and veterinary information. Particularly if you’re moving to a new city and taking the furbabies along for the ride, having that info on hand in case of emergency could literally be a life-saver. While the internet is a beautiful tool, it never hurts to have backup on hand, especially in a moment of crisis.

Take the edge off

Some pets just don’t deal well with change, plain and simple. For those nervous nellies in particular, vets are often willing to prescribe a light sedative for car or plane trips to get Bowser, Cupcake or Rocky to the new home safely and securely. Frankly, in this case, “better living through science” can be just the thing to get you through a move with minimal trauma for all involved. If previous experience indicates that it’s going to be a bumpy ride, at least call for a phone consult; the worst the vet can do is say no.

And whatever you do, don’t switch your pet’s food mid-move because you ran out and had to grab something new in a pinch. Stressful moments like these are the ones in which cats and dogs are more likely to have stomach issues, so keep the gravy train steady and give them the foods they’re used to, at the usual times and in the usual bowls.

Baby steps

If it’s at all possible, give your furry (or feathery) friend a chance to get used to the new place in advance. Moving in with a significant other? Bring the little monster over for a weekend or two several weeks in advance of the move. Let them get used to the smells, the sounds and the overall layout well before they’re calling the place ‘home’ and you’ll increase the likelihood of purrs and wagging tails shortly after the moving truck pulls away. And if that’s not possible, make sure those familiar items mentioned above are some of the first things you set up in the new place so that, when your pet bounds into its new surroundings for the first time, there’s already an element of home waiting there to provide comfort.

Stick to your pet’s schedule

With a new home come new habits, new daily regimens and new ways of approaching old tasks. Don’t let your pet’s needs get lost in the shuffle; that six-month vet appointment card you used to keep on the fridge may get swept up in the move, so keep a reminder on your digital calendar of choice. Those heartworm meds might have a way of sneaking down to the bottom of a storage box if you don’t pack them intelligently, so keep an eye on where they go when you’re packing. If your pup’s used to taking a walk every morning at 7:15, do everything in your power to keep up the habit in your new neighborhood. Stability and routine aren’t only a great way to make your pets feel at home i n the new place; they’re also critical to keeping them healthy.

Before you make the leap to a new home, let Moveline take the stress out of the process. We offer a free series of services to help you get a fair quote and simplify your move by assigning you a Move Captain to help you every step of the way. We can even connect you with pet moving specialists to make the transition for you and your furry family a simple and healthy one.

There’s no reason to go it alone. Let us help. It’s what we do.

5 people

Ah, moving. Once the boxes have been unpacked, the furniture’s been arranged and the first few nights have proven blessedly uneventful (no water leaks, no window-rattling trains, no thumping bass from the upstairs neighbors), the real challenge begins: that of developing a social network in a new town.

Even though we’re largely social creatures, the prospect of leaving an established group of friends and neighbors behind and starting over in a new place can be intimidating at the very least. The upside, though, is the limitless amount of possibilities that lie ahead, particularly if you’re moving to a cool city that feels tailor-made for you. Luckily enough, a fresh start can be just the kick in the pants we need to challenge ourselves to greater heights, and it’s always nice to get by with a little help from our friends. So here, we’ve put together a quick list of tips for making new friends in a new place. (Hint: it’s easier — and a lot more fun — than you might think.)

Meet Up with Meetup

The numbers don’t lie: since its launch, Meetup.com has expanded to 196 countries around the world, hosting more than 13 million members at no fewer than 125,000 meetup events over the last decade. Co-founder Scott Heiferman explains that in the wake of 9/11, he drew inspiration for the site from the way New Yorkers came together to help one another in the aftermath of the disaster. He began to see ways in which the Internet could play a role in bringing people together toward common goals, and as a result, Meetup came into being the following year. Today, that translates into an endless wealth of opportunities for a new kid in town to meet up, quite literally, with like-minded individuals from the same community.

And it doesn’t really matter what you’re into, either; it seems nothing’s too far-fetched for (at least some of) the network’s members. Naked yoga? There’s a meetup group for that. Foraging and bushcraft? Yep, that too. Or maybe you’d like to start with something simple, like a writing workgroup in San Francisco, a boozy book club in Brooklyn, a new urbanism and sustainability event in Chicago, or a running group in Austin that pairs you with a shelter dog to give both of you some exercise. Regardless of how you like to spend your spare time, there’s likely a group of folks right there in your new neighborhood just waiting to shake your hand and welcome you to the crew.

Do Some Good with VolunteerMatch

There’s probably no better way to feel at home in a new place than to indulge in a little Johnny Appleseed-style cheeseball moment of pure happiness brought on by good karma. Want to make a positive impact on your new town right from the start? Volunteer. Websites likeVolunteerMatch.org are excellent for pairing you with the kind of work you’d like to do, the kind of cause you’d like to support, and the place where you can easily do it. Or maybe instead of a long-term commitment, you’d rather practice one-off acts of good samaritanism just to see what it feels like. Look no further than good ol’ Craigslist, in its volunteers section under the community tab.. No, seriously — have you ever seen the documentary Craigslist Joe? Check it out. It’ll restore your faith in humanity and inspire you to pay it forward too.

Find Your “Third Place”

When Starbucks first began expanding across the nation and onto what now feels like every street corner, its goal was to provide a “third place” between work and home for folks to gather over a cup of coffee and just hang. Now that the coffee giant has become a money-making behemoth, that business model has changed, but the brand was onto something: in modern society, we really do crave a third place to shake off professional and personal stresses. Whether it’s griping about work woes with like-minded folks in your field at a professional association’s events, practicing your faith of choice at a place of worship, enjoying your favorite brew at a neighborhood pub or sweating your way to endorphin-induced nirvana at a spin or yoga class, finding your punching bag/wailing wall/place where you can let it all hang out might be little more than a quick Google search away. (Case in point: the co-founders of Movelinemoved from Blacksburg, Virginia to New York and made unbreakable bonds (immortalized in the illustration above!) with the folks in their startup accelerator.) Don’t procrastinate on this one, either. The sooner you can dig a foothold in a local haunt that makes you happy, the more like home your new place will feel.

Before you make the jump to a new city, let Moveline simplify the process for you. Our services are free, and not only will we help you get fair, accurate quotes from the best moving companies, but we’ll also assign you a “move captain” to oversee every step of the process. We’re here to take the stress out of the moving process so you can spend your time, money and energy on more important things in your new environment… like that running-with-shelter dogs Meetup group or the young tech happy hour at your new favorite bar. Life is short, so enjoy it… and don’t go it alone.

Let us help. It’s why we’re here!

You can also check out more post move tips from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.

piles of stuff

You’re getting ready for a move. You look around your house or apartment and have a mini (or even maxi) freak out about how much stuff you have — how much will have to be packed up and transported. How far you’re going has little to do with the problem; whether you’re moving down the street, to a neighboring city or state, across country or across the world, it’s all pretty much the same. You’re stuck with deciding what to keep and then, just as tricky, what to do with all the stuff you don’t want.

Two versions of a 3-step plan

Linda Gatri, CEO of eMarket Boost, moved six times in three years. She’s lived in New Jersey, Florida, Boston, New York City and four cities in Pennsylvania. She’s getting ready for another move, but she hasn’t decided where yet.

When it’s time to go, she sorts everything into three categories:

1.To keep: “Things I can’t live without, even if they have to go into storage (files, books, photos a favorite pan).”

  1. To sell: “ I start by offering things to friends and family, telling everyone I know what’s available. When they’ve made their choices, I advertise furniture, electronics, good jewelry and designer anything online or in a local paper; I consign furniture, art, and antiques to a local shop; and finally I have a take-no-prisoners yard sale — I call it an ‘estate sale,’ which gets more attention from dealers.”
  2. To donate: “Whatever doesn’t go at the yard sale gets packed and taken directly to my favorite charities that same day.”

Julie Steed, who writes a relocation blog at juliesteed.com, is a military wife who has moved her family 10 times in the last 14 years and is getting ready for move number 11 this summer. She has her own version of a three-step plan, and it’s strikingly similar:

  1. Sell furniture or appliances. “I use Craigslist or a similar local outlet. I price each item reasonably and include lots of pictures with my ad. I move what I’m selling to the garage so that buyers can look it over without having to come into my home and it’s easier for them to load things quickly and easily without damaging my floors or walls.”
  2. Have a garage sale. “Saying it’s a moving sale spurs interest. Price items slightly above the minimum you’re willing to accept so that you have bargaining room. Put a price on everything.”
  3. Donate. “I give whatever is left to a charity.”

The Queen of Divestiture

If Betsy Talbot isn’t the queen of getting rid of stuff, then she is definitely a member of the royal family. Betsy and her husband (authors of the blog marriedwithluggage.com and The Step by Step Guide to Getting Rid of It) downsized three years ago to one backpack each for a trip around the world.

Two of her strategies that would work for an even slightly less dramatic divestiture are an “indoor yard sale” and a “reverse birthday party.”

The indoor yard sale: “This is a great thing to do when you know you’re leaving but not quite yet, and you need to know that your things will have a good home before you go.” Betsy has sold, among other things, her “tempur-pedic mattress, box spring and sleigh bed, our couch, a tree and 2 plants, baking pans and more.” Here’s how to do what she did:

“This method is perfect if you are too lazy to have a yard sale, have a hard time parting with your stuff, and have a lot of good friends. You don’t have to price anything, set anything up, or advertise beyond e-mails to friends and a Facebook post. You do, however, need to have a reasonably clean and organized space. If possible, offer some light refreshments. People will stay longer and buy more.”

What’s left goes on Craigslist: “I’m a big fan and we’ve made thousands of dollars downsizing this way.”

The Reverse Birthday Party: “When my birthday came around I decided to get a little creative and host a reverse birthday party for myself. Instead of guests bringing gifts, they take your stuff home with them. “

“Each item had a tag telling the story of how I had gotten it and a memory associated with it. Guests were then free to walk around the living room to ‘shop’ and write their names on the back of the tags of the items they wanted. …If more than one name was on a tag we had a ‘style off’ where each person had to model the items in a distinctive way that would earn them the most votes from the crowd.”

“Have finger food that’s not too messy (buffalo wings would be a mistake). Set up a start and stop time for the party — mine was 4-7 pm.” If you don’t want to price items, you can ask for donations. “I set up a small box that looked like a piece of luggage where people could drop their donations.” Take what’s left over to a consignment shop.

Giving your things to charity

As an alternative to selling items, giving them away or handing them over to a consignment shop, you can always find a charity that could use them. Some charities will pick up your donations, while others want you to drop them off. If you need help schlepping them somewhere and don’t have the time, consider Taskrabbit.com, a site that will match you up with someone who is willing to do it for you.

There are lots of places that can use what you don’t need. First, you will want to consider the charities that you or a friend may volunteer for —a domestic violence shelter, a refugee center, a church, even a local theater group looking for furniture for sets and costumes. On-line you’ll find a number of good options: Furniturebanks.org has a list by state or places that accept furniture and Freecycle.com, DonationTown.org and Oprah.com/home/where-to-get-rid-of -your-stuff are others. Your local United Way should also be able to steer you to some local groups who would be happy to have your things.

If you plan to claim a deduction for the things you donate, David Bakke,moneycrashers.com, suggests checking first with the IRS database of qualified charitable organizations. And, for help figuring out how much the items you are donating are worth, check Goodwill’s valuation guide.

What do you do with leftover food?

And what about your leftover food? Whatever you do, says Steed, don’t throw it away. “Give unopened items to friends or neighbors. Host a moving party and prepare food from the hodgepodge of items you can’t take with you. Challenge family members to create recipes and meals using the strange items you have left in your fridge and pantry.”

Or, if you’re not in the random-recipe frame of mind, you can go to moveforhunger.org and find a list of relocation companies in 46 states that will pick up and deliver left over non-perishable food to a local food bank.

Haven’t decided what’s going and what’s staying? Here’s some more tips from Moveline on deciding what to keep and not to keep.

clipboard

The act of moving is, appropriately enough, a symphony of moving parts. The inventory process (which we streamline), the packing, the disruption of daily habits, the new neighborhood, city, or sometimes even state, country or continent… all in all, there’s a lot to deal with. For the unindoctrinated, it may seem like a simple online change of address form filed with the post office is enough to get your mail forwarded, but alas, it’s not. So, we’ve put together a helpful checklist of places you should notify when you change addresses to keep those paper bills, checks, magazines and birthday cards coming like clockwork.

Here’s the list:

Although these are less important in the grand scheme of things, you may wish to change the ZIP code or city you’ve programmed into web-based services you subscribe to, like weather reports, local news reports, coupon services like Groupon and Living Social, city-themed lifestyle hubs like Daily Candy and so on. Because who doesn’t love a little local customization in their lives?

Particularly for friends and family, a quick Facebook message or email blast can let those close to you know you’ve arrived in your new place and are ready to receive mail there. For the traditional at heart, a postcard or notecard with your new return address can make the announcement for you in a charming, old-fashioned way, but let’s be real: even a quick digital message is more than most people take the time for anymore. A moment of thoughtfulness now can save others time (and money for extra postage!) later on down the road.

And if you just don’t have time for all of this, try an online service like Updater, which does pretty much all of the above for you (and even eliminates your junk mail!) for a small fee.

Oh Internet, how we love thee.

Check out more post-move tips and moving checklists from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.

New york skyline

For the most part, apartments come in three varieties in the ‘burbs: complexes, duplexes and quadruplexes. With a few variations in between, the double driveways and outdoor staircases tend to give apartments away, and rent prices are generally determined by a unit’s square footage, general condition and quality of the neighborhood surrounding it.

But if you’re living in or moving to New York City, the lexicon of dwelling types is practically infinite. If you’re considering a move to the Big Apple, we’ve got a simple glossary to help you navigate the maze of apartment options.

Rent-stabilized v. Non-stabilized

Rent stabilization laws protect tenants from the dramatic and often unpredictable swings in the NYC real estate market. Under such laws, when a tenant’s lease ends and he or she renews, the rent can only go up under the law’s current limitations. In a non-stabilized apartment, rent may skyrocket when it comes time to renew a lease, based on the owner or lease manager’s whim or arbitrary reasons.

Due to the financial security that comes with living in a rent-stabilized (or “rent controlled”) apartment, these units are in high demand and are becoming a limited commodity in the city. Many addresses have a mix of apartments that both are and aren’t rent controlled, all in the same building.

Looking for a rent-stabilized apartment? Get in line… (we kid). They’re tough to find, butthis post from our friends at Brick Underground lays out some best practices to get you started.

No Fee

When an apartment hunter uses a broker to find the perfect space, the broker typically charges a percentage (usually 8 to 15%) of the lease total once a lease is signed; this is referred to as a “broker’s fee.” A no fee apartment is one in which the broker will not charge the tenant an added finder’s fee for connecting him or her with the owner and brokering a lease agreement. Usually, this means the broker is being paid by the owner instead. If you’re on your own, searching for a place without a broker’s help, every apartment you look at is considered “no fee.”

Pre-war v. Post-war

In terms of architecture, there’s old New York and new New York. Much like it sounds, a pre-war apartment was built before World War II, with thick walls and sturdy construction, often featuring crown moldings, arched doorways and other old world elements. Post-war apartments, built after World War II, can range from modest mid-century living quarters to ultra-contemporary spaces. Usually, walls between apartments in post-war buildings are much thinner than their predecessors, thanks to inexpensive modern innovations like drywall. For these reasons, rents are higher in higher in pre-war buildings.

Doorman v. Attended Lobby

These terms are sometimes confused or misused, but strictly speaking, there are four types of buildings when it comes to help getting in the door: – Doorman – Attended lobby (or “concierge”) – Full service – No doorman

Simply put, a doorman is a uniformed individual who helps residents and invited guests into the building; an attended lobby features an attendant or concierge behind a desk inside who can welcome visitors and also help with receving deliveries and the like; a full-service building has both an attendant/concierge and a doorman (obviously, these are generally pricier); and some buildings have none of these services (i.e., “no doorman.”)

Elevator Building

An elevator building has an elevator (pretty obvious), but no doorman or concierge. Generally, these apartments feature voice or video intercoms through which residents can buzz up their guests.

One thing to note about moving into elevator buildings: many NYC elevators are quite small, and are not necessarily large enough to hold large furniture items (i.e. king-size mattresses) on moving day. And since the whole community of the building depends on use of the elevator to get around, many elevator buildings place restrictions on when elevators can be used for moving, such as no moving on weekends or only with limited reservations.

If you’re moving into an elevator building, be sure to confirm your moving plans with your super, and make sure your crew knows what’s up before they arrive to move you in, or you may run into unwanted delays.

Townhouse

A townhouse is basically the closest thing to a house a person can live in within New York City’s inner core. Usually offering amenities like a private backyard and eat-in kitchen, townhouses are often more ornate than most other pre-war buildings. While they were originally built as single-family homes, some are now split into multiple units.

Brownstone

A brownstone is a specific type of townhouse made of brown sandstone, a popular pre-20th century building material. Brownstone townhouses are commonly referred to as “row houses.”

Railroad

Often seen in brownstones, railroad apartment layouts mimic those of of old railway cars — long and narrow, sometimes with a hallway running down one side, providing access to each room. Some may have interior panel doors as well, leading from one room to another; these are commonly referred to as “shotgun apartments,” dating back to the Civil War era, when small residences could provide a clear shot from front to back. Most buildings containing them are five to six stories tall.

Railroad apartments were first built to provide a solution to urban overcrowding in the mid-20th century. Since the linear layout of a railroad apartment is less than ideal, they’re sometimes cheaper on the market. But if you’re searching for a place to share with roommates, proceed with caution. Railroads mean that you’ll be walking by or through each others’ personal space to get around the apartment, and the noise and intrusion will get old pretty quickly.

Walkup

Usually pre-war buildings, walkups have no elevators and are generally five stories or shorter. Most have a voice intercom for buzzing guests in. (Technically, townhouses are considered walkups, but are simply called townhouses.)

Condo

In a condo, each unit is owned privately, and unit owners share ownership of common spaces like hallways, lobbies and so on. Rental applications are typically submitted to the respective unit’s owner and reviewed by the condo board.

Co-op

In a co-op, the entire building is owned by a group of people on the property who have bought shares of the corporation formed by the building’s co-op association. In this setup, each “owner” is actually a proprietary lessee. While a proprietary lessee may sublet his or her living space, prospective tenants must go through an often rigorous approval process with the building’s board of directors, who may under law reject the tenant’s sublease request for any reason they choose.

If you’re applying to get an apartment in a co-op building, don your Sunday best, expect character and credit checks, and prepare to promise away your first born to get in. Condo and Co-op board reviews are no joke.

Studio

Just like any other city, New York’s studio apartments don’t differentiate between a classic living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedroom. Transitions are left up to residents to establish through furniture placement and creative solutions like curtains, temporary partitions and even simple, subtle cues like rugs.

New York is teeming with studio apartments, often with very little square footage. That said, because there are so many single young professionals living in NYC, it can be quite tough to find a studio at a reasonable rate, which may explain why so many sitcoms set in NYC feature 30-year-old roommates.

Microstudio

As New York’s population grows ever denser and the island stays the same size (because, you know… science), the city is seeking out intelligent ways to accommodate more residents. Although living spaces under 400 feet are currently illegal in the city, Mayor Bloomberg is looking into alternatives in the way of microstudios (or “micro units”), which are around 350 square feet and have transformable furniture (think “wall by day, fold-out bed by night”), making small space dwellers the wave of the future and giving new meaning to the term “efficiency apartment.”

Loft

Lofts are open-plan spaces that could also be used for purposes other than living quarters. Often industrial in appearance, these spaces are typically large, with high ceilings and large windows. Lofts are especially popular among artists and those seeking live/work spaces. Not for traditionalists, lofts are fairly abundant in downtown NYC and in Brooklyn.

All in all, the process of finding the perfect apartment in the city can be a challenging one, but New York is full of amazing gems and creative solutions. Whether you’re working with a broker, asking friends for help or just looking online with the assistance of sites like Craigslist and Nestio, knowing your terminology can save you time and keep you on track.

And of course, if you’re planning a move to the city and need help pulling together an inventory of your belongings, comparing price quotes and finding a reputable moving company, the team here at Moveline is happy to help — for free.

To get started, head to our homepage or simply contact a Move Captain for a little guidance, and let us know how we can help. That’s exactly why we’re here.

Moving to New York City or Brooklyn?? Let Moveline help. We’ll get you guaranteed quotes from the top NYC and Brooklyn movers, and assign you a Move Captain to manage your move.

piggy bank and money

“I once negotiated a relo package that included the cost of moving my client’s horses across country and paying for a stable at the new location,” reports Lee E. Miller, Negotiationplus.com, career coach and author of Get More Money on Your Next Job. If you’re about to negotiate your own relocation (or “relo”) package, odds are, you’re not worrying about about what to do with your horses, but you’ve got plenty of other issues on your mind.

So to help you navigate the conversation, here are some industry trends and helpful tips to consider as you ask for the resources you need to get settled, happy, and productive in a new city.

The most important thing to remember is that in the end, you and your employer share the same goal: to relocate you in a way that will make you (and your family) happy so that you will be free to focus completely on the job you’ve been asked to do. Everything about negotiating a relo deal, whether you’re “fresh-out” and moving on your own to a first job, or someone who is taking your spouse and two kids with you, is about making the move as stress-free as possible.

What’s the state of relocation in 2013?##

We asked Jill Heineck, a veteran of the relocation industry, what’s happened lately to relocation packages. “Simply put, they have shrunk,” she told us. “Real estate buy-outs and reimbursement of loss on home sale are hard to find right now unless you are a C-level candidate.”

A full relo, from origin to destination, averages just under $97,166 for a current employee and $72,672 for a new hire homeowner. Considering the price tag, it’s easy to understand why carefully managed negotiations are key; companies must be made to understand that the pieces of the package you are asking for are both reasonable and necessary.

More and more companies are asking their employees to make a move, and more and more employees want to make that move. “Millennials these days are not only open to relocating, they’re asking for it,” says Heineck.

A survey put together by the Society for Human Resources Management is a useful measure of the relo mood in the country: – 29% of companies surveyed give a lump sum for relocation – 19% reimburse shipping fees – 12% offer help with spouse relocation – 6% reimburse for loss from home sale – 3% offer mortgage assistance. Looking back, the survey authors report that “the prevalence of a number of housing and relocation benefits declined over the past five years.”

After attending a relo industry conference in February, Heineck noted some other up-to-the- minute trends: “From what I’m hearing, corporate policies are being modified to reflect changing family dynamics. There’s an uptick in dual-career couples, more split families where the employee starts out ‘commuting’ from the new location until the house is sold or the kids finish school… Corporations don’t want to publicize the ‘extras’ they may be allowing but they are willing to be flexible.”

The basics of negotiation

What you are going to ask for in your relocation package depends on your situation. Heineck again: “A recent college graduate in California taking a job in Boston is going to require a lot less than a family of four making the exact same move. The college student may require a household goods move (maybe the contents of a one bedroom apartment), cross-country car transport and temporary housing in the new location for 30 to 90 days. The family of four needs a lot more. They’re going to sell their home, go across country with two school-age kids, buy a new home, look for a job for the spouse and they may have an elderly parent moving with them.”

What are the most basic items open for negotiation? Lynda Zugec, managing director ofTheworkforceconsultants.com, lists:

According to Heineck, some of the “extras” may be:

As you approach negotiations, remember the “it-never-hurts-to-ask” principle. As Heineck says, “Go for it all, but know what your absolute bottom line is. And remember that your move is not just about a new job, it’s about ‘futuring’ and your personal career goals… Forging an open relationship with the hiring manager is key. Let him/her know your familial situation up front. They’re not mind readers.”

Miller thinks that mutual interest is what will make your negotiations succeed. That, and being reasonable with your requests. “If they want you, relocation issues shouldn’t be a stumbling block. The company wants to spend right and make everyone happy at the same time.”

Know that just because a relocation package isn’t offered, or isn’t what you need,
doesn’t mean the hiring manager can’t change their position.

Do your research

Karen Van Bergen, CEO of global public relations firm Porter Novelli, relocated to New York from Amsterdam last year and says that “you need to do your homework to avoid any unpleasant surprises. I had no idea how difficult it would be to arrange schooling for my son when I first moved. And the high cost of health care. But, it’s all been worth it.”

“My experience has been that 90 percent of the game is to get as much information as possible regarding the decision maker, the decision limits, the alternatives the company has, local employment laws, and details at the destination,” says Martin Collins, managing director of Geneva-Eduction.com, a training/coaching/consulting company. “Find out who the decision maker is — HR or line manager? Department or business unit? What are the company’s relo policies? What drives the decisions? Budget? Policy? Company principles? People will be surprised how easy it is to get answers to most of these questions simply by asking around.”

Getting this information is key to knowing what the organization considers a reasonable offer in a relocation package. Knowing this helps you gauge the size of your ask, and frame your approach to the negotiation.

Research the cost of living (or “COL” to the pros) in your new location by checking theCost of Living Index, money.cnn.com, Sperling’s Best Places and/or Expatistan. Suz Garber, chief networking officer of International SOS, recommends: “At a minimum, check out the index prices for groceries, gasoline, utilities and rent. Failure to fully understand what you are getting into might actually cost you more than the raise you received to take this new job — assuming that you received one. Some cities and states also charge differing rates of income tax, which could work for or against you.”

Want to see how competitive the package you’re being offered is? Review the vendor/exhibitor list for the annual conference of the Worldwide ERC: The Workforce Mobility Association and contact any that may help you answer that question.

So that your negotiating can be as focused as possible, Miller wants you to find out just what the company’s relo policy is — what have they done for others in your same situation? “But don’t feel limited by ‘can you?’” Miller urges. “Make certain your circumstances are compelling.”

He warns that “Although it’s important to research COL, keep in mind that the numbers don’t accurately reflect the sticker shock you may get when you actually begin to look for an apartment or a house in the new location. Housing is huge.”

What about your ‘trailing spouse’?

This is, for better or worse, the term used in the relo world for the co-head of household: your spouse or partner, the person who is probably going to be most impacted by the move. Heineck reports that employers “want your spouse in on the first phone call or the first meeting.” She reports that several have developed a checklist of issues for you and your spouse to carefully consider.

Help finding “trailing spouses” a new position is often key to the move. If they can’t find work, they will be unhappy and if they’re unhappy, the relocation will fail. Job counseling assistance may not be formalized but it can come in the form of references from the guy in HR, contacts of the CEO, or introductions from your future teammates. “Small firms are most likely to be impacted by the employment status of a spouse or partner,” says Heineck. “Most small firms offer informal networking assistance; mid and large sized firms are more apt to offer outplacement career services.”

Negotiating and gender

On this topic, Miller, who co-authored A Woman’s Guide to Successful Negotiating with his daughter, Jessica, cites a recent working paper commissioned by the Bureau of Economic Research. In the study of 2500 job seekers, the authors, both professors, concluded that “when there is no explicit statement that wages are negotiable, men are more likely to negotiate than women. When it is said that they are negotiable, the difference disappears and even tends to reverse itself.” It is important for women (actually, everyone) to understand that relocation isnegotiable and that they should go for it.

Getting to a win-win

Keep in mind that your employer would like you to feel wanted and valued but that he/she is running a business and has to keep an eye on the bottom line. If all your requests are not granted, even if you are going to lose money at the real estate level of the deal, consider what you’re gaining. The boost to your career may be worth the tradeoff.

In negotiations, always be flexible. If you’re told that something is not covered by the relo policy and no exceptions can be made, bring up the idea of a “signing bonus” instead. Be ready with workable alternatives, and be able to justify your requests with convincing evidence of need. Collins advises, “Find out what’s easy for the employer to give but worth a lot to you. A company car or home office may come from a separate budget… Or try to get items that may be less visible but valuable, such as flights back to the home location or furniture storage. Even non-monetary awards: added vacation days, adjusted working hours, permission to work remotely while traveling back to your home state.”

Finally, Miller says to remember while you’re negotiating, that “if they can’t do X, that may be okay if they can do Y instead. An example: If the company says it can’t buy your hard-to-sell home. You say ‘fine’, as long as you’ll extend my temporary living allowance until the home sells because I can’t afford to carry two homes at once.”

Need to know how much your move will cost? Moveline can help. Visit our homepage to get started.

blue starry night

So, you’ve moved into a new place — or you’re about to — and your stuff from the old apartment just isn’t sitting well in its new environment. Never fear; Moveline rounded up our favorite design websites for inspiration on how to decorate your new apartment or house. Spend a little time on any of these generously-curated hubs and you’ll be channeling your inner Nate Berkus in no time.

Apartment Therapy (of course)

The almighty forefather of all home decor blogs, Apartment Therapy’s been doing its thing since… well, basically, the dawn of the internet. While it’s perhaps a way-too-obvious choice for this list, the fact that it’s been around for so long means one thing: endless archives full of inspiration. Search by room, by city, by style, by column (house tours vs. before-&-afters vs. green living vs. decorating on a budget)… this treasure trove of ideas and how-tos is a great place to start scheming and dreaming about everything from paint swatches to wine bottle chandeliers.

Furniture Fashion

If you’ve got your space mostly figured out but just need that one perfect armchair to complete the living room, or you’re thinking of replacing your boring light fixtures with something wild and amazing, Furniture Fashion is a veritable mother lode of retail resources. While most of the site’s stories these days focus on singular pieces (a la Design Milk, FresHomeand the like), it used to do a daily top 10 list on any given theme… 10 green couches, 10 eco-friendly floor lamps, and so on. You’re bound to find what you’re looking for, as well as a tip on where to get it.

Houzz

A bottomless vacuum for interior design photos, Houzz takes an interesting approach to gathering its content: it lets designers, home builders, homeowners and professional contractors create their own pages and lookbooks, resulting in an archive of more than 1 million images. The best part: if you’re looking to re-do your bathroom or gut that kitchen for a whole new look, chances are you can find just the right contractor to do it — one who shares your overall vision and has the pictures to prove it.

Dwell

While you probably know Dwell as a print magazine, it’s done a much better job than a lot of its contemporaries on the home design and decor shelf at the bookstore when it comes to taking things digital. With a clean layout featuring the full length of a majority of the stories it prints on paper, Dwell takes a crisp editorial approach to its features, telling the story behind the photos and letting readers get to know the designers, homeowners and renters behind each home and project it covers. We can’t help but love its consistent focus on sustainability and environmental consciousness, too, as much as its serious dedication to great design and craftsmanship.

Brit + Co

Adore that $1800 wall mirror you saw at Anthrolologie but only have $20 to spend? No problem, says Brit Morin, founder of Brit + Co, a bright and crafty online community that gives step-by-step instructions on how to stretch a dollar and make your space look great in the process. There’s nothing too twee about the site, either… this girl’s got serious style. So if you want to make your home look like that of someone making three times your budget without actually spending all that dough, let Gen Y’s answer to Martha Stewart be your guide.

And an Honorable Mention…

Reading My Tea Leaves is a lush, carefully-crafted blog chronicling the lives of a couple living in a 240-square foot micro-apartment in Brooklyn. Bonus points to these two for finding the beauty in the art of small space living. If nothing else, you’re destined to find a moment of Zen looking at their visually arresting photographs and marveling at the peace they seem to feel even when they’re tripping over each other in their tiny little matchbook of a home.

Check out Moveline’s tips for decorating your new apartment or house, or with other post-move advice.

pizza and beer

Let’s be real: as much as we might love our friends, and no matter how many cheesy 80s and 90s pop songs there might be about the beauty of platonic camaraderie (cue the Rembrandts… clap, clap, clap, clap), when it comes to helping a friend move, is it even remotely possible to get excited about throwing on some sweats and helping them pack plates into boxes?

Well, not really… at least for most people. While most moving companies offer packing services, budgets and timing can sometimes get in the way of using them, and some of us prefer to pack our own belongings, no matter what. Still, when the clock is ticking down and we’re mere days away from loading our stuff into a U-Haul or entrusting it to the care of a moving company, sometimes the pro bono elbow grease of a few good friends is in order. So, if you find yourself in the position of asking your personal pit crew for assistance, remember this three-point process to keep the experience as pain-free — and your friendships as intact — as possible.

1. Get organized beforehand.

Figuring out a game plan is key. Having three or four friends who are willing to help is great, but without some idea of what you need them to do and how, chances are, you’re going to wind up with bathroom items in kitchen boxes and much-needed remote controls buried at the bottom of crates marked for storage.

Assign each person a room or list of items for which they’ll be responsible; a little direction (pleasantly put, of course) can save a lot of inconvenience in the long run. Even with the best of intentions, your friends aren’t professional movers; they’re your friends. Tell them what you need, give them enough boxes, markers and guidance to get it done right, and help them help you. (Oh, and in case you’re thinking you can rest on your laurels while your pals do all the work, think again. Put in an equal amount of effort; if you’re only supervising, it’ll come back to bite you later.)

As for keeping your friends comfortable, make sure to have little things available to help them out: hair ties, cold water, hot coffee, extra t-shirts in case things get sweaty and gross… the more accommodating you are, the longer they’ll stay and help. Fact.

2. Order the pizza now; save the beer for later.

The least you can do to thank the folks who are willing to get dusty and dirty on your behalf is feed them. But while boozing it up may make the process of packing more fun, it may also make it way less effective. Get a solid hour or two of good hard work logged and plenty of boxes packed before you uncork the wine or grab the six-pack from the fridge. Celebrate everyone’s awesomeness, by all means, and toast to your new adventures up ahead, but make sure you’re not creating a bigger mess than when you started by doing so. Once the crew goes home and it’s just you and your life all packed up and ready to roll, you’ll thank yourself for being responsible and planning ahead.

3. Practice reciprocity.

When was the last time you received a handwritten thank you note? No, seriously. While most of us would bend over backwards for our friends without question if they needed something, it’s all too easy to forget to show a little gratitude when we’re on the receiving end. And when it comes time to return the favor, be ready to reciprocate. They pack your apartment, you pack theirs. It’s practically a law of nature, and it’s definitely spelled out in every friendship contract ever written (or unwritten)… usually somewhere in the first sentence of paragraph one.

Happy packing! Before you call up your friends for a box-filled evening of pizza delivery and old-yearbook-related mortification, call Moveline to help streamline the moving process for you at no charge. Get help with inventory and quote-gathering from the very experts who are listed by Forbes, Fast Company and TechCrunch as revolutionizing the act of moving.

It’s entirely possible to enjoy the peace of mind that your move will take place under the care of professionals who will give you a fair price and treat your belongings with care. Don’t go it alone. Let us help — it’s why we’re here.

iphone

Remember the days of tying everything down to the back of a truck and heading off to destinations unknown with nothing but a compass, a canteen and an oil lamp to help you blaze your trail? No? Oh, right. Of course you don’t. Because it’s the 21st century.

Moving has never been a particularly fun process, but as with anything, refinements over time have made it not quite so terrible. And nowadays, no matter what obstacle you’re facing, if you need a solution for something… well, it’s nearly certain that there’s an app for it. Oh, the times they are a changin’, and we couldn’t be happier about that. Here, a bevy of apps to make your move a little easier.

Apps for Figuring Out a New Floorplan

One of the toughest parts of a move — once the actual move is complete, anyway — can be the act of figuring out what goes where in a new place where the floorplan is completely different from the last one. Try as we might, the age-old practice of eyeballing our soon-to-be new home and taking a couple of pictures with a smartphone during a walk-through doesn’t really cut it when it comes to fitting that monstrous antique Chesterfield sofa into ye olde efficiency walkup.

So, enter the apps! Among the best are SmartDraw, Floorplanner, and SketchUp; each gives you the opportunity to virtually create your new space to scale and see what pieces of furniture actually work in it without having to turn them upside down and sideways. Yet another example of the ways in which an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Apps for Checking Out a New Neighborhood

Never underestimate the power of Google. While it’s a no-brainer to look up particular neighborhoods and addresses to get a sense of what they’re like, once you’ve narrowed your search down to a few key places or perhaps even signed a lease or mortgage on a particular home, there’s a simple trick you can use to visit the new place (and everything around it) whenever you’d like to help you get familiar with the neighborhood. Wondering if it’s genuinely possible to walk to work, the gym or the nearest coffee place?

Wonder no more. Go into Google Maps, search an address, select the yellow human icon at the top of the zoom feature and drag it into the image window. You can literally (virtually, anyway) walk up and down every sidewalk in the neighborhood by using the arrows, stopping to check out sweet local corner stores (score!) and sketchy, scary alleyways (yikes). This is particularly useful prior to a long-distance move, when there’s typically not much time for exploring the vibe of each neighborhood under consideration. Just be sure to double-check the date stamp at the bottom of the image to make sure it’s relatively recent.

And for an expert view on how walkable the local community is, you can always check out its walkability level with the official Walk Score app, a favorite tool of public health officials. It offers transit reports, too, to let you know if local traffic is soul-crushing, blissfully nonexistent or something perhaps livably in-between.

The Ultimate App for Moving, Plain and Simple

It’s possible we’re a little biased here at Moveline, but we really are doing something that’s never been done before: leveling the playing field between consumers and moving companies. By demystifying the move inventory process and obtaining quotes from several reputable moving companies on behalf of each of our customers, we simplify the once-frustrating process of obtaining competing bids that generally ended up looked nothing like one another and only created confusion. And we offer a few other applause-worthy headache busters too.

By assigning a “Move Captain” to each of our customers, we give them a personal point of contact to oversee every aspect of their move, from a video chat session to determine how many boxes are needed to a payment process that’s easy as pie (and not full the kinds of surprises that sometimes occur when working with a moving company one-on-one). And just like every other app on this list, it costs a glorious zero dollars.
Who said the best things in life aren’t free?

If you’re ready to get started with Moveline, visit our homepage here.

Check out more tips for planning or preparing for your move from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.

Sign for Katz's Deli & Bar.Leaving the city for greener pastures — at least literally, if not otherwise? Between the move and the many errands you have to run before moving out, you probably don’t have a ton of time to give the city a proper goodbye. Lucky for you, Moveline compiled a handy dandy list of exactly the sorts of bites one might take out of the Big Apple in the last 24 before bidding it farewell.

C’mon. Bust out that old I heart NY t-shirt and let’s give the town a whirl one last time.

  1. Get on a ferry and pay homage to Lady Liberty, tourist-style. Bonus points for an Instagram in which you’re pretending to pinch her head between your thumb and forefinger.
  2. Have some super-sick sushi, because let’s face it: outside of Japan, it doesn’t get any better than this.
  3. Walk through Times Square sans irritation and judgment — just admiring the tackiest, most crass yet spectacular few city blocks in our fair nation… Vegas notwithstanding.
  4. Have a beer at Pete’s Tavern. It’s been open since 1864, through Prohibition and beyond; if there were ever a place to soak up some New York history over a brew, it’s there.
  5. Since you won’t always have Broadway, take in one last show.
  6. Knock back martinis at the Empire, the Hudson or Flatiron Lounge. Leave an absurd tip.
  7. Enjoy live music in a legendary venue — The Bitter End or Hammerstein Ballroom. Soak up some eleventh-hour sound therapy; it’s good for the soul, after all.
  8. Take one final stroll through Central Park; drop a rose at Strawberry Fields and drown your sorrows in a mile-high pile of cheesecake at Cafe Lalo.
  9. It’ll probably be 4am by the time you finish all that. Good thing “Katz’s never Kloses!” What to have for the Last Supper? The brisket, of course.
  10. OK, it’s go time. Stand outside and throw your hat in the air like Mary Tyler Moore. You wanted to do it when you first arrived but didn’t have the guts. Now, you’ve got nothing to lose. Do it! It’ll be our little secret.

Check out more moving day tips and checklists to help your move from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.