Deerfield Beach Area Relocation Pack
Temporary
Housing
Most relocations include a
period of "in-between time," when you initially move to your new town and begin
the process of settling in and looking for a place to lease or purchase. If you
are planning on leasing, or if you've made several preview trips and have
contracted on a new home, this interim period may only be a couple of weeks. In
this case, a hotel or suite-hotel usually works best.
However, if your interim period is going to be close to 30
days or longer, you will probably want to opt for temporary "corporate
housing." Corporate Housing is a property that comes fully-furnished with room
suites of furniture, cookware, linens/towels, small appliances such as
coffeemakers, irons & alarm clocks, major appliances like microwaves,
refrigerator, stove and washer/dryer, plants & pictures, accessories, maid
service and all utilities included, even local telephone service and cable
TV.
Apartment Renting
While renting has always been and continues to be an
interim option during the home purchase process of a relocation, more and more
it is becoming a long-term preference. Frequent moves, greater flexibility,
rising ownership costs and amenities available through renting are great
advantages. People today are renting in greater numbers, not just as a
temporary step on the way to home ownership, but for the lifestyle they enjoy
through renting.
Some of the factors to
consider when deciding whether to rent or buy are:
-
your job situation and
likelihood of moving again
-
initial and monthly costs
of both options
-
tax savings and
advantages
-
the availability,
lifestyle and desirability of properties to rent or buy
-
current interest rates and
mortgages available
The cost, availability and
variety of rental housing possibilities will vary tremendously in different
parts of the country. While a large city will offer a far greater number of
rental properties and a greater variety of styles and amenities, they will also
be much higher priced and may even have an extremely low vacancy rate. On the
other end of the spectrum, small towns also tend to have a very low rental
vacancy rate, simply because of the lack of rental housing there. Mid-sized
cities will generally have the greatest choices available.
Initial costs on a rental
property usually include one month's rent security deposit, additional deposits
if you have a pet (many rentals do not allow pets), first month's rent and/or
last month's rent depending on the area, and an application fee of generally
$20-75. Be sure and get renter's insurance; if you don't, your personal
belongings will not be protected in the event of a burglary, fire or any other
loss.
Read lease agreements
thoroughly, as they can vary greatly between states and even individual
landlords. It is wise to have an attorney review leases. Be sure you
understand what you and the landlord are each responsible for when it comes to
utilities, maintenance and repairs. Although the most typical lease term in the
U.S. is 1 year, this can be negotiable too. Know what your liabilities are if
you have to break your lease early.
Moving
Solutions
Careful consideration is needed when
deciding whether to hire a moving company or do it yourself. Many factors are
involved, such as the distance of the move, the size of your household, the time
factor involved and the budget or company reimbursement you have for this
expense.
Pros & Cons
of Moving Yourself |
Pros & Cons
of Hiring a Full Service Van Line |
- cost savings can be
considerable, possibly into the thousands of dollars. moving yourself can
usually save at least half of what a household goods transportation company will
charge you, even if you rent a truck and pay helpers for their labor.
- you assume full responsibility
for the move, labor and damages.
- packing all your belongings
yourself gives you a better organizational opportunity to inventory, rearrange,
throw away, give away, and tag items for garage sales.
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- the time savings and ease of
move are tremendous with a professional mover.
- the cost can vary greatly,
depending on whether you include packing/unpacking, insurance limits & what
company you choose.
- most companies offer
references and free estimates. a binding estimate holds both you &
the company to the price quoted; a physical inspection is usually necessary. a
non-binding estimate is an approximation of costs; federal law requires
a limit of no more than 10 percent additional charges.
- many companies will guarantee
pickup and delivery dates; if you're in a time crunch, this may be the only way
to go.
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Moving
Tips
When coordinating the move of
household goods, several items require special care and attention. Anytime you
are moving pets, automobiles, waterbeds, antiques, plants, waterbeds or
office/high-tech equipment, extra planning and coordination is
necessary.
The
two major items that need special moving are autos and family pets. When
considering automobiles in a move, often a full-service moving company will
place a vehicle in the moving van. When moving yourself, auto tow-trailers can
be hitched to the back of a moving truck. These arrangements, however, usually
only handle one vehicle. When considering a second or third vehicle, there are
several options:
-
Sell
your vehicles prior to moving, and purchase new ones at your destination.
-
Have
one of the family members drive the vehicle to your destination.
-
Hire
an automobile transportation service to move the extra vehicle (s) for
you.
"Timing is everything" when arranging a professional auto move.
Scheduling the move can be a challenging, complex and sometimes overwhelming
undertaking. There are school and office hours to consider, for example. It is
important to use an auto mover that coordinates the move so that it most suits
your needs, creating a smooth transition.
Pet
Issues
Before you
leave:
- Make an
appointment & have your pet examined by your veterinarian; collect pet
records.
- Ask your vet for
a reference for a practitioner in the new city.
- Air travel
should be booked four weeks ahead of departure for domestic moves and six to
eight weeks prior to international flights.
- If you are
moving overseas, your pet must be examined & vaccinated 30 days
prior.
- Secure a form of
identification to your pet's collar.
At Moving
Day:
- When booking a hotel or
corporate housing, make sure the management allows pets.
- Before crossing into another
state, know that some states have border inspection of all animals.
- Limit feeding of your pets to
once a day during the move, preferably in the evening, unless your veterinarian
instructs otherwise.
- The appropriate size for a
kennel should allow your pet room to stand up, lie down, and turn around in
natural positions.
- If you are moving locally,
take your pets on several visits to the new home before you move in to
familiarize them with their new habitat.
Career
Assistance
Here are some steps you may
want to take to ensure results and a positive relocation:
-
Search Online Job Databases - thousands of jobs searchable by
occupation or location.
-
Contact friends and acquaintances both in your desired field of
work and the area you are moving to, regardless of their field. Even people in
a different industry know the city and can give you ideas on what companies to
approach & to avoid; as well, they may know someone in your field and be
willing to refer you.
-
Subscribe to the Sunday newspaper in the town you are moving to.
Not only should you research want ads, but read the business section as
well.
-
If one
spouse's company is responsible for the move, check with their human
resources department to see if they have trailing spouse
assistance.
-
Contact the Chamber of Commerce. Most have lists of the top
businesses in the area.
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Join
local business, civic and networking clubs.
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Contact the State Employment Commission.
-
Make appointments with executive recruiters and employment
agencies. Bbe sure to find out if you or the employer is charged, if they
negotiate the hiring contract, if you would actually work for the agency or for
the client employer, and carefully review any contract or have an attorney look
it over before signing.
-
Sign up with a temporary agency. This can provide you with a job
and income while you continue your search; in addition, many temp jobs lead to
permanent employment.
-
Consider your own business, as either a part-time or interim
business, or as a whole new career direction!
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