moving

Where in the World Would You Most Like to Live?

- Roshan

Moving house – it has a host of stressful associations, and yet also some really exciting ones. If you’re thinking of moving to live internationally, the world is quite literally your oyster. Yet with so many wonderful locations to choose from, it can be hard to narrow down your options and make a final decision. Of course, there are practical considerations such as language, living costs and work opportunities – but they’re not as fun to think about just yet! If you’re making the massive decision to relocate, the most important thing is finding somewhere you will be happy. With that in mind, here are some suggestions for the best places in the world to live, depending on what you are looking for!

Sun, Sea and Sand

For many, it’s the idea of a perfect life; that gorgeous little house a stone’s throw from a white sand beach, a sparkling sea, and a summer sun that lasts the whole year around. If this is your dream, then you’ll want to look somewhere like Australia for the perfect lifestyle. Most of Australia’s cities and towns are gathered around its huge coastline. They are all great places to live, but Grange Beach in Adelaide consistently comes up in lists of the best beaches in Australia, so this should be your first choice of places to look into!

Culture and Nightlife

If you are someone who likes excitement, being around people and constantly experiencing new things, then you are a city-liver through and through. A city such as London or New York would be perfect for you. There are enough theatres, cinemas, events, restaurants to keep you occupied for a thousand lifetimes. Of course, these destinations come with a price tag attached, and neither city is cheap. However, if this is your idea of the perfect lifestyle, then it’s a small price to pay to live your dream.

Adventure and Joy

Rafting down the river. Hunting in the forest. Hiking through the mountains. Returning to your home in the city to sit by the fireplace in the winter, or light a barbecue in the summer. If this sounds like heaven, then Canada is the place for you. Situated just north of the United States, Canada is a huge country with many different options for places to live. The Whitehorse real estate area is a great one to look into, as the city of Whitehorse is located in amongst some stunning scenery, with adventure right on your doorstep.

Mountains

After sunshine and sea, mountains are at the top of many peoples’ lists of dream locations where they’d like to live. Yet mountains are often inaccessible and difficult places to make a living – so where are the best places to go to get your mountain fix whilst living a comfortable life? Well, Scotland should be your first place to look. As it is a small country, many Scottish towns and cities are just an hour or two away from stunning mountain ranges, and if you’re after a quieter village life, you can get even closer. The only drawback to Scotland is the wet weather, and if you’re after sunnier climates, Aquitaine in the south of France has been widely celebrated for its stunning gorges and mountains.

Steps To Finding The Best Moving Company

- Roshan

Finding the best moving company can turn a nightmare move into a pleasant dream. The problem is knowing how to choose the right company for your move. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the options, there are some steps you can try to narrow down your options and find the best company.

1. Licensing And Insurance

One of the first things you need to check when looking for a moving company is their license and insurance. Working with a company that is not properly licensed and insured will put your belongings at risk. Fortunately, reputable companies will have information about their license and insurance on their website.

If you cannot find this information on the home page of their website, it will often be listed in the about section. This is particularly important if you are looking for a long distance movers or interstate moving company. To operate legally, these companies must have a DoT license number. If you have any suspicions, but still want to consider the company, you should ask them for proof of their insurance or license number.

2. Consider The Services Offered

The moving company that works for one person may not work for another because everyone has different moving needs. Someone else might want to do most of the moving work themselves while you do not have the time for it. This is why you have to consider the moving services on offer.

The services of the company should match your needs. If you do not have time to pack everything in your home, you should look for a full-service moving company. These companies will take care of everything from packing your items, loading them, transporting them, and unpacking them.

While this is an excellent service, it is not right for everyone. If you feel more comfortable packing everything yourself, you need to look for a moving company that offers transportation only. These companies will pick up your boxes and drop them off at your new home.

If you have a gap between the date you move out and the date you can move into your new home, you should look for movers that offer storage services as well. These movers will pick up your boxes and other items on the date you need to move out and store them for you until they can be delivered to your new home.

When looking at services, you also need to consider if you have any special items that need to be moved. This includes pool tables, hot tubs, and pianos. These items may need special equipment to transport them, or you might need to hire specialist movers.

3. Check The Service Area

Another point to consider and look into is the moving company’s service area. There is no point in choosing a company that has good reviews and the service you need if you fall outside their service area. Fortunately, most moving companies will state their service area on their website.

This is particularly important if you are looking for local movers. Larger national moving companies will have larger service areas, and you might not have any issues obtaining their service. Local movers are more restricted, and you need to consider this.

4. Get An Estimate

Cost is something that you need to consider, but it should not be the only factor you look at. Before you consider any moving companies, you need to figure out what your moving budget is. This is the amount you can comfortably pay for the move, and it will affect the moving company you choose.

If you have a small budget, you may not be able to get a full-service company. In these cases, you will be able to get the normal moving service without the perks of someone else handling the packing. Full-service movers will cost a lot more than basic movers.

Once you have your budget and narrowed down your options, you have to get an estimate from at least three moving companies. This gives you a good range for comparison. If you are moving long distance, the company should conduct an in-home estimate. You may want to reconsider working with any long distance moving company that does not do this.

For local moves, an online estimate or phone estimate will work. However, it would help if you got this in writing as proof of the costs. Never accept a verbal estimate because this can easily be changed, and you will have no recourse should this happen.

After getting the estimates, you need to compare them and choose the best company. You should not choose the cheapest if they are a lot cheaper than the others. This is a red flag and could be a sign that they are not as legitimate as they appear.

Finding the best moving company can be hard, but there are some steps you can take to make this easier. You need to understand the services you want and check their license and moving insurance. You also need to get an estimate from at least three companies before you make a decision.

How To Move Abroad On A Budget

- Roshan

Moving abroad, whether for work or just to experience life in a new place, should be properly thought out before you make the leap. If you’re trying to make this leap on a budget, it can be even more of a challenge, but it isn’t impossible. Follow these tips to make a start on this adventure without the need to ruin your finances forever.

Find Work Abroad

The best way to make a move with your finances intact is to make sure you have a job lined up in your new home.

If you like your job, find out if your company offers any opportunity for you to transfer to an office in another country. Many large companies will happily do this, and some even offer work exchange programs. You could trade places with a colleague in another office who wants to experience your home country. If you have a more specialist role, you could transfer in order to train staff in another office too.

If you work for yourself, especially online, this can be easy to keep working when you get there, especially if you’re in the digital industry. Freelance careers like web design, copywriting or even working as a virtual assistant can all easily be done from anywhere you have an internet connection.

If you are planning to work abroad, you will need to make sure you have the relevant work visas or other permits to let you work legally. If you do need to search for a new job, try and secure one before you move, as this may be required to get your work permit. Your employer should then be able to help you with working out which permits you will need and how to get them.

You could look into a work abroad scheme to help you find work too. Volunteering is a great way to make connections for work like this, or you could look into a job like teaching English as a foreign language. If you have skills in a specific industry, you may find it easier to find a job in countries in need of your skills. For example, engineers are often needed in Germany, whereas IT professionals are in demand in India. If your job is in an industry like this, spending a year working abroad can be well worth it, as you can earn good money. You can use your higher salary to save hard and put towards something like a house deposit when you get home after your year abroad.

Start The Visa Process

Make sure you start the visa process or arrange any work permits you need with plenty of time before you leave for your new life to minimise your stress levels. Depending on the kind of employment you’re going into, you might require a different kind of permit. Short-term, unpaid or work exchange positions may only need a tourist visa, but check first. Other positions will likely need a proper work visa to allow you to legally earn while you’re abroad. Visa needs differ by country, so check with a local embassy to find out what you need to start your new job. Your employer should also be able to advise you.

Find Somewhere To Live

There are often Facebook groups and websites for expats which you can use to help you find a roommate. Living with a roommate and renting a room rather than a whole apartment can not only help you to meet people but also majorly keep your costs down. Your work may be able to suggest an agency to help you find a room to rent in your new home city. Apps like PropertyGuru can also be helpful.

Prepare Your Finances

No matter how budget savvy you are, moving is always going to be expensive. You’re going to need some savings to help you through and to learn how to budget. If you’re low on funds, selling your old stuff can be a great way to raise some money. You’re likely to want to slim down your possessions anyway if you’re preparing for a big move, so you might as well sell on these items either on eBay or at a yard sale to earn some spare cash to fund the big move. Save some money by cooking at home more often, and choosing to invite friends round instead of going out. Find some ways to save some cash so you can start your new life abroad, without being saddled with debt as soon as you get there.

Three Things Removal Companies Must Have

- Roshan

Moving home is stressful at the best of times and when you’ve got a lifetime of memories to be delicately packed and shipped, you’re looking at finding a removal firm that knows and values how important your shipment is to you and your family.

It’s important that you find a removal company that speaks your language and that you can trust with your precious cargo. In this blog, we take a look at three things your removals company must demonstrate before you hire them for the big job of moving you across state.

Communication

The last thing you need when trying to organise a move is to spend hours on the phone to a company and no-one picking up. Even worse than that, when you do finally get through you spend hours explaining your query and are left unclear whether your problem or question has really been answered or not.

You’ll have a good idea from your first impression of the company whether they are going to be good communicators. How did they deal with you when you made your initial inquiry? Was the information they gave you clear and easy to understand? How did they handle any questions you had? If there are any red flags with any of these questions, consider talking to other companies about your moving needs.

Speciality

For the most part moves, long haul or just across town, are fairly straightforward. You have your key dates and it’s up to the removal firm to pack you and unpack you at the other end. But now and again you’re looking for something a little more specialised. This might be because you’re transporting fine art, antique furniture or because you have a piano that needs some extra care.

Rather than finding a general moving company, you’re looking for experienced piano movers. It might seem straightforward to move an instrument of this size but the awkward shape and the ease in which it can go out of tune or get damaged, makes it a job that only the experts should handle.

Give Options

Moving home isn’t cheap and your removal company should offer you options that reflect your budget. They should show the various options around moving insurance as well the different packages they offer when it comes to packing. You might choose for your removal company to pack up everything for you, from plates to shoes or you might choose to save a little money and do the job yourself, requesting boxes from them to do the job.

When it comes to moving home, you want the experience to be as stress-free as possible. Getting all the logistics in place so the move runs smoothly is hard enough, so you want movers on your side.

Shop around, pay special attention to the communication and what options your removal companies offer you and find a firm who matches your expectations and your budget. Get packed, get moved and get settled with movers that you can trust.

Top Tips To Help Moving Day Become Less Stressful

- Roshan

One of the most stressful undertakings you will ever do in life is moving house. Although this can be an incredibly exciting time for everybody involved, it can also take its toll on even the strongest among us.

We are going to be taking a look at a few ways to reduce this stress as much as possible and ensure your move is as stress-free as possible.

Decorate Before You Move In

This is by far, one of the biggest stress relievers you can do. Decorating before you move into a property can be so beneficial.

By undertaking the decorating of a property before you actually move any stuff into the home, you will find things far easier. Initially, you will find the decorating process will actually run far smoother, and the stress that usually comes hand in hand will not be as noticeable.

Why is this? Well, our mind doesn’t like clutter, in fact, it offers complication to our brain and can heighten anxiety and even cause stress. So by removing the array of boxes and having the freedom to walk around our new home without the risk of tripping, you are, in fact, creating a very positive atmosphere.

You also enable a different route into visualisation. If we decorate with our furniture just pushed out of the way, we often find that once we have finished painting, the furniture will just move forward rather than be arranged to best suit the layout of the room.

Label Everything

This should go without saying but applying a label to every item is essential in making moving day go smoothly. Each box should have a corresponding label to its destination. This will eliminate any confusion when it comes to unpacking and remove the stress when it comes to bedtime, and you cannot locate your pillows.

Don’t Move It All Yourself

Another huge mistake is to move everything yourself, and some people undertake this challenge in cars, others hire a truck. This can be so tiring and even dangerous. The lifting and maneuvering of furniture is not only stressful but can cause serious injury.

The best possible option would be to call in removalists obviously. This option can save so much time and stress. In some cases, they even offer packages which include the packing and unpacking of everything. Opportunities like this can altogether remove the stress of moving day.

Know Your Area 

Before you take up residence, you should always get to know your area and especially your neighbours. This can eliminate other stresses that will absolutely present themselves come moving day.

An inevitability will be the need for somewhere to eat and a local shop. Making sure you have somewhere you can disappear to at the end of moving day is going to be a huge help. There is nothing more stressful than having to rummage through all of your boxes to unpack your kitchen, only to have to cook an hour later.

9 Things To Consider Before Moving Out Of State

- Roshan

If you’re thinking of moving to a different state but you’re unsure whether or not it is the right decision for you then don’t worry, you have come to the right place. With so many different things to think about it’s important you’re being as prepared as you can be when it comes to the move Whether this means organising a removal team or finding your ideal accommodation well in advance, preparation is the key to a successful move. With that in mind, here are 10 things to consider before moving out of state: 

  • Why Do You Want To Move?

The first thing you need to think about is why you want to move to another state in the first place. Whether you’re moving for school or you think there is a better job market for your industry, moving to another state is not something that should be taken lightly. You need to take the time to work out whether or not it is the right decision for you and whether or not you’re moving for all of the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Although it may be a hard decision to come to, it is important you’re putting yourself first

  • What Is Your Overall Budget?

Once you have decided it is the best possible decision for you, you need to work out what your overall budget for the move is going to be. This means not only thinking about how much it is going to cost for your deposit and monthly rent but also thinking about how much it is going to cost to move all of your belongings to another state. With so many hidden costs when it comes to moving, you need to ensure you’re doing as much research as you possibly can before you start your planning. With that in mind, you can visit some handy tops tips for budgeting for your move here.

  • What State Do You Want To Move To?

Another important thing to consider before you move is which state you’re going to move to. Although you may already have a rough idea of the area you want to live in, you need to be sure you are considering all of your options. Whilst some states may seem as though they’re a perfect fit, it may just be because you haven’t researched any other potential locations. The best thing to do is research the best states to live in, narrowing it down to the ones you think will suit your lifestyle.

  • Have You Decided On A City Or Town?

Once you have decided what state you’re going to live in, you need to start thinking about the city you’re going to live in. Again, this might be something that you already have a loose idea of, or it might be something that hasn’t yet crossed your mind. When it comes to choosing the best possible place to live, you need to think about a number of different things. Whether it’s the cost of living or the career opportunities available, choosing the city or town that is right for you is important.

  • What Kind Of Accommodation Do You What To Live In?

Another important thing to consider when you’re moving out of state is the type of accommodation you’re going to live in. Although the types of buildings will differ by which state you’re moving to, you also need to think about whether or not you’re going to be buying or renting your property.

If you’re renting, you also need to consider whether or not you’re going to be renting on your own or whether you’re going to be sharing with someone else. For guidance when it comes to renting a property, you can visit this site here.

  • What Facilities Should Be Near By? *

If you are still unsure of the best possible location, you need to think about the facilities you would like to have nearby. Whether it’s as simple as having a store close to your home or whether you’d like to live near to a golf or ski resort, you need to be thinking about these things before you make your final decision. For more information about Homes near skiing and golf, you can visit this site here.

  • How Will You Find A Job?

One of the most important things to consider before you move is whether or not you have a job lined up for when you arrive. Although it may not be possible to attend interviews before you leave, you may find that you’re able to arrange a number of different meetings with potential employers. If this is the case, you want to be as prepared as you possibly can when you arrive.

If you are planning on getting a job before you move, you might want to consider spending a couple of weeks in your new city attending interviews and meeting with potential employers. Although it will be expensive and time-consuming, it’s one of the best ways to ensure you have a position to start before you even begin your move. 

  • What Logistics Do You Need To Arrange?

Another important thing to consider is the logistics you need to arrange. Whether this means hiring a removal team to help you with the move or hiring a van to drive everything yourself, you need to ensure you’re as prepared as you can be when it comes to logistics. If it helps, make sure you have a contingency plan in place.

  • What Do You Need To Pack?

Finally, you need to consider what you’re going to need to pack to take with you. Depending on whether or not you have a removal team to help, you might want to consider leaving some of your bulkier items behind. If there is anything of importance, you may be able to repurchase it when you arrive.

Are you considering moving out of state? What do you need to think about to ensure you’re move is as successful as it can be? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.