Thursday, January 1, 2009

Letting The Internet Help You Move

Writen by Madison Lockwood

Moving can be overwhelming. Not only must you deal with a thousand details on this side of the move - packing, gathering medical and dental records, canceling services, forwarding mail - there are at least as many if not more details on the destination side of the move - getting the kids in school, finding and adjusting to a new job, unpacking, getting services turned on and working right. Turning to the Internet for a little help may be just what you need to keep your head above water.

Lucky for you, there are sites dedicated to helping you do just that. They combine all the resources you will need to make your move as smooth as possible. Moving.com is one such site. Like any good moving site, they offer the following sections:

  • Moving - Find movers, boxes and supplies, and relocation information assistance.
  • Mortgage - From getting you a quote for a mortgage to helping you figure out how much you can afford and getting it insured, they'll help you find a new home.
  • Real Estate - If you're not in a position to buy, they'll help you find an apartment
  • Insurance - Home, renter's, and auto are all covered here.
  • Storage - Before you go or after you get, they'll help you find a place to store your stuff until you can find a better place for it.
  • Utilities - Get Internet access, set up your phone service, and schedule a day for your utilities to be turned on in your destination long before you get there.
They even have a link to a site that will do all your address changing for you. Checklists, planning guides, and city profile reports - there's nothing that you will need to move that you won't find here. They'll help you sift through all the information and pinpoint the exact resources that you need by entering a few details about your move, and then you're on your way.

If you need a little how-to information on handling different aspects of your move, then Helpful Resources at http://www.2c.com/wb_hrpages/hr_gen_moving.html is the place to go. Have you figured out how you're going to move your plants across the country? What about the plants in your garden? How are you going to bring your pets with you if you're not driving? Are there environmentally friendly options to all that packing material? Find the answers to these questions and more.

Another place to find moving resources is northAmerican's site at: http://www.navl.com/MoveResource/MonsterTools.aspx. In addition to offering to move you, they offer resources that include:

  • Online Move Planner
  • Community Information
  • Mortgage Calculators
  • Education Resources
  • Online Forms To Ship Your Stuff
If you haven't figured out exactly where you want to go yet, The Riley Guide at http://www.rileyguide.com/relocate.html should be your next stop. You will find a ton of information on a variety of destinations withal the information you will need to decide if it's right for you and your family. Sections of information include:

  • Moving and Relocation Guides
  • Cost of Living and Demographics Information
  • Real Estate Links
  • School and Health Care Directories
  • Local Information and Travel Guides
They offer a ton of links that specialize in the specific information that you need.

Using the Internet to help you figure out the details of getting you and your stuff out of town and to your new home is a great way to simplify the process of moving. With a little planning, moving doesn't have to be a hardship.

Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for ApolloHosting.com. She brings years of experience as a small business consultant to helping prospective clients understand the ways in which a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, vps hosting, and web design services to a wide range of customers. Established in 1999, Apollo prides itself on the highest levels of customer support.

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