Consumers Relocation Services

Many improving housing markets being reported

2012-02-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

A number of real estate blogs and sites are reporting that the number of improving markets are growing. The National Association of Home Builders reports that the list of improving markets has grown to 100!

The fact that there are nearly 100 markets now on the improving list shows that the momentum is building for a housing recovery and that more buyers and sellers are starting to feel confident enough to return to the market," said Kurt Pfotenhauer, vice chairman of First American Title Insurance Company.

Check out the dramatic growth of these markets they report. Pretty impressive.

We all know that markets are very localized. But with a rapid expansion like this perhaps the spring market will see a rebound.

One source predicts in the Northeast several markets in New York will improve including Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. Also, southern New Hampshire should improve as well.

Trying to sell your home this winter?

2012-01-20T11:20:00.000-08:00

As old man winter is taking a toll on us out here in Jackson Hole, I was cruising the web and came across this great article written by Jerold Leslie of TheStreet that is full of ideas on how to sell your home during the winter. It touches on topics like pricing your home correctly to, staging the interior for winter to displaying pictures in your listing of the house in the summer time. All of these are great ideas and great tips to ensure your home sells during the winter months. Check out the article for all of the helpful info and stay warm!

5 tips to ensure your home sells in the winter

House on Land or Water?

2011-12-14T10:47:00.000-08:00

I came across a fun article on MSN.com discussing the new trend in purchasing a floating home! No, not a house boat; an actual home that looks like a house that sits stationary on water. Now that's a pretty cool concept! Is it the perfect summer home for one that lives in the mountains? I think so! These floating homes can range from $100,000 to $1 million depending on the size of the home and the location. Check out this article to learn more about floating homes and how to find a good deal! And don't think that just because its a floating home that CRS can't help you move into it.... Of course we can!

Americans staying put, but those who move are heading to no-tax states

2011-11-28T06:48:00.000-08:00

By Bloomberg News

November 27, 2011 6:01 am ET

The percentage of Americans who changed residences reached its lowest point last year in more than six decades, according to the Census Bureau.

Those who did move often relocated for employment reasons, and many went to states with no individual income tax.
Barely one in nine people, or 11.6%, changed locations in 2010-11, the lowest total since the government began tracking the figure in 1948, according to the bureau. The percentage of Americans who have moved has declined annually since 1985, when 20.2% relocated.
“Although many of us still move over the course of a year, we are now less likely to do so,” Alison Fields, chief of the bureau's migration statistics branch, wrote in a report.
Most moves were for employment-related reasons, according to one of four mobility-related studies released by the bureau.
The government reported that 43.9% of people who moved more than 500 miles in 2008-09 did so for work reasons. Just 11.6% of people moved long distances for housing.
A separate study based on the American Community Survey showed the most common move in 2009-10 was from California to Texas (68,959).
California accounted for several of the most common moves from one state to another. Some 47,164 Californians moved to Arizona, 39,468 to Washington and 35,472 to Nevada.
None of those three states has particularly high tax rates. California has the highest taxes in the nation.
The second-most-common relocation was from New York to Florida (55,011), according to the bureau. In third place was the 49,901 people moving from Florida to Georgia.
Texas and Florida have no state income tax on individuals.
In another study, the Census Bureau reported that a majority of Americans lived in their state of birth. Louisiana had the most home-grown residents at 78.8% of its population. Michigan was next with 76.6%, Ohio with 75.1% and Pennsylvania with 74%.
Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Nevada and the District of Columbia had fewer than 40% of natives in residence.

Take it easy when you move!

2011-11-15T07:37:00.000-08:00

Moving can be one of the most stressful events in anyone's life. So many of our customers are moving because they want to; to be closer to family, to retire, or to take a new job. Since many of our customers are in the over 50 years old category, they need to take their time and spread the many activities over a longer period of time. Other considerations are the many physical things that need to be done in preparing for the move.

We're not as young as we used to be, and many of the physical activities in moving should be completed with some thought and in advance. If you going to do a lot of the packing yourself, do it over time. Pack a few boxes each day, rather than try to do it all in the week prior to the scheduled move. If you leave this to the end, the chances are you will either physically "beat yourself up" or not complete the packing necessitating the movers to finish and charge you for the service; perhaps increasing the cost of the move beyond what you initially thought. Next, DON'T over pack your boxes, Too many people over pack the boxes to the point where it is impossible to pick them up, or to move them. If you are doing the packing yourself, the chances are your going to have to move the boxes around your house during the process. Its not the number of boxes your will be charged for in the move its the totally weight of your entire household. So, give yourself a break and keep the weight of the boxes manageable for you and your movers. Over packing the boxes will also make them more susceptible to breaking or the contents being damaged during the move.

When packing notate what you are putting in each box. Particularly if you are packing over a period of time, keeping an inventory list of what is in each box will be helpful when you arrive at your new location. It will also assist you in keeping track of what is loaded on the truck and what arrives.

Plan ahead so you are present while the moves are at your house on both ends. If need be, get a relative or friend to assist you at each end. Sometimes moving day can be stressful with a lot of things going on with the movers and yourself. Having an extra set(s) of hands can make this day much less stressful. This goes for both the origin and destination moving days! Many people say that the unloading was far to busy for them to keep track of the inventory and to notate any irregularities in the arriving shipment. Well, that extra person helping you will certainly make it much more manageable.

Check out hotels or alternate places to stay in both origin and destination ahead of time. Periodically, due to unforeseen circumstances, the schedule does not go quite as planned. Having "Plan B" already thought out will be very helpful. Find places you will enjoy staying at. You may decide to make your move a mini vacation.

These are but a few of the things you can do to 'take it easy " during your move. Make the most of it, and enjoy it!

And last but not least, call Consumers Relocation to assist you in planning and setting up all of the arrangements to moving your household goods , personal effects and autos.

Unemployed and want to move for work?

2011-11-09T08:02:00.000-08:00

With today's unemployment and so many professionals out of work, many people are considering moving to locations where job prospects might be better, or the cost of living less. Moving without a job can be scary, but proper planning and strategies can often make your move successful.

Certain pockets of the country have been particularly hard hit with unemployment. Future job prospects in areas rich with industries looking for skilled professionals can be the answer to finding a job. Many times people say that the best place to be is where the employer is looking for skilled employees. Planning can help you get there. Some things to think about in pulling a move off successfully without a job.

Find the hot locations that will fit your skills

Determine where your most marketable, and fit those skills to the hot job market. Silicon Valley for high tech, New York for financial, as an example, Research the employment and the number of job openings. We are hearing companies are wanting to hire a number of people in certain disciplines, but only a fraction of the positions have been filled due to unqualified applicants! Find those companies and locations where the labor pool is insufficient for the jobs that are open.

Find a place to live while you still have a job

Landlords will be looking at income and employment. If you have a spouse or significant partner perhaps they could move first providing the employed partners employment information as proof of income.

Get a local cell phone
Local contact information will help to get the attention of an employer. If you don't have a local address then at least get a local cell phone number.

Be Creative

These are only a few tips. Once you get into the mind set of making this happen, you will be able to determine many more creative things that can be done to get the new employers attention in the new area.

And of course, once your ready to move your things, you need to contact Consumers Relocation to be sure you make the most of the money you do have in shipping your household goods and personal effects.

Last minute details when moving

2011-11-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

Things come up sometimes right at the last moment when you least expect them when moving. LA, issued a Red Flag Parking restriction yesterday at 4 pm lasting 11/2 and 11/3. The LA Fire Department issues these warnings when the risk of brush and other types of fires is high. The intent to to avoid clogged roads due to parked vehicles in difficult to pass areas such as narrow streets, or tight corners. The listing on their site extensive and listed by property address including about 15,000 address', but doesn't look like it is entire streets, just specific address'. Soooo, if you are moving today, from one of the address' this might come as quite a surprise just when you think all is all set. Often times the mover is not aware of the restriction due to it being so property address specific. Their site does have a property search, but... it is not working. Best thing to do is alert the mover as soon as you are aware of something like this, so they can come up with an alternate solution.

The site address for this particular alert is

http://lafd.org/redflag/

CRS Dueling Holloween Pumpkins Headed to AAA New York Auto Club's Spooktacular

2011-10-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Thinking outside the cardboard box

2011-10-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

We are always looking for ways to be more green and provide our customers ways to save our resources. Bungo Box contacted me recently about their growing company and product. What follows is from Sarah Sekula their PR Director. They currently have locations in the southeast US and parts of Canada.

Florida entrepreneur Tom Cannon hopes cardboard will go the way of the dinosaur.

It’s a long shot, but a worthy goal. After all, only half of the cardboard Americans use actually gets recycled. The rest gets hauled off to the landfill. Cannon's 2 and 1/2-year-old company, BungoBox, hopes to change that statistic with his simple, yet innovative, concept. “We rent reusable plastic bins as an alternative to the traditional disposable cardboard box and packing tape,” Cannon, 39, says.

Highlights:
--When you reuse cardboard boxes, they can last for approximately four moves. The stronger, more durable plastic moving boxes that BungoBox rents can be reused up to 400 times. After that, they are recycled and made into new bins.

--Surprisingly, until now, there really hasn’t been a good alternative to using cardboard. We’ve been using the same environmentally unfriendly materials for the past several hundred years.

www.bungobox.com

BLS Unemployment in September 2011 report

2011-10-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics - interesting not much progress

The number of unemployed persons, at 14.0 million, was essentially unchanged in September, and the unemployment rate was 9.1 percent. Since April, the rate has held in a narrow range from 9.0 to 9.2 percent.

[Chart data]

Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for adult men (8.8 percent), adult women (8.1 percent), teenagers (24.6 percent), whites (8.0 percent), blacks (16.0 percent), and Hispanics (11.3 percent) showed little or no change in September. The jobless rate for Asians was 7.8 percent, not seasonally adjusted.
The civilian labor force increased by 423,000 in September, but the labor force participation rate—the percentage of the civilian noninstitutional working-age population who are in the labor force—was little changed, at 64.2 percent.

Self Storage at Origin and Destination

2011-10-07T07:48:00.000-07:00

In October's issue of Consumers Relocation's E News we featured an article about self storage. While we have addressed this in this blog before this is a great summary of all the things you must consider when moving out of or into self storage (Mini Storage). Here is a reprint of that article.

Moving Topic #4&5: Self Storage; At Origin & Destination
By Amy Olsen

When moving, timing doesn’t always work out perfectly and you may need to be out of your house before you’re actually ready to move, your new house might not be ready yet or you just want to move things to or from your storage unit. When this is the case, you have another option- self storage. Storage is a great and affordable option when you are in a bind and can cost anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars per month depending on different circumstances and your needs. Here are some things to help you when your move involves self storage.

At Origin
Moving out of a storage unit is a very exciting time, especially when your belongings have been stored for a while. You tend to forget what is actually in the unit let alone in the boxes! There are several things to consider when moving out of a storage unit to make the move smooth and successful. Here are some tips to help you when your move involves self storage:

Consider a unit that is large enough to make access easy. Also be sure to ask the manager if a unit is tractor trailer accessible. If a large tractor trailer cannot pull right up to the unit for easy access, you will incur an additional charge on loading. A shuttle charge is when a mover has to load into a smaller truck and then offload into the moving van. Charges are based on the weight and distance. This can occur at either end of the loading or unloading, at origin or destination.
If you can, go into your storage unit ahead of time. Go through your things and decide what is important to keep and what can be tossed. After you have done this, move things around and organize so it is easier to navigate through the unit.
Allow the mover to gain access to the unit when preparing the estimate so they can accurately evaluate what is being moved. The more the mover can access, the more accurate the estimate will be.
Be prepared to repack things. If boxes have been in storage for more than a year, they will typically start to breakdown and can actually collapse during the move. If the mover determines during loading that the boxes are too flimsy, he can, at his discretion repack boxes and you will be charged for it. So if you notice boxes falling apart, try to repack in a new box.
Most movers will not bind your moving estimate when self storage is involved due to their inability to accurately evaluate what is being moved. Be prepared to give an accurate description of what you have.
Typically, self storage units contents have been packed by the owner and many have a tendency to over pack boxes. Movers estimate weight for boxes based on the contents- books, pillows, clothes etc. There can be quite a difference in weight, in particular if large boxes are packed with books or heavy items. Over packed boxes can be heavier than normally expected and can throw the weight estimate off considerably.

At Destination
So your house isn’t ready yet? Not sure where you are going to live? Moving your things into self storage can buy you some time. There are different size units and some units with temperature. All range in price depending on the amenities, size and location. Here are some useful tips when moving into a self storage unit.

The MOST important thing to remember when moving your belongings into a self storage unit is the release of liability of the mover once everything is unloaded into the unit even if you discover damage at a later date. It is crucial to be there when you things are unloaded so that you can note any damaged or missing items on the inventory as the items are being placed into the facility. The movers will not consider a claim if you move the items out of the storage unit before filing.
Be sure that you have rented a large enough unit.
To keep your furniture from any damage while in the unit, place wooden pallets on the floor before you move things in. This will keep the contents off the floor and keep things dry. Wood furniture can get damaged if the temperature goes into extreme temp zones.
Be sure to determine beforehand whether a tractor trailer or 18-wheeler can access your unit. If it cannot, a shuttle will be needed which will cost extra.

Self storage is a great option when moving, just keep in mind these tips that were compiled by our professional move consultants at CRS and if you have any questions or concerns during your move, they will be available to assist you.

Snowbird Shipping an Auto? Helpful info

2011-09-27T11:51:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again when many people move their autos to their winter headquarters. For those first time movers some helpful hints may be beneficial.

Most companies provide door to door and terminal to terminal pricing, or a mixture of these. Terminal to terminal is less expensive. However, the terminals may not be convenient to your home. When asking for pricing request both, and as specifically where the terminals are located.

Make sure that the transporter provides adequate insurance coverage. Make sure it is replacement value coverage and find out the basis for determining the value of the auto and/or repairs if there is damage.
Find out if there are exclusions in the insurance such as custom after market interior items such as high end stereo, One word of caution, be sure that you fully inspect the car before signing off on it at delivery. Just as a household goods shipment. any damage must be notated so that the claim will be honored. This is very important.

Many auto shppers will not allow personal items to be shipped in the auto. If you do leave items in the auto, and the company allows this, be sure that their insurance will cover the replacement if items are lost or stolen.

Here's one- do not leave your Easy Pass, in the auto. We have had customers leave the pass in the auto, and they Easy Pass recorded charges during the trip across country.

Consumers Relocation arranges for hundreds of auto shipments each year. We can select from a number of different options, and assist you in evaluating each option that might be right for you.

Why Internet Estimates and Phone Surveys are a Poor Choice

2011-09-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

Just the other day one of our customers, a member of a large association account, complained that she was overcharged. She was on the West Coast and her things, a little furniture and 50 boxes, were in the Midwest. She did not want to bother anyone at origin to allow the mover's estimator a chance to see the items, so she insisted on a phone survey based on a listing of items she provided. We complied with her request although we told her we did not recommend this process of quoting off a list or on the phone.

Well, when the items were loaded the piece count was accurate, but the 50 boxes were much heavier than standard boxes of the size and were self packed. They were way over packed and therefore much heavier than an estimator would expect. Had the estimator been able to physically see the boxes they would have known about this. We did have a reweigh completed before delivery with the same weight as the original one. Consequently, the charges were more than the customer expected.

This pitfall is experienced everyday when unwary customers get quotes off the internet. All too often we hear "I got the quote off the internet and it sounds good to me". Wrong don't do it. We insist on physical surveys unless the customer is insisting on a phone quote or one off a list. This is the only way you can get an accurate estimate of cost and required services to perform the move properly.

Ayyyyy Matey it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day

2011-09-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

Avast, me hearties! Its my favorite day of the year!! If you want to celebrate International Talk Like a Pirate Day go to this site

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Enjoy

Avoiding the Most Common MAJOR Mistakes When Moving

2011-09-19T08:56:00.000-07:00

Our Consultants work very hard to be sure every customer's move goes well and meets our customer's expectations! But we seem to spend much of our time on a very small percentage of moves unraveling situations that could have been avoided.
-You need to be at origin at the time of loading. Other people should not be relied on. Pay attention to the items that go onto the truck, and the inventory that the driver has taken. The inventory with any comments on the condition of items becomes the documentation a claims manager will look at if damage is claimed. You need to do a walk through after "everything has been loaded" to be sure everything that you want moved has been loaded. Its too late after the truck leaves.

-Make sure you understand any document before you sign it. Sounds basic but way to many people sign the order for service without reviewing load and delivery dates, or estimated charges.

-Yes you should personally be at the delivery of your household goods managing that process. The mover and their crew will do all the work, but they need direction as to where things go. Most importantly, notate any exceptions you see in the delivery such as any damage, any missing items, or anything else. Notate this on the inventory sheets or driver documentation that goes back to the van line.

-Plan your trip to your new location to coincide with the delivery dates outlined on the order for service. Do not rely on any verbal commitments for dates. The order for service is the official document for the move that is used by all involved.

-Make a contingency plan for late pickup or delivery during periods of high volume (summer) or poor weather(winter). Late pick up or delivery does not happen often, but.....

-Pay attention to your move- its YOUR move. The movers supply the labor, equipment, resources to make it happen. Like anything in life, you need to manage it.

Vermont Pulls Together to Recover from Irene Flooding

2011-09-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

If your not from Vermont you might be amazed how the communities have pulled togther to recover from the devastation of the flooding from Irene. There are a million stories about everyone volunteering to help their neighbors and local business'. As a result the state is recovering remarkably fast!

Norwich University cadets worked an entire weekend to help local residences and business in Norwich, VT clean up the mess, move furniture from destroyed homes, rip our sheet rock and insulation.

The local high school cross country team spent time helping The Garden Restaurant basically remove the entire interior the the building taking out equipment, spoiled food, walls, floors.

Les and Dale Velte spent the weekend with at least 50 other volunteers to remove the contents and the interior of the Carlton's home in the center of town. The owner of the Swiss Inn spent the day under the house ripping our insulation in the mud along with 2 volunteers that just walked in!

A roving group of local ski patrolers were moving around town randomly stopping in at peoples houses to help out.
One town was totally isolated, so the town folks used a bull dozer and put their own on/off ramp onto I91 to gain access to the outside world and called it the Hillbilly Highway.

Amy Olsen, CRS Account Manager, is organizing a fund raiser with Jill Proudy in Jackson Hole, Wyoming to help Vermont.

Dora Putnam, CRS Consultant, spends her free time manning a Free Store with things donated by local people for those who lost everything,.

Talking to one local business yesterday, the owners are in their late 60's and were planning to retire. They lost their entire store with insurance that will not cover the entire loss. Bev said I never thought I would be starting over at 69, but we are
The stories go on and on. No one complained that "so and so" was not taking care of the situation! Everyone just jumped in and started doing things to get it done!

Consumers Relocation attends SHRM Vermont conference

2011-09-14T10:55:00.000-07:00

This week Amy Olsen and Les Velte attended SHRM Vermont annual conference and trade show. Most of Vermont's largest employers, state, educational and heath care companies attended this two day seminar. This was the first time that CRS participated in the trade show portion of the conference and the reception was amazing! We are very excited about our growing Vermont client base. CRS is the only relocation company in Vermont, and most companies are very interested in keeping their relocation business in Vermont! Much of our business with Vermont companies entails moving employees and new hires into Vermont from all over the country and internationally. Because of our in depth national footprint of movers in our network we are uniquely positioned to assist Vermont companies in moving employees into Vermont, as well of course as moving employees from any locations in the country and internationally.

So Many mixed signals- "Somewhere over the rainbow"?

2011-09-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

It's hard to figure out what the housing market and moving business will see for the balance of this year, let alone 2012! The disappointing jobs report today certainly indicates a stalled recovery in our segment. The real estate market continues to show signs of weakness in the numbers of homes sold.

Today's jobs report indicates NO new jobs added in August. Everyone was hoping to see at least 50,000 to 60,000 jobs added, and that would indicate a still weak economy. But 0 jobs added what does that mean?

Pending home sales slipped by 1.3 % in July over last year. We saw a little slow down in the end of July in new calls for moving in the last week of July and August was flat over last year for new initiated moves. This was after a significant increase over last year through the middle of July for the year; particularly March through mid July.

Existing home sales down 3.5% in July and up 21% on the year. But, I heard that perhaps up to 40% of these are fore closers being sold. That does not improve the number of newly initiated moves.

So its any one's guess.

Consumers Relocation offices dodge a bullet with Hurricane Irene Flooding

2011-08-29T08:51:00.000-07:00

Southern Vermont was particularly hard hit by flooding from Irene yesterday. Virtually the entire downtown of Londonderry, Vermont was flooded by the West River which runs right through the downtown and right by our offices. In fact you can look out our window at the West River. Flood levels have not been this high since 1973 flooding. A total of 10 inches of rain fell over a period on Sunday. Fortunately, our offices were just barely high enough to avoid any water damage. What follows are pictures taken yesterday in Londonderry, Also included is one of Lake Champlain.

Back to College time! Getting the stuff to school

2011-08-09T06:34:00.000-07:00

People are calling about getting their college students things back to college. That time of year. Mostly the calls involve moving a car, and perhaps a small amount of belongings. Consumers Relocation can assist moving your students vehicle to school and in many cases their belongings if it involves some furniture in addition to the usual boxes.

We arrange for economical means to transport cars throughout the country. Offering either door to door service or terminal to terminal service for your student's auto, allow choices to fit into yours and their budget. For AAA members there is an added discount. True with most auto carriers, you can not expect to put your students boxes in the auto. If they have just boxes, perhaps UPS and FED EX ground might be the better option.

We have one partner who offers a drive your auto service, We can arrange to have them arrive at your home, pick up the car, then drive it the school. This service allows for personal belongings to be placed into the vehicle for the trip, and even for the student to ride in the car, The delivery times for this service are much shorter since the auto is being driven straight through to destination.

.For students moving more than couple boxes, we car arrange to have their belongings shipped by professional movers. During August, most movers will charge for a minimum of 2100 lb shipments. As we get into September some will drop that minimum to 1000 lb. If you are shipping 2 room's worth of things, and/or boxes with many books or heavy objects, then the 2100 lb minimum will not be a problem. We can save you and your student expense and time in making arrangements. We will order up to 3 moving estimates, and assist you in setting the move up and throughout the duration of the move.

our August eNewsletter is hot off the press!

2011-08-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Click the link below to view our August eNewsletter! In this months issue you can find tips on how to make packing, loading & delivery day a success, our featured blog post and some other great information! Email avelte@sover.net if you would like to sign up to receive this informative publication.

August eNews

Moving Scams Do Happen.... But not with CRS

2011-07-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

I found this article very interesting today. Posted on USA Today, the article discusses how government is cracking down on moving scams. Moving scams, unfortunately do happen. They happen when you book your move with a non-reputable, un-affiliated mover that may not have the propper licenses. One of the many benefits of moving with CRS is that all of our movers are licensed, certified, reputable, national vanlines that we pre-screen. Check out this article, and make sure to give us a call when planning your next move and you won't turn out like the people featured in this article!

Governments crack down on moving scams

Can't Sell Your Home? Consider Renting it Out

2011-07-14T08:55:00.000-07:00

I just found this great article on msn and with knowing someone in this situation, I think it is an article worthy of posting! With the way home values are right now, it might not be worth trying to sell at this very moment. If you can handle being a landlord and have the time, drive and patience to do so, it is definitely something to consider. If you are in a situation like this, especially owning a second home that you may not need anymore, read this article for some insightful tips.
Can't Sell Your Home? Consider Renting it Out

July eNewsletter is out!

2011-07-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this months Move eNews for our summer series topic #2: How to prepare for a delay should it occur

Summer still going strong

2011-07-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

In the past couple years, since the start of the "Great Depression" its been common for people in the industry to say; "was that summer?" This mean, it just seemed to fissle out too early compared to the years leading up to the crash of the real estate market and financial melt down. So far; "knock on wood" it seems to be holding up, and the moving business continues to be very busy.

However, the industry has shrunk with driver shortages and some van lines reporting they have up to 30% less resources (drivers and trucks) to support this busy season. Its interesting, with the continued poor stats in the real estate market, that it still seems like many people are finally selling their homes.

Seems like there must be alot of cash sales with quick closings. Last minute calls with very large moves seem to have increased dramatically. Even with "closed out dates" we seem to still be able to service moves with one of our great moving partners even on a short notice.

Lets hope it all continues for the duration of the summer!

Les

States ranked for business friendliness

2011-06-29T07:03:00.000-07:00

CNBC published a survey ranking each state for its competitiveness in 10 categories. The categories used were Cost of doing business
Workforce
Quality of Life
Economy

Transportation/infrastructure
Technology
Education
Business Friendliness
Access to Capital
Cost of Living

Taking the top spot was Virginia, followed by Texas and North Carolina. Consumers Relocations's home state of Vermont was ranked a sad 44th, but with a quality of life ranking of 3rd. Wyoming, where CRS has an account management office was ranked 21st.

POWER OUTAGE!

2011-06-28T12:20:00.001-07:00

at 2:30 this afternoon the power went out at the CRS headquarters for unknown reasons. Please bare with us as we patiently wait for it to come back up.

Move eNews

2011-06-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Interested in learning more about CRS and the moving industry? Visit and sign up to recieve our monthly enewsletter!

Consumers Relocation- June 2011 Move eNews - http://eepurl.com/eoXug

Early season booking restrictions seen

2011-06-07T07:10:00.000-07:00

Major van lines imposed early season booking restrictions in some regions of the US reflecting reduced capacity of drivers and trucks and increase in numbers of moves. The four year long recession hitting the real estate and moving industry has taken its toll on capacity. Some say the moving industries capacity has dropped 30% over last year reflecting some agents, drivers and crews getting out of the business.

May proved to be a busy moving month with industry experts saying overall business was up almost 20% with the reduced capacity over last year. At CRS our statistics show a significant greater increase in May over last year at this time. Indications are June will continue the feverish pace.

If you or your clients, members, or customers are planning a move this summer, be sure to call us as soon as possible so we may plan ahead and book the dates they wish to move on. Generally, CRS does not experience significant black out dates for bookings with our national account status, but it is better to be safe than sorry. We have seen some dates full with several van lines this May and are seeing the same thing in June.
Fortunately we have choices of moving partners and can pretty much accommodate our clients and customers needs as far as booking desired dates.

More on mover delivering into self storage and mover liability

2011-05-19T06:14:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago we wrote about having household items delivered into self storage by the mover, and wanted to include a bit more information on the subject. Our Consultants, and our Moving Facts Booklet both address this topic and how important it is to be on top of the delivery and to note any "exceptions" on the inventory as things are put into the storage unit by the driver and crew. Here is an actual quote and statement made by the claims person at one of our van line partners about their liability for damage or missing items if the customer/'shipper has replacement valuation sufficient enough to cover the shipment.

"We can certainly understand the customer’s concerns about delivering into self storage. Since she will be hiring a local mover to deliver her out, it is very important that she examine every item going into the storage unit, as it is her responsibility to note any exceptions on the Inventory for missing articles or articles that may have been damaged during transportation with XYZ She would also be responsible to check-off the Inventory to make certain all items were delivered into storage. She would also have to note any crushed cartons as well. We will speak with the driver to make sure he gives her plenty of time to do this.

Our liability would be limited to the loss or damage exceptions she notes on the Inventory going into the storage unit.

Once she delivers out of the storage unit, any subsequent loss or damage would be the sole responsibility of the local company who moved her to the residence."

If this process is followed, we do not expect any problems on coverage for lost or damaged items if a claim for such is filed.

Flooding where you don't expect it? Moving to a new area with rivers or lakes close by?

2011-05-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

When your moving to a new area and occupying a new home, sometimes you would never expect a flood. "Oh that hasn't flooded since 19xx or 18xx" This year we have seen the floods no one expected. In our area Lake Champlain is 3 feet over flood stage, the largest lake flooding in history!

The USGS reports

"The highest recorded level at the gage in Burlington was 101.86 feet above mean sea level on April 27, 1993. An historical maximum lake level of 102.1 feet above mean sea level was measured on May 4, 1869 at Rousses Point, New York. The mark left by the rising water was measured on a railroad bridge.
The minimum lake level observed in Burlington was 92.6 feet above mean sea level on December 4, 1908"

Now if you were buying a home in Rouses Point would you just say it will never flood over 102 here, I'm fine?.

You wouldn't be so lucky this year.

So if your settling into a new area. with the crazy weather we have had, it is all the more important to look into the potential hazards yourself. Do your own research rather than rely on others. It may save you alot of money in the future.

Moving into Public/Self Storage- Delivery Tips

2011-05-04T09:10:00.000-07:00

In this busy moving season we are seeing more customers choosing a delivery into self storage when storage is needed. Possibly the trend is due to the economy and the need to cut costs in the move. Self storage does present some added considerations and precautions when being delivered and they must be seriously followed to prevent any misunderstandings.

The movers can deliver the shipment to a public/self storage facility of your choosing in your destination state. As noted above, be advised that once the shipment is unloaded into public/self storage the mover is released of all liability, even if you discover damage at a later date to boxes that the professionals packed.

Therefore, once again, any damaged or missing items must be notated on the inventory as the items are being placed into the facility. The movers will not consider a claim if you move the items out of the public/self storage unit before filing. It is very important that you or someone you trust is there to oversee the delivery into the facility. CRS also recommends that you research public/self storage locations prior to choosing one to determine their access limitations. If a tractor trailer cannot easily access the unit you will incur additional charges for shuttle/auxiliary service. Many newer facilities are designed to accommodate tractor trailers.

Interesting historical chart of existing home sales through part of the recession

2011-05-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Year		U.S.	Northeast	Midwest	South	West
2008		4,913,000	849,000	1,129,000	1,865,000	1,070,000
2009		5,156,000	868,000	1,163,000	1,914,000	1,211,000
2010		4,907,000	817,000	1,076,000	1,860,000	1,154,000
		Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate
2010	Mar	5,440,000	910,000	1,220,000	2,010,000	1,290,000
2010	Apr	5,800,000	1,090,000	1,340,000	2,150,000	1,230,000
2010	May	5,680,000	890,000	1,320,000	2,160,000	1,300,000
2010	Jun	5,230,000	880,000	1,210,000	1,970,000	1,170,000
2010	Jul	3,860,000	630,000	800,000	1,540,000	890,000
2010	Aug	4,240,000	700,000	860,000	1,660,000	1,020,000
2010	Sept	4,410,000	740,000	930,000	1,710,000	1,030,000
2010	Oct	4,380,000	740,000	920,000	1,700,000	1,030,000
2010	Nov	4,640,000	770,000	980,000	1,770,000	1,120,000
2010	Dec	5,220,000	870,000	1,120,000	1,950,000	1,270,000
2011	Jan	5,400,000	830,000	1,150,000	2,050,000	1,370,000
2011	Feb r	4,920,000	770,000	1,050,000	1,840,000	1,260,000
2011	Mar p	5,100,000	800,000	1,060,000	1,990,000	1,250,000
vs. last month:		3.7%	3.9%	1.0%	8.2%	-0.8%
vs. last year:		-6.3%	-12.1%	-13.1%	-1.0%	-3.1%
year-to-date:

New housing starts rise March over February!

2011-04-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

National Association of Home Builders released figures today showing that housing starts were up 7.2 over February of this year. Yeehaw.

The International Business Times reported "Regionally, the Midwest saw the most impressive gains, rising 32.3 percent. The West also saw double-digits gains of 27.6 percent. The Northeast experienced a more modest 5.4 percent gain, while the South saw housing starts decline by 3.3 percent.

The U.S. Commerce Department reports that building permits were also up, rising 11.2 percent. In fact, the only region that didn't post a gain was the Northeast. The West was up by 37.1 percent. Single-family permits rose just 5.7 percent, while multifamily permits rose 25.2 percent . However, this is still 20% behind March 2010 rate.
Photo Courtesy of Forbes Construction, Londonderry, VT

Improvement is certainly better than no improvement.

But, relative to the other countries, fuel prices in US are low

2011-04-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

As a follow up to yesterday's article on US fuel prices, one must bring our prices in to perspective. Gas prices paid in many other countries are much higher than we are accustom to. Our neighbors to the north, in Toronto are paying an average of $4.96 for regular gas according to AIRINC, a Cambridge, MA based consulting group.

In most parts of Europe, gas prices per gallon paid are over $8.00 per gallon reports AIRINC. But in some oil rich producing countries, government subsidies have left prices for gas below $1.00 for regualar grade.

Everyone agrees predicting where gas prices will go in the coming months is a crap shoot at best. In 2008 when prices hit the highest levels in the summer, they quickly fell to under $2.00 a gallon by year end.

Hopefully the same thing will happen in the coming months and we can avoid higher prices for the summer!

Fuel Prices effecting cost of moving

2011-04-18T07:35:00.000-07:00

Right now, we are seeing the fuel surcharge on the cost of household goods moves running at 13% to 14%; higher than its been for a long time. And as we approach the busier summer months and peak travel months for vacationers, the cost of fuel will only increase.

In 2008, the fuel surcharge went as high as 18%! Och. The the statistics above the average retail price of diesel nationwide in October of 2008 was $3.90, right now its $4.10 and we have another month to go to the traditional time when fuel prices go up for the summer.

However. some predictions indicate that fuel prices may have topped out. Guess we will see as we get closer to the summer season. At any rate, the cost of moving has gone up with the fuel costs and will not likely go down this summer.

CRS does a lot of auto shipping as well, and the cost of shipping vehicles just as everything else having to do with transportation has gone up a lot in recent months.

Where is the job market improving?

2011-04-04T09:32:00.000-07:00

The new jobs report shows average employment gains running at 258,000! Where are most of the job gains in the country? I know that this information is important to us at CRS in running our business, and assists us in where to concentrate our marketing for move management services.

In February, non farm payroll employment improved in 35 states and declined in 14 states reports Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"The largest over-the-month increase in employment occurred
in California (+96,500), followed by Pennsylvania (+23,700),

Florida and Texas (+22,700 each), and Illinois (+17,600). South Carolina
experienced the largest over-the-month percentage increase

in employment (+0.9 percent), followed by California and

Delaware (+0.7 percent each)and Oregon and

Rhode Island (+0.6 percent each)."

It's great to see California and and Florida on the rebound since

these two states were so hard it. At CRS these have been two key

states for us in volume in past years.  We have seen a rebound in new

customers calling us for moves this year, and in

particular the last two months.

Is the Home Affordable Modification Program Reducing Foreclosures?

2011-03-30T08:14:00.001-07:00

Just about a year ago we wrote about this program. The HAMP program is intended to assist those going into foreclosure to modify their mortgage and retain their home ownership. At that time, 230,000 loans had been permanently modified, and some were questioning its effectiveness since it was supposed to assist 2 to 3 million people. A year later, 540,000 mortgages have been permanently modified and the expectation now is that 3-4 million should have been assisted.

Brookings reports that these numbers are unlikely to increase much since only 30,000 people are applying for this program monthly. Additionally they report that many of the loans that have been modified still place the borrowers with payments as high as 60% of pretax income. The normal ratio used to be 36% on the high side.

Brookings went on to say "Furthermore, it is not clear what better alternatives we have for preventing foreclosures. It has long been recognized that a key limitation of HAMP is that it does little to prevent households from defaulting because they owe more than their homes are worth. The main proposed solution to this “underwater” mortgage problem is forcing or attempting to incentivize lenders to write down the principal value of loans. But, some experts are arguing that the costs per foreclosure prevented under such a scheme could be exorbitant—implying that the idea, at best, raises fairness questions and, at worst, could damage the financial system in a way that would have far-reaching repercussions for the rest of the U.S. economy."

Not a real pretty picture for this particular remedy for the housing market.

Wallet Pop's 10 Best Places to Buy a home in 2011

2011-03-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

Thinking of moving to where might be the best place to buy a home this year? The article was published by Wallet Pop at the end of 2010, and assumed that housing prices were and will be "stuck in neutral" in most parts of the country. Not sure that is the case, since it really seems to vary widely by pockets, and sometimes very localized ones where values are moving in one direction or staying stagnant.

Anyway, there take on the best places to buy are in the following article.

1. Austin, Texas: Best All-Around City
Population: 799,267
Median home price: $119,788
Why here: Texas' capital and a great college town, Austin is beautiful and the 12th-most-affordable American metro area. Job growth from 2000 to 2010 was 14.1%, according to Trulia; unemployment currently is 7.1%, compared with 9.8% nationwide. The city's population is growing too. These positive indicators are expected to continue in the coming decade. Fortune 500 companies abound here; it's home to more than 2,000 tech companies. Home prices are reasonable for the $73,747 median family income and let's face it, nobody does BBQ better than Texas.

2. Deerfield Beach, Florida: Most Affordable Town With a View
Population: 74,584
Median home price: $89,400
Why here: There may be cities with lower median prices (not many), but I'm guessing you need a down coat to live there. This burg comes complete with year-round warm weather and beachfront properties that not too long ago cost a bundle ($400,000+). It's close to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, where residents can go for professional sports and cultural events.

3. Broomfield County, Colorado: Best Jobs
Population: 55,000
Median home price: $239,000
Why here: Jobs! It also doesn't hurt that the county is tucked between Denver and Boulder, so the scenery is nice too. Job growth in this area exploded 50% during the last decade. High-tech giants Oracle, Ball Corporation and VMware employ lots of folks, and IBM and Avaya are nearby. If you're college-educated, you're in good company: About 38% of the county's residents hold a bachelor's or higher degree, according to the Broomfield Economic Development Corporation. If you ski and hike, we're talkin' bliss!

4. Durham, NC: Best City to Retire In
Population: 223,284
Median home price: $178,700
Why here: Since we're talking about retiring, first on the list of pluses is Duke University's renowned medical center. Also, Duke's popular senior learning program offers 100 courses every term, on campus. So if golf's not your game, but mathematics is, there you go. If, however, golf is your game -- you've got that too. Plus Broadway hit shows, concerts and lots of places to hike. Home prices are a steal for what you get.

5. Woodbury, Minnesota: Best Place to Raise Kids
Population: 58,515
Median home price: $240,100
Median home price: There are so many great places to raise kids, but this suburb 10 miles from St. Paul has a lot going for it. Yes, winters are cold (not a small thing), but it's Minnesota -- we're talking thousands of lakes. Woodbury has 100 miles of trails for hiking and biking, and is a stone's throw from thousands of acres of parkland. The schools are great, including the Math & Science charter school. 3M employs multitudes, as does state government. What's not to like? OK, the winters. Deal with it.

6. Warner Robins, Georgia: Best Military Town For the Buck
Population: 53, 629
Median home price: $110,400
Why here: Located midway between Atlanta and Savannah, Warner Robins' housing affordability is the big draw. The median price of a home is $110,000, while the median family income is about $63,000. That leaves some extra dough to hit the local aviation museum, motor speedway and golf club. The city's main employer is the military (home of Robins Air Force Base), bringing engineers and employees from around the globe, so the population is eclectic. The city fared well during the recession.

7. Madison, Wisconsin: Best College Town
Population: 562,000
Median home price: $209,400
Why here: A gem of a city located between two lakes, Madison is where it's happening in the Midwest. Home of the state's capital, it's got a top-rated, Big 10 university (with all the sports and cultural events that come with it); affordable housing; tons of eateries and shopping; smart people; friendly atmosphere. You don't have to be a student or the parent of one to buy a home here. A never-ending supply of renters keeps your investment solid. You may end up living here yourself.

8. Pocono Mountains, Pennnsylvania: Best Vacation-Home Location For the Price
Population: 340,000 for the whole region
Median home price: $110,000 for Pocono Lake; prices vary throughout the region
Why here: Year-round playground, with skiing in winter, equestrian activities in spring, summertime sailing and hiking in autumn. You can get a two-bedroom home with 1,256 square feet for $99,999 in Mount Pocono; a three-bedroom cottage in 1,255 square feet is listed for $139,000 in Pocono Pines, according to HomeAwayRealEstate.com.

9. Portland, Oregon: Best City For Gen-Y
Population: 551,302
Median monthly rent: $1,200
Why here: It's green (literally and figuratively) and it's gorgeous. Rents are a bit higher, but some big companies pay well, such as Intel, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Legacy Health System, Fred Meyer Stores. The attitude is way-laid back and there are tons of venues for merry-making: music clubs, coffee shops and art galleries. When it's not raining, you can bike through the city, hike Mt. Hood and hit the zillions of hiking trails nearby.

10. San Francisco: Best City, Period, Price Be Damned
Population: 815,358
Median home price: $628,000
Why here: If you have to ask ... The Golden Gate Bridge, Golden Gate Park, the Bay, the hills, the views, the museums, street cars, cable cars, clubs, nightlife, architecture, coffee houses, bookstores for bibliophiles (City Lights, anyone?), hiking and biking everywhere, Tony Bennett (OK, just in your head), famous hotels and restaurants. Yes, it's foggy in summer, but who cares?

Sources, median home prices: trulia.com and zillow.com

Housing Recovery?? When?? Wow

2011-03-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Headlines this week

(Reuters) - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes plunged in February and prices hit their lowest level in nearly nine years, indicating a housing market recovery was still a long way off.

The National Association of Realtors said on Monday sales fell 9.6 percent month over month to an annual rate of 4.88 million units, snapping three straight months of gains. The percentage decline was the largest since July.

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — Sales of previously owned homes dropped 9.6% in February and prices fell to their lowest level since 2002, reflecting a continued slump in the U.S. real estate market.

(Paper Economy) Today, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their Existing Home Sales Report for February showing a notable triple blow to the nation's housing market with declining sales, falling prices and increasing inventory clearly indicating that housing remains historically weak and adds further evidence that a double-dip has materialized in the wake of the governments housing tax scams.

It still appears people and families are moving! Our phones are ringing.

Great Resource for Moving, Relocating and Places to Live NOW with search engine

2011-03-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Now, you can search our blog by key word to research all the the valuable information we have posted over the past years. Our content is amazing and probably not duplicated anywhere in a blog on moving and relocating. We offer a wealth of information on best places to live as well.

So try out the search and see how valuable our blog truly is!

Most Typical Household Goods Moving Policy

2011-03-15T06:45:00.000-07:00

Now that the economy appears to be making a rebound, many small to mid sized companies are hiring or planning to reposition employees. In many cases the jobs effected require a relocation. A number of these newer companies are searching for information on where they should start in assisting their employees in the move. Most start with the most obvious activity which is shipping their household goods and personal belongings.

During the past several weeks we have been asked to advise companies on the most typical policies covering the household goods shipment side of a move. We have combined a number of policies into what we believe represents most current thinking.

Most companies are considering or using a tiered policy which reimburses by category of employees- what follows is a good example of this type of policy and is readily used in many industries.

Category	Employee	Management	Executive
Household goods shipment	Services paid for include- -Household goods shipping and delivery	Services paid for include- -Packing- (fragile only) -Household goods shipping and delivery Partial unpacking	Services paid for include- -Full packing -Household goods shipping and delivery -Partial unpacking
Storage	Up to 30 days of storage	Up to 30 days of storage	Up to 30 days of storage. An additional 30 days when necessary with prior approval
Shipment of Auto	One auto shipped when over 300 miles	One auto shipped when over 300 miles	Two autos shipped when over 300 miles

Additionally companies will offer a miscellaneous allowance ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 to cover the cost of items not directly serviced by the moving company. Most companies in the small to medium size are asking their employees to get 2-3 estimates, or use a service like Consumers Relocation which has 3 estimates performed under our national account agreements with the movers. Consumers Relocation takes the leg work out of this process, applies special prenegotiated terms and pricing to each estimate, and acts as the employees/company's advocate throughout the move. For more information call Consumers Relocation at 800-839-6683

Move Up or Save Up

2011-03-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

In 2009 my fiance and I thought the housing prices were the lowest they were going to get, the first-time home buyers credit was about to run up and interest rates were crazy low. It was the perfect time for us to buy.... or was it? It is always difficult to tell exactly what the market is going to do and how it will change, but there are thousands of couples and families out there right now debating on what to do. Do they purchase their first home? Do they purchase a bigger, newer home? Do they continue to save and see what comes their way in the next year or so? It is still a buyers market with home prices continuing to fall, but it is unnerving to think that they are still falling and you wonder when they are going to stop. If you plan to purchase your home and live in it inevitably, than maybe it is the right time to buy a home. If you are looking to flip your house, now is probably not the time as we have no idea when house prices will begin to rise.

There are several cities across the country where home prices are at an extreme low, and some cities where home prices have begun to creep up. Before you think about purchasing a house, look into the rental market. If purchasing a home is going to be less than renting, purchasing is a great idea if you have the 20% to put down. If you don't have the full 20% down payment, you will be hit with a monthly private mortgage insurance fee that may increase your monthly payment. There are several factors that you should consider before purchasing a home in this market. Although it sounds appealing because the prices of homes are low, you need to think about your future. If you find your dream home, the price is right and you don't think you can beat it, take the chance, especially if you plan to be in that home for a long time. If your dream home has not crossed your path, hold out and see what comes up. It it probably out there and you just have to wait for the price to be right.

Housing and moving going to pick up this Spring?

2011-03-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

We are hearing and actually seeing first hand some positive signs that the pent up demand for moving and home sales may turn around some this year. In a previous post we reported that Warren Buffet felt 2011 would bring an improved real estate market. Recently in a letter to shareholders he reiterated that and went on to say his "elephant gun was loaded " for acquisitions. Pretty positive.

Southern California and the New York metro areas are picking up for us with newly initiated moves. The northwest and Rocky Mountain areas are starting to show some signs of life. One of our real estate accounts in Massachusetts is also showing signs of improved activity. So maybe the snowy scene above will soon look like the one below.

Our corporate business has picked up alot this year indicating the loosing by companies. The movement is in a number of different industries.

I have felt that despite the reports and numbers we hear, that our business would get the initial indications of an improvement in the moving and real estate markets. Alot of the numbers that are reports take into account foreclosures, short sales, investors, speculators, and all of those groups. We just see moving families in the general market and corporate transfers.

Disaster Resistant Real Estate Locations

2011-03-01T07:31:00.000-08:00

It seems like nearly every time I turn on the news there is another breaking story about some natural disaster that has struck again, destroying cities, towns, houses, people. Looking to relocate to a place off the natural disaster map? Jason Notte of TheStreet has compiled a list of 5 disaster-resistant real-estate locations on MSN.com.

Although you are susceptible to natural disasters at every point on this earth, there are places that are not located in exposed wind patterns or popular fault lines are less likely to see any type of natural disaster. So these 5 locations are not only beautiful, but safe!

1. Palau- You may recognize this name from the show Survivor. Dwindling agriculture, rising seawater and worrisome waste-removal efforts are more of a concern than disasters. Real estate however is scarce and comes at a premium.

2. Marshall Islands- The good news is that the Marshall Islands have declared fewer than 10 major disasters in the past five decades. The bad news, the islands were a nuclear test site and residual radioactivity remains on islands including Bikini Atoll where locals mark each March 2 as Nuclear Victims Day. Real estate can be hard to find without visiting first, so disaster dodgers should stay at the local Marshall Islands Resort in Majuro while house hunting.

3. Rhode Island- RI has only declared 5 disasters in the past quarter-century. Yes, they have experienced some heavy snow and flooding in the past few years but in comparison to its neighboring New England states, it is less prone to disasters. There are several different real estate options ranging from the low $100,000 to the millions.

4. Utah- UT has declared only 7 major disasters in 57 years and none within the past five years. Of those, the overwhelming majority of Utah's disasters stem from severe storms and ensuing floods, so heading to the high country may be a disaster-conscious newcomer's best bet.

5. Wyoming- Want to live tax-free, but don't want to deal with hurricanes? Welcome to Wyoming, where individual and corporate taxes are as nonexistent as oceans and gulf currents. With only 8 major disasters declared since FEMA started keeping tabs back in 1953, the least-populous state takes calamities including floods, tornadoes and winter storms in stride.

So whether you are looking for the ocean and beaches or the mountains and desert, there is a disaster-free place waiting for you!

First Time Home Buyer? Here are 7 Tips to Avoid a Lemon

2011-02-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

I was just reading the Real Estate page on Msn.com and came across this article. As a recent first time homebuyer, I found this article on the 7 ways first-time homebuyers can avoid a lemon very interesting and helpful!

1. Check the foundation

A house's foundation is probably one of the most expensive things to fix, which is why you must go down to the basement before you even look at the rest of the house. Do you see any cracks in the concrete or stone? If so, the foundation might be structurally unsound. If the basement is finished, look for cracks in the drywall, especially around windows and doors.

2. Inspect the HVAC equipment

While you are down in the basement, look at the heating and cooling equipment. How old is it? Does it look like it's running properly? Are the vents connected well? These are important questions to answer to make your home energy-efficient and to reduce your utility bills. Replacing a home's HVAC system can cost tens of thousands of dollars, but many first-time buyers never give it a second look.

3. Look for water damage

If the house has had problems with water in the past, you're looking at several expensive fixes. First, one-time occurrences, such as a basement leak, can happen again. Second, that water damage could have opened the door for mold, especially dangerous black mold to grow. Look for brown or white stains down the side of the basement walls. These can indicate a past leak. If the floor is bare, look for horizontal stains.

Be suspicious if the basement has been painted recently. Sellers often do this to hide water damage stains. It's also important to check the bathroom and under the kitchen sink. Look for stains that would indicate mold growth.

4. Check the electrical system

If you are looking at a home built before the 1930's, it still might have old knob-and-tube wiring. It can be a problem, if it has been tampered with in any way. For example, if the attic has blown insulation sitting on top of knob-and-tube wiring, this is tampering- and it's a serious fire-safety hazard. Most insurance companies consider knob-and-tube wiring to be unsafe, so you're going to pay more or be turned down for homeowners insurance if you don't replace it. Replacing it means rewiring the entire house, which will cost tens of thousands of dollars.

5. Look at the house at least twice

Remember, when you first see that "perfect house," you're looking through rose-colored glasses. Always sit on the decision to make an offer and go see the house again a few days later.

6. Get a home inspection

This seems like old advice, but many people still don't get a home inspection before they make an offer. If the home inspector says more research is necessary or files an inconclusive report, get a second opinion.

7. Consider that if the price is too good to be true, it probably is

Trust your gut here. If your dream home's price is suspiciously low, there's probably a good reason. Remember, buying a house is a huge investment, especially if it is your first home.

There is a lot of knowledge and information that goes into purchasing a home, especially your first home. Make sure to consult with a knowledgeable real estate agent that can help you answer any questions that you may have. And when you purchase that new home, call CRS at 1-800-839-6683 and let us manage your move.

Need to Move Your Family?

2011-01-20T08:58:00.001-08:00

Here are the 10 best places to raise a family!

When relocating your family, there are so many factors to take into consideration. Is it safe? Are the schools good? Is it expensive to live there? Are there after school activities to occupy their time? These are just a few things that parents consider when searching for a place to live. Bloomberg and Businessweek.com conducts and annual survey to determine the best places to live, and this year, they decided to shift their focus from large, urbanized places to small towns and cities. They focused their rankings on schools, crime statistics, cost of living, job growth, air quality and access to recreational amenities to name a few.

The communities which were chosen for this years rankings are mainly middle-income earners with good public schools, low crime and great resources to keep the family entertained after school and on the weekends.

1. Niles, Ill:

-Population-29,207

-Median family income- $73,532

The Leaning Tower of Niles, a half-size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, is among the landmarks in this Chicago Suburb.The advantages of living in Niles include public transit- there's a free bus service within the village- 20 parks and several shopping centers, according to the Niles Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Niles has a number of public and private schools that perform above the state average.

2. North College Hill, Ohio:

-Population- 9,778

-Median family income- $57,399

Carved out of clovernook Farm, three subdivisions- Clovernook, Meyerville and Sunshine- combined in 1916 to form the village of North College Hill. Incorporated as a town in 1980, North College Hill is now a suburb 10 miles north of Cincinnati and known as the "The Center of it All."

3. Centerville, Ind:

-Population- 2,067

- Median family income- $55,092

Antique shopping is one of the attractions in Centerville, a quiet community 65 miles from Indianapolis on Indiana's Antique Alley. They have two elementary schools one junior high and one high school.

4. Clinton, Tenn.:

-Population-9,224

-Median family income- $55,421

Clinton is on the Clinch River where plans are in place to develop the waterfront into recreational space with hiking and bike trails. There are 4 high schools in the area with students posting advanced scores in Criterion Reference Test results beating the state average.

5. Rowland Heights, Calif.:

-Population- 46,793

-Median family income- $72,985

About 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Rowland Heights is home to a large Asian community. The area has several highly regarded schools and it is close enough to LA and all the excitement of the big city but far enough to enjoy a more peaceful setting.

6. Ridgefield Park, NJ:

-Population- 10,675

-Median family income- $84,544

Located across the Hudson and a few towns west of the northern reaches of Manhattan, the Village of Ridgefield Park is a suburb with good schools and one of the longest-running Fourth of July parades in the country. The community also pulls together around a true Main Street with such events as the annual holiday display contest. Houses have yards, and kids have plenty to do with a town pool and numerous parks.

7. Kensington, Conn.:

-Population-8,479

-Median family income- $90,189

A city about 14 miles south of Hartford has two public elementary schools and one middle school and one high school in their District. There are several parks, golf courses and country clubs. Kensington has an Amtrak station in town which makes commuting a breeze.

8. Varnell, GA:

-Population- 1,480

-Median family income- $69,404

While Varnell is only 2.5 square miles, it offers parks and trails and is minutes from the Nob North Golf Course. It is part of the Whitfield County School District, which includes Varnell Elementary School, New Hope Elementary School, New Hope Middle School and Northwest Whitfield High School.

9. Spring Arbor, Mich.:

-Population- 2,332

-Median family income- $71,249

A small university town in the midst of Michigan farmland, it is home to the main campus of Spring Arbor University. The town maintains a rural feel and plenty of parks to play in, such as Lime Lake, where residents swim and fish in the summer.

10. Tilden, Neb.:

-Population- 830

-Median family income- $51,841

Tilden is a classic American small town where the community park has soccer and baseball fields. There are a library and a 20-bed hospital. And just one mile north of town is the Elkhorn River, with excellent fishing for catfish and views of the river from scenic Yellowbanks Wildlife Area.

So whether you are looking for a small town feel, or more urban life, this list has some great suggestions. And of course, if you decide to move your family to the next neighborhood over or across the country, CRS can help you coordinate that.

We ship hundreds of automobiles annually

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Whether it’s moving a car south for the winter, buying a vehicle online, or moving all together, we assist over 500 people each year in shipping their vehicles. Orignally starting as a value added piece for moving household goods, auto transportation has turned into a solid stand alone business line for CRS. We now have the ability to ship motorcycles and boats.

We employ the services of the nation’s best auto shippers. Features of the companies we use include replacement value coverage between $50,000 and $200,000 depending on the auto carrier used, guaranteed delivery dates available, and use of company owned trucks and trailers whenever possible. Of course the most important consideration, is the auto shippers continued high quality service and dependability.

Any Consultant in our office can supply an auto shipping quote within an hour of contacting us. Just call and provide make. Model, and year of the auto, the origin and destination zip codes as well the the date of shipment.