Tag: Moving tips

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How To Moving Tips

Moving for Work How to Manage a NJ Job Relocation

Moving for Work How to Manage a NJ Job Relocation

Moving for work can be both exciting and stressful. There are so many details you need to consider especially if you’re moving across state lines. But even if you’re making a local move, the point remains that you want to be as organized as possible. After all, moving for work is different from your standard move where you will likely have more time to pack and unpack. With a job lined up first, your timeline is a lot shorter since you’ll need to find a place before you start at your new job. Whether you have three months or three weeks for your NJ move, the guide below can help make your transition as easy as possible.

Ask Your Company About Relocation Assistance

If you didn’t get a chance to negotiate relocation assistance during your job offer, it’s not too late to do so even after the fact. Simply reach out to the HR representative that you have been talking to and see if they can reimburse you for some moving expenses. While not all companies will offer you something, many will provide between $20,000 to $100,000 to help make your move easier. After all, they are the ones who want you to move to a new location! Even if they say no, you can simply thank them and move on. Your job is still yours!

If you’re still uncomfortable about broaching the topic, don’t worry. There are still plenty of ways you can reduce your moving costs. It all depends on how far you’re moving and how much elbow grease you want to put in yourself. While a completely DIY route might end up being cheaper, it will take you longer and could lead to damaged belongings or personal injury. For that reason, you should hire professional NJ movers. While it might cost you more, it will save you a lot of time and reduce your overall stress.

Make a Budget

Whether you get relocation assistance from your company or not, creating a budget for your move is imperative. There are a lot of little things you might need to purchase for a move and it’s all too easy to just put the charges on your credit card and forget it. However, this can lead to a huge sticker shock when you get your statement for the month. Creating a budget gives you the opportunity to really break down the costs and decide what you can afford to buy now or later. Make sure to create line items for every aspect of the move including:

And so on. Get as granular as possible and do your research by going online and finding prices on basic goods at nearby groceries and shops. Once you have your total, add an extra 15-20% on top of that for the first month as there are always things you’ll forget. If you’re moving from overseas, plan a larger bump, around 50 to 100% more than you would for a domestic move.

Make Lists for Everything

Lists are a great way to keep track of everything you need to get done for your move. There are so many large and small tasks you need to complete, you really don’t want to rely on your memory as you’ll definitely forget something. Much like your moving budget, get specific. Break down every task into smaller items. For example, instead of just listing out packing, you can separate it by room. Some other items to include are:

  • Declutter (by room)
  • Send out change of address for post office, financial institutions, health insurance, friends and family, etc.
  • Transfer utilities
  • Fill out transfer request information for kids 
  • Get all necessary health documents for everyone in your family
  • Research and book movers

And so on. A great complement to lists are spreadsheets. For example, an item on your moving checklist might be to turn off all of your utilities at your old house. That could link to a spreadsheet listing out every utility, the appropriate url or phone number to call, and even the billing cycle. On that same spreadsheet, include the same information for your new house to ensure you have everything working when you move into your new place. 

And speaking of spreadsheets, make sure to keep a well-maintained inventory of everything you plan on taking with you. This is especially important if you plan on hiring a NJ moving company as you want to ensure all of your boxes arrive safely. The inventory should include the type of item you are moving, quantity, a brief description including any current damage, and pictures especially of fragile and/or high value items. That way, should anything be damaged or go missing, you have documentation.

Locate the Essentials

The last thing you want to do on your first day of work is be late. So take some time to figure out the best driving route from your home to your new job location. Do a couple dry runs to see what the easiest and fastest options are. If you have public transportation nearby, see if that might be a better option than driving. Don’t depend on just one route to get to work! There might be heavy traffic due to an accident so you find alternative routes that might allow you to avoid potential traffic jams. While you’re driving around, keep your eyes peeled for other essentials like a grocery store, gas station, shopping centers, and so on. 

Speaking of essentials, make sure you can pack moving essentials into a separate box from the rest of your belongings. Pack your essentials bag or box like you would for a two to three day hotel stay. You want things like your toothbrush, clothes, toiletries, etc. easily accessible. If you’re going to work immediately after a move, make sure to have your work clothes in a garment bag to prevent wrinkling.

As well, stock up on staples before your first day in the office. Coffee, milk, eggs, cereal, and lunch items are a great option to have on hand to keep your costs down. And don’t forget to pick up a favorite bottle of wine or beer so you can relax after a long day.

Set Up Necessary Appointments as Early as Possible

Whether you need to go to the DMV to update your license or stop by your child’s school to make sure their enrollment is in order there are plenty of post-moving tasks that will require you to be away from your desk. As much as you can, arrange for these appointments to happen as early as possible and all at once to avoid being out too many days in a row. That way, you can avoid being off the clock too often during your first month. 

Of course, life doesn’t always go as planned and some things may end up getting delayed. As much as possible, give your manager and team a heads up so they know your whereabouts and availability as soon as possible. This will reduce stress on both sides!

Plan Your NJ Move

There’s a lot involved with job related relocation and you don’t always have as much time as you might like. With that said, there are plenty of ways to stay organized and, if you need more help, you can always reach out to NJ Great Movers. We can help you with almost every moving task such as packing, unpacking, and more. Reach out to us and we’ll go over how we can best suit your needs and budget.

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General Moving Tips

The Honest Pros and Cons of Living in NJ

The Honest Pros and Cons of Living in NJ

New Jersey is more than just the state between NYC and Philadelphia. Sure, that is the major draw of the area, but there’s so much more to the Garden State than its proximity to other cities. For locals, New Jersey offers the perfect blend of city life, accessible shorelines, and beautiful countryside. Despite its small size, New Jersey has a lot to offer its residents. Of course, it does have some faults, but what location doesn’t? If you’re considering a move to New Jersey, read the points below to help you with your decision.

Close to Major Cities

No matter where in New Jersey you move to, you’ll have easy access to either NYC or Philadelphia. New Jersey is a relatively small state, so even if you do end up in southern NJ, you can get to NYC in around two hours. Commuting to NYC or Philadelphia is common for many NJ residents. So you don’t have to give up access to all the amazing amenities these cities have to offer if you want to live in the suburbs. Depending on where you move to, you can even take a quick 15-30 minute train ride to get into Manhattan!

You don’t even need to go into NYC or Philadelphia to get access to city amenities. Jersey City and Newark both offer plenty of things to do including some amazing restaurants, great bars and nightclubs, international airport (Newark Airport), and more! Many long time residents don’t even go into NYC unless necessary because New Jersey has pretty much everything they need.

Excellent Quality of Life

Sure NYC might be exciting, but with so many people packed into a small place, it’s not always going to be the cleanest or safest place. While there are certainly unsafe parts of New Jersey, overall New Jersey is one of the safest states in the United States. If you want to avoid high crime rates, avoid moving to Camden, Trenton, Paterson, and Atlantic City as crime rates are quite high at these locations.

Besides being safe, New Jersey also has a booming job market (the state is home to 17 Fortune 500 companies), great access to healthcare, and has the best public schools in the nation. On top of that, you have access to plenty of entertainment and access to nature thanks to the many county and state parks. It’s no surprise that New Jersey consistently ranks in the top ten happiest states in the country. 

Beautiful Scenery

Despite its small size, New Jersey offers a wide range of scenery to enjoy. Traverse the 130 miles of shoreline and more than 60 designated beaches where you can swim, sail, surf, scuba dive, and fish. If you’re not into the beach then there are plenty of parks for you to enjoy. Go to Liberty State Park for stunning views of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. During the spring, go to Branch Brook Park in Newark as it is home to one of the largest collections of cherry blossoms in the country! 

If you want a bit more exercise, visit Wharton State Forest, the largest state forest in New Jersey. There are plenty of trails for you to explore on foot, bike, or horseback. You can also bring a canoe or kayak and paddle on the lakes. There are plenty of other small parks dotted around New Jersey so even if you get tired of Wharton, you can simply head to another place.

Great Educational Institutions

New Jersey has consistently ranked as the number one state in public education. Of course, not all public schools in the state are the same, but the majority of schools offer a great student to teacher ratio, extracurricular activities, advanced placement classes, and more. Besides public schools, there are also plenty of private schools to choose from if you want to go that route. Neither option is a bad choice and you can rest easy knowing your child will be getting some of the best education in the nation.

Besides primary schools, New Jersey is also home to some of the best universities. There is, of course, Princeton University, the fourth oldest institution of higher education in the United States as it was chartered before the American Revolution. It is also one of the world’s most prominent research universities with people traveling across the globe to attend. Besides Princeton, New Jersey is also home to Rutgers University, the largest university in New Jersey as well as the second oldest behind Princeton. 

Rich in History

New Jersey is steeped in American history with plenty of historical sites and landmarks. The most notable historical site is, of course, Ellis Island, which is partially owned by New York. There’s also the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, which includes the lab and house of Thomas Edison and the battlegrounds of the Revolutionary War in Princeton. But there are plenty more smaller sites like the plaque in Hoboken to commemorate the first ever recorded baseball game in history or the various houses dotted across New Jersey with historical significance due to its architectural style. Wherever you go, there’s history!

It’s Expensive

With all the amazing amenities New Jersey has to offer, it should come as no surprise that you end up paying for it. Cost of living in New Jersey is quite high. The median home price is around $550,000 compared to the national median of $440,000. The prices only go up the closer you get to a major city like Newark or Jersey City. And speaking of housing, property taxes are some of the highest in the nation, even higher than New York! You’ll also be paying a lot more for the basics like utilities, groceries, and more. Still, there are affordable places outside the more popular cities and towns in New Jersey, but it might mean a longer commute. 

Extreme Weather Conditions

Being on the coast makes New Jersey vulnerable to coastal storms and flooding. It is also at heightened risk of hurricanes and tropical storms which, when they land, leads to devastating results as seen by Hurricane Sandy. With rising sea levels and warmer temperatures, New Jersey will likely see more tropical storms and hurricanes in the upcoming decades. On top of that, the aging infrastructure makes the state even more susceptible to natural disasters. On the other hand, New Jersey is prone to nor’easters, which can lead to below zero temperatures and blizzards, making for a difficult winter.

Horrible Traffic

You might think NYC has bad traffic, but New Jersey has some of the worst in the country. In fact, it is the 9th worst state for driving! Much of the traffic is concentrated around the major roads, bridges, and tunnels that lead to NYC or Philadelphia due to all the commuters. If this is your plan, know that New Jersey residents spend an average of 86 hours per year stuck in traffic! What should be a 25 minute car ride anywhere else can end up lasting an hour or longer depending on when you’re driving in and if there’s any construction or an accident. 

Make Your Move to New Jersey

If the pros outweigh the cons for you, then make sure to give NJ Great Movers a call to help with your relocation to New Jersey. We’ve helped hundreds of customers make a smooth transition to their new home. And with New Jersey being so expensive, you’ll be happy to know that we do our best to offer services that match your needs and budget.

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How To Moving Tips

How to Make a Small NJ Move

How to Make a Small NJ Move

Not all moves are the same. Regardless of the size of your move, you still need to put in the time and effort if you want to reduce your stress. Of course, hiring a professional NJ moving company can make the process that much easier. But before you put down a deposit, make sure you know exactly what a small move entails.

What is a Small Move?

As the name suggests a small move means you are relocating fewer boxes and other household items than your typical move. Usually, it’s associated with one or two-room apartments or smaller homes and the items, but it can also include moving one large item like a piano or dining room set. 

In general, small moves do not require the use of a full-size moving truck and can usually be completed by two professional movers. A move can also be labeled small even if it’s long-distance or cross country. The word small describes the amount of stuff you’re moving, not the distance.

Just because you’re not moving as much stuff doesn’t mean a small move is a simple process. You still need to take into consideration things like decluttering your belongings, packing, finding a mover, and more. Even moving a single large item can be a hassle if you don’t do the appropriate legwork like making sure the item not only fits in the house but through the doorways and halls. 

Benefits and Drawbacks of a Small Move

It doesn’t matter how much stuff you’re moving, it’s going to be a process. Still, there are a lot of benefits to a small move versus a large one:

  • Affordable – smaller moves means less boxes and furniture. Regardless of whether you’re paying a flat or hourly rate, fewer stuff means lower prices. Heck, with the money you save you might even be able to afford other services like packing and unpacking.
  • Flexible – Depending on the distance of your move, a small move means more flexibility on the date and time of your move. It’s even easy to find last minute movers since you likely need one truck or even a small van.
  • Simple – organizing and packing for a small move is a lot easier if you have fewer belongings. Even if you live in a larger house, you should do your best to reduce the amount of items you’re bringing with you to your new home. The goal should be to declutter as much as possible. Not only does it make packing easier, it also makes the unpacking process go that much faster.

Of course, there are some downsides to a small move. Not all moving companies are willing to cater to small moves as it often won’t be worth their time. For those that do provide the service, they may charge a minimum fee so you may end up paying the same amount of money for a few boxes as you would for a larger move. In that case, it might be worth your time to add on the additional packing and unpacking service or plan a DIY move if you’re truly only moving a handful of boxes. 

Planning a Small Move

Whether you already don’t own a lot of things or plan on reducing how much you bring to your new home, you need a plan and time to get everything done. Your first order of business is to declutter. Yes, even if you’re already living in a small home, chances are you still have plenty of things that are unnecessary. Separate your belongings into two to three separate piles: keep, sell/donate, trash and sort accordingly. If you’re not sure whether you should keep or sell something, think about the last time you used said item. If you haven’t used it in the past year, chances are you don’t really need it. Trash anything that’s broken or in very bad condition.

Once you’ve sorted everything, get packing! Hopefully, you only have a handful of boxes to pack which should only take you less than a day to put everything away. Remember, you don’t need to pack everything into boxes. Leave your clothes in their dresser and just wrap the drawers tightly with plastic wrap. Instead of buying bubble wrap or packing paper, use towels and scrap paper to protect your fragile items. Make sure to keep a detailed inventory of all your items and include photos of everything so if something gets damaged, you have proof.

After decluttering, make sure to spend some time researching and reaching out to multiple moving companies. Again, not all movers will handle a small move so be upfront about your needs. That includes if you need additional services like storage and full or partial packing. And don’t forget to include important details like whether the movers will need to go up and down any flights of stairs. All of these will increase the cost of your move. When talking to movers, pay attention to how they answer or don’t answer your questions. If they seem to dodge your questions or get annoyed, it could be a red flag that they’re scamming your or just not professionals.

Small Moves Don’t Need to be Stressful

At NJ Great Movers, we can help with your move regardless of the size. And if you need any other help, we offer plenty of useful services. We can even provide moving materials in case you don’t want to make multiple trips to pick up all the necessities. So whether you just need to move a few boxes or you’re moving a jacuzzi, we’re here to help.

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Moving Tips

Crucial Steps to Take Before Moving to NJ

Crucial Steps to Take Before Moving to NJ

New Jersey, also known as the Garden State, is a popular destination for a variety of reasons, with the most common one being its distance to two major cities: NYC and Philadelphia. While it’s often overshadowed by New York, there’s plenty of other reasons to move here including affordable housing, parks and beaches, great schools, and more. So whether you’re a young professional, a growing family, or perhaps a retiree, moving to New Jersey is a great option. Below are some hints and tips on how to choose the right place in New Jersey for you.

Check Out Different Towns/Cities

New Jersey might be the fifth smallest state when it comes to land area, but there’s a lot of diversity when it comes to the various towns and small cities. If you want to commute easily to NYC, look at Hoboken or Jersey City as you can simply hop on the PATH train to access Midtown, the West Village, and Battery Park City. Due to its proximity to NYC, both locations have a more urban feel and offer a wide variety of amenities and great night life, making it perfect for young professionals. 

However, if you’re looking for something a bit quieter, there are plenty of options to choose from including:

  • Montclair – offers an urban/suburban feel with plenty of restaurants and retail shops. It also has highly rated public schools and low crime
  • Princeton – home to the prestigious Princeton University, the town of Princeton is often considered one of the best places to live. The historic downtown is very walkable with plenty of food and shopping options.
  • Closter – Located in Bergen County, this small town is great if you’re looking for a more rural environment, but still want access to major cities. NYC is about an hour away via NJ Transit buses. Considered the Historic Hub of the Northern Valley, Closter offers a quaint downtown area as well as an outdoor mall that includes grocery stores, restaurants, and a movie theater.

Know what kind of environment you want before moving. You don’t want to move to the suburbs if you’re looking for a more bustling environment. Some factors to consider when comparing neighborhoods include:

  • Community – each area has its own culture. Some towns are more conservative while others are more progressive. Find the one that suits you!
  • Cost of Living – the cost of living varies widely between towns, but the more amenities you want where you live, the more expensive it will be. Living in Hoboken will be more expensive than a place like Morristown for example.
  • Amenities – what do you want from the neighborhood? If you’re an outdoorsy person, you might want to move to a place that has easy access to one of the many parks in New Jersey. Young professionals, on the other hand, might want to move to a place that has an active nightlife. Figure this out before you move so you’re not stuck somewhere that doesn’t offer the things you want. 
  • Commute – While New Jersey traffic might not be as bad as NYC, you can experience traffic jams during the morning and evening rush hour. If you plan on commuting to NYC or Philadelphia, make sure you are okay with the commute time! An hour might not seem that long initially, but it might slowly wear on you if you have to make the trip 5 days a week. 

Decide Whether to Rent or Buy

New Jersey has plenty of housing options and you can choose to buy or rent. For either option, peak season is during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If possible, try to find a place between October and April as while the supply might be lower, you’ll have a better chance of negotiating the rents and home prices down.

When it comes to renting, there are plenty of options to choose from including apartment buildings to family homes. Tenant laws in New Jersey are meant to protect renters. For example, landlords cannot charge more than 1.5 times the monthly rent for a security deposit. The best part about renting is that you can leave when your lease is up. Have your paperwork ready if you end up finding a place you love as apartments tend to move fast in the more desirable locations. You will need to show proof of income, ID, and occasionally have references ready. Unlike NYC that requires 40 times the rent,, New Jersey landlords are a bit more lenient, requiring 30-35 times the monthly rent as the annual income requirement. You might also need to pay Broker fees, though it’s less common than NYC.

If you want to buy, you have plenty of options to choose from condos to townhomes to family estates. The housing market can be fierce, especially in areas with good schools and access to amenities so you’ll need to move fast if you find a place you like. If you plan on buying a condo, make sure you familiarize yourself with everything you will need to pay for including things like insurance, condo fees, taxes, maintenance fees, etc.

Find a Place That Matches Your Budget

With the cost of living continuing to rise, finding a location that you can afford is imperative. On average, New Jersey tends to be more expensive than the national average, but compared to NYC and Philadelphia, it is cheaper. Still, that doesn’t mean all of the towns are affordable as there are plenty of wealthy areas like Princeton and Montclair. In general, most locations that have great schools, lots of amenities, and access to NYC tend to be on the more expensive side. Likewise, there are more affordable locations like:

  • Phillipsburg – A rural town equidistant to NYC and Philadelphia. It has seen an economic revival in the past 20 years due to the Urban Enterprise Zone initiative which has reduced sales tax to 3.3125% to encourage more shopping and businesses. There has also been continuous talks of re-establishing a train from NYC to Phillipsburg so it could become a bustling town in the near future.
  • New Brunswick – A regional commercial hub for Central New Jersey, the area is home to Rutgers University, the largest university in New Jersey, and is also a popular commuter town for those who work in NYC. 
  • Toms River – A perfect location for those who want to live along the water. You get the Toms River that goes right through town and easy access to the beach along the Atlantic Ocean. It’s one of the safest cities in the United States and tends to attract families and retirees. 

Depending on where you move in New Jersey, home ownership isn’t just a pipe dream. There are many great locations where you can still get a home for under $300,000. In fact, compared to neighboring states, New Jersey has a higher percentage of homeowners! One thing to keep in mind is that New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the United States. And while HOAs do exist, they aren’t as prevalent as many homes and communities were created pre-1980.

Speaking of taxes, New Jersey does not have any city taxes, unlike New York. That means if you live in New Jersey but work in NYC, your take home pay is more than if you lived and worked in NYC since you aren’t paying NYC taxes. It also has progressive state taxes so you only get taxes on the income you earn above a certain bracket. 

Besides housing and taxes, you also have to consider other areas of your budget. For example, if you move to a suburban or rural area, you will definitely need to invest in a car, which means insurance and gas. Luckily, New Jersey tends to have cheaper gas than neighboring states as it is a major shipping hub for gas and oil. There are several options for grocery stores including Aldi and Trader Joe’s for budget-friendly options. You can also pick up fresh vegetables and fruits at your local farmer’s market!

Explore the Town

Have you narrowed down your choice of towns to one or two? Then now is a perfect time to actually spend time in the area. This is a crucial step as it will give you a better idea of the community vibe and atmosphere so even if you’re making a long-distance move to NYC, rent an AirBnB and spend a few days or week in the area. The more time you can familiarize yourself with the area, the better. 

Don’t treat this like a vacation! Use this time to act like you already live in the area. Travel to the grocery store, gym, school, work location, etc. to see how long it will actually take you to get to these places via your preferred method of travel. Outside of the major NJ cities, you’ll likely need to rent a car to get around, but you can always check to see if the area is bike and/or pedestrian friendly if you enjoy walking around town. If you plan on commuting to NYC via bus or train, ride it so you get an idea of how long it will take and if it’s something you can handle on a daily basis. You should also travel to areas of interest whether that’s to parks, the beach, or cultural institutions. Don’t forget to check out the local events to see if there’s anything happening. That way you can get to know your neighbors beforehand!

Not everyone can take time off work to explore a new city. If that’s the case, then explore digitally via Google Street View. Check out points of interest and map out how long it will take to get to these locations. While it won’t give you the same experience, it’s better than nothing!

Moving to New Jersey

Your move to NJ doesn’t have to be stressful. At NJ Great Movers, we have helped hundreds of customers relocate with no issues. Our experienced moving team has handled every type of move in every situation from moving during a blizzard to the scorching summer heat. So whether you’re making a local or long distance move we’re here to help. Reach out to us and we’ll answer any questions you might have.