Tag: NJ Relocation

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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.

Categories
General Moving Tips

What to Expect from Full Service NJ Movers

What to Expect from Full Service NJ Movers

Moving to a new home is both an exciting and stressful experience. There are so many steps involved in the moving process that it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Whether you’re planning a long-distance or local NJ move, professional moving companies can help you with almost every step of the process. If you want to save yourself some time and potential heartache, consider a full-service move.

What Does a Full-Service Move Entail?

As the name suggests, full service NJ movers will do everything associated with a move. That includes:

    • Providing all packing materials and supplies – no need to save up boxes or purchase packing tape, bubble wrap, or anything else. The movers will provide everything your move needs, that includes things like furniture blankets and additional padding to keep your belongings and walls safe!
    • Packing everything – no one enjoys packing and it is generally the most time consuming part of a move. With a full service move, the packers will pack everything for you in a fraction of the time it would take you. The highly trained crew knows exactly how to pack boxes in an efficient and safe manner for transport and, of course, know how to handle fragile and valuable items. Plus, if the movers pack items themselves, your belongings are protected should anything get damaged.
  • Furniture disassembly – while many movers provide basic disassembly service of your furniture, full service movers will provide more thorough disassembly and, in many cases, reassembly upon reaching the destination.
  • Truck loading and unloading  +- there’s no need for you to carry anything except your essentials bag and whatever items the movers cannot put inside their truck. Otherwise, leave the rest to the professionals.
  • Transport – This should go without saying, but included in all moving packages (even the basic one), the movers will use their own truck to transport your belongings from one location to another. They’ll even manage things like parking.
  • Unpacking – Full service NJ movers don’t just pack your house, they also unpack. While they movers will have labeled the boxes according to the room they were in, make sure to provide some direction on where items should go so you don’t have to do too much redecorating.
  • Disposal of packing materials – say goodbye to cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, and bubble wrap. Full service movers will remove all packing materials and supplies once they have unpacked and unloaded everything. That means you don’t have to spend time breaking down boxes and separating recycling.

Of course, you shouldn’t assume all of these are included in a full service move. Always ask beforehand to make sure they are offering you what you need.

How Much Does it Cost?

As you might expect, a full service move will cost you significantly more than a basic move where you do the packing and disassembling yourself. Costs vary based on the size of your move, the distance they need to travel, time of year, and more. Always get an estimate from several full service moving companies so you can compare prices and make an informed decision. Don’t forget to ask if they have any promotional sales going on at the moment or if discounts if you belong to a certain group like a student, senior citizen, or veteran.

How Long Will it Take?

Packing and moving yourself can take days or sometimes even weeks. When you hire a full-service mover, they can finish in a few hours depending on the size of your move. In order to provide you with an accurate time frame, the movers will need to do an in-person or virtual tour of your home to take stock of your belongings. Unless you have a lot to move, most full service movers can pack everything up in a three bedroom home in under 4 hours. 

After that, the rest of the time will be spent loading and unloading the truck and unpacking. And, of course, don’t forget the time it will take to get to your new home. For local moves, a full service move might take 8-10 hours. The less you move, the quicker the move will be so make sure to declutter beforehand. Even if you’re not doing the hard work, there’s always something nice about having a few hours to relax after a move.

If you’re not able to move into your new house immediately, you might need to request short-term storage solutions. Many NJ movers have their own secure storage units, but renting one is an additional cost on top of the full service move. Make sure you know how long you will need to rent out the unit and incorporate the cost into your moving budget. While you can find self-storage solutions, the benefit of using storage directly from the movers is that they will handle all the loading and unloading and travel to and from your homes.

How to Find a Reputable Full Service NJ Mover?

There are plenty of NJ movers to choose from and while most of them are legitimate, not all of them have your best interests in mind. When looking for a NJ mover, make sure to check that they are licensed and insured by looking for the Department of Transportation (DOT) number on their website. You can then go to the DOT website and enter the number to make sure they are up to date on their licenses and check for any complaints or accidents. 

You should also ask friends and families for suggestions or feedback if you know they have moved recently. Otherwise look up online reviews on Yelp, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (if they are listed). You want to look for any negative reviews that have the same or similar complaints.

After that, listen to how the movers talk on the phone. Are they professional? Do they answer your questions in a straightforward manner? If you notice that the movers are evading questions and/or trying to pressure you into signing a contract with them, thank them for their time and move on to another company. You should also avoid movers who have estimates that are wildly cheaper than others or who ask for a large upfront deposit. These are all signs of a scam.

Ready to Move?

If you want to make your next NJ move easy, make sure to reach out to NJ Great Movers. We have years of experience and can provide you with a comprehensive full service move tailored to your budget and needs. Of course, we also provide other services like storage, last-minute moves, and more! 

Categories
Moving Tips

Sustainable Moving: 7 Tips for an Eco-Friendly NJ Relocation

Sustainable Moving 7 Tips for an Eco-Friendly NJ Relocation

Moving to your new NJ home might be exciting, but there’s also a lot of waste that goes into the process. You’ll often purchase one-time use items and, considering the average American moves 11.7 times in their life, that ends up being a lot of waste. Even if you manage to recycle things like boxes or bubble wrap, it’s not always the best option for the environment. If you remember the three R’s initiative, recycle is the last R with reduce and reuse before it.

Luckily, it’s fairly simple to reduce your carbon footprint for your next NJ move. Just follow the eco-friendly tips below!

Use Your Own Containers Instead of Buying New Ones

Sure, you’ll probably need to buy some boxes, but chances are you have plenty of potential containers you can use on hand. If you’re hiring professional NJ movers, you will have to properly pack everything you own either in boxes or plastic bins. However, if you’re going the DIY route you have more flexibility when it comes to types of containers. Some options include:

  • Plastic bins
  • Suitcases
  • Gym or duffel bags
  • Trash bags
  • Reusable grocery totes

And more. If you can fit multiple items inside of it then use it! Of course, you don’t want to just throw any and everything into random containers. You should still keep your belongings organized and pack up items by room and use. So if you’re packing up your bathroom, you can use a small grocery bag or tote to store all the items under your sink. Have small containers for your food? Use these to hold small items like hair accessories, jewelry, makeup brushes, etc. The more of your own containers you can use, the more you can avoid purchasing boxes.

Don’t Buy New Cardboard Boxes

Online shopping has replaced in-person shopping for a lot of people. While it’s not the most sustainable shopping option, it’s perfect if you have an impending move. After all, your shipped items will likely come in boxes, which you can then reuse for your move. Of course, you don’t want to hold onto boxes forever so only start collecting once you have firmed up your move date. One of the benefits of cardboard boxes over plastic bins is that you can easily break them down for easy storage around your house or apartment.

You don’t need to keep every box. Obviously get rid of any that are ripped or in bad condition. From there, keep the ones that will hold a decent amount of items. Yes, you can keep the smaller boxes if you like, but it might be more trouble than it’s worth to properly pack everything and tape these up.

If you’re not able to save enough boxes on your own, don’t buy new ones! Instead, look for used ones. Ask friends, family, and coworkers if they saved any from previous moves or packages. Did any neighbors move in recently? See if they have any leftover boxes. The worst they can say is no! You should also reach out to your local grocery and liquor stores as they will often have leftover boxes from their shipments. The best part is that those boxes are meant to handle heavy items so they’re sturdier than your standard online shopping boxes.

Once your move is complete, pass the favor forward and see if there’s anywhere in your new neighborhood that needs boxes. If no one takes you up on the offer, make sure to recycle!

Use Plastic Bins That Are Reusable

Don’t want to deal with assembling and breaking down cardboard boxes? Then why not rent plastic bins? Ask your moving company if they offer this service. If they do, then consider renting some out to fill in the gaps for whatever items you might still need to pack. It’s not the cheapest option, but it is eco-friendly. After all, the plastic bins can be reused for many years to come so long as they don’t get damaged. On top of that, the bins come with a hard plastic snap top, which means you don’t need to worry about tape. Plus, the plastic construction also means it is water and dust proof!

Before you decide to pack everything into these rented plastic bins, you should consider the downsides:

  • It’s expensive – the price goes up the more bins you rent out and the longer you rent it
  • You can’t pack your items until the bins are delivered – most moving companies will deliver the pins 2-3 days before the day of the move so you’ll have to rush to pack
  • You have to return the bins – it should go without saying, but renting a bin means you need to return them to the NJ moving company you used. While the movers will pick it up themselves, this means that you have to unpack your items ASAP so you don’t get charged additional fees

Still, plastic bins are a great option if you only need a few boxes to fit your remaining belongings. And while they might be plastic, it can be reused hundreds if not thousands of times.

Take Only What You Need

The easiest way to make your NJ move greener is to move less stuff. Fewer belongings means less weight in the moving truck AND less moving supplies you need to get. Plus, why bring a bunch of stuff you don’t use to your new home? You’re starting in a new home so why not get rid of items that no longer fit your needs.

Decluttering might sound simple, but it’s not always easy especially if you’re someone who tends to hang onto things “just in case.” But ask yourself, how often do those situations actually happen? Put aside a few days a month or so before your move to go through every single item you own. That includes little things like pens, hair clips, etc. Separate into three piles: Keep, Donate/Sell, Throw out. Your throw out pile should be the easiest to start with as you can get rid of broken and/or severely damaged items.

When it comes to deciding what to keep and what to donate, it’s a bit harder. Ideally, you should donate anything that you haven’t used in the past year that is still in good condition. Of course, things like holiday decorations or family heirlooms may fall into this column, but you’re better off leaving sentimental items for last. Instead, focus on things like clothes, shoes, appliances, and so on. Do you really need that many shoes and ties? If you’re able to whittle down your belongings by half, you’ll save yourself a ton of time and energy packing. Plus, you can sell any items that are in good condition at a garage sale for some quick and easy cash.

Find Out Creative and Interesting Ideas with Packing Materials

You don’t always want to skimp on packing materials, especially for things like tape and bubble wrap for expensive, delicate items. However, you can get away with using household items for almost everything else.

  • Glassware – fill the inside with paper and wrap the outside in clean socks
  • Plates and bowls – wrap these with old newspapers, pillowcases, or magazines
  • Knives – if you don’t have a knife block, you can use old newspapers or pieces of cardboard taped together to protect the blade. After that, you can wrap with an additional layer of a dishcloth or old t-shirt
  • Beauty products – put them away in a small plastic container or plastic bag. For things like lotion, tape the lids shut so they don’t accidentally open during the move.

In order to pack your boxes properly, you will also need to fill in any gaps/empty spaces to prevent jostling during your move. So if you have half-filled boxes, fill up the space with dishrags, bedding, towels, etc.

Focus on Choosing Eco-Friendly Packing Supplies

As more people express concern for the environment, more companies are offering sustainable options and that goes for the packing industry. Obviously, cardboard boxes are recyclable, but did you know you can also get eco-friendly versions of almost every supply out there? The issue, of course, is cost. Sustainable options tend to be much more expensive than your standard options. Still, if having an eco-friendly relocation is important to you, then the extra cost might be worth it for your own peace of mind.

Almost everything nowadays can be replaced by greener products including:

  • Packing peanuts – you can look for biodegradable options made from corn, wheat, or potato starch. They dissolve in water so you can even throw them into the compost pile after you are done and they are non-toxic to pets and humans
  • Bubble wrap – opt for paper bubble wrap instead of plastic. Paper options are recyclable and biodegradable making it a perfect option. There is also plastic bubble wrap made from recycled materials and is, of course, 100% recyclable.
  • Packing tape – your standard plastic tape is not only not recyclable, you will have to remove it from all of your boxes in order to recycle the boxes. There are luckily paper-based tapes available on the market that uses a natural water-activated adhesive. Plus, it’s recyclable!

Find an Eco-Friendly New Jersey Moving Company

If you’re hiring professional movers to do the work for you, you can still make your move a green one. Even if they don’t have an electric fleet, professional movers are much more efficient than the average person. Not only can they quickly load and unload all of our belongings, they also know the fastest route between your two homes, especially if you’re hiring local movers. That means less gas wasted in traffic or trying to find a parking spot. And if you hire them to pack your stuff, they also know how to pack more efficiently. After all, they do this on a daily basis and receive training! You can also ask potential moving companies during your research phase what their sustainable practices are, if any.

If you plan on renting a truck or van, research its emissions rating. Some companies even rent out electric trucks and vans as part of their fleet. Obviously, the range of an EV vehicle will be limited, so it’s more suited to moves in the same neighborhood rather than 3-4 hours away.

Make Your NJ Move a Green One!

A sustainable move doesn’t have to be expensive, but it does require some planning and coordination. And being eco-friendly doesn’t stop at the move! If you’re trying to lead a more sustainable life, think of ways you can make your new house more eco-friendly. That might mean investing in energy efficient appliances, installing LED lights, sealing any air cracks, getting curtains for your rooms, and more. All of these little things can help the environment and your wallet.

If you need some help finding the right materials or suggestions on packing, make sure to give NJ Great Movers a call. We’ll provide guidance every step of the way.