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If there is one thing most professional movers have seen time and again, it is a series of the same moving mistakes made by their clients. In fact, most people make at least some of these mistakes during their relocation. But the problems are easily avoided with a little planning and forethought.

Moving Mistakes to Avoid

To make your relocation easier, whether you plan on moving yourself or relying on a quality moving company, call the experts for a consultation. When you compare costs and the services provided, working with professional movers typically pays off in the end.

Below, the professional movers of Ken’s Pack & Move in Cary, North Carolina list the top 7 moving mistakes to avoid in your next move.

1. Moving Yourself

Moving, even just down the street, requires a lot of advance planning. You face a broad range of potential problems, not the least of which is personal injury. Also, you can also damage your belongings. You also face high truck rental costs, fuel costs, or general wear-and-tear on your own vehicle. These are just some of the big moving mistakes when trying to DIY.

Aside from these factors, who will help you move? Moving yourself actually means enlisting reluctant friends and family to help you. No one wants to be “that guy” dragging their friends and family away from their personal time for unpaid labor. Consider all of these moving mistakes of moving yourself and explore the affordability of professional movers by talking to the experts for a free quote.

2. Forgetting about the High Season

Like with any customer-oriented business, there is a high season for professional movers. In fact, some times of year prove almost impossible to book moving services. One of the biggest moving mistakes for Americans is not booking the move far enough in advance. Particularly in spring and summer high seasons, relocation takes some planning.

3. Not Getting an Estimate

Even if you prefer moving yourself, you should always do a cost comparison through an estimate for professional movers. When working with a moving company, this estimate is particularly important to keep you from feeling blindsided by the cost. Such estimates are either binding or nonbinding. Experts suggest getting at least three estimates from different moving companies. They also recommend not choosing the cheapest offer without clear examination because it may relate to the quality of the services.

A binding estimate is a written quote that clearly describes all of the charges at concrete pricing that cannot change. Nonbinding estimates your move according to the size of your home, projected weight of personal belongings and distance you are moving. A nonbinding estimate is also provided in writing and gives you an idea of your total cost, within 10 percent of the final charges.

4. Neglecting to Ask About Moving Insurance

Forgetting about moving insurance is one of the biggest moving mistakes. People typically do not think about needing insurance until a mover drops a box of dishes or your TV screen suffers damage. Who covers these costs? The answer to that question comes down to the reimbursement policy, moving company’s insurance policy and your own homeowner’s insurance coverage.

Check all of these insurances and policies out before scheduling your moving services. Also ensure your moving company has a worker’s compensation policy to cover mover injury.

5. Forgetting about Valuables

Expensive items are typically not the responsibility of the moving company. This means you should pack your jewelry, documents and other valuables for transport in your personal vehicle. If something is an heirloom or of significant importance to you, you should move it yourself. The same is true for firearms, alcohol and other hazardous items.

6. Not Prepping Your Pet

When moving yourself and your family, you must also move your pet. Take your pets to the veterinarian just before moving day to ensure they are up-to-date on shots, certificates, tags and identification. If you are moving long-distance, you possibly need motion sickness or anti-anxiety medication for your fur baby, too.

7. Forgetting about House Plants

Most professional movers do not transport plants. This is particularly true for distances over 150 miles or interstate moving. To move plants, check the USDA website for a list of prohibited plants for your new state. Also transfer plants from breakable pots to lightweight plastic. If you cannot move your greenery, consider giving them to friends or a retirement home.

Avoid Moving Mistakes with Professional Movers

The best way to avoid making these seven moving mistakes and others like them is to work with professional movers. Ken’s Pack and Move provides individuals and families in the Cary, North Carolina area with local moving services and long-distance moving services. We also provide moving storage to hold and protect your belongings after pick-up and before drop-off. Call us today at (919) 637-5862 for a free moving estimate and scheduling.

moving for a better life

Many shifts are happening these days, in how Americans live. These lifestyle changes are due, in part, to the recent coronavirus pandemic and how quarantines affected our working style. The ability to work from home means more people can leave the proximity of their employer’s physical office. It also means more have the ability to live where their dollars stretch farther and they can afford a better quality of life. If you are moving for a better life, where should you go?

You can move from a small apartment in your complex to a bigger one. Or, you can move down the street, a few miles away or from one type of lifestyle to another right here in North Carolina. When you do relocate, Ken’s Pack & Move answers your call for local and Triangle Area moving for a better life.

Below are examples of where Americans are moving today. These popular destinations are just some ideas of where to move. Other ideas are much more “local.”

Where Americans Are Moving for a Better Life

Deciding where to move is difficult. Many people relocating today base their decision on socioeconomics or the cost of living. Others move for school, work, or better opportunities. Still, others chase childhood dreams of their ideal place to live. Moving for a better life largely depends on what you personally believe is “better” for you.

Nevertheless, below are the places where Americans are moving for a better life on their own terms. From the lowest percentage of new residents to the highest population surge in 2020, these states include:

  • Hawaii, 49,708 new residents
  • New Hampshire, 50,288 new residents
  • Montana, 40,862 new residents
  • Delaware, 38,014 new residents
  • Colorado, 240,600 new residents
  • Nevada, 132,950 new residents
  • Idaho, 78,730 new residents
  • Alaska, 34,031 new residents
  • North Dakota, 36,668 new residents
  • Wyoming, 30,247 new residents

Through this list, you can see how the “great outdoors” and wide-open spaces seem to be large influencers in where Americans are moving for a better life.

Hawaii

About 11,000 Californians moved to Hawaii in 2020 and even more are expected after the coronavirus pandemic settles down. Besides Washington and Virginia, North Carolina also contributed many new residents to this island paradise. In fact, 3,524 people left North Carolina for Hawaii.

New Hampshire

Why are Americans moving to New Hampshire for a better lifestyle? This is an intriguing question, since most of the new state residents come from the neighboring states of Massachusetts and Maine.

Montana

California, Washington, Oregon and Nevada are the biggest contributors to Montana’s new residents. Many likely relocate here if they are moving for a better life in the outdoors, wide-open spaces and low cost of living that the state provides. Snowfall in Montana is certainly a change for many of the people arriving from Nevada and California.

Delaware

Pennsylvanians and New Yorkers are making an exodus to Delaware. In 2020, almost 9,000 of the new residents came from Pennsylvania, alone. New York contributed 3,044.

Colorado

Almost 30,000 people left California for Colorado in 2020. A whopping 14,000 moved from Florida’s tropical environment to the colder Rocky Mountain climate of this beautiful state. Arizona and Illinois both sent over 10,000 people to Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction and other parts of the state.

Nevada

Almost 50,000 people moved from California to neighboring Nevada in 2020. Most likely felt they were moving for a better life. Florida contributed another 5,000 new residents, along with several thousand each from Arizona and Colorado.

Idaho

Of Idaho’s almost 80,000 new residents in 2020, the most migrated from California. That state gave 18,000 of its residents to the Sawtooth Mountain region. Others arrived from Arizona, Colorado and Montana.

Alaska

A whopping 34,031 people moved from other states to Alaska in 2020. California and Florida each contributed about 5,000 people and Idaho added 1,644 to the list. That is a long way to go when moving for a better life!

North Dakota

Oil drilling was a major influencer of relocations into North Dakota. This boom in new residents coincides with the modern oil rush of the region. Besides oil workers, those relocating include service providers and entrepreneurs of all backgrounds. Minnesota contributed the most people, at 13,506 people moving only one state west. Texas added another 3,075 and South Dakota 2,329. The rest of the people traveled from all over the U.S. with big dreams, moving for a better lifestyle.

Wyoming

Wyoming received the lowest number of new residents in 2020 when compared to all other states. But this small addition of people actually increased the state’s population by 5.6 percent. This proportionate leap made Wyoming the fastest-growing state in the Union. California, Colorado, Nevada, Montana, and Idaho were the biggest contributors to this boom.

Triangle Area of North Carolina

Although North Carolina did not make the top ten list for population expansion in 2020, people in the Triangle Area of our state are also moving for a better lifestyle. Many are moving locally to provide more room for a home office or learning spaces for their kids. Others are downsizing from a home to a condo due to the changing economy. These moves are throughout the local area, including in the cities of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Apex, and Cary. When you need help with a local move, in-state move or relocation across the country, call the local moving professionals of Ken’s Pack & Move at (919) 637-5862.

Are you considering a move to Raleigh, North Carolina? You are certainly not alone. In fact, the Triangle Area is one of the top areas for relocation in the United States. There are many reasons to call Raleigh “home” and we explore 10 of them, below.

Career Opportunities in the Triangle Area

Work is a great reason to move to Raleigh. The city, and in fact the whole Triangle Area, is on the cutting edge for many career fields. Whether you are advancing in your current career or want to change to a new field, opportunities abound here. Research Triangle Park and Raleigh-Durham offer a broad range of tech, biotech, healthcare and Fortune 500 organizations for which you can work. Companies range in size from startups and small businesses to major brands known within every household.

Move to Raleigh

Top-Quality Healthcare

If you are seeking better healthcare as part of your move to Raleigh, you are making a smart decision. The city offers world-class hospitals and medical centers to keep your whole family in top health. The region hosts Duke University Medical Center, UNC hospitals and other renowned institutions, along with some of the most experienced and highly trained medical professionals in the country.

Economy

If you feel tired of barely making ends meet, Raleigh offers a healthier economy in which to thrive. Your move to Raleigh is one that provides you with a low cost-of-living in comparison with other American cities. Home ownership and property taxes are affordable in this region. There are also many apartment communities and other types of housing throughout the city and in its suburbs.

The Arts and Culture

Boasting a young, community-oriented population, Raleigh is home to plenty of options for entertainment and cultural pursuit. The music, foodie and art scenes here are thriving. The city also offers plenty of museums, galleries and theatres for enjoyment of the Arts, too. Even kids have their own cultural representation in the city, such as through the Marbles Kids Museum.

Collegiate Sports

Basketball is one of the area’s hottest sports, particularly at the collegiate level. Duke University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina offer thrilling competitive action, just as they are proving grounds for future NBA athletes. For any sports fan, a move to Raleigh is a reason to get very excited. The Triangle Area considers NCAA and ACC tournaments pseudo-holidays.

Educational Opportunities

From preschool to advanced degrees, few cities offer the educational bounty of Raleigh, North Carolina. Whether you want to advance your own education or provide learning for your children, you can choose from hundreds of institutions. At the collegiate level, NC State, Duke University and UNC are among the top universities in the nation. For younger people, Wake County Public School System is top-notch in the state. You can also place your kids in private, charter or magnet schools.

Proximity to Varied Geographies

People in Raleigh repeatedly boast about one of the area’s big truths. That is, the city is ideally located between snow skiing and sunny beaches. You can spend weekends getting away to the mountains and crisp air of Asheville or Boone in fall and winter. In summer, spend weekends hiking those areas or venture to some of the most beautiful beaches in the country on the North Carolina coast or the Outer Banks. Convenient getaways are one of the best reasons to move to Raleigh!

Restaurants and Bars

The Triangle Area offers an unlimited number of dining and drinking venues. You can find cuisine of almost any nation here as well as a wide variety of restaurant styles and experiences. Microbreweries are very on-trend and something you can enjoy when you move to Raleigh. In fact, the city features over 20 craft breweries of its own.

Nightlife

For people who enjoy getting out at night and kicking up their heels, the Triangle Area offers plenty of nightlife enjoyment. People are very social in this region. You can enjoy the benefits of getting to know new friends and neighbors over a few cocktails or out on the dance floor. If you choose to move to Raleigh, you never have to feel alone.

Climate

The city is located between the world-famous Outer Banks and the Blue Ridge Mountains. If you move to Raleigh, you will enjoy four gorgeous seasons with enjoyable weather and year-round outdoor fun. Here, you experience the best of all seasons, even occasional winter snows.

Your Local Raleigh Moving Company

Ken’s Pack & Move maintains an outstanding reputation as Raleigh’s local moving company. Are you ready to upgrade from an apartment to your own home? Do you seek to move to Raleigh from one of the suburbs? Or, do you want to downsize from a big place to a smaller one? Whatever the size or scale of your Triangle Area Ken’s Pack & Move provides the local moving services you need. Call us at (919) 637-5862 for information and scheduling.