Don’t be hesitant if you don’t know where to start. Before you begin decorating your home it’s best to ask yourself a few important questions. Do you plan to be in the home over the long term, or is it just a starter home? What furnishings can’t you live without? What home décor ideas have you seen elsewhere and might like to adapt to your home? The answers you come up with should guide your interior decorating ideas. Once you’ve got your home décor ideas all lined up, it’s time to pull together the materials.

Since you can’t afford Pottery Barn, or even Pier 1, you’ll have to find inexpensive, unique furnishings and discount furniture somewhere else. Check out the following tips to find out where to shop:

Shopping for Discount Home Décor

• Consignment shops – stores where private owners sell their used furniture – are becoming more and more popular. Check if there are any in your area. The inventory is one-of-a-kind, so if something catches your eye be prepared to buy. If you get to know the manager they can let you know when the sort of home furnishings you’re looking for come in.
• If your new home is in a pre-planned community, check out the developer’s model home for pieces you like. They may be a bit worn, but often the developer will sell off the home’s furniture after a period of time. It’s a great way get room sets that are already coordinated.
• Many big furniture stores have scratch and dent rooms: sections where they keep slightly damaged (but very inexpensive) models. Also keep in mind that most furniture stores periodically sell off used furniture (again, comparatively cheap) when they get rid of “showroom samples” or “floor models.” Ask about both possibilities when you shop retail.
• If you have any wholesale furniture warehouses in your area, consider stopping by. Buying wholesale furniture is almost always cheaper than buying retail.
• When looking at used furniture – or any used furnishings – don’t think of what they look like now, but what they could look like with a little refurbishing. Maybe that coffee table wouldn’t fit your living room now, but sand it down and add a coat of stain and it might not be so bad.
• Flea markets can be a great source of inexpensive, one-of-a-kind interior decorating materials. But finding a bargain at one can involve a lot of time and a lot of effort. Preparation always smoothes the way. The next few tips show you how.
• Nowhere is the expression “the early bird gets the worm” more apt than at a flea market. Vendors’ best used furniture and bargain furnishings often go quickly, leaving late arrivals with the leftovers.
• Some flea markets can be huge and it’s easy to lose focus. Take along a list of the furnishings you want before you set out. It also helps to take along sketches of the rooms you need to decorate, complete with dimensions and a tape measure to see whether the furniture in front of you will fit with your plans
• If you fall in love with a piece of discount furniture at a flea market, bear in mind that moving it can be an issue. Some vendors will deliver, but only at the end of the day and only for an additional fee. Thus, you’ll want to bring the biggest vehicle you have available (i.e. a pickup truck or a van) or consider renting one.
• When you’re moving a piece of furniture home from a flea market, you’ll want to take all the packing precautions you normally would when moving furniture. Before you head out to the flea market, make sure to bring a few old boxes, blankets, tarps, tape, twine, bubble wrap and a box cutter with you for the ride home.
• People selling antiques out of the back of van usually don’t take MasterCard or Visa. When you’re going to a flea market, bring cash.
• Don’t be afraid to bargain. Flea market vendors expect it, and with a little negotiation inexpensive items can become even cheaper.
• When perusing home furnishings, try to think outside the box. You might not want to eat off that set of ceramic dishes, but they might make colorful, unique wall hangings.

For a decade, high housing prices made it hard for people to stay in the state, even if they wanted to. But falling house prices and increased hiring are enticing former Californians to come home, moving company officials said.

“I think the people realize that when we move back to California, we’re never going to have interest rates or (house) prices this low,” said Linda Oakley, owner of Atlas Transfer and Storage Co. in Poway, affiliated with Allied Van Lines. “We want to live in California, where it’s warm and sunny and happy.”

Indeed, 2,926 more families moved into California than moved out of it, the third-highest figure of any state or Washington, D.C., according to the combined data of Atlas Van Lines Inc., United Van Lines LLC and Allied Van Lines Inc. For years, California had seen more households moving out than in. In 2007, Atlas’ data indicated that trend had reversed, but it didn’t turn around in Allied’s data until 2011.

U-Haul International Inc., which doesn’t provide the same type of data, said it helped move 5.6 percent more people into California than out of it, according to spokeswoman Ashleigh Wagner.

Wagner also had some local data from U-Haul: Between January and November 2011, it helped 1 percent more people move out of Escondido than in, it helped 1.9 percent more people move into Oceanside than out, and it helped 11.5 percent more people move into Temecula than out.

U-Haul, United and Atlas represent 40 percent of the moving market, and Allied is private so there is no market data available, according to Boston-based market analyst Pell Research.

By the raw numbers, California had the third-highest net gain of movers, behind Texas and Florida, but those are all states with large populations. When viewed as a rate, California ranks 13th, with 0.23 moves per 1,000 households. Washington, D.C., ranked first by this metric, with a net of 2.68 incoming moves per household, almost four times that of No. 2-ranked North Carolina (see this article online for the complete table).

Illinois had the highest rate of departing families among the 50 states plus the district, losing 0.91 families per 1,000 households. New Jersey and Connecticut had the next two highest rates.

California has long seen more people leaving the state as the cost of housing skyrocketed. By 2007, the median house price in North San Diego County peaked at $639,000, and it peaked in 2006 in Southwest Riverside County at $420,000, according to a North County Times analysis of transactions in the two counties. Those prices plummeted 38 percent and 50 percent respectively as a real estate bubble imploded and a recession pushed many people out of work. As of December’s data, the nation had added more than 100,000 jobs for six consecutive months, and that trend is reflected in California.

“We’re seeing corporations wanting to hire again,” said David Frank, vice president and general manager of the San Diego office of Alexander’s Mobility Services, an Atlas affiliate. “We’re seeing technology companies wanting to get ahead of the game. Even if they’re not selling product yet, they’re hiring designers and those kinds of jobs. We’re seeing Qualcomm, and Sony, and some of the other companies doing some of the hiring.”

Oakley and other local moving company officials said 2011 had been an up year. Oakley said her business was up 6 percent compared with 2010. Her company moves people all over Southern California, and she said she’s been bringing people in from out of state. Paula Nix, office manager for Eckert’s Moving and Storage in San Marcos, said business was up in 2011, including local moves, although not always for the cheeriest of reasons.

“A lot of them are losing their homes, or they’re just first-time buyers and they’re all excited about getting a new deal on their home,” Nix said.

Nathan Pletcher, an electrical engineer, has enjoyed the tech resurgence. On Friday, Linda Oakley’s movers came to take his belongings out of his Leucadia home to bring them up to Mountain View so he can start work for Google.

He originally came to California from the Midwest. Now he and his wife, Andrea, a teacher, have fallen for California.

“We both like California a lot, we like to do stuff outdoors, we like all the opportunities California offers, oceans and mountains and stuff like that,” Pletcher said the day before Oakley’s company came to take his stuff away.

Of course, that’s all common sense. But did you know you don’t have to go down the post office to get the change of address form? Read over the following tips to make sure that when you move your mail will be moving with you:

Before you’ve even begun your relocation, head down the post office and take a minute to fill out the US postal service’s official change of address form (also known as PS form 3575; if you don’t see them out, just ask a clerk).

The most important part of filling out the US postal service’s change of address card is including your old address and your new address. However, it’s also vital you remember to include the names of anyone else who is moving with you. If you only include your name, your husband / wife’s mail won’t follow you.

If you don’t feel like waiting in line at the post office you can have your mail forwarded from the comfort of your own computer by completing a short form at the US postal service’s address change webpage .

Think you’re done? Sorry, nothing involving official government documents is ever that easy. Turning in your change of address form to the post office only means that your mail will be forwarded for a limited time. First class mail – letters and such – are forwarded for one year. Periodicals – newspapers and magazines – are only forwarded for 60 days. After the forwarding period expires, anything that arrives for you will either be sent to the post office’s dead-letter room or stay with whoever’s moved into your old place.

If you’re a college student who is relocating to a new school (either for the summer or for good) check with the campus mail service to see what their mail forwarding policies are. Colleges and universities have their own delivery systems, separate from the post office, and usually their own forwarding policies.

To keep receiving your mail after the US postal service stops forwarding it, you need to send out change of address cards to everyone you do business with. These change of address cards are available at the post office for free.

Most of the bills you receive – from your utilities, your credit card company, your insurance carrier – have a section where you can update your address information. Take advantage of it and you’ll save yourself a little trouble down the road.

Keeping track of who you’ve given your new address to and who still needs it can get pretty confusing pretty quickly. Make a checklist of all the companies that need your address (don’t forget the IRS) and all the friends and relatives you want to keep in touch with before you start mailing anything out. Keep your change of address checklist after you’ve moved into your new home, so if a few months down the road you can’t find your current phone bill, you’ll know exactly why.

Every dining room is set up differently. If you follow packing procedures, you could save yourself a headache and a ton of money.

Here is what you will need to get started:

• Bubble wrap
• Tape
• Marker
• Furniture blankets
• Stretch wrap
• Old newspapers
• Assortment of Boxes
• Packing Paper
• Wrapping Paper

Now that you have all your supplies, let’s get started!

Packing the Dining Table
Packing the dining table is probably one of the first pieces of furniture that you should get out of the way. It will provide you with more space to maneuver and while providing you with a sense of accomplishment. Start with furniture blankets and bubble wrap for the dining table. These supplies will help you to avoid scratches and dents during the moving process.

Packing the Chairs
Now that you have taken care of the dining room table, it is time to move on to the dining room chairs. Packing chairs can be complicated because the legs are typically the easiest part to break. Make sure to wrap extensions, rails or bars from chairs with bubble wrap. These parts of the chair are most vulnerable to getting caught between doors or even worse, broken during travel. You can now wrap the rest of the chair with stretch wrap to prevent any marks from the main part of the chair.

Packing Plates and Utensils
Packing dinnerware should be lightest part of packing the dining room. It may not take a lot of heavy lifting, but if not handled properly, it could cause some havoc. Keep in mind, you are packing a box full fragile items that can be easily broken.

When you are loading silverware and glass, it is essential to make sure you fill all sides of the box with bubble wrap and paper padding. Securing each side of the box will protect any type of impact that may occur before, during, or after the move.  Individually wrap plates and glasses to avoid breakage during the move. When loading the boxes, remember to pack heavy to light. Heavier items on the bottom will prevent crushing lighter items but more importantly, items falling out from under you.

Congratulations! You’ve finished the dining room. Hopefully you’ve taken a moment to account for each box by labeling it “Fragile”. Although every dining room is different, understanding the basics of packing up will help with other items that were not discussed.

In the process of searching for a moving company, movers are often asked if they are moving interstate or intrastate and not everyone knows how to respond. The benefit of being educated when it comes to your move is avoiding possible scams and more importantly knowing your rights during your move. Knowing what type of move you are performing accompanied with the laws and regulations can save you so much time, energy, and money.  If you are not sure between the two types of moves, we’ve broken down both moves.

What is an Interstate Move? – When you are performing an interstate move, you are essentially moving or transporting goods in and out of state lines not excluding international moves.

Interstate moves are governed by FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) rules and regulations. It is considered an interstate move if it involves a long distance moving company crossing a state line at any point during the move. Although the actual moving truck or van doesn’t cross state lines, it is still considered an interstate move because your goods have.

What is an Intrastate Move? – Intrastate moves consist of movers completing a move without crossing the border of another state.

Intrastate or local movers are not regulated by the FMCSA. Rules that apply to interstate moves are completely different from intrastate. Moving within a state means that you will have to understand the terms and conditions of moving as they change based on the state you reside in. Rules and regulations are outlined by the individual states and should be researched properly. Some states have more stringent licensing and monitoring guidelines than others.

Although you may be completing an intrastate move, your moving company can charge a long distance fee. Before choosing a licensed mover, make sure you aren’t hit with fees you weren’t made aware of. Understand your rights and verify licensing with each moving company before choosing. For more information on state guidelines, contact your state agency.

Backup Your Data
Be sure to back up all of your important files and programs. Store the backup disks with your original program disks and keep in a secure container. Remove all floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, tapes, etc. (Some older computers will have hard disk head parking utilities. If so, park the hard disk drive.)

Shut Down and Disconnect

1. Shut down your computer before turning it off or unplugging any cables.
2. Carefully unplug all power cables.
3. Carefully unplug all cables to peripheral devices.
   • Make note as to what devices the cables were plugged into by writing it on a piece of masking tape and attaching the tape to the cable.
   • Don’t stress cables-avoid crimping, pulling, and crushing forces.
4. Carefully move the monitor (for packing) as it can be heavy and awkward to move.

Disconnect the printer, open the print head, and remove ink cartridges, laser cartridge, or ribbon. Unplug and mark the cables as noted above.

Packing Your Computer
Follow these suggestions to avoid damage to your computer, monitor, printer and other peripheral devices during the move:

PROTECT THE COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AGAINST PHYSICAL JARRING AND SHOCK. The original box your computer and peripheral devices came in is the best choice for packing for your move. The rigid Styrofoam or formed cardboard packing material will hold the equipment securely in place.

Monitor
Take special care to safeguard your monitor as the screen is made of glass and can be easily cracked or scratched on contact. For packing a monitor – in the event your original box is not available, you should get an appropriately sized box and shock resistant insulation (Styrofoam “popcorn” or bubble wrap) as a substitute.

CPU
A computer tower or desktop unit should be packed upright or on its side with the motherboard side lying flat on the bottom (consult your manual if you’re unsure which side this may be). Systems that are carried/shipped upside down or with the motherboard side at the top can cause interior cards to loosen during shipment. While this may not permanently damage parts, it may require costly or time-consuming technical service afterwards to make it operable. Packing the CPU – in the event your original box is not available, you should get an appropriately sized box and shock resistant insulation (Styrofoam “popcorn” or bubble wrap) as a substitute.

Printer And Other Peripheral Devices
As with all computer equipment, the original packing box and material is the best choice for transport because the Styrofoam or formed cardboard is customized to fit each printer. In the event your original box is not available, you should get an appropriately sized box and shock resistant insulation (Styrofoam “popcorn” or bubble wrap) as a substitute.

At first thought, you are thinking that summers are filled with rain and every other season is filled with inconsistent weather changes. Not to worry because most people that live in Seattle say that it stops eventually. Ultimately, moving to Seattle has its sunny and rainy days like any other city.  Enjoy the beautiful monuments and museums that this city has to offer.

Moving to Seattle doesn’t have to be the road less taken if you have the right guidance. We have compiled a list of resources from getting your license to finding the right neighborhood in Seattle. Hopefully your move to Seattle will go much smoother than expected!

Protecting Yourself during Your Move to Seattle
Protecting yourself during the move to Seattle is extremely important to having a successful move. First and foremost before selecting a moving company, you should be doing your due diligence. This includes:

1. Verifying that they are a licensed mover
2. Reading reviews
3. Getting a in person written estimate signed by the moving company

If you know where you are moving to, it would be a good idea to find out if there are any street or building rules to avoid getting a ticket or harassing your neighbors. If you are moving in to a building, make sure to speak with the leasing office to reserve an elevator for the move. This will help speed up the unloading process and knock some minutes off your overall move.

Once you have settled in to Seattle, you will need to change your license over. Finding a driver licensing office is the first step. Before arriving, make sure to provide Proof of identity, including your out-of-state license and a form of payment. There’s a $20 application fee and a $25 fee for your license that you can pay with cash, check, or debit/credit card.

Selecting a San Diego Mover

Before relocating to California, you have to find a mover who is familiar with the area to get your belongings to your desired destination. Not to worry, finding a moving company in San Diego isn’t as hard as it seems. Get free moving quotes from San Diego moving companies.

When you are searching for a San Diego moving company, here are some tips to keep in mind:

Only speak with movers who are certified and have moving permits on hand.
Make sure each moving company you select makes a personal visit to your home and provides a written estimate. Never receive quotes over the phone.
Have a backup moving company in mind just in case.
Select a moving company that offers valid insurance. Just in case something breaks, you need to make sure you are covered.
If you are moving from another state, use a San Diego moving company with GPS trucks so that you can easily track their progress.
Contact the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of San Diego or (AMSA) American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA) to make sure the San Diego moving company is reliable
During your moving process, if you feel like you have been a victim of moving fraud, please contact the County of San Diego Department of Consumer Affairs. Moving companies in San Diego can receive a fine up to $30,000 or revocation of their license for theft or fraud. For more information, click here or call (800) 593-8222

Switching Your License

Once you are finally moved in, you will need to change your license with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of California. Just in case you were concerned about cost, it is absolutely free to change your address but there are a fees associated with getting a new license. Here is a list of fees.

How To Notify The DMV
There are three ways to notify the DMV of your new address:

By Mail: Fill out a short Notice of Change of Address form and mail it to the address at the top.

In Person: If you don’t feel like paying for a stamp, drop in to your local DMV office and complete a Notice of Change of Address form there.

Online: Under certain circumstances you can access the online CA DMV change of address system.

For more information you can contact the DMV of California by calling (800) 777-0133.

Commuting in San Diego

Everyone that moves to California has a major concern for commuting, especially the metropolitan area of San Diego. Depending on where your home is located, your commute to and from home, work, or school can either be extremely excellent or dreadful.

San Diego traffic is something you may not want to go head-to-head with. Get a plan together on how you plan to handle your daily commute throughout the city of San Diego.

Finding the Right Neighborhood

Finding a neighborhood can be hard if you don’t know what you are looking for. No matter if you are looking for a house or an apartment, you have to know exactly what neighborhood is fitting for your lifestyle. Here are a few questions to keep in mind:

How long am I willing to commute to work?
How close are schools, grocery stores, and gas stations?
How are there any good schools in the area?
How far am I from the nightlife scene?
How far am I from public transportation?
What is the crime rate in the area and surrounding neighborhoods?

Even if you have the answer to all the questions above, still make it a point to do as much research as possible and visit each community to see which San Diego community interest you.

Searching for a Home

As the second largest populated city in the United States, finding an apartment or home in San Diego can be quite the challenge if this is your first time. Finding an apartment can seem like an overwhelming process, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some other great ways to find a home in San Diego:

Apartment Guides – You can always rely on apartment search resources like ForRent.com. These general references are great for apartment hunting right from your computer.

Brokers – One of the most common methods of finding an apartment in San Diego is using a real estate broker. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in, it’s usually best to find a broker based there. Many brokers also have Web sites where you can view available apartments, sometimes even with photos and detailed descriptions. If you have decided to use a broker, keep in mind that you will probably have to pay a brokers fee which is usually one month’s rent.

Word-of-Mouth – If you know someone who currently lives in San Diego, getting references from them could help out substantially. Finding an apartment through word of mouth is a lot cheaper than using a broker. Ask your friends and family if they can provide any help with your search.

Local Guides and Reviews – Area guides will certainly point you in the right direction to finding the right place. Make sure to check out the web sites of local papers and online message boards like sandiego.craigslist.org. For a better overview of the city, look for a Thomas Guide, a grid-by-grid map of the vast landscape that is Southern California.

Apartment Referral Service – For the savvy hunters who are comfortable searching the Internet, there is an apartment referral service. For a monthly fee, referral services will provide you with a list of no-fee apartment rentals as they become available.

For other housing options, check out these great resources:
San Diego Housing Department – Affordable Housing Program
Housing Authority of the City of San Diego – Public Housing
Housing Authority of the County of San Diego – Housing Programs

Apartments are in high demand, making the search for openings a time-consuming task. Give yourself enough time so you won’t feel rushed to make a haste decision. After you find the right apartment, contact licensed moving companies in San Diego.

From terrible customer service, unprofessional movers, and the biggest; the actual price quoted prior to moving day. We will discuss the different type of estimates you may encounter during the moving process.

There are three types of estimates that you should be aware of before moving:

Non-binding estimates – are based on the actual weight of your items rather than a speculation of your weight. If you are provided a non-binding estimate, you are not required to pay more than the cost provided by the mover at the time of delivery. By law, movers are required to deliver your goods for no more than 10 percent above the price of an estimate. In most cases, non-binding estimates are preferred over binding estimates because the price usually tends to be lower. However, there is no guarantee that the non-binding estimate you received will be the final cost.

Binding estimates – are estimates that you are obligated to pay set forth in the initial agreement regardless if your move weighs less or more. A mover has the right to change a binding estimate if additional services are needed or if items are added to the existing shipment.

Not-To-Exceed Estimates – are estimates that include guaranteed pricing. This option does offer price protection but still has similar options like binding estimates. This estimate also needs to be provided to you in writing and binded by the carrier. Not-to exceed estimates differs when you are quoted on the maximum amount. At the time of move, if your actual weight is less, you will pay the lesser of the two amounts.

In conclusion, movers will offer estimates based on the weight of your shipment, the distance of your move, and any other additional services, such as storage, that you may need. To avoid miscommunication between the different types of estimates that you are receiving, ask each moving company to provide clear estimates. Never forget to ask if they are part of the Better Business Bureau to ensure the legitimacy of the moving company that you have selected.