Tag: <span>relocation</span>

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There comes a time in life when many of us get itchy feet – we get fed up with the 9 – 5, the commute or just the weather in our own home locations for example, and to alleviate our itchy feet we need a holiday some place far away and ideally exotic!

For others these itchy feet continue to be a problem no matter how many holidays they have and the only solution to the problem is relocation overseas and a brand new life experience abroad.

Do you find yourself increasingly dreaming of what it might be like to live on the coast in Australia, to explore the delights of Turkey or to spend time getting to know Italy and the Italians? Well then, chances are you need to start thinking about expatriating and living life as a resident or a citizen of another nation.

The British are probably the one nationality in the world with the itchiest feet of all! Last year almost 200,000 British citizens left the UK to escape the unfavourable climate, the rising crime statistics and the increasing work hours many are forced to endure thanks to their hefty mortgages! But of those who expatriate and live overseas, many actually return within the first five years because they have failed to make a go of it abroad.

If you want to know how to plan a relocation overseas and a new life abroad there are three main considerations to bear in mind – if you take the time to work through these considerations, chances are you will make the transition abroad a successful and happy one for you and your family

1) Research the country you are interested in.

Pulling up roots and relocating to Istanbul Turkey or Brisbane Australia for example without having taken the time to understand the local climate, culture, job prospects, employment regulations, residency rules and even the local education system and healthcare availability is simply not sensible!

So, you are going to be a stranger in a strange land – but don’t make your life harder and be an ignorant stranger!

Take plenty of time, get a feel for the place before you make a final decision to move there lock stock and barrel – and if either schooling for children and/or employment for you and your partner are going to be essential aspects of your relocation, find out if you can get children into school and even find yourself a job before you move…thus taking the most obvious worries out of the equation.

2) Contact other expatriates who have already made the move.

You will be giving up your social network when you move abroad – so you need to make a new one. Thank God for the internet because you can begin to make new friends before you even move! There are forums and websites like Shelter Offshore dedicated to expatriates and living and working abroad. And through forums you can make contact with others who have made the move before you, glean information from them about what it’s like living day to day in your chosen country and even find out about clubs and events you can get involved with when you move. You never know, you may even build some new and lasting friendships before you even move.

3) Visit the country for a prolonged period.

Selling up and shipping out to Spain, Egypt, New Zealand or Ireland for example without first visiting for a prolonged period and at different times of the year is not a good idea! You need to see a country warts and all in terms of climate and the practicality and reality of spending a lot of time there before you move there.

While you can and should study up on the culture and climate of a given nation you need to live there and explore there for a period of time before you can be sure you want to reside there – you might even consider renting a property overseas first just to test the waters and make sure a relocation overseas and a new life abroad are what you want.

If you do have itchy feet, don’t put up with it – give in to the urge to travel and explore new horizons!

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Source by Rhiannon Williamson

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Berlin is a thriving global capital that draws investors, corporates and a talented workforce from across the world. Thanks to its excellent infrastructure, Berlin has become a haven for companies and individuals looking to relocate to a thriving metropolitan. In a few years, Berlin has transformed from an emerging market into an established and desirable location.

If you are someone who plans to move to Berlin, here a few points to keep in mind:

1. Neighborhoods: Some of the most popular neighborhoods in Berlin are:

– Kreuzberg: An area rapidly undergoing gentrification, Kreuzberg lies in the heart of the city and is a great option for art lovers and those looking for vibrant nightlife. A self-catering apartment in this area would be suitable for both business travelers and tourists.

– Charlottenburg: This is a pristine neighborhood that’s more royal and less bohemian. Until 1920 it was an independent city. Home to the Charlottenburg Palace and many museums to keep history aficionados occupied.

– Friedrichshain: This vibrant district in is home to the longest surviving part of the Berlin Wall and is the location of many clubs, bars and restaurants. If you are hoping to cultivate a hectic evening schedule, then this is the perfect area for you.

These 3 areas are great to live in or near and if you are visiting Berlin for a short stay, then why not opt for a self-catering apartment.

2. Transport: If you are visiting Berlin for a short trip, use the Berlin WelcomeCard to get unlimited access to public transport as well as up to 50% discount on major tourist attractions across the city. The major forms of public transport in Berlin are the S-Bahn, U-Bahn, buses, trams and ferries. How much you pay for transport depends on the tariff zone and the validity of the ticket.

3. Living Costs: The overall cost of living is significantly lower in this thriving city than other major European cities. Rent generally depends on the area you choose to stay in.

4. Healthcare: Germany has a well-functioning public healthcare system which also happens to be the oldest of its kind in the world. If you are legally residing in Berlin, the law requires you to have health insurance. If, on the other hand, you earn over 4687 Euro per years, you can opt for private health insurance. If you are moving to Berlin on a short term basis, ask your HR department to help you get private health insurance.

5. Accommodation: Compared to its European counterparts, Berlin offers lower rates of accommodation, which is why it’s the city of choice for many corporates and individuals alike. Berlin is known to offer more affordable accommodation than other European cities. If you plan on temporarily relocating, it would be a good idea to look into a self-catering apartment in Berlin.

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Source by Mayuri Ghosh

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Have you ever been approached by your employer about the possibility of being relocated? If you have, then you’re not alone. Every year there are thousands of employees that are asked to relocate.

The reasons vary widely. Many times businesses are looking for areas from which to run their business where the operating costs and tax structures are more friendly to them. As a result, they may consider relocating a portion of their business which may very well mean relocation for employees as well.

A relocation for you and your family is a big decision, and it’s one that will vary personally from family to family and scenario to scenario.

Of course there will be pro’s and con’s to any situation to consider and weigh. Let’s take a look a just of few of the possibilities.

The first and most extreme advantage of a relocation may come in the form of keeping your job. Clearly, if a relocation is required for you in order to keep your job, the decision may already be made for you, unless you wish to polish up your resume and re-enter the job market.

You may, however, actually have the option to relocate with your company as opposed to having to relocate if you want to keep your job.

One of the advantages for many when it comes to relocating is just the idea of a fresh start in a new environment. Individuals and families sometimes feel as though they just need a change of scenery and welcome the opportunity of a fresh start.

The cost of living involved with the relocation can be an advantage or a disadvantage, however, if the company is moving to an area to lower its costs, the same move for you may very well do the same for your personal cost of living… certainly an advantage for you in this case.

An area with a lower cost of living can also mean that you may very well be able to get more house for you and your family over the area that you are currently in. It may even mean that you will be able to actually afford to buy your first house.

Relocating is certainly more difficult if a family is involved. Particularly if your spouse is working at job that they enjoy and have been working for a long period of time. Kids also come into play, particularly if they are or are approaching those social teenage years. Kids of this age may find the thought of relocating less attractive if it means leaving their school and their social network behind.

At this point the relocation option truly becomes a family decision and much weight and input is to be considered by everyone involved.

Another important consideration if you’ve been approached by your company to relocate is to determine how much if any of the cost of your relocating will the company be picking up. This is certainly a topic that you’ll want to not only discuss but determine how and in what form the payment or reimbursement will take place.

Relocating you and/or your family is not cheap. So, you’ll want to make sure it is very clear what type of participation the company is willing to offer.

Also, make sure that you know the time-line for the relocation so not only you know when to schedule all of the personal tasks, but your family members do as well.

Depending upon the circumstance of the relocation it can be a fun and exciting new start or something that may even require a change in careers or job. But either way, there is much personal attention needed to all the details to ensure the best decision is made for all.

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Source by T. J. Lashley

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When it comes to relocation, there are a lot of things that need to be sorted out. Let us take a look at office relocation and family relocation to see what the different processes would be.

Office relocation

This can be quite a chaotic time for a business. It is one thing to move a single family, it is entirely another to move a lot of people and all of their various files and documents and work stations. You will have to make sure that all the sensitive documents are placed in sealed boxes or locked filing units so that only the authorised people have access to the information. You do not want the relocation company to have access to your confidential salary information or customer information. Nor do you want anyone that is not in the payroll department to have access to the salary information of the other employees.

You also have to be sure that each desk and computer goes to the person who originally used it. This means that you will have to make sure that each computer and monitor is labelled correctly with the name of the person who uses it. Time is an important factor when it comes to an office relocation. People do not want to lose a lot of time unpacking and waiting for their things to arrive. They want to get to the new office and begin work almost immediately.

Family relocation

This is significantly easier than office relocation. There is generally a lot more to pack per person, but fewer people over all to move. There is also no confidential information to be taken care of. It is quite simple to pack everything into boxes and to label it according to the room it is supposed to go into and then to put the boxes into that room and unpack them as you need to. you will also be able to make use of everyone in the family to unpack all of the boxes as there is nothing that is really confidential to worry about. This makes both the packing and unpacking a lot easier and a lot faster as many hands make light work. You can also take longer to unpack everything once you have got it into your new home as you might not need it immediately.

The complexity of any move generally depends on how many people you are relocating. The more people there are the more complex it gets. There will be more boxes to arrange and pack and unpack. This is why an office move is generally a lot more complicated than a family relocation. Of course, the earlier you start to plan things and get things ready, the easier it is to get things sorted out on the other end again.

As you can see, there is a big difference between an office relocation and a family relocation, primarily because of the number of people who are being moved. There is one common denominator though, planning. Planning will always make things go more smoothly and more quickly.

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Source by Petro Solt

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Large organizations and small business enterprises relocate their offices on a regular basis. Moving to a new city or moving interstate can be a stressful undertaking. This task is better left to a professional relocation service provider who is better equipped to handle the logistics. There are many benefits to choosing the right relocation company. To make your decision easier, some of these advantages are listed in this article.

Professional relocation service providers are fully trained

Lifting heavy items needs trained professionals in order to prevent serious injury. If you or your loved ones are injured during the moving process, you will find your relocation more difficult and stressful. It is, therefore, best to leave this task in the hands of a fully trained relocation service provider. These experts will carry the heaviest goods in the safest way, so there will be no risk of personal harm or causing damage to your precious items.

A relocation service has the right paperwork

Most people believe that if they hire a van and move everything themselves, they will save money. But this can actually get you in trouble legally. To be able to drive a large van, you will need a special driving license. Only a relocation service will have the right driving license to operate large vehicles. Finding yourself unable to drive a hired van can end up costing you more money than you think. It is best to leave this task in the hands of a fully qualified moving company.

Make better use of your time

When you have a business to run, your main focus should be on the company and how it is operating. The last thing you have time for is packing files, equipment, and other items. A professional relocation company allows you to manage your time better by taking care of the move for you.

Relocation packs

Many relocation service providers offer flexible options such as short-term or long-term furniture rental whilst you wait for your own furniture to arrive from overseas. This helps you settle in your new home sooner rather than stay in hotels. The relocation packages include all the furniture, appliances, and homeware to make you feel right at home.

Streamlined process

A professional relocation service handles everything. The movers will pack the entire office or home contents, and load them onto the truck. Once they are relocated to the new location, they will unload all the items and place them where they should be. The goal is to create a streamlined process to make your move as effortless as possible.

Safety

If you are relocating your office, the computer equipment will be some of the heaviest items to move. If one of your staff members is injured while moving, you may end up having to pay compensation. However, if you leave this task to a professional relocation service, the trained movers will take the heavy items safely. Working with such companies will eliminate the risk to you and your organization.

No risk of damage

Aside from the safety of your employees, the safety of the office equipment matters too. If any of the furniture is damaged, it could cost you a lot of money to replace them. It therefore, makes sense to hire a relocation service that is trustworthy and reputable in order to minimize the risk of damage.

Happy work environment

Many employers nowadays push their employees to the edge by getting as much work out of them as possible. By not making your staff move all the furniture or equipment, you will help boost morale in the work place and let them know that you care about them. After all, moving is not part of their job description. To get the most productivity out of employees, it is best to leave this task in the hands of professional movers.

Hiring a professional and long-established relocation service will solve all your moving problems. But the biggest challenge you will face is choosing the right company for the job. After all, you cannot afford to leave your belongings in the hands of strangers, unless you trust them fully. There is also the issue of whether they will break any fragile items or the price quote will be affordable or not. Most importantly, if your time and patience is somewhat short, hiring a reputable moving company is your best option. Look for a top-rated service provider online and make sure you assess their credentials first by reading customer reviews. The right company is only a click of a mouse away.

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Source by Chandni Naresh Wadhwani

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The task of moving is in no ways an easy task and a lot of stress starts appearing whenever there is the talk of relocation and when it’s tougher when you are living alone. Because when you have to take up the task on your own alone, everything needs to be handled single-handily by you. There are many sleepless nights that you have to face in the stress of how you are going to do it on your own alone.

But if you have a little of the mindfulness you can plan everything smartly and make relocation a fun-filled task for you. Here are certain ideas that will help in making relocation easy for you when you are living alone…

1. Choose a reliable Moving Company

It is of paramount importance to choose a reputable and professional moving company which can do with the task with much patience and in sought way. This smart step of yours can save a lot of your time and can save a lot of your time and money. There are a number of ways by which you can find a reliable moving company. A number of online moving directories are there which will help you in finding the best for you. Also, you can ask your friends and family for finding a relocation company for your move.

2. Read through the Reviews before Hiring a Company

Before hiring the company you will need to get the feedback from past customers of the company. If you are an individual living alone it is very important for you to mindfully decide on which company you are going to hire. You can read through the reviews either online or can ask friends and family who have already taken service of the company. You must not choose a relocation company without going through vigorous research; it may be that you will have to extra money and that too without getting satisfactory service.

3. Call upon friends and Family

If you really want to get through the stress of moving, you must inform your friends and family members much before you start with the task of relocation. Not only will they be helping you with each and every related task but also there will be a lot of fun packing and moving together. This move of yours can transform this boring and stressful task into a way of enjoying a get together.

4. Arrange the right size of Boxes

To get the things packed in a proper and timely manner it is very important that you find the right sized boxes in which you can store your goods in a safe and secured way. Not choosing a proper sized box can damage your household items like if you will try to fit in a desktop into a laptop bag, there are chances that it will get damaged. So, the key here is to plan out for a right sized box to pack each and everything. Also, you must not forget to take care of the material that is used for making the packing boxes.

5. Start with the process a month or two before

You must not leave everything for the end and should start with the preparations much before! It is better you start it off a month or two before the move. Plan out everything in advance and how you are going to start. You must know what things must be packed first and what things that must be kept for last days. You must start with packing the items that are not used in the current season and then proceed with the bigger items in kitchen and other parts of the home. Plants and other items that are often used in everyday life must be packed at the end.

These are a few of the moving tips you must not forget to follow if you are an individual living alone. You must be very mindful because everything will be handled by you alone and there are more chances that you can miss on one or the other thing. So, just be careful and smart!

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Source by Sonali Pathak

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New York City redefines one’s life and turns it around by 180 degrees. At times it might look like a concrete and steel wilderness, and at times the same city offers your Central Park- which feels like a free-pass one has earned surviving in this tough city. New York can be merciful and tough on you- but I guess one would agree, it changes you as a person for the better. Relocating to NYC can turn out to be one of the best chapters in life. With thousands of communities, ethnicities, races, all genders, faiths and their numerous languages- New York City shelters you like no other city does. One of the biggest financial capitals of the world, it is the most populous city in America. Proud of its status of being a ‘Global Power City’- New York majorly influences global trends pertaining to Fashion, Finance, Art, Literature, Education, Commerce, Technology, Entertainment and much more. New York has one of the largest harbours in the world and it is divided into 5 Boroughs, namely: Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island and the Bronx. We have come up with the perfect relocation guide for you. Let’s take a look: –

Accommodation and Neighbourhoods:-

Though there are numerous upscale and decent neighbourhoods in New York City, there are some localities which are all-encompassing and cater to everything that one would need in terms of ease of access to transport options, quality schools and healthcare centres, utility and departmental stores, general safety of the neighbourhood etc. Some of the best neighbourhoods, which score high on these parameters are Manhattan, Chelsea, Midtown East and Gramercy.

Midtown East is one of the most upscale and chic localities of NYC with iconic city landmarks like Times Square, Rockefeller Center, Broadway. You can find incredible one, two, three bedroom and Studio apartments in Midtown East here.

Manhattan: Known to be one of the economically high-end neighbourhoods of NYC, Manhattan is pure ‘city-living’. Towering skyscrapers, gourmet restaurants, popular attractions like Central Park, New York State Library etc. Accommodation in Manhattan can range from one, two bedrooms to Studio apartments for a single person. Value-for-money, a range of exclusive amenities, minutes away from the tube station- these apartments will be the most practical choice for you in Manhattan.

Chelsea is the neighbourhood to be in if you like a more vibrant, artsy and lively neighbourhood that feels closer to home. From exquisite art galleries to the best of fashion and amazing restaurants- Chelsea has ‘unadulterated life’ to offer to you. Mostly red or brown sandstone or brick buildings amidst new age contemporary architecture- Chelsea has the best Service Apartments that will make you instantly feel at home. With fully-furnished apartments, stocked kitchens, best of furnishings in bedrooms- we strive to make you feel like you never left ‘home’.

Gramercy: This neighbourhood bestows ‘exclusivity’ like none other. From private parks for residents, high-scale living spaces, greenery all around, luxurious apartments- Gramercy will provide you everything you need, so you won’t have to move out of the neighbourhood for literally anything. Luxury apparel outlets, bookstores, libraries, good schools- Gramercy defines good living standards. Check out amazing serviced apartments in Gramercy that shall grant you with worry-free living with prompt maintenance, state-of-the-art amenities, modern furnishings and unparalleled ease of access to Public transport.

Education:-

In terms of Education, New York City has some of the best elementary and high schools and also institutes for advanced learning. The New York Education system is actually the largest in the whole of America with more than 1600 elementary and high schools. It also has several specialised high schools for gifted students. The city also has 120 Institutes for Higher Education and some of the most renowned institutions which receive the highest number of students from across the world are Columbia University, Barnard College, New York University and The Juilliard School.

Healthcare:-

In terms of Public Health Care, New York City has the largest municipal Healthcare system in the world. It includes 11 Acute or Intensive care hospitals, 5 Nursing homes,6 major Diagnostic and Treatment centres, and more 70 community-based health care centres for the working class and the economically unprivileged sections of the society. The most reputed hospital under this municipality is Bellevue Hospital where one can go for specialised and general diagnosis and subsequent treatment and emergencies as well.

Transport:-

New York also has one of the best and extensive Transport systems in the world with multiple modes of Public Transport. Some of the major modes of Public Transport are: New York City Subway- which is the world’s largest rapid transit system, City Buses which is the largest in North America, Staten Island Ferry which also boasts of being the busiest ferry system in the world, and the Yellow Taxicabs in which more than 12000 cars are functioning in the city.

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Source by Mayuri Ghosh

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Multinational corporations a.k.a MNCs whether foreign or Indian have their branches spread all over the globe and often produce tremendous relocation opportunities nationally as well as internationally for their employees. With these relocation opportunities they also provide certain services, to make the employee and their family feel comfortable. When a company relocates its employees, it is not an overnight decision, it involves a lot of discussions and calculations.

Therefore when an employee relocates, a company provides certain perks to keep the employee motivated, but with changing times requirements are also changing. To understand it better let us look into the current relocation facilities offered by Multinational corporations and in the latter part what can be done to make it better.

• When an employee is relocating abroad, the company arranges for their visa interviews, and visa fees, plane tickets for the employee and his immediate family.

• When an employee is being relocated within the country, the company pays for the packers and movers.

• When relocating to another city, companies also pay a lump sum amount in the name of transfer cost, to cover the miscellaneous expenses which occur due to relocation.

• There are some companies who also provide accommodation.

These are just some of the basic amenities provided by the multinational corporations, but there are also certain perks that can always be considered, which will definitely reap positive results in the long run. These facilities that we want to highlight are not a major expense for a company but are certainly major gestures which if done diligently will enhance loyalty and motivation in an employee.

What are the Perks that can be offered to make life better for the relocated employee and his family?

Once the packers and movers finish unloading the stuff there are loads of thing to do from setting up the house to knowing the new neighborhood, it is quite a long process. Family of the relocated employee at such times often feel ignored because though the employee is having new experiences and making new acquaintances at his new workplace, the family is still struggling to know the neighborhood and trying to socialize. Let us delve into some of the suggestions put together by us which if undertaken by the companies can really make the journey post relocation memorable, in a good way.

• Arrange a career counselling session for the supporting spouse, though this may seem like an unimportant point, but these days where both husband and wife are working and when one gets relocated, the working spouse most of the times leave the old job and follow their better half. This adjustment gradually over a period pf time starts taking a toll on the supporting spouse because, they start feeling unfocused in life because they often do not know how and where to restart the career. At such times a career counselling session and also certain tips with looking for a job is welcomed like a breath of fresh air not only by the spouse but also by the employee because one of the most common reasons for an unsuccessful relocation is familial dissatisfaction.

• At such a time if the company arranges a dinner or an off site where all the families (New and Old) are invited, then the relocated employee’s families get to meet and also make new acquaintances.

• The companies can prepare a relocation kit, which can include a pocket guide with all the emergency numbers for e.g: hospitals, gas stations etc.

• For companies who do not provide accommodation, they can arrange a meeting of the relocated employee and the spouse with professional estate agents and also give them a leave for a certain number of days for house hunting

All the multinational corporations with the amount of resources available to them can surely ensure the application of these things without incurring too much cost. More than perks these are just soft gestures which really aid in enhancing the experience of not only the relocated employee but also their families.

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Source by Agarwal Anand

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IT relocation is one of the most difficult parts of the office move because there are so many opportunities for it to awry. Don’t make the same mistakes so many relocating businesses have made before. Check out the top risks of IT relocation below and start making smarter decision for your move!

Computers and laptops go missing. This happens more often than most companies realize, and frequently those laptops and computers have confidential information saved in their hard drives. Not knowing where this data is or what data is on what computer can be extremely damaging for a company. The first thing you absolutely need to do is inventory what files are on what computer and on what server. Knowing this will help you recover any lost data should a laptop or computer go missing.

Data loss occurs. Data loss can happen without laptops and computers going missing. It occurs most frequently because 75% of data back-ups fail, meaning when the servers and computers are assembled in the office space your data is not recovered. The data recovery system or back-up fails to operate correctly. To avoid this risk, hire an experienced IT relocator, not simply a maintenance IT worker. Have them back-up your system and run a test recovery of the data multiple times. You want to be sure that the data back-up will work when the servers and computers are set up in the new office space, so leave plenty of time to prepare and test!

To double-protect your company’s valuable data, you may even want to rent a back-up server which will be set up at another location and linked to your system in event of a data recovery failure. They key is, you want no downtime whatsoever when you finally move into your new office, and IT network issues often cause the biggest setbacks.

Severs and expensive equipment are damaged. Damage to your valuable equipment can happen in a number of ways. A traffic accident involving the moving van could occur, a server could be dropped by movers, a computer could be poorly packaged, etc. Make sure that you have a contingency plan in place for these kinds of accidents. Understand what data you absolutely need for your business to operate and create a realistic timeframe for recovery of this critical data. Once you have prioritized your data, your IT experts can come up with the best recovery plan for any damaged equipment.

Broken IT equipment is not reimbursed by the movers. Most movers operate under a minimal insurance and liability clause. Typically, a business will receive 60 cents per pound of the damaged good. That means your incredibly expensive server may only be reimbursed for three of four dollars-hardly any consolation. Make sure that you can work out a deal with the movers that you equipment will be insured in full and cut any further losses their reckless handling might cause.

IT relocation is fraught with possible mishaps. Know the risks and start preparing for your office move as early as possible. The sooner you start considering the options, the less likely any five of these moving disasters will occur.

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Source by Shannon F

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Moving to one of America’s sunniest spots may help those suffering from SAD

Seasonal affective disorder emotionally impacts millions of Americans every year (between 4-20% of the population, depending on who you ask), with women outnumbering men four to one. Also called “winter depression”, it usually begins in the autumn and last through the winter (although it can also occur during the summer). It frequently hits people in their early 20s and 30s, and will more often affect people living in latitudes north of 30°N, or south of 30°S (i.e. colder places with harsh winters and less sunshine). According to Wikipedia.org, “SAD is rare, if existent at all, in the tropics.”

People who find themselves losing interest in their usual activities, withdrawing from social activities, feeling sad or anxious, sleeping or eating more, or feeling irritability or heaviness in the arms and legs may have SAD. A variety of therapies exist to combat this disorder, including adding more vitamin D to a diet, using light therapy, and exercise. Another option may simply be to move to a sunnier city or town. If you’re just graduating from college or are close to retirement, why not consider moving to one of America’s sunniest spots?

According to Marcelle Pick, an OB/GYN nurse practitioner, getting outside every day “is one of the simplest ways to quickly ease the symptoms of seasonal depression.” Even spending as little as 15 minutes “connecting with nature” can be helpful, she says. Thus, folks who are not outdoorsy and typically don’t generally exercise outside, may find that if they move to the sunniest spot in the country, Yuma, Arizona, for example, they won’t need to change their routine that much—walking from the car to the office may offer enough exposure to offset winter depression. Direct sunlight through office windows is also beneficial. Or, if you’re an avid nature lover, you’ll find more opportunities to be outside if it’s sunny year-round.

To help you decide where the right spot is for you, the Internet relocation company, http://www.FindYourSpot.com, has come up with a list of 25 of the best sunny places to live in the United States. All excellent places to live and work, these top spots are ranked in order of highest percentages of sunny days for this article. Many of these cities and towns lie in the Southwest—Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, and Colorado—desert regions, where annual precipitation is low. However, there are a few surprises, notably in California, Texas, and even Alabama.

Yuma, AZ: 90% sunny days;

Las Vegas, NV: 85% sunny days;

Phoenix, AZ: 85% sunny days;

Tucson, AZ: 85% sunny days;

El Paso, TX: 83% sunny days;

Flagstaff, AZ: 79% sunny days;

Reno, NV: 79% sunny days;

Sacramento, CA: 78% sunny days;

Albuquerque, NM: 76% sunny days;

Long Beach, CA: 73% sunny days;

Honolulu, HI: 71% sunny days;

Santa Barbara, CA: 85% sunny days;

Los Angeles, CA: 80% sunny days;

San Diego, CA: 73% sunny days;

Miami, FL: 70% sunny days;

Denver, CO: 69% sunny days;

Grand Junction, CO: 68% sunny days;

Salt Lake City, UT: 66% sunny days;

Cheyenne, WY: 66% sunny days;

Columbia, SC: 64% sunny days;

Boise, ID: 64% sunny days;

Rapid City, SD: 63% sunny days;

Little Rock, AR: 62% sunny days;

Charlotte, NC: 62% sunny days;

Topeka, KS: 61% sunny days;

Jackson, MS: 61% sunny days;

Birmingham, AL: 57% sunny days;

Resources

http://www.findyourspot.com

http://www.weatherexplained.com/Vol-1/Record-Setting-Weather.html

http://web2.airmail.net/danb1/usrecords.htm

http://www.chemheritage.org/educationalservices/pharm/chemo/activity/percent.htm

http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/sad.htm

[http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/1400/1484.asp?index=6412]

[http://www.womentowomen.com/depressionanxietyandmood/seasonalaffectivedisorder.asp]

http://www.hbci.com/~wenonah/new/sadlight.htm

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Source by Lizzy Scully