So, how do you find the right self-storage provider?  Just looking up a facility online or in the phone book simply won’t do.  You’ve got to find a storage facility that can meet your needs.  In doing so, you need to keep these things in mind.

Narrowing Your Search

Don’t be afraid to ask plenty of questions when dealing with the storage facility.  The first thing you need to find out is whether or not the storage facility operates legally.  Believe it or not, there are storage facilities that are not licensed and shouldn’t even be open!  So, be careful.

Another thing you need to discuss with the storage provider is their cost.  Have a thorough conversation about their pricing and find out what they can do to ensure that your stuff stays safe and undamaged.  As you consider the storage facility, continue to ask questions and see if you are satisfied with what they say.  As you continue your search, you’ll know the right storage provider based on their answers.

Jon Huser

In order to chime in on these questions, it probably helps to know what ‘fracking’ actually is.  Fracking is the term we use for hydraulic fracturing technology that many power companies are now using to tap into the United States’ vast natural gas shale resources throughout the country.  There is much controversy surrounding the practice and many environmentalists claim that fracking can actually cause illness and environmental distress.

Industry professionals want fracking regulations to remain at the state level – depending on where you live or will move to, there will be different laws.  Environmentalists want the rules and regulations to be run by the Federal government, not the states.  The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has a proposal in the works for 2014.

What About Your State?

But 2014 seems so far off.  So, what should you know before you move to an area about fracking?  Something that causes so much debate probably should be considered when someone is relocating to any area.

The first thing you should know is that state bans of fracking are starting to pile up.  In fact, New Jersey just banned the practice of fracking for a year so that cases and studies can be sorted through.  So, if you are moving to New Jersey, you won’t be subject to fracking in your area for at least a year.

If you live in New York, get ready for some of the strictest standards in the country.  Right now, there is a three-year moratorium in place on fracking, which might end in the next couple of months.  So, if you know anything about the potential risks of fracking and don’t want to live in a state where the regulations aren’t very strict, you might consider moving to New York.

Lawmakers in West Virginia, where coal mining is king (another controversial issue for environmentalists) want to make their regulations on fracking much more strict as well.  In fact, they want to set fracking permit fees for $10,000 for the first fracking well and then $5,000 for each subsequent well in the same area.

Across the board, the fracking laws will have different setbacks and rules for homeowners, reimbursement to landowners from mining companies, and road repair (the fracking equipment is heavy and can damage roads).

What About the Environment?

While the states are setting their own rules and regulations, the EPA may eventually demand green compliance for fracking.  This could help alleviate some of the health-related issues and environmental damage fracking is said to cause.  One suggestion is that drillers will soon be required to install equipment to capture VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, as well as fracking fluids, which may pollute nearby water sources.

So, if you live in a state where fracking is already happening – and it is going on in almost all 50 states – how do you feel about it?  Have you moved away from the fracking areas because of potential harm it could cause to your health?  Have you rented your land to a fracking company?

Lance Grooms

Remember, the more stuff you move, the more you will end up paying.  Here is how you can take stock of your belongings before you move:

1 – Make a list. Take some time to go through each room in your home and write down everything that you want to move with you.  If there’s anything you don’t want to take or don’t need, consider donating it.

2 – Note the time-consuming parts of your home. Where will you spend the most time packing?  Usually, the areas of the home that might be super-stuffed and will take the most time to sort through and pack are the closets, garage, home office and den.

3 – Take inventory. The inventory list you make is a little more detailed than the lists you’ll be making above.  This is a great thing to do because not only will it help you keep track of everything you’ve got to move, it will also help the movers give you a very accurate quote.

So, before you start packing up things you don’t really need to move with you, keep these tips in mind!  Good luck.

Lance Grooms

Located at 33 East Fifth Street, right across from the Convention Center, the Crowne Plaza will remain open during the hotel renovation.  The management team reports that every surface of the hotel is going to be changed.  If you stayed in any of the rooms previously, you won’t recognize the new classy layouts after the project is complete.

The Crowne Plaza is one of two major hotels in the downtown area of Dayton.  This hotel renovation is going to cost an estimated $3.5 million, though that figure is not confirmed.  The city has issued a $250,000 grant for the renovation.  About 25 local jobs will be added after the renovation.  That will bring the number of full-time employees up to 100.

In actuality, the hotel renovation has been going on for the last couple of weeks.  About 65% of the hotel’s rooms have already been completed.  The project involves everything from flooring to paint, new furniture and upgraded bathrooms.

Some other exciting changes are coming to the hotel as well.  The contractors will be redesigning the lobby and transforming the gift shop into the coffee shop.  With multiple views of the city, we can only anticipate Dayton’s Crowne Plaza remaining one of the most appealing hotels in the area.

Lance Grooms

It was estimated that about $2.9 million would be needed for the full relocation of the fisheries research centre.  For the time being employees will continue to work at the old centre, but they may also need to be relocated closer to the new fisheries centre to spare themselves increased gas usage once the approval has been made.

At the moment the project is looking for investors and support to see if there is really any hope for a better building.  It does seem that the project may go ahead with a few individual projects at the beginning, though this may end up costing more in the end.  Those in charge of the project are trying to find a way to make it more appealing so that the relocation can move ahead with a new aquarium, laboratory and offices in the Port Stephens area.

Jon Huser

Simple touches throughout your home can have a dramatic effect on the appearance of your home.  If you are hoping to stage your home because you want to sell it and move out, keep reading.  Here are a few inexpensive home improvements (all under $10) that can update your home, no matter what your budget is.

1.  Rearrange Furniture

Rearranging the furniture is a great way to change the look of your home without spending a dime. Is your living room too cramped? Move some stuff around.

2.  Rearrange Bookshelf

Just like moving your furniture around, rearranging the bookshelf can give a whole new look to the room.  Think about your books as you would a landscape of rolling hills with larger books in the center.

3.  New Switch Plates

A little touch of color can liven up any space.  Invest a few dollars in decorative switch plates or get crafty and decoupage the plain white ones.

4.  Fresh Flowers

Most fresh flowers aren’t expensive and a vase filled with them can breathe new life into any room.  This is especially true throughout the winter.

5.  De-Clutter

Clutter in any room can make it look small and ugly.  De-clutter by getting rid of stuff you no longer use.  Consider investing in a few decorative boxes to hide odds and ends.

Jon Huser

In a move your dog or cat is losing their familiar space.  If you are moving to an apartment or home that has been lived in, and worse had animals in it, this can be extremely stressful.  Your pet will smell this other animal, but they will not be able to find it.  It can confuse them and make things more difficult.  There are ways to lessen the stress your pet feels before, during and after relocation.  Make no mistake, your pet is very aware that something is going on as soon as you start packing.  It can cause feelings of worry.  They may want more of your attention.  This is something you need to take time to give, as it will help alleviate fears that they may be abandoned.

Before the move

Take the time to follow your normal routines with your pet.  Keep their favorite toy out of the packed boxes until the last possible moment.  If you have to, add a little more playtime for your pet.  Reassurance is what your pet will be after.  They do not want you to abandon them.  This means they need to feel secure that the move is something they will be a part of.

During the Move

Moving is going to be the most stressful part.  Your pet already knows something is up, so now you need to decide how you can make the car ride better for them.  If it is a plane ride they will be sedated, so it is not as big an issue as long as you provide enough sedation.  For a car ride, you need to stop more frequently than you would normally.  If you have a dog, let it play around outside for several minutes.  Cats tend to stop going to the bathroom on a trip.  This also means they do not eat a lot or drink a lot until you stop at night.  They still need breaks.

After the Move

Once you have arrived at the new home, you need to let your pet go and explore.  Let them come to you rather than trying to play with them or make them feel better.  They will want to look around and come to you for reassurance.  These steps can make it easier to move and settle in with your pet.

Lance Grooms

The program will be a pilot project with 100,000 people moved in 2012.  The conference outlining the plan was held in Beijing.  The hope, according to the Chinese government, is that these individuals will be relocated to an area that has better development, allowing them to enter the workforce and have a better quality of life.  The conditions where they live now are difficult for sustaining even a healthy person’s life.  It is a necessary move.

China officials also stated that things would still not get better because drinking water and roads will not help with conditions for at least 50 years.  It will most likely take nine years for the relocation to be complete.  Helping these individuals move is just a portion of what will be addressed, as China is also hoping to look into supportive policies with regards to jobs.  Those earning money in the province only managed 13,000 yuan in 2010.

Lance Grooms

The child should pay rent, according to the experts.  Any child making an income and trying to get back on their feet should pay rent so that they are contributing to the household budget.  It does not mean they need to pay a great deal, but something around $300 can be fair and helpful.  It may also keep the parents from foreclosing.  At the very least the money can help towards expenses, such as the increased heating and food bills.  Children moving back in should have to help with the cooking and dishes, and respect quiet time.

The barter system can also work if the child is unable to pay rent.  Shoveling snow, lawn mowing, painting, cooking, dishes or cleaning can all lead to the barter system where the child helps out in turn for room and board.  If something such as this is impossible for the parent/child relationship, it may be necessary for the child to find an alternative to moving in with their parents.

Lance Grooms

Today, many people rely on email and other internet services to conduct their daily lives.  The internet is also a growing method of keeping in touch with friends and family that are far away.  In fact, many people can move almost anywhere they want because they are able to stay connected with work through the internet. So, when you move overseas, what kind of internet issues do you think you can expect?

It all really depends on the country to which you will be moving.  Before you even get there, find out what ISPs operate in the new country (that’s Internet Service Providers, if you were wondering.) In some cases, you may even be able to use the same internet account as you have now!  Although it is probably preferable to have an internet connection in your new home once you move, it may not be possible right away, if at all.  Just be sure you know what you’re getting into.

Once you move, you may find it easier to access the internet from a cyber café.  The cyber café is a growing phenomenon all over the world and is a place where there are computers and internet access at the ready.  Cyber cafes offer a convenient way to stay connected.

Good luck with your international move!  Stay in touch and let us know how it goes.

Lance Grooms