How To Cope With Relocation Depression:

Moving can give you tough time. You start by making plans for your move and budget, arranging 

a moving company, dealing with all the packing and deciding what to do with the things you won’t be relocating – the list could go on and on. And then, when you have to get a new job, find new friends, move away from your family and the people you care about, the whole experience could get worrisome. Can moving cause depression? Definitely the way different people handle changes in their lives vary – some are more sensitive than others and more prone to stronger emotional reactions. Moving related depression can cause discomfort but this does not mean you have to just sit tight and accept it.

Can Relocation Cause Depression?

When you are focused on the details of the move like renting a truck and buying boxes, somehow the real important issues of fitting in a new area and adapting to a new environment stay behind. Depression with relocation can be the result of that. But, either way, you’ve come to the right place to find the solutions you need. Here are our suggestions for relocation depression strategies that could really help.

How to cope with moving depression

Changes when moving with your family. If you are relocating with your partner and children, the move will impact them as well. They will change school and a job, and if your partner doesn’t find employment that could make it more difficult for everyone to adapt.

Climate. That means, for instance, moving from a place which is warm and sunny to a place that has all four seasons, for example. Getting through your first winter could be tough unless you take measures.

Culture shock. You may think that only a depression moving to a new country can cause it but you’re wrong. Various parts of one the same country could be so different that they can get you this feeling – the accent could be very different and the way of life. Just imagine moving from a large, metropolitan area, to a small village, or vice versa.

How to Overcome Relocation Depression

Be patient. With yourself and with the other members of your household – everybody is going through the same experience. You may need time to adapt. Look after yourself and each other. Talk to each other and talk to someone who is close to you, sharing can help you take at least a bit of the emotional burden off.

Keep in touch.Keep talking to people who are close to you like family and friends, hang on the walls pictures you had at your previous home, place around items like statuettes – in general try to surround yourself with familiar items that will make you feel more comfortable. Spend time together with your spouse and children getting to know the city or just watching movies together to relax after the long working day.

Find new people. Get out there and meet new people – ask colleagues to get lunch together, join a club where you can practice your hobby, or just do some sports. In all cases you will begin to make friends and this will help you with adapting to your new life.

Experiment. Now is the time to try new things – look for things that make you happy! This could be food, going to new places in the area, visiting bars that play music you’re not used to, etc. The idea is to open to the new opportunities that your relocation gave you and make the best of it. Sitting at home and just feeling sad is not always the best option.

Get a job. It will help you socialize – finding employment you enjoy or finding a way to enjoy your employment will make you spend your time through your working hours much easier and much more pleasantly. Focus on the things to be done and try to use the opportunity of distracting yourself, if you get to feel sad because of the move.

There is no single recipe that could be given for a person to overcome relocation depression but these suggestions are a really good starting point for it. Doing things that feel nice and engaging yourself in activities that are pleasant for you and your family are a good way to gently distract yourself from the discomfort you may be feeling sometimes due to the move, and ensure spending nice time wherever you are. To sum up, be easy on yourself, take things more lightly, look for things that make you happy and try not to take things too seriously. Life is supposed to be fun!

11 Furniture Companies with White Glove Delivery Service:

Moving soon? You may want to think twice before hauling all of that used furniture to your new home. For one, moving large beds, couches, chairs, tables and dressers will only make your relocation more expensive. Second, moving furniture is extremely time-consuming. And third, your furniture might not be worth moving in the first place (think: college futons and hand-me-down bed frames that can easily be donated away). If you’re ready to make a fresh start in your new home (and have less to move), consider ordering new furniture and arranging for White Glove Delivery Service after you move.

White Glove Service means the furniture company will deliver and set up your furniture for you. This type of delivery service also removes all packing materials and will bring the furniture up or down stairs (usually a maximum of one or two flights). White Glove Delivery Service is a great way to avoid moving heavy, bulky furniture that often takes hours to disassemble and reassemble. Fortunately, there are plenty of furniture companies that offer White Glove Delivery Service. Here are 11 such furniture companies to consider next time you move.

Ashley Furniture HomeStore

From lighting and home decor to sofas and recliners, Ashley Furniture Homestore is an affordable and stylish option. The retail furniture store offers In-Home Delivery for larger items, such as sectionals, bedroom furniture and living room decor. Ashley Furniture Homestore states that their In-Home Delivery will be done one of two ways: either it will be sent directly from an independently owned Ashley HomeStore near you or via the Ashcomm LLC shipping service. For more information, check here.

Crate & Barrel

This popular retail chain offers modern furniture, home decor and kitchenware. Crate & Barrel offers In-Home Delivery for customers who order larger items. The company’s White Glove Service includes two-man service, placement of the furniture in the room of your choice and removal of all packaging. The fee for this service depends on your location in relation to the shipping point. For more information on these fees, check here.

Ethan Allen

For those who enjoy the finer things in life, Ethan Allen’s beautifully upholstered couches and high-end bed furniture are an excellent choice. The furniture company offers a Premier In-Home Delivery service. With this service, Ethan Allen’s delivery teams inspects and prepares each item before assembling it in your home. Customers pay for the service based on the price of the item they ordered. For instance, if your furniture costs $500 to $799, your Premier In-Home Delivery fee would be $79. For more information, check here.

Pier 1 Imports

Pier 1 Imports is an eclectic home decor and furniture store offering everything from sofas and sectionals to seasonal decor and artwork. The company also offers White Glove In-Home Delivery in most areas. When customers order beds, couches and other large items, this White Glove Service should automatically pop up as a shipping option on their screen. Each order is fully inspected and delivered to the room of choice. Items are also unpacked and assembled. For more information, check here.

Pottery Barn

This upscale furniture chain offers everything from sofas and sectionals to dining tables and bedroom furnishings. The store also offers customers Truck Delivery for most furniture and other items that exceed parcel carrier shipping weight limits, according to the website. The company notes that this usually includes their Premium White Glove Service. Pottery Barn states that the “items are delivered to your home by appointment to your room of choice— and are then unpacked and fully assembled.” However, outdoor patio structures, marble or stone sink consoles, lighting, mirrors, rugs, headboards attached to a metal frame and any items requiring home installation may not include White Glove Service. For more information, check here.

Restoration Hardware

For those looking to “glam” up their home with chic furniture and upscale furnishings, Restoration Hardware is the place to go. The high-end retailer offers unlimited furniture delivery, whether you’re an RH Member or not. Restoration Hardware also notes that most furniture will be delivered by White Glove Delivery Service, where they’ll unpack, inspect, assemble and place it in the room. For more information, check here.

Room and Board

Based out of Minneapolis, Room and Board offers handcrafted, American-made modern furniture and decor. The retailer offers Full Service Delivery for furniture deliveries. Room and Board will assemble the furniture for you, place it in your room of choice and clean up the packaging materials on the way out. The retailer’s delivery rates are based on where you live – not how much you buy. So you can order unlimited items to be delivered within 100 miles of a store and only pay $89 for delivery. Those who live more than 100 miles pay $129 for delivery. For more information, check here.

Rooms To Go

This popular furniture chain sells a wide variety of affordable home furniture, decor and mattresses. However, Rooms To Go’s White Glove Service is only only offered in select states. These include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi, Texas, Virginia and Kentucky. In addition, we deliver to many areas in Oklahoma, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Connecticut, Louisiana, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. For more information, check here.

Wayfair

Looking for a wide range of furnishings and brands to choose from? Online home goods retailer Wayfair provides just that. The retail site also offers Full Service Delivery for larger furniture items. The delivery service includes a team that will bring the item inside (with a limit of two flights of stairs), place it in the room of choice, assemble it and then remove the packaging. The website notes that assembly includes light setup, which requires basic tools, however, the team will not perform services that require power tools. For more information, check here.

West Elm

West Elm appeals to those seeking a mid-century modern feel. The furniture company notes on their website that all Flat Rate items come with premium White Glove Service at no extra charge for oversized furniture and select fragile items. West Elm notes that “with White Glove, your order is brought into your home by a skilled delivery team on a pre-scheduled date, unpacked in the room of your choice and fully assembled, but not installed. All packaging materials are removed upon completion.” White Glove Service is not available for select lighting, oversized mirrors, rugs and headboards that need to be attached to a bed frame. For more information, check here.

Williams Sonoma

Believe it or not, Williams Sonoma doesn’t just offer cookware and kitchen items. In fact, the popular retailer also offers high-end furnishings through its Williams Sonoma Home line. The furniture company includes White Glove Delivery with large “hard-to-handle” items that require special care. Williams Sonoma’s delivery team will unpack, inspect, assemble and dispose of packaging for you. For more information on this service, check here.

Ready to move?

Before ordering new furniture, you’ll need to plan your move. Fortunately, Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to find and book the best moving company for the job. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands. Of course, the less furniture you have to move, the less help you may need with the relocation. If you’re only looking for help with the loading and unloading process, check out our 5 labor alternatives to hiring a full-service moving company. Best of luck and happy moving!

Show me the money!!! One moving company’s guarantee when they dare you to compare!:

You know what they say about death and taxes; those are the only guarantees in life, right? WRONG!!! I’m about to drop some serious knowledge about a revolutionary new guarantee made to the common man by Meathead Movers. It’s a guarantee so far out on the cutting edge, that Elon Musk views it’s use at Meathead as a pilot program for TESLA (unconfirmed) and unlike death and taxes, you can take this guarantee to the bank; literally. It’s called the Meathead Movers $1000 Guarantee, and here’s how it works: If, during his/her research and discovery process in preparation for the big transition, a moving customer is able to locate a moving company with: 

1. A better training program 

2. Higher standards for their employees 

3. More local and regional awards and accolades for excellence

He/She is invited to contact Meathead Movers for a $1000 payday, courtesy of our very own CEO, Aaron Steed. Boom! Here’s a behind the curtain look at the logic behind this seeming act of daring. At the beginning of the process of researching and selecting a mover, the average customer does not really know what to look for. Moving is an unfamiliar, dreadful, and imposing task. At the end of the day, what they really value are the character and trustworthiness of the people that they are inviting into their home, and the quality of service that they are provided on move day. It is this value that has driven Meathead Movers to becoming the biggest and best independent moving company in the state of California, and we got here by refusing to compromise in three key areas:

Training – One is only as good as the tools he’s given. Every Meathead that arrives on the doorstep of a customer has already undergone a thorough training process, Meathead University. Subjects of education include how best to protect, carry and secure items within the truck to protect them from damage, how to work efficiently as a team, and how to organize a loaded moving truck safely. In short, these guys know what they are doing. Meathead Movers does not hire any workers on a temporary or “day-labor” basis, so every employee that our customer meets has received the training necessary to provide an unexpectedly awesome service.

Hiring Standards – Criminal background checks, routine random drug screenings, driving record checks… These are a few of the standards that every Meathead must pass prior to gaining employment. Where our philosophy of hiring and supporting student athletes provides us with a great recruitment pool naturally, our hiring managers also sit across from each prospective Meathead and ask themselves, “Is this someone that I would trust in a home alone with my Grandmother?” It’s a gut check that has paid off for our customers for over 18 years now.

Local and Regional Awards – It’s hard to fully appreciate an experience before you have it. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take someone’s word for it; and it’s a guarantee that you will find no local moving service with the same vote of community confidence that Meathead Movers has fostered in each of the communities that it serves. The awards that we have achieved in your local media outlets and community oriented organizations will be unparalleled. That’s a testament to the service that you will receive on move day.

So there you have it, we've thrown the gauntlet, and at the end is $1000. Bring us a superior moving service offered by better people and the money is yours. So far, no one has, and we’re only continuing to improve. If you’re a gambler, I’m sure you’d agree; the best bet to put your money on is the sure thing. Move over death and taxes, there’s a new sheriff in town.

Moving With Pets:

Suggestions for Moving With Pets

If you consider moving stressful for you, think about how stressful it must be for your pets, who generally have little to no idea why they are being taken from their surroundings. On top of that moving is an intrusive activity, movers (strangers) come in and out of your home and take your furniture and move it else where. Your pet see their environment that causes comfort being taken away. If you have pets, you need to make the extra effort to make sure the entire moving process goes smoothly for them as well.

Keep The Mess Under Control

The majority of pets do not like change, this goes double for cats. If you have ever moved your furniture around, you have probably watched your pet react with some from of stress. Now, think of how disrupted they must feel when there are a ton of boxes everywhere. While you do want to pack as early as possible, you want to minimize the mess. If you have a spare room, garage or basement, put as many boxes as you can in here so your pets don’t have to be around them.

Pet Sitter's Are a Moving Families Best Friend

Do you have somewhere you can take your pets for the day so they do not have to be there while the movers are in and out of your house? This is especially true for dogs. If you can drop them off at a friend’s or relatives house or even a "doggy daycare" for the day, this is definitely ideal.

Introduce the New Home Slowly.

If you are moving somewhere nearby, it is recommended to take dogs over there ahead of time. Let them sniff around the home and around the yard so when they come back, it will be a familiar place.

If you don’t have a pet sitter, then the day that you move, it is not a bad idea to take your pets over to the new place with toys, water and food. If they have been there before, it won’t be such a strange & stressful place.

Aardvark Movers hopes you’ve enjoyed reading this article. The inclusion of articles such as this on our website is a new concept for us, and is a great way to share useful information on the subjects of home and business moving & professional services.

7 Blog Topic Ideas for Real Estate Agents:

When it comes to nurturing relationships and earning people’s trust, blogging is one of the smartest marketing activities in which a real estate agent can invest. 

By sharing your knowledge, you build credibility and establish yourself as an expert in the minds of your readers. Publishing and following up on a regular basis keeps you top of mind. Plus, there’s always that added bonus—while you’re focusing on providing high value information to your current clients, other people searching the web are finding your content, too.

For your blog (and any other content marketing) to be successful, there’s one thing that matters most:

You must provide information that is useful—really, truly useful.

Find below 7 blog post ideas that will help you provide useful information to your real estate clients.

1) Beginner information for first-time homebuyers

Most first-time homebuyers feel overwhelmed in the beginning of the process. They’ll be extremely appreciative of any educational content you provide to them, and there’s a good chance they’ll decide to work with you. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• The Step-By-Step Guide To Buying A House
• 10 Questions First-Time Homebuyers Should Ask Their Real Estate Agent
• What Is Escrow?
• The Beginner’s Guide To Choosing A Real Estate Agen

2) “How To” and DIY tutorials for sellers

There’s a lot to do before selling a home—applying a fresh coat of paint, cleaning the carpets, updating fixtures, packing, and so on. Share tutorials and Do-It-Yourself-style posts to help them get these tasks done. Some examples:

• How To Boost Curb Appeal for $100 or Less
• DIY Pet-Safe Carpet Cleaning Solution
• 5 Steps To Perfectly Painted Walls

The agency Maximum Exposure Real Estate published a great blog post on Things To Repair Before Selling A House.

3) Advice on Financing

Even though it’s not the agent’s job to assist in financing, going the extra mile to help your clients navigate this process is a great way to strengthen your relationship. Write blog posts that will educate them on the process and get them pointed in the right direction:

• The Beginner’s Guide To Mortgages
• Calculate Your Homebuying Budget: How Much Home Can You Afford?
• How To Choose The Right Mortgage Lender For You
• How To Get Approved For A Mortgage

4) Checklists, Worksheets, and Other Tools

A checklist or worksheet—one that readers can print out and use—is the epitome of useful content. Check out the examples below, then create your own tool for your clients to use!

• Worksheet: Define Your Dream Home (REALTOR Mag)
• Trulia’s Homebuying Checklist (Trulia)
• Checklist for Home Sellers (ReMax)
• The Ultimate Staging Guide Checklist (HGTV.com)

5) Local Lifestyle

Whether your clients are moving across town or from out-of-state, providing fun and interesting blog posts on the local scene is another great way to nurture your relationships. Here are some ideas:

• 5 Locally-Owned Coffee Shops In [YOUR CITY] To Visit This Fall
• Living Frugally In [YOUR CITY]: 7 Fun & Free Family Activities
• 10 Reasons Why [YOUR STATE] Is the Best Place To Live
• 7 Reasons To Move To [NEIGHBORHOOD]

6) Home Living

There’s a long stretch in between transactions with a single client, but that doesn’t mean you have to lose touch! Reach out to them every once in a while with blog posts on topics about living in (and loving) the home that you helped them buy. Topics could include:

• Decorating and interior design
• DIY projects
• Gardening & Lawn Care
• Living with pets
• Home safety
• Upgrades and renovations

7) Answers To Common Questions

Listening is key to building relationships. When you’re talking with your clients and prospects, make note of any questions they ask. A lot of them will likely ask very similar questions, and these are the perfect topics to blog about.

Real estate agent Kyle Hiscock answers many common questions on his blog, including How Long Does It Take To Sell A Home?

A few final words of advice on blogging

Before I go, I want to share a few nuggets of wisdom on how to be successful with blogging.

• First, always write for your niche - your specific audience of clients and prospects.
• Provide information that is useful - that helps them with the home buying/selling process, that answers their questions, and that helps them enjoy their life as a homeowner.
• Be strategic with your blog title. Titles that begin with “How To” and numbered lists (“5 Ways…”) immediately signal to readers that this blog post is going to provide something of value.
• Aim for about 500 words, and avoid going over 800.
• Promote your content through email and social media.
• But don’t be annoying! Make it easy for your readers to adjust how frequently they receive your blog posts. Don’t send them a blog every day—at most, email them only once a week. Additionally, consider where they are in their buying/selling process, and only send them blog posts that are relevant to them at that stage.
• Make sure you are following up with your fan base, current clients, or future relationships. This process can be simplified with a real estate CRM that has automated workflows.

What topics have been successful for you? Leave us a comment and let us know!