Minneapolis ranks among the nation’s fastest growing cities* and that means countless parents who just moved here are scrambling and stressing as their children head off to brand new schools. And according to a study by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, these local parents have reason to worry, as kids who move to a new area are more likely to under-perform in school and develop behavioral problems. […]
According to the United States Census Bureau, nearly 40 million people move every year, meaning countless people are moving away from local cities and towns each year.1 This can spell trouble for your dental office, which could lose dozens of loyal patients each year due to population moves. Patients may be loyal to your practice, but their loyalty will be useless if they move miles away. […]
Where have all the good neighbors gone? It seems that as we become busier, our neighborhoods become more disconnected. We used to roll out the welcome mats for new arrivals to our neighborhood. Today, we’re lucky if we ever meet new neighbors as most folks are so busy they don’t even have time to simply ring the doorbell. […]
Advertisers in markets as diverse as DIY, home appliances and financial services could achieve substantial sales growth by targeting their communications at home movers, new research suggests. Two studies present different ways of identifying house buyers and their spending patterns before and after the purchase. […]
CNBC (July 2016) – Summer is the most popular time of year to move and that means many millennials are packing their bags. In fact, 44 percent of those young people say they plan to pull up stakes within the next year, according to Rent.com. Relocating for a job was the top reason millennials move, the apartment search website said. Moving for love was a distant second. “Typically they go where the work is,” said Dick Power, certified financial planner and founder of Power Plans. Millennials will jump on the opportunity to improve their skill sets and up their paycheck, he said, “so it’s very common they will change jobs half a dozen times for a career.” But moving from one location to another can be a huge hassle, not to mention a hit to your wallet. Here are some tips to make your move a little easier financially and physically: Start by mapping out your expenses in advance — it may cost more than you think. About 15 percent of consumers said they went into debt as a result of moving costs, according to Our Town America, a direct mail company that targets recent movers. The average cost of an intrastate move is $1,170; interstate moves average $5,630, according to the American Moving & Storage Association. (That’s based on the average weight of belongings of 7,500 pounds.) Although for millennials with less stuff, the cost would be lower, according to Michael Keaton, a spokesman for AMSA. For do-it-yourselfers, sites like Moving.com have a packing calculator to determine what size moving truck you will need, in addition to packing supplies. Although the cost varies by location, renting a 15-foot moving truck will set you back about $30 a day plus $2.49 a mile. Securing a truck that is too large will waste money on gas and rental fees, not to mention that the bigger it is, the harder it can be to navigate. The cost of boxes also adds up quickly, particularly if they are specialty ones. Average-size packing boxes cost about $2 each but hanging-garment boxes are four times as much. Instead, try pulling a large garbage bag over multiple items hanging in your closet and tie a string around the tops of the hangers to keep them together. U-Haul, for example, also offers a box exchange where customers can pick up free used boxes before their move. If you are relocating for work and your employer doesn’t cover the moving costs, you may able to write off some of those expenses, including traveling to a new location or transporting your furniture. The rule generally applies if you work full time and your new workplace is at least 50 miles away from your old home. Your regular renter’s insurance may cover your move, but double-check to make sure. If not, ask your insurance provider if you can purchase a rider on your base policy. You can also generally purchase insurance through your mover. “It isn’t inexpensive because of the likelihood of loss or damage can be pretty high,” Power said, but it may be worth the peace of mind. Then, organize everything. Start by sorting your possessions into take, store, toss and donate. Then eliminate the things you won’t need in your new spot. It’ll save you time, money and a headache unpacking. Before you start packing, photograph your belongings to help remember where things go. If you like the way you decorated or hung pictures, that will make it simpler to replicate in your new home. The same goes for electronics. Taking a picture of how the cords are arranged will make it easier to put back together. As you pack, label all of the boxes with the rooms they go in. If you know that you’ll need to get to some items right away, like bedding or the coffee maker, label those boxes as important and put them where they are easily accessible so they can be unpacked first. Finally, pack an essentials bag for your moving day with water, your basic toiletries, prescription medications and, of course, hand tools. Chances are, you’re going to end up needing the hammer or screwdriver at some point along the way. To read the story on CNBC.com, click here. If you’re a local business interested in welcoming new movers to your community, we invite you to complete a Contact Form. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
2015 New Mover Survey Winner Houston/ Fort Worth, TX (June 2016) – Our Town America, the nation’s leading New Mover Marketing franchise, just announced that couple, John and Kelly Ballentine of Katy, TX, have won the annual Our Town America New Mover Survey Drawing! After their move to Katy in December 2015, the Ballentine’s became one of millions of new movers nationwide to receive the New Mover Survey as part of their Our Town America welcome package full of various free offers from partnered local businesses. The Ballentine’s completed their survey providing Texas-area Our Town America franchisee, Clint Finch, with feedback on the program and the services provided by his partnered local businesses, such as Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt with two locations in Katy and Rosenberg, TX. Early June, Mrs. Ballentine met with Clint Finch, Tutti Frutti owners, Tam Luu and Lonny Yu, and employee Sara Cherry to accept their winnings – a $1,000 check covered in full by the Our Town America corporate headquarters based in Pinellas Park, FL. The Ballentine’s, who recently moved south from Philadelphia, plan to use the $1,000 to get further settled into their new Texas neighborhood. Luu and Yu of Tutti Frutti have been using Our Town America’s New Mover Marketing program to gain new loyal customers for 7 months. The program also includes a second mailer, the Follow-up Postcard, which helps partnered businesses experience noteworthy responses every month. With millions of Americans moving annually, and moving numbers expected to rise in the coming years, local businesses can rely on the program to consistently uncover new customers seeking reputable go-to product and service providers. Due to Our Town America’s ‘Category Exclusivity Concept’ – no direct competitors are included within a single zip code’s Welcome Package. Other businesses in the Ballentine’s Welcome Package include: a Hair Salon, an Automotive Service Shop, a Golf/Country Club, a Donut shop, and a Dry Cleaners. Other Welcome Packages in the same zip code have offers from different businesses, such as a Veterinarian, a Dentist and a Pizza Shop, due to their use of the carrier route options offered by Our Town America. Greater Texas-area businesses interested in the Our Town America program can complete a Contact Form or call franchise owner Clint Finch at 832-437-1173. For more information on the annual New Mover Survey and the increased winnings of $3,000, we invite you to explore our website. Want to see who last year’s winner was? Watch HERE. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]
May’s National Moving Month kicks off the busiest moving season of the year. Houston is THE national leader in local moves, ranked the #1 Fastest Growing City by FORBES and the #1 population growth city according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. […]
A new study at Boston University shows there could be a negative effect on kids whose families move often. Researchers found many children’s math and reading scores dropped each time their family relocated. They also found higher rates of emotional and behavioral problems in children who move frequently.
Aside from the research, many parents have seen how difficult moving can be for children. So Our Town America is encouraging parents to create “Kids Comfort Moving Kits” to help with the transition. […]
While summertime tends to slow things down in some places, new residents are heating up, and ready to spend money! Here are 6 things to think about when welcoming new movers into your business. […]
While moving can be exciting, it’s also one of the most stressful times for children. A study by the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology finds kids who stress over moving often have lingering problems in adulthood. That’s why Our Town America and local Raleigh franchise owner, Bassam Safi, have created the “Kids Comfort Moving Kit”- a stress-busting box of goodies that keeps kids upbeat and optimistic on the trip to their new home. […]
If you refer a business who partners with our new mover marketing program, we'll send you a $50 Visa gift card!
We only need a little info! If our database can validate and qualify your move, you will receive your welcome package in approximately 2-6 weeks!
