So After all of this talk on the best places to move...

So after all of this talk on the best places to move, the most affordable places to live and the most eco-friendly cities, where are people actually moving to? Relocate America has written an article informing us all of where people are actually moving to. We can give you pointers and suggestions and the new happening cities to live in, but ultimately it is up to you where you want to purchase a home. This is what Relocate America has come up with after reviewing annual reports from 3 large van lines....

* Texas is hot- Texas is a top selection for the customers of all three reports. This is not surprising with the amount of positive attributes occurring in the boom towns of Austin, San Antonio, Dallas/Fortworth and McAllen.

*"Go West, young man"- Horace Greeley's famous statement rings true once again. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon all make strong inbound showings and really who wouldn't want to live in these areas?

*A Southern Draw- North Carolina, Arkansas, Virginia and DC are shining move-to examples due to the Research Triangle, Wal-Mart halo and Washington DC two-step. They are all firmly entrenched as solid relocation options.

* The Other side of the Coin- Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania are all experiencing flight due to economic strain and growing employment options existing in the southwest and southern states. Enough said. There are countless blogs focusing on negative aspects, this will not be one of them.

2010's Top Ten Earth Friendly Cities in the US

In the past few weeks we have blogged about the top 10 best cities for young/singles in the US, the top 10 best international cities for young/singles and today, the top 10 earth friendly cities in the US! So what makes a city earthy friendly? According to Relocate America, there are a few things- Cities focusing on making positive environmental improvements also tend to be making improvements in all matters. And the push for better civic sustainability through improved energy efficiency, renewable energy, efficient public transportation, green construction, public green space and recycling programs. These are all things that can help reduce a community's negative environmental footprint. Lets see how Relocate America ranks them.........

Counting Down-

#10- Huntsville, Alabama

#9- Ann Arbor, Michigan

#8- Ft. Worth, Texas

#7- Minneapolis, Minnesota

#6- Chicago, Illinois

#5- Austin, Texas

#4- Boulder, Colorado

#3- Madison, Wisconsin

#2- Boston, Massachusetts

And the #1 earth friendly city in the United States is.....................................................

Portland, Oregon!

Do Moving Scams Really Happen?

YES! Moving scams are a real thing, and do happen when you least expect it. During my travels around the country, educating partners of our services, the topic of moving scams always comes up and many cannot believe that it actually happens. There are horror stories of families hiring a moving company, the company shows up, loads their belongings and then POOF! they disappear and are never seen again. Another popular scam happens when the mover gives you one quote when surveying your household goods, you sign the contract and then the day of moving they tell you that the move with actually be 2 or 3 times more than estimated. If you do not pay the movers up front they will hold your goods "hostage" until you pay. Many believe that these scams erupted with the the brilliance of thieves pretending to be licensed movers. If you are moving, don't worry, there are ways to avoid this from happening to you. Consumers Relocation contracts licensed and reputable movers that we have been working with for several years. We make sure that the movers and packers that are loading your things are reliable, trustworthy and honest. So if you are moving this summer, don't get caught up in a scam and call CRS at 800.839.6683 or visit our website to get the process started at http://www.consumersrelocation.com/. Don't be the next victim to a horrible moving scam!

Growing number of Companies wanting competitive moving bids for each move

Consumers Relocation's business model has been extremely popular with the general consumer for over 16 years. Ordering and negotiating up to 3 moving estimate on each move, insures the most competitive price, and services specifically tailored to each move. Now, more companies are seeking the same model for moving their employees.

Many newer companies, without sophisticated relocation policies, ask their moving employees to obtain 3 moving estimate on their own, These companies are now finding that Consumers Relocation service, realizes savings and organization to this process. These companies do receive the three estimates through Consumers Relocation, but each estimate contains cost savings and service guarantees only previously available to the van lines national account agreements. Since Consumers Relocation is a national account, sending thousands of moves to the van lines each year. the companies enjoy the volume national account savings and the competitive bidding on each move.

For companies that had been working direct with a van line and began offering Consumers Relocation's service as an alternative, they are finding employees are trending towards using CRS because of the options, cost savings and high level of responsiveness and service.

"I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for all of your hard work on these moves. Relocation have been down at XYZ compared to previous years so you're not seeing as many as we've had in the past but you've been the most reliable of our two contracted companies and have been offering great pricing options. I know when I send a request to you that you're going to act quickly which is very much appreciated by our new hires and the feedback I'm getting from the campus has been positive."

Call Consumers Relocation Services at 800-839-6683 and ask for Les or e mail lvelte@sover.net to find out more about our valuable services for your company.

Moving This Summer? A Few Eco-Friendly Packing Tips

Packing your entire home into boxes, bubble wrapping the fragile pieces, stuffing with paper to avoid shifting during the move, taping the boxes closed........ WOW that's a lot of material! There are some eco-friendly ways to get your household goods from one house to another while keeping them intact! Movegreen has put together a list of eco-friendly packing and unpacking techniques.

Eco-Friendly Packing Tips

Boxes

Some simple eco-friendly packing tips may actually serve to save you money in the long run. For example, before you buy boxes, see what you can find via forums such as Craigslist, or another local entity. If you think in terms of "reduce, reuse, recycle," you'll be well on the path to eco-friendly packing. Boxes that are sturdy are the only ones worth using if you're pursuing a large/cross-country move. They'll go through more than you realize during transport. Last but not least, you'll want to overestimate your box needs.

Packing Paper & Peanuts

For fragile items, consider investing in recyclable packing paper, or using a stash of old newspapers or magazines that can be recycled at a later point. For the most breakable items, consider eco-friendly packing peanuts, yes, the kind that don't stick to everything and can be reused time and time again (great re-sale value!!!!) There are also cornstarch packing peanuts available for eco-friendly packing, providing a biodegradable option.

Reduce the Packing Tape

To combat the moving waste that will eventually end up landfill-bound, consider alternatives to the use of packing tape. Packing tape may be a necessity, but it doesn't need to be used excessively. There are also eco-friendly rubber-based tapes that are sustainable alternatives. For boxes that are lightweight and stackable, it doesn't take much tape to do the trick. Less tape used on boxes will also make them last longer.

Eco-Friendly Unpacking

After the big move it's time for the part everyone loves the most- unpacking. Unpacking in an eco-friendly manner is as easy as remaining conscious of expendable disposal. Expendables, such as boxes, packing paper, peanuts, twine, rope and bungee are all reusable moving resources. If you don't have space for them, you can pretty much guarantee someone else will want them. Ask around or put a post on Craigslist and watch the people come running for the freebies (or you can make a few extra $$). Another great eco-friendly unpacking option is to recycle the raw materials such as cardboard and the plastic-foam peanuts.

If you are moving and looking to purchase some packing materials, visit our online Box Store where you can purchase boxes that contain 20% recycled content and meet the industry standard in size and strength!

Top INTERNATIONAL Cities for Young/Singles

Since we have touched on the top cities in the US for young/singles, we decided it would be interesting to look into international cities as well. Whether you are looking to move to find a job, a change of scenery or to fall in love, we have found the top cities to do so internationally.

According to Forbes.com, there are some fabulous places to live abroad all of which include rich culture, fabulous scenery and plenty of chances to meet people.

* Barcelona- Part of Barcelona's appeal is purely aesthetic. The city has a balmy climate, palm tree-lined streets and plenty of beaches and outdoor cafes. With its whimsical Gaudi architecture, its one of the most distinct-looking cities in the world and has become a meccfor aspiring architects. It's also a city devoted to the arts, with museums, jazz clubs and late-night salsa dancing. In addition, the city is strong in creative industries, such as Internet portal Terra Lycos. Barcelona also has plenty of sporting complexes such as Camp Nou, home of the soccer team Barcelona FC.

* Cape Town- Cape Town offers a laid-back lifestyle in a beautiful setting. The city looks like the best of San Fransisco and Los Angeles combined, with rolling hills, mountains, vineyards and beaches, all against the backdrop of Table Mountain. With all that natural beauty, the city draws international film crews and top modeling agencies. For jobs that don't require a hot body, Cape Town is also home to insurance companies such as Old Mutual, and Merrill Lynch.

*Dublin- Dubbed the "Silicon Bog" years ago because of the influx of high-tech companies like Microsoft and Dell, which built their European headquarters there, Dublin is still buzzing. The Temple Bar area is the place to be; it's where rock band U2, whose memebers are native sons, has its hotel, the Clarence. Dublin is becoming the software capital of Europe. Diageo's Guinness and Cadbury Schweppes are also located in the city and homegrown Ryanair is one of the few profitable airlines in the world.

*London- London is on par with New York for attracting people in banking, finance and media as well as students, yet its eminently more livable. Its possible to find a decent apartment there as well as a parking space. But strategic planning is necessary for going out, since pubs close at 11 p.m. and the Tube shuts down early. As headquarters for many of the world's largest oil and gas, insurance and banking companies- such as Aviva and HSBC- London is also one of the leading job markets in Europe.

*Ljubljana- Hipster Italians would have scoffed at the notion of spending a weekend in Ljubljana 10 years ago. These days, the Slovenian capital has become a destination for plenty of neighboring Europeans. The nightlife offers techno clubs in rustic villas as well as mellow jazz bars. Slovenia has been one of Eastern Europe's economic success stories. Pharmaceutical company Lek, which is responsible for a good chunk of the country's GDP, was recently acquired by Novartis at a 50% premium.

* Bombay- Although New Delhi has the best economy of any Indian city and is also one of the most elegant, there is hardly any nightlife there beyond private parties. All the action is happening in Mumbai (Bombay), which is the place to be if you're young. Bombay is India's economic center- where many American tech companies as well as homegrown ones employ many of the country's brightest young people. Bombay is also home to India's largest stock exchange and its banking industry.

*Paris- The French law restricting work to 35 hours a week makes this city even more appealing. The city draws students and young professionals from all over the world in nearly every industry, from banking and advertising to the arts. Paris is also home to the biggest cosmetics company in the world, L'Oreal.

*Reykjavik- You know all those things you've heard about Iceland being an island of friendly, 6-foot supermodels who like nothing better than to disco from Friday till Sunday? It's true. Though they are the descendants of marauding Vikings, Icelanders are among the most friendly and welcoming of Scandinavians. Then again, they have to be; tourism is the country's biggest industry after fishing.

*Stockholm- Stockholm is a city that's committed to nightlife. Stockholm itself, which is built over 14 islands, is gorgeous, with a mixture of medieval architecture and modern skyscrapers. Stockholm hosts the headquarters for Ericsson, Electrolux, Ikea, Saab and Volvo.

* Sydney- More than once, we've heard stories of people literally falling on their knees and crying at the Sydney airport when their visas have expired- and for a good reason. Sydney is most peoples idea of paradise since its a "real" city with thriving industries but also offers gorgeous beaches and near-perfect weather. Sydney has more than 20 beaches, and its not impossible for young professionals to afford a beachfront apartment.

To read the full article on the best international cities for singles, visit www.forbes.com. And dont forget, if you're looking into moving overseas, Consumers Relocation can arrange an International move for you!

Top Ten Single/Young Cities

For all you recent college grads and single not so recent grads, a recent study ranked the top 10 cities to live if you are single! These cities are ranked for professional jobs availability and active social life. So here you go! Figure out which city you want to move to then call Consumers Relocation to get you there.





Relocateamerica.com provides such surveys and is actually a good source for information on cities' throughout our country. They ranked these top ten cities for the single/young-





Washington DC


Chicago


Dallas


San Diego


Boston


Austin


Scottsdale


Minneapolis


Portland, OR


Pittsburgh, PA

Call Consumers Relocation 800-839-6683 or www.consumersrelocation.com

Higher Priced Home Sales Making a Comeback

Markets around the country are reporting luxury home sales up so far this year. Homes selling over $2 million are more realistically priced now and the fear of 2009 had diminished some opening up this market. Homes in this price range nationwide in the first quarter totaled 2,461, up 32% over last year.

Although the number of units is not staggering, it's encouraging that this sector is improving, It shows buyer confidence returning in other areas than first time home buyers. The Wall Street Journal reported that sales in this price range were actually on par with 2005 levels. That year was the peak for existing home sales volume nationwide.