It’s my experience that people who are moving come in three distinct varieties:
1. ‘We don’t need no stinkin’ plans’: These folks just kinda wish their move happens but put off planning til the day before moving day. It never ends well.
2. ‘Please don’t scam me’: These folks are mostly concerned about finding a good moving company, but they don’t put much effort into the rest of their move. They don’t get scammed, but they don’t enjoy an efficient move.
3. ‘The Planners’: They plan every aspect of their move to the finest detail. These meticulous folks might be annoying to the less organized among us, but they get the job done.
I recently came across a book that would appeal to The Planners, as well as the ‘Please don’t scam me’ group (the non-planners will never be bothered with reading a book on relocation).
Jodi Velazquez’ book Slick Move Guide is a nice read because it doesn’t overwhelm you with tips and guidance, yet it gives you just enough information to help you succeed in every facet of your move.
Finding Movers: A comprehensive backgrounder on the moving industry, and how to go about finding moving companies you can trust. Her ’25 Questions for the Moving Companies’ is particularly good.
I doubt many people will actually ask all 25, but even if you ask a majority of them, you’ll know a great deal about the company and it will help you make an informed decision. I also think it serves as a good checklist to use after you a choose a moving company, to ensure you’re aware of all the particulars of your move.
Packing: A lot of good tips, with ‘green-friendly’ advice specifically marked as such, with a ‘Things to Buy List’ that’s particularly thorough and helpful. There’s a wealth of information on how to pack a variety of different items.
There are also storage tips (which are useful because most moves involve storage), checklists to track your progress planning your move, a very helpful ’10 things to do before moving day,’ and a list of items to take care of at your new home.
What I like most about the book is that it includes real-life examples from the author’s move. That’s critical: it’s much easier to learn from someone else’s experience (both successes and failures), and in that, Velazquez’ book is a winner whether you’re moving, or know someone’s who’s moving.
Tim Johnson - Relocation.com
Slick Move Guide was written for those who are planning a move, whether it be to a retirement destination or for a career-related purpose. Author Jodi Valazquez has written this book based on her experience of moving five times in six years. It is written for those who want to plan every aspect of their move in detail. While it doesn't overwhelm you with tips and guidance, it does give you just enough information to make your move a success.
The book provides a lot of information about the moving industry and how to go about finding moving companies you can trust. She lists 25 questions to ask when you interview a moving company. There is also a wealth of information about how to pack a variety of items. Valazquez devotes a whole chapter to researching your destination, including getting to know the area, and the cost of healthcare, utilities, insurance, traffic, neighborhoods, education, taxes and transportation.
The Retirement Living Information Center operates www.RetirementLiving.com which serves as a gateway to resources for senior living. The site helps seniors search for retirement communities and senior housing that will meet their needs.
Retirement Living Information Center
“The Slick Move Guide” is definitely a valuable tool for our students as well as anyone else who may be contemplating a move. I have read through the book and consider it to be a necessary guide that leaves no stone unturned.
Community College of Beaver County
125 Cessna Drive
Beaver Falls, PA 15010
Jim Scott - ATC Coordinator
Community College of Beaver County
Photographer: Michael Elliott
