Month: August 2015

You’ll be surprised at all the resources available when you’re moving in the military.

Moving in the military can feel like quite an ordeal. Not only are you being jerked from your home and tossed into some new location, but you may also be dealing with new responsibilities and risks on the job. Worrying about where to put grandma’s heirloom dining set probably isn’t your first concern, but it is an issue many service members deal with. Sometimes, you just own too much to move to each of your assignments. If your move is temporary, however, storage can be a big benefit.

There are two basic types of storage available to military families:

1. Storage In Transit is for short-term storage. It’s meant for storage during a multi-leg move. For instance, if you have a training assignment in one location before settling in another, you can store your household goods and then have them moved to your final destination once you arrive. Generally, these costs are absorbed into your normal moving expenses.
2. Non-temporary storage is for storage needs of six months or longer. The military will pay for your long-term storage, as long as you apply for it in the right way. Your movers are the experts in navigating these issues, but make sure you give them enough time to help you. Most storage requests have to be put in a month or more before you move. As for your belongings, they’ll be placed in a secure, temperate-controlled location for as long as needed.

Contact Nilson Van if you’re moving in the military and secure the storage you’ll need throughout your service. Visit online or call 803.223.9736.

Be prepared to dot your I’s and cross your T’s when you’re moving internationally.

Moving internationally is an adventure, one best enjoyed when you’re well-prepared. In order to move to another country, you’ll need the right paperwork to prove who you are and that you have the right to be there. Make a wrong move and you could wind up deported—or worse.

Consider the following forms and how they help you in foreign countries:

• Officially recognized forms of US identification are used in daily business. Just as in the United States, you’ll need to provide banks, government agencies, and other important organizations with proof of identity. Just make sure you keep them under lock and key.
• You’ll need an up-to-date passport to enter a foreign country. US citizens need to show a passport to gain entry into other countries, even Canada, and you will need it to be valid throughout the length of your trip.
• You’ll need a visa to prove you have permission from the country’s government to visit, as well as what you’re allowed to do there. There are visitors’ visas, and those for students and employees. Some countries don’t require them unless you’re staying longer than three months, while others require a visa for everyone along with work permits. It’s important to know the laws before you move.
• Personal documents like medical records, taxes and your will help you conduct your affairs just as if you were in the United States. Any paperwork you find especially important at home will likely be important to you when you’re abroad.

Moving internationally? Contact Nilson Van to get prepared before the big day. Visit us online or call 803.786.1090.

Business relocations require heavy-duty equipment, planning and know-how.

Business relocations are often necessary for your company to continue to grow. Sometimes, sadly, they’re needed as a way to cut costs in order to stay afloat. Whether you’re expanding or conserving your resources, hiring a relocation company is an absolute must. Smart business owners make smart investments, and there is too much value to be found in a relocation service to avoid taking advantage of it.

Here are a few of the steps your business relocation company will take on your behalf:

• At its most basic, a relocation company will simply provide packing and moving services. On its own, that’s enough to justify the cost. Business owners often like to handle paperwork issues on their own anyway. It’s the breaking down of office partitions, disassembly of furniture, securing of IT servers and the like that fuels moving day anxiety.
• Relocation companies can fairly assess which tasks to assign to your employees. Unless you run a moving company, your workers aren’t trained or expected to shift heavy furniture, package sensitive electronics, and other moving tasks. If they’re hurt in the process—or if your business equipment is damaged—you’ll wind up paying the price. Still, most employees want to help a little bit, at least with their own workstations. A relocation company can help you determine which activities should be reserved for professionals and which can be passed on to your staff.
• A relocation company can keep you on schedule. Business moves rely on precise timing. Too many elements need to come together at the right time to ensure you get back up and running as soon as possible. When you have clients, however, it’s easy to lose track of your other responsibilities. A specialty moving company will handle most everything on your behalf so falling behind isn’t a problem.

Click this link or call 803.223.9736 to schedule your business relocation QA with Nilson Van today.

Residential moves, like any other, pose risks to your belongings.

Residential moves typically aren’t covered by insurance, but by valuation, which is a predetermined amount shippers agree to pay toward any damaged, lost or stolen items while your possessions are in their care. You may also purchase Goods in Transit insurance through any regular insurance agency. Using your homeowner’s insurance policy to cover items damaged during a move usually isn’t recommended, as the claim will be counted against your insurability and these policies typically cover only 10 percent of your damaged goods.

Here are three common types of valuation coverage provided by moving companies:

1. Lump sum value coverage is often available in increments of $1000. When lump sum, or “assessed value” coverage, is an option, it’s usually an add-on and not included with typical valuation plans. This is useful for households with especially valuable property.
2. Full-value protection normally comes with deductibles and a plan minimum. These plans cover replacement costs for all of your valuables. However, fees can apply so make sure you’ve secured enough coverage to pay for administration costs and replacing your items.
3. Declared value is the most common type of valuation available through a moving company. It assesses the value of your goods based on per pound of weight, and traditionally it doesn’t offer much coverage. If your claims go over this amount, they will likely be denied, so make sure you read the fine print before you file.

Click this link or call 803.786.1090 to ask our friendly moving experts at Nilson Van about the valuation coverage available for residential moves. We are here to answer your questions and provide the service you need to make your move a success.