Many people consider relocation after their divorce as a way to putting their former life behind them and make a fresh start somewhere new.
However, if it is your intention to move a long distance away from your former residence, or if you are planning to move out of state, be advised this can present problems if you have children from the marriage, especially if both of you are not in agreement concerning where and how far away either of you should be from your children. See our discussion on the move-away parent.
If this is the case, both spouses should agree as soon as possible, especially before relocating.
Divorce And Full-Service Relocation Services
Consider using both a realtor and a relocation service
Assuming this issue is resolved beforehand and you plan to relocate, you should consider having a relocation expert assist you.
Going through a divorce is loaded with uncertainty, complications, and issues to sort out. Many administrative tasks must be managed even if the divorce is not contested.
Many realtors work closely with relocation companies
Relocation experts can coordinate and manage all aspects of a person’s move, including, depending on the situation, assisting you in selling your property or helping you find a new apartment or property.
The relocation expert becomes your point person for almost everything on your move
The relocation expert becomes your point-person in managing the entire process, including helping you sell your home, finding a moving company, finding a packing service to pack your belongings and storage services, finding the desired school and child care provider, and helping you find helpful local services, such as coordinating utilities and cable hookups and making sure you send out change of address notices and more.
Full Service or Not – Know The Basics About Your Move
Being Prepared Is Better Than Being Surprised.
When you have a major move coming up, just because you selected a full-service relocation service doesn’t mean the moving company they hired won’t run into problems. Bad things can happen even with reputable movers, and when it comes to your irreplaceable personal property and files, you want to be as careful and prepared for almost any contingency.
Whether it’s an interstate or intrastate move, your point person will be dealing with a complex industry fraught with rules and regulations. You’re under enough pressure. Don’t get flustered if the move goes badly – get informed.
We put together the major terms, phrases, and abbreviations the moving industry relies on, and you might want to keep them as a reference:
Common Moving Terms
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- AMSA– The American Moving and Storage Association. This is a national trade organization that represents licensed household goods movers and agents. AMSA sponsors a dispute resolution program that offers neutral arbitration to movers and consumers as a means to deal fairly with disputes relating to loss and damage claims.
- Additional (or accessorial) services– Services in addition to the basic transportation charges. These might include stair carry (flight carry), extra stop (for additional pickup or delivery), long carry (distance carry), packing, and unpacking.
- Advanced Charges– Charges for others (third parties) who perform work at your request — such as dismantling furniture, preparing antiques for transport, servicing appliances, etc. These charges are added to the Bill of Lading.
- Agreed Dates– The dates on which the mover has decided to pick up and deliver your goods. Under such an agreement, the mover is obligated to transport your shipment with ‘reasonable dispatch,’ barring unforeseen circumstances that cause delay.
- Bill of Lading– The contract between you and your mover. The Bill of Lading represents the mover’s receipt for your goods and specifies the dates and terms of the move. The information on the Bill of Lading should match that on the Order For Service. O.D. – Cash On Delivery. An agreement whereby the shipper pays the mover upon delivery of the goods. Payment by personal check is generally not accepted.
- O.P.U. – Cash On Pick-Up. Under the terms of this type of agreement, payment is required when the goods are loaded. Deadhead– A distance traveled with the truck empty, on its way to pick up a load.
- Destination Weighing– the weighing of your loaded moving van.
- Estimate– The mover’s estimated cost of your move. There are both binding and non-binding estimates.
- Gross weight– The weight of a moving van with your shipment loaded.
- Guaranteed dates– These are dates on which the mover assures that your goods will be picked up and delivered. If the mover fails to provide the service on either of these days, you may be entitled to compensation.
- High-Value Article(s)– These are items of high value (above $100 per pound) specified in the documentation relating to the move.
- Inventory– A detailed list of the goods to be moved. This document should include descriptions of the condition of your possessions before their being loaded.
- O.L.– Left Off Load. Goods that couldn’t be accommodated in the removal vehicle. Overflow. These are subsequently picked up by a second vehicle.
- Linehaul– The transportation charge relating to your move.
- Long Haul– a move that covers a distance of more than 450 miles.
- Order for service– a document filled out before your move that describes the services you have requested. This document may be amended, with mutual consent, before the move.
- Order Number (Bill of Lading Number)– the number you and the mover will refer to track your shipment while in transit.
- Origin Weighing– the weighing of your moving van unloaded and then once loaded with your goods.
- Proprietary Transportation– transportation of goods by their owner.
- Reweigh– The second weighing of your loaded truck, after an origin weighing has been performed.
- I.T.– Storage In Transit. Refers to the temporary storage of your possessions in a carrier’s storage facility between pickup and delivery.
- Short Haul– A move that covers a distance of fewer than 450 miles.
- Tare weight– The weight of the truck that will transport your goods. This weight may include another shipment already loaded.
- Tariff– A carrier’s list of prices for services relating to the transport of goods.
- Valuation– Describes different levels of liability that a mover will assume when transporting your goods. Valuation, while a form of protection, is not the same as insurance.
- Van-A moving truck, big or small.
To Learn More About Realtors And Relocation Support Services, Consider Realtor.com
