Almost Everything You Need to Know About Moving to San Diego
San Diego, also known as “America’s Finest City,” is one of the most popular cities in America for relocation, and as soon as you start reading about it, you will quickly understand why moving to San Diego is so popular..
Here are just a few great facts about San Diego:
Beach Fun
- It has over 17 miles of coastline, so you pretty much have endless opportunities to go to the beach, practice water sports, and get working on your tan.
Animal Fun
- The San Diego Zoo will become your go-to place whenever you have a few free hours. It’s known across the globe for their amazing care of animals and has some of the most adorable pandas in the world!
Sun Fun
- “Sunny” is a given in San Diego, and you can enjoy the nice, pleasant and balmy weather almost all year round.
San Diego Life
- It’s a big city, so you have plenty of housing, working, and educational opportunities, as well as festivals and events for your free time. There are just so many Fun Things to do in San Diego!
It’s really a great choice if you’re thinking about moving to San Diego permanently. But whether you are moving from another place in California or some other state in the U.S., you are probably wondering what all is involved. Well, here’s everything you need to know about moving to San Diego!
You Need a Professional Company
In the movies, whenever a character needed to move they would just call all their friends and ask them for help – and by the end, the entire process almost seemed fun. But in reality, as happy as your friends might be to lend a hand, it would be a bit unrealistic. Chances are, you’ll need to hire a professional moving team to help–and you’ll probably be glad you did!
And there are definite perks:
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Less stress for you, and more time to handle the other aspects of moving to San Diego.
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Some moving companies even have packing services, so that’s definitely another advantage to consider.
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It may actually be less expensive than doing it yourself since you’ll have to buy the materials for packing, rent a vehicle big enough to fit all your belongings, and pay for gas when doing it on your own. Add all these costs up and you may be paying more than you would for a moving company;
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A little piece of mind. Most professional moving companies also offer insurance for your goods so you can rest assured that if God forbid something breaks, you are covered.
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Breakage is less likely. The professional moving team knows how to safely secure the cargo onto the truck, so realistically there’s less chance of something breaking during transit than if you do it on your own.
What about the Costs?
The costs to hire a moving company ultimately depends on several factors according to A1 Auto Transport:
- Distance – the farther away your stuff is from San Diego, the higher the cost.
- The Size of the Cargo – more things equal bigger truck, more manpower, more money.
- Season of Moving – you should expect to pay more during colder or rainier seasons, according to experts. There is a bit more risk involved due to weather conditions.
If you were to move from Seattle to San Diego, for instance, that’s a 1070-mile distance, and for an estimated 3900 to 5200 pounds cargo weight, your estimated cost for transport would be around $3000. Yes, it’s an investment, but it’s also your best option for long-distance moving of goods.
But you won’t know how much you’ll have to pay until you ask for an estimate from the moving company. When you schedule a meeting, a company representative will ask about the specifics of the move, and then present you with a more accurate price estimate.
What to Look for in a Company
When you start looking for a moving company online, as most people do, you’ll find there is no shortage of options out there. However, not every company is the same or can offer the same services. Here’s a set of questions to ask the company before you decide to hire them:
- Do You Have What I Need?
Think of the logistical support you would need to move to San Diego. For instance, let’s say you need to move from another state, ship several pieces of large furniture and require help loading and unloading.
Then you should check if the company can address these needs. Not all of them are able to ship very long distances. Some might not have enough manpower to help with the loading and unloading. These are things you need to know about the moving company.
- What Are They like?
You need a company you can trust. To see if the company is worthy of said trust, you can see what other clients have to say about them. Check online reviews, social media mentions, forums, or even reach out to previous clients and ask them about their experience with the moving company.
- What’s Their Experience?
It’s best to be with someone who’s been in the game for a while. First, you want an established reputation you can check. Second, they know how to get the job done from A to Z. Even if the company itself is fairly new, ask about their staff – how many years have they been in the business?
- Are They Registered?
By law, moving companies must be registered with the Department of Transportation, and when you ask about it, they should give you evidence of it. If they try to avoid the topic or flat out say they’re not, move on.
- How Do They Cover Damages?
By law, insurance can cover $0.60 per pound, but some companies can offer more coverage than that. That may be one of your selection criteria, especially if you are moving valuable furniture, china or other fragile items.
- Do They Have Packing Services?
Some do, some don’t, but if it’s something you need, then ask them upfront. Also, inquire about the materials needed for packing – are you supposed to supply it or will they bring it?
Back to You
Packing up your belongings and moving is actually the hardest part about relocating. You may find that choosing a house in San Diego and finding a job was a piece of cake compared to all you have to face now.
But, you really don’t have to do it on your own. A good moving company can be a great help in moving to San Diego, so definitely opt for it.