WMS Blog

State of the Real Estate Market & COVID-19: A Southern Maryland Perspective

April 2, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

In these first few weeks, since the COVID-19 outbreak began in the U.S., there has been a lack of hard, timely data reflecting the most recent changes in the housing market. Initial signals suggest housing was on relatively solid footing in the immediate pre-crisis period, but the strength of that foundation is severely tested. Scott McInerney of RE/MAX One writes about the current impact of COVID-19 in Southern Maryland, “At this very moment, not much. Buyers are still out there, and the sellers brave enough to list their homes are capitalizing on the lack of inventory. I do think this will change and progress daily in the short term.”

In this blog, there will be an analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. and Southern Maryland real estate markets derived from successful and experienced real estate agents in the Southern Maryland area. These realtors provided Worldwide Moving Systems with firsthand information from their experiences, as well as the reaction of their home buyers and sellers. Through this information, as well as the integration of national and regional data with our company’s historical experiences, Worldwide Moving Systems has adjusted to support our business in this challenging market. Diversifying revenue sources and reinforcing existing relationships will be critical components to ensuring a successful future.

Here we have some information from Zillow.com that disseminates trends to understand what is currently happening and the outlook nationwide. Matthew Speakman from Zillow Research, writes, “Below is a roundup of key trends and informal data. This data illustrates how the mortgage and home purchase markets are responding to early changes in consumer and market behavior; moves taken and proposed by both state/local and the federal government to protect consumers; and how the home building industry is faring so far.”

The mortgage market has undergone some violent swings and is showing signs of dysfunction

In the first few days of the U.S. outbreak, mortgage rates fell to all-time lows, prompting a boom in refinancing and a modest uptick in purchase applications.

Over the past few weeks, rates reversed and jumped up (up a full percentage point over two weeks), in part due to a surge in demand but also seemingly in response to some emerging fissures in financial markets.
Volatility in Treasury markets suggests that liquidity problems exist and are widespread throughout markets, despite aggressive Fed intervention aimed at easing these strains.
- This has weakened demand for bonds (including mortgage-backed securities, which significantly inform mortgage rates themselves); weaker demand means lower prices, which means that investors require a higher yield if they are going to invest.
- Treasury yields and mortgage rates usually move in tandem, but recently that relationship has wavered. Treasury yields remain quite low, but over the past couple weeks, mortgage rates have fluctuated between their highest levels in months and lowest levels in years.

Home sales were robust in January and February, but are likely to see a big hit in the coming months

A couple keys factors are contributing to this possible downturn:
- Social distancing and mandatory “Stay-at-Home” policies, including in large markets (C.A., NY), increasingly are making it very difficult or impossible to tour and traditionally show homes.

- Growing economic and employment uncertainty will lead people to shy away from big-ticket purchases, especially homes:
  - Official reads on consumer sentiment are, thus far, holding up okay. But more-informal, daily indicators show a steep decline and sentiment levels at two-year lows.
  - Claims for unemployment benefits have already increased significantly (up 33% nationwide last week), and state-level data suggest a meteoric rise coming this week.
Already, traditional real estate showings have come down significantly in most parts of the country.
China might offer some hints at what’s to come:
- Home sales fell sharply in China in the immediate aftermath of measures taken to stop CV spread. Recently, Chinese real estate sales show signs of a slow recovery: They’re still down 60% YoY, but that’s a significant improvement from down 100% YoY in prior weeks
- Other signals of consumer activity/confidence in China are showing signs of coming back to life, but are still well down from last year.

HUD, FHFA and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac agreed to a 60-day suspension of foreclosures for mortgages they ensure/guarantee:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee roughly half of U.S. mortgages.
Fannie and Freddie also announced plans to offer mortgage forbearance (the reduction or suspension of monthly payments) for up to 12 months.
About 8 million single-family loans nationwide are insured by the FHA.
The foreclosure moratorium immediately affects about 182,000 homeowners nationwide who are in some stage of the foreclosure process.
The policy also offers other forms of relief, including waiving penalties and or late fees and reporting delinquencies to credit bureaus.
Fannie and Freddie were also recently directed to explore appraisal methods that do not require an in-person inspection of the interior of homes, and to pursue alternate means of income and employment verification for potential borrowers.
Bank of America announced this past Thursday morning that some customers can request to defer mortgage payments, and that they will pause foreclosure sales, evictions and repossessions.

Most housing policy is decided locally. States and cities are also enacting local protections, especially for renters and lower-income residents:

States including Washington, California, and New York — and cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Orlando, Seattle, and Philadelphia – have enacted a range of housing security strategies including eviction moratoriums.
- A primary goal of these strategies is to avoid exacerbating the public health crisis posed by COVID-19 by pushing more people into homelessness.
Beyond direct housing assistance, dozens of U.S. cities are also taking measures to prevent shutoffs and restore access to essential utilities like water service

It is possible that some municipalities may soon expand these protections to commercial property as well (Seattle city council members recently debated this), in hopes of insulating small business tenants from the shock of having to pay rent without any revenue coming in.
- These protections would potentially allow more businesses to stay afloat and keep jobs open for employees to return to on the other side of the crisis.

What does this analysis look like for Southern Maryland?

COVID 19 has caused a significant impact on Worldwide Moving Systems’ Southern Maryland based business. However, we continue to complete moving and storage of household goods, as we are considered an essential business. We are still arranging office moves and military moves that were already in the process. We have previously communicated how we will operate in this pandemic to assure service to our customers while providing safety guidelines for our customers and crews. We are looking to partner with distribution companies and or companies that have been affected by the shutdown. We will continue to remain open to provide storage and delivery services to make sure businesses still to keep their supply chain. Furthermore, we are registering as an emergency service provider for storage for public disaster relief agencies and government entities. Worldwide Moving Systems has been a pillar for the Moving and Storage industry in Charles County for over 45 years and will continue to be an anchor for the needs of the local community and the State of Maryland.

As previously mentioned, we asked a few Realtors for their input on how the market is faring due to COVID-19. According to their responses, COVID-19 has increased the sense of urgency in the market to make deals move to settlement by buyers and sellers.

The market has already been suppressed by low inventory, so sellers are at an advantage, but they know that the climate is turbulent, and the situation may worsen, so sellers are motivated more to ensure the deals reach settlement. Conversely, buyers are doing minimal negotiations to make sure they can quickly move to settlement. According to Mark Frisco of Century 21 New Millennium in Prince Frederick MD, “There has been a much more tactical (let’s work together to get the job done) approach rather than an emotional one.”

Buyers have been sanitizing themselves before entering and leaving homes for tours and remaining six feet from others. Some have moved forward with a contract on the house contingent on when sellers will allow in home visitation. Some buyers ask the realtor to tour the home virtually via video chat with them. “Right now, I am trying to be as present on social media as possible. It is tough. I am trying to make everyone know that I will go to tour houses for them,” says Delaney Burgess of RE/MAX United in Upper Marlboro MD.

Realtors are relaying pertinent and factual information to their clients and making sure they are aware of the situation. Some sellers have decided to wait before moving forward with putting the home on the market, which, again, is advantageous to other sellers.

Realtors that we questioned stated that Southern Maryland is still showing a thriving market as of now, and some have seen a sizable amount of deals completed. “Honestly, it looks to be still thriving right now,” says Pam Rollins-Butler of Century 21 New Millennium in White Plains MD. Some agents have seen quite an uptick this year from 2019 but feel the market will slow down over the next month or two. According to Doug Smith of RE/MAX 100 in Dunkirk MD, “… this is an excellent time for sellers due to low inventory and significant time for buyers because rates are still historically low.” They are expecting a boom once the virus has minimized to lower levels and the general public can move around the community more confidently. Below are excerpts from some of the real estate professionals we asked about COVID-19, to help bring you an understanding of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the real estate market in Southern Maryland.

Delaney Burgess

RE/MAX United Real Estate

14340 Old Marlboro Pike
Upper Marlboro, Maryland, United States
20772 delaneyburgess@remax.net

“Right now, I am trying to be as present on social media as possible. It is tough. I am trying to make everyone know that I will go to tour houses for them. But, my buyers want to see the houses themselves. I have also taken videos (which we normally do anyway) of all of my listings.”

“Once we are free to leave our houses again and things get back to normal, I think we are going to see the market blow up.”

Doug Smith

Remax 100 Real estate

10425 S Maryland Blvd
Rt 4 & Penwick Ln
Dunkirk, Maryland, United States
20754 doug.smith@remax.net

“… this is an excellent time for sellers due to low inventory and significant time for buyers because rates are still historically low.”

Mark Frisco

CENTURY 21 New Millennium

301 Steeple Chase Drive, Suite 105
Prince Frederick, MD 20678

M 443-532-8776

O 443-968-9595

Contact The Mark Frisco Team

“As of this moment and the weeks prior, COVID-19 has boosted the real estate market. What I mean by this is that buyers and sellers have more sense of urgency and sincerity than ever. We have seen minimal negotiations from either party. There has been a much more tactical (let’s work together to get the job done) approach rather than an emotional one. I do think, however, that this will be short-lived, and we have yet to see the impacts of the job layoffs/pay cuts. Even if a chunk of the buyer/seller pool is affected by this, we still are in a market that has low inventory and high demand. These factors could cause our market to settle into a less competitive, more neutral market.”

Pam Rollins

Century 21White Plains

5010 Regency Place, Suite 100
White Plains, MD 20695

M 301-653-0460

O 301-609-9000

“Honestly, it looks to be still thriving right now; I am currently listing three homes on the market this week. I had two settlements last week and two more on the books by the end of March. I do believe we may see a short period of less activity in the physical previews of homes on the market (if they are not vacant).”

Scott McInerney

RE/MAX One

132 Main St

Prince Frederick, MD 20678

M (443) 370-7184

O (443) 295-6662

“Videos are being included with all listings. We did this before, but felt like it’s more imperative now than ever! FaceTime/video showings for clients in quarantine or those who prefer to stay home.”

“For the most part, both buyers and sellers seem concerned. Sellers who have already moved out are definitely in the best position, and this s

Please follow and like us:

Logistical Support for companies affected by Covid-19

March 26, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

Corona virus logistical support

Please follow and like us:

Bored at home? Try this!

March 19, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

You Can Play These Popular Board and Card Games Online With Friends

Social distancing doesn’t have to mean the end of game night with your friends, it just means that rather than breaking out a game board and inviting your friends over you need to take things online.

Turns out, almost every board game you can think of can actually be played online, and there are a number of websites out there to make the magic happen. A lot of them will require you to register if you want to play with friends but will let that gameplay happen free once you do thanks to some ads. Others have a subscription fee, but if you’re planning on playing online a lot over the next few months then it might be worth it.

And don’t forget that most gaming consoles have an online option as well. If you haven’t purchased that online package yet, now might be the time to get some friends together for a little Overcooked or Call of Duty.

Here are a few of my personal suggestions for desktop games to play at next online game night to help you get started. If you have your own favorites, please share them in the comments!

Yahtzee Party

I used to be a huge Yahtzee fan but admittedly haven’t played much in a while. With this, you’re playing against the clock, so it’s always your turn, but then your score is compared to your friends. A game takes roughly 6 minutes to play. You can also play alone if you want. It’s hosted on Pogo, a site by EA that has a ton of board game options.

Monopoly

Monopoly is typically a pretty big time suck, but at a time when a lot of us have a bit of extra time on our hands, it might be the perfect time to play a game (or 12). This is another option on Pogo.

Cards Against Humanity

Cards Against Humanity is kind of the ultimate party game. The online version isn’t quite as fun as playing in person with pals, but you can potentially set up a video chat to go along with the game to spice it up a bit.

Chess

Tabletopia has over 600 different games available, including a number of classic games like Backgammon and Chess.

Uno

Facebook has a TON of different games available, including Uno. If you use the social network, and more importantly, if your friends do, now might be a good time to kick off a game or two.

Emily Price

Posts Twitter

Emily is a tech, travel, and alcohol reporter based in San Francisco. She is also the author of the book “Productivity Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Accomplish More at Work–That Actually Work!”

Please follow and like us:

COVID-19 Operating Policy

March 16, 2020 by movingworldwide

The COVID-19 coronavirus is having a significant impact on the moving, storage, and logistics industries across America and the world. On March 30, 2020 Governor Hogan issued a stay-at-home order effective at 8:00 pm.

Household goods moving and storage services, warehouse services, and distribution services will continue at Worldwide Moving Systems, as allowed by the State of Maryland. At this time, we are included as an “essential business.” While continuing operations we will have policies in place to improve the safety of our customers and staff. Continue reading for information regarding the parameters in which we will operate to perform our services with the utmost concern and quality that one would expect from us at Worldwide Moving Systems.

COMPANY COVID-19 (CORONAVIRUS) POLICY

All employees are will to follow the most current guidelines recommended by the C.D.C.
Employees will stay home if ill or has had contact with someone who is symptomatic with the coronavirus or has reason to believe they have been exposed to the virus.
Crews are to be sensitive to customer’s concerns regarding coronavirus.
Customers feeling ill, or have had contact with someone who is symptomatic with the coronavirus, or have reason to believe they have been exposed to the virus will have to reschedule their move until their health is improved.
If you are scheduled for service with us and have any concerns about your health or the health of others around you, please contact us to discuss the best course of action.
In-home estimates have been suspended until further notice. We will schedule phone calls or virtual surveys to complete an assessment of our customers’ moving and storage needs.
If you have any questions in reference to our policies, please contact the General Manager, Stephen Dill, at 301-870-5300.

Please follow and like us:

Daylight Savings Time: Check your move time!

March 6, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

Daylight Saving Time — In this file photo, a crocus flower pushes up through the frozen ground, inching towards spring on the first day of daylight savings time. (Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer)Lisa DeJong/The Plain Dealer

By Tanda Gmiter | tgmiter@mlive.com

In theory, “spring forward” sounds like something to embrace. Flipping the clocks forward gives us the feel of longer days as we hurtle toward the warmer months ahead.

That happens this Sunday, March 8 at 2 a.m. when we mark Daylight Saving Time.

But all the semi-annual controversy about the need for DST aside, there’s something about being cheated out of an hour of sleep on a weekend that just feels so wrong.

It turns out, lack of sleep can have some pretty big effects on our body. Being shortchanged just an hour of snooze time might not seem like that big of a deal. But if you find that your sleep pattern is regularly interrupted – or if Sunday’s short shrift of your sleep continues into the next week – you could start seeing some health issues.

Let’s look at what we know about sleep, and how you can prep your body for the Daylight Saving Time change coming.

Sleep Basics

How much sleep does an adult really need? About 7 to 8 hours is what you should strive for, according to medical staff at the Spectrum Health Sleep Medicine clinic. A good night’s sleep gives your body and brain a chance to recharge, meaning you can function better when you wake up.

If you get too little sleep, you may find you have trouble focusing, or even start having memory problems. Your body’s immune system has to work harder when you are sleep-deprived, meaning you can be more susceptible to illness – or take longer to recover if you get sick.

So How Do You Prepare for Daylight Saving Time?

To prep our body for the time change, Spectrum’s Sleep Medicine program has a few suggestions targeting four specific areas:

ENVIRONMENT:

• Make sure your bedroom is dark. Try to block out as much light as possible.

• Make children’s bedrooms a comfortable temperature — not too hot, not too cold, but just right.

ACTIVITY:

• Get children involved in vigorous physical activity during the day, but avoid it directly before bedtime. While in general, active kids sleep better at night, the activity is best done well before bedtime. Try to build down-time into the evenings so kids can wind down before going to bed

• Wind down. Encourage your children to spend an hour before bed doing a calming activity such as reading a book.

• Avoid video games or screen time on electronics one hour prior to bedtime.

• Avoid going to sleep with the TV or radio on. Consider a fan or a soothing sounds CD or app.

FOOD:

• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, caffeinated drinks and heavy meals in the evening. Alcohol, cigarettes and caffeine can disrupt sleep and eating big and/or spicy meals can cause discomfort or indigestion.

• Avoid large meals right before bedtime. Eating wakes up our gastrointestinal tracts, which may keep kids awake. A small bedtime snack is fine, just not a large meal.

TIMING:

• Keep a regular bedtime. Have your children try to keep weekday and weekend bedtimes within one hour of the other.

• Consider melatonin one hour prior to bedtime to assist with sleep.

• Have patience and persistence to keep kids’ sleep routines on track while springing forward – and soon the whole family will be back in their routine.

Make sure if you have anything scheduled, maybe a move with Worldwide Moving Systems!, that you adjust for the time change.

Thinking of making a move?

World wide Moving Systems is family owned and operated company! We have been in service for families, military and companies for over 40 years. We pride ourselves with providing the upmost care for moving storage and logistical needs. Even though, we have a good reputation in the community we still felt it was a need to be certified pro-movers. Credentialing our service and establishing another layer of trust and reliability for customers. The American Moving & Storage Association launched a consumer protection and certification program called ProMover on January 1, 2009. This initiative is designed to fight impostors, known within the industry as “rogue operators. Promover certification gives consumers an easy way to separate reputable, professional movers from con artists out to make a quick buck at their expense. Contact Worldwide Moving Systems for your next move and feel secured to know we are professional movers that will have upstanding ethical business practices and will make sure we do the best for your move.

Call us : 301-870-5300

Email : Customerservice@movingworldwide.com

Please follow and like us:

Make a move to Charles County, MD

March 3, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

is located in the southern central portion of the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2010 census, the population was 146,551.^[1] The county seat is La Plata.^[2] The county was named for Charles Calvert (1637–1715), third Baron Baltimore.

Charles County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Southern Maryland region.

Charles County was created in 1658 by an Order in Council. There was also an earlier Charles County from 1650 to 1653, sometimes referred to in historic documents as Old Charles County

Charles County is the second fastest growing county in Maryland. Waldorf was voted one of the best places to live by CNN and Military Times. Boasting a heavy military and military contractor population, due to it’s proximity to military bases in the area.

Click below to why Charles County is a great place to start a business of move to in the DC area.

https://www.meetcharlescounty.com/community-profile/

Thinking of making a move?

Call us : 301-870-5300

Email : Customerservice@movingworldwide.com

Please follow and like us:

What is the average moving cost?

January 31, 2020 by movingworldwide

What are the average moving costs?

If your lease is about to expire or you’re approaching the closing day of your new property, you’ve probably asked yourself the question: “What will be my average moving cost?“. And this is perfectly understandable because it’s the price of the upcoming move that almost all soon-to-be movers find great interest in.

You may have heard the quote that money is what makes the world go round, and chances are that you may not particularly like that statement. However, whether you like it or not is largely irrelevant as you will soon realize that whenever you’re facing a new house move, it’s practically the dollar bills that will make the wheels of the truck go round and round until the destination city or town is reached.

And speaking of average relocation costs, I’m positive that after reading this article, you will have a much better understanding about your average moving costs for your local or long distance move. Of course, the first task you need to get done is to decide what moving service type to use, and because there are few options available for you, I’ll try to explain the average cost of moving for each one of them.

The American Moving and Storage Association states that the average cost of an interstate household move is about $4,300 (distance of 1,225 miles) and the average cost of an intrastate move is about $2,300 (4 movers at $200 per hour). Both average moving costs are for 7,400 pounds.

How much does it cost to hire professional movers?

Full Service Movers Average Costs
If you have chosen to use full service moving companies for your relocation, then in most cases that would be the most expensive option to move your belongings. If you are moving state to state, then the relocation cost of your move will be based on the distance between the old and new location, weight and respectively on the amount of stuff you own. For example, if you’re moving from Chicago to Boston, MA and you live in a 4 bedroom house, your average moving cost with a full service moving company can go over $10000. But if you are moving locally within 100 miles from your old place, this cost will be based on an hourly rate and will vary from company to company.

Average moving costs per hour (local moves)
If you happen to be moving across town or locally, then it’s important to understand how the moving price is formed. Here are 3 points you should keep in mind throughout your local move so that you don’t get an unpleasant surprise when it’s time to cover the expenses at the end of the relocation.

1) Local moving costs can vary greatly depending on your exact location (state and city). Yet, our average moving cost example will give you a good idea of how much money you should get ready to pay in the end of your short distance house move.

Finding a perfectly affordable moving company is the key to a perfectly affordable move.
2) As a rule of thumb, local movers charge on an hourly basis regardless of the type of activity they are performing at the moment. That is, the hourly tariff stays unchanged regardless of whether they are packing, carrying your household items outside your home, loading these same household goods into the moving vehicle, driving to your destination, unloading your stuff, or carrying all your furniture pieces, household appliances and cardboard boxes over the threshold of your new apartment or house.

3) If you have no idea what the term “travel fee” means, then you’re likely to learn its meaning soon enough. That fee covers the expenses in terms of fuel and time your local moving company needs to reach your home, and then travel back from your second location. Usually, you will be charged a travel fee that equals 1 hour of standard move related work.

What are the average costs of moving house?

The average moving price for local moves is $25 per hour per mover. However, that price can be higher depending on your location within the country. Therefore,

Studio apartment: 2 professional movers working for 3-5 hours at an average of $25 each per hour = $150-$250 for completing the entire moving job.
2-bedroom apartment: 3 local movers working for 5-7 hours at an average of $25 each per hour = $375-$525 to get the job done.
3-bedroom house: 4 professional local movers working for 7-10 hours at an average of $25 each per hour = $700-$1000 to complete the house move.
Larger homes: the estimated local moving costs for larger homes (5,000 square feet and up) rise sharply and can reach values around $1500-$2000, and even more.
To elaborate further on the average moving cost for a 4 bedroom house, a reputable moving company charges based on the number of movers and trucks used during your move, so the expense for a 4 bedroom house will be around $150-170 per hour for 4 experienced movers and a big moving van that can fit all of your belongings. On top of this moving cost, most moving companies do not include any additional packing costs.

If you are in a mood to pack your belongings and box every room, your average moving bill will be much lower than if you choose to have professional movers do the packing for you. Based on my experience in the field, packing costs can be similar to the moving cost itself. A 4 bedroom house can take more than 12 hours to move from one town to another. In this case, your average moving costs will be around $1800-$2500 with no packing included.

For an accurate moving estimate calculation, use our fast & easy free moving calculator.

Also, it’s important to be aware of the extra local moving costs that you should expect to be charged whenever applicable.

You can easily request packing and/or unpacking services for $25-$35 per hour, usually with the cost of packing materials included.
Of course, extra charges may be available according to the complexity of your local move. Excessive flight of stairs, long distance to the moving vehicle or an excess of bulky and heavy items may make the final price higher. Discuss in advance the possibility of additional costs with your local moving company.
It’s customary to prepare money in cash in case you are very satisfied with the work of your hired men and you wish to reward their efforts through well-deserved tips. And if that is the case, the average moving service cost will increase by 10-15% of the total move cost. Be mindful that tipping local movers is not mandatory but is always appreciated by each and every hard working crew member.
Average moving cost per mile and pound (cross country moves)

Understand what factors affect the average interstate moving costs and you will be able to save big on your cross country move.
And now that you have a much better idea what the average moving costs for local moves are, let’s take a look at the average moving costs for cross country moves. The first thing to understand here is that the price of long distance relocation is formed and calculated in an entirely different way. For example, you shouldn’t expect to be charged by the hour for using the services of a top rated long distance mover. Rather, the final price will be determined by 3 major factors:

Distance. The longer the distance is between your current home and the residence you’re moving to, the higher the relocation cost will be. And because you won’t be able to exert any control whatsoever over the mileage between the two homes, concentrate on the next two price influential variables.
Shipment weight. It’s easy to guess that the more household items you choose to move to your new home, the more the entire shipment will weigh, and therefore the more money you will be forced to pay in the end. Fortunately, this highly logical relocation price factor will also let you save hundreds of dollars whenever you choose do the smart thing to trim down the number of your belongings to their absolute minimum.
Additional services. The price estimates you receive from reputable long distance movers should include the basic move parameters, plus any additional moving services you have requested, such as packing, unpacking, furniture disassembly and/or re-assembly, and so on. Therefore, be ready to be charged extra for any accessorial service you demand or which may have become necessary for completing the job altogether.
What are the average moving costs when moving across country?

The most important thing to remember here is that the following moving costs are only approximate values that can serve you well to get a general view of what your cross country move will cost you. In practice, exact values are merely impossible to state due to the fact that all final moving prices are calculated on a case-by-case basis.

In other words, even if you and your next-door neighbor were moving to one and the same city in another part of the country, each of you would pay a different sum in the end because 1) you’d have a different number and nature of household goods for transportation; 2) you’d request different extra services depending on your individual needs and preferences, and 3) you’d use the professional services of different long distance movers (most likely).

For the sake of convenience, if we assume that you’re moving to a new city that is exactly 1000 miles away from your starting point, then you have the following moving average price examples:

Studio apartment. On average, all household items found in a studio apartment weigh approximately 1800-2000 pounds, and if you happen to be moving out from one and your new home is conveniently located 1000 miles away, then you should expect to pay no less than around $1500 excluding any extra services.
1-bedroom apartment. On average, the household goods inside a 1-bedroom apartment can weigh between 2500 and 3500 pounds, which means that you’ll be paying within the range of $1800-$2500 for a cross country move without any accessorial moving services.
2-bedroom home. On average, the items found in a 2-bedroom residence weigh something like 5000-6000 pounds, so if you’re moving to a place that is, say 1000 miles away, then you should be charged no less than around $3500-$4200 as a base price with no extra professional relocation services included.

Please follow and like us:

International moves leading to stardom. Kobe Bryant started in Italy.

January 28, 2020 by movingworldwide

Bryant was born in Philadelphia, the youngest of three children and only son of former NBA player Joe Bryant and Pamela Cox Bryant. He was also the maternal nephew of basketball player John “Chubby” Cox. His parents named him after the famous beef of Kobe, Japan, which they saw on a restaurant menu. His middle name, Bean, was derived from his father’s nickname “Jellybean”. Bryant’s family was Catholic and he had always practiced his faith.

The Bryant family first went to Rieti, a town in central Italy, and then moved to Reggio Calabria, in the country’s toe, Cireglio in Tuscany, and finally to Reggio Emilia, in the north.

Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, was six when his father Joe moved the family to Italy in 1984 to play seven seasons with four different teams in the centre, south and finally the north.

The Bryant family first went to Rieti, a town in central Italy, and then moved to Reggio Calabria, in the country’s toe, Cireglio in Tuscany, and finally to Reggio Emilia, in the north.

“We always kept two eyes on the ball and two eyes on him,” said one of his father’s teammates, Antonio Olivieri, 64.

He remembered the boy as a ball of energy when the family arrived in Rieti, about 80 km (50 miles) from Rome.

“Kobe was a kid when he was here in Rieti. I remember Joe always taking him to the gym… he used to climb into the hoops while we were playing,” Olivieri told Reuters.

“When someone fell on the ground, he came onto the court with a mop to clean up,” he added.

The local team, NPC Rieti, published a photo of the young Kobe on its Twitter account. “You made us dream,” it wrote. “We are proud to have been the first to see you take to the court. We will never forget Kobe.”

In a radio interview in 2011, Bryant revealed his affection for the country: “Italy will always be close to my heart,” he said.

His love for Italy was reflected in the names he chose for his four daughters – Gianna Maria-Onore, who died with him in Sunday’s crash, Natalia Diamante, Bianka Bella and Capri, who was born in June 2019.

His time in Italy

Bryant was especially fond of Reggio Emilia, where he spent two years.

“I grew up here. I used to ride my bike here. There were all my friends, I have many memories, it’s special,” he said in an interview with BaskeTime magazine in 2016.

“Forever one of us,” the Reggio Emilia Pallacanestro Reggiana team wrote on Twitter, posting some photos of Bryant when he played for the youth team.

“Kobe wasn’t known as an NBA star in Reggio Emilia. He was the kid that all the fans knew and saw at the arena when his father played,” said youth coach Andrea Menozzi.

Bryant’s friends in Cireglio, a small town where the family lived from 1987 to 1989, were struggling to come to terms with his death.

“One morning at 7, the doorbell rang and I saw Kobe,” said childhood friend Alessia Pierattini, 53, remembering a surprise visit from the Los Angeles Lakers superstar some seven years ago.

She showed him a photo album that she had put together full of pictures of when he was a boy taking his First Holy Communion at a local Roman Catholic Church.

https://www.nbcnews.com/video/watch-kobe-bryant-speak-spanish-italian-and-chinese-at-press-conferences-77662789788

“When we left the house after an hour together, people stopped their cars because they wanted to see him. He was open to everybody and took photos in the streets (with them),” she said. She added that Kobe had told her that he wanted to bring his daughters to live in Italy.

“I want them to experience what I felt as a child, a reality that does not exist in America,” he told Pierattini.

www.movingworldwide.com

Please follow and like us:

Thinking of moving into a larger home?

January 24, 2020 by movingworldwide

The first question anyone thinking of moving into a larger home should ask is if they can afford it, but that’s only part of the equation. Even if things are great now, life is unpredictable, and your finances could change.

Still, you can’t live life in a shoebox just because you are afraid to take the leap up to the next level. Are you ready to move up? Here are 4 questions you need to ask yourself .

European, Traditional House Plan 82513 with 5 Beds, 7 Baths, 5 Car Garage Elevation

Large modern Victorian style home.

1. Do I need a bigger place?

An obvious question to ask when you start contemplating moving up to a bigger, more expensive home is do you really need it. Just because you can afford to move into a larger home doesn’t mean it’s practical.

Think about the neighborhood where you live and the friends that you have. Are they special enough to make you want to stay where you are? Most people start thinking about moving to a larger home out of necessity.

Life changes, such as a new baby or an elderly parent moving in can make the move necessary. If you are looking for a bigger place just to show off, don’t forget that good times don’t always last and when the music dies, you don’t want to be stuck with more house than you can afford.

2. Can I afford it easily?

Maybe you can afford it if you skip lunch every day, cut out coffee altogether and live without electricity every other month, but is that worth it? If you cannot afford a bigger place easily, why add the stress for no reason?

Remember, it is one thing to have the credit score and the income to be approved for a home, but it’s a whole different thing to be able to afford it easily. You want to make sure that you don’t have to spend most of your paycheck just to pay the mortgage.

Consider your lifestyle. Are your kids active in expensive sports? Do you have high monthly expenses that make staying in the black difficult where you are already? Before you jump up to the next level, be sure you won’t lose your hair worrying about making the mortgage payment.

Homebuyer incentives to speed up the move

3. Will I want to stay long enough to recoup my closing costs?

Finally, if you are moving into a larger home, are you ready to be in it for the long haul? You’ll put down a lot of money in closing costs to move into a larger home. Are you prepared to stay there at least long enough to recoup your closing costs?

4.Do you have savings to accomodate repairs and updates for a larger home?

Many people may not think about the added cost of maintenance for a larger house. Especially if it is a house that is 15 plus years old. One should inquire when and if major systems have been replaced. In addition, if the roof has been reshingled, any pipes have been replaced and if septic systems have been serviced if applicable. Larger homes may have more than one HVAC system so that is a cost that should be recognized as it maybe in need of replacement if it is nearing the end of it’s life cycle. A significant cost can be incured if you have an older HVAC system and you are repairing it yearly and need new refridgerant every summer with the high cost of the older r-22 refridgerant. It may behoove you to just replace both systems. Check when the last time the furnace was repaired or replaced. Updating duct work to accomodate a new furnace will be costly. Pipeing for water, gas and sewer should be inspected. Here are some common estimates to take into consideration for how often to replace a residential or commercial roof: Composition Shingles: 12-20 years. Asphalt Shingles: 15-30 years. Wood Shingles: 20-25 years.

Renovations and painting costs should be accomodated for as well with updates to bathrooms overall paint schemes.

Be savy in your search for a larger home. The newer the better as it may have some warrenties still in place. However, if you plan to stay for a longer time be sure to build a seperate savings to prepare. If it is an older home you should already have a savings in place.

Moving to a new neighborhood?

Thinking of making a move?

Call us : 301-870-5300

Email : Customerservice@movingworldwide.com

Please follow and like us:

Woman-owned moving company

January 14, 2020 by movingworldwide Leave a Comment

Although the moving industry is a male-dominated industry, women, applying their unique set of skills, play a significant role in lifting up and promoting success in the relocation businesses they work for.

One woman that has successfully navigated this field is our owner Toni Jones.

Toni Jones owns Worldwide Moving Systems (a dba for A-Whisco Inc). She purchased the company when it only had two trucks as a way to become an independent business owner following an unsatisfying career in public education. She employed friends, family and college students to complete local moves, then began completing military origin and destination services for crated household goods.

Started in 1973, a time when being a woman-owned business in the moving industry was very unique. She perservered winning military sub contracts and branching out to industrial equipment moves, residential house hold moves, retail deliveries and office moves.

In addition, providing crate-and-freight services for over 40 years for long distance and international moves long before many other movers in the area. She also acquired another moving company in Lexington Park called Quality Transfer and Storage.

Her dedication to excellence, high quality training, and a commitment to the customer’s experience, has been paramount to her success. The company is family owned and operated with her daughters working in the company at some points in it’s history and currently her husband, son and brother in law at the helm.

Toni continues to make sure that Worldwide and Quality are staying current in the economic market and provide direction that will constitute a profitable success while keeping the core values the business has predicated growth upon.

Thinking of making a move?

World wide Moving Systems is family owned and operated company! We have been in service for families, military and companies for over 40 years. We pride ourselves with providing the upmost care for moving storage and logistical needs. Even though, we have a good reputation in the community we still felt it was a need to be certified pro-movers. Credentialing our service and establishing another layer of trust and reliability for customers. The American Moving & Storage Association launched a consumer protection and certification program called ProMover on January 1, 2009. This initiative is designed to fight impostors, known within the industry as “rogue operators. Promover certification gives consumers an easy way to separate reputable, professional movers from con artists out to make a quick buck at their expense. Contact Worldwide Moving Systems for your next move and feel secured to know we are professional movers that will have upstanding ethical business practices and will make sure we do the best for your move.

Call us : 301-870-5300

Email : Customerservice@movingworldwide.com

Please follow and like us:

WMS Blog

What does this analysis look like for Southern Maryland?

Delaney Burgess

Doug Smith

Mark Frisco

Pam Rollins

Scott McInerney

Thinking of making a move?

Thinking of making a move?

Thinking of making a move?

Thinking of making a move?

Blog

Contact Us!

Worldwide Moving Systems

Follow Us!

Our Credentials