New To The myClosingSPACE Team

I would like to take this time to welcome a couple of new members to the myClosingSPACE team. myClosingSPACE continues to grow and we expect our newest members to help push us forward in our goal to be the top title insurance company in the US. Please welcome Jason Roby and Tom Porricelli to the team.

Tom Porricelli joined MyClosingSPACE on 11/15/2006 as the Real Estate Acceptance Program Manager. Tom was formerly part of the Titledge Settlement team in New Jersey. He will bring considerable knowledge in the industry to myClosingSPACE and will help develop strong relationships withing the Real Estate and Mortgage industry.

Jason Roby joined MyClosingSPACE on 11/20/2006 as a Customer Care Specialist working directly for Annette Leoncini. Jason has been an account executive at Countrywide Home Loans. With his experience in the mortgage industry Jason is expected to bring considerable knowledge to the customer service department.

myClosingSPACE NJ Nets Sponsorship

myClosingSPACE is a Sponsor for the New Jersey Nets in 2006-07. Representative of My Closing Space will be attending 7 NJ Nets games this season. Come by our booth to get a free gift and sign up for our sweepstakes for a chance to win 1 of 3 Video iPods, a $100.00 gift card, or a Bose Sound Dock for iPods. If you are in the market for a new house or a refinance we will have reps there to talk to you about title insurance and closing services and how myClosingSPACE can help save you money on closing costs.

Relocation Advice

I have spent most of my time commenting on title insurance and the title insurance industry. Just for a change I would like to discuss relocation, specifically moving from one state to another. Relocation to another state, especially one you are not familiar with, is obviously much more difficult than moving across town or to a different city within your current state. These difficulties are exacerbated if you are moving to a different region in the country. Not only do laws differ from state to state but there can be marked lifestyle differences as well. There are many things to consider when relocating, many are obvious but there are a few things that many people do not consider.
Obviously the highest priority is finding suitable housing and taking care of the necessary official issues. Official issues include transferring your car registration, drivers license, voting registration, and any other official documentation. It is important to research and understand the various laws and processes in your new state. They may be similar but each state is a little different so make sure you take your time to get everything done correctly and on time. I would suggest hiring a real estate agent when looking for housing even if you are going to rent. It can be very difficult to find a new place if you don't know the area. A real estate agent will be able to find places that fir our lifestyle and quickly take you to see them without hassles. Instead of looking at houses in unsuitable neighborhoods, trying to find houses, and getting lost you will be able to see places that are within your price range and in neighborhoods that are to your liking. Looking for a place in an unfamiliar area can be trying but real estate agents can be a huge help and make the process much easier and less stressful.
The next step is to find a reputable interstate moving company. If you only have a few things and don't mind doing the moving yourself you can just rent a truck from Ryder, U-Haul, or any other truck rental agencies and do it yourself. For larger moves you will probably want to find a moving company to help you. Unlike moving across town you probably will not be able to make multiple trips and it is much more difficult to enlist friends and relatives to load up and drive across the country to help you move. Do your research when looking for a moving company. Ask friends and relatives if they have had any experience with interstate moving companies and do some research on your own. Find at least 2-3 companies that have good reputations and have them come out and give you an estimate. Make sure you understand what the estimate includes and all of the details. Price should not be the sole determining factor you should also get a sense of who you are dealing with and make sure you are comfortable with your choice.
The aforementioned issues are going to be obvious to most people but there are some issues that may not be considered when relocating. One of the biggest issues is understanding and becoming familiar with the your new home. Different parts of the country vary in terms of lifestyle. I moved from Ohio to northern New Jersey very close to New York City. The population density was a huge change for me. Sure I had to deal with the occasional traffic jam in Ohio but most of those were like daily traffic in New Jersey. Getting used to traffic patterns was one of the most frustrating things to deal with for me (and I still get a bit peeved sometimes). After a while you get used to it but at first I would get irate at the fact that no matter where I went I always encountered too much traffic. This can be stressful if you are not prepared for it. There are other little things that pop up and take some getting used to but if you are prepared you can lessen the stress.
One suggestion I would make is to take some time to visit the area where you are moving for a week or so and just try to experience day to day life. Don't do tourist things. Try to do things you would do if you were actually living there. Go to the grocery store, visit the library, check out the schools, go to local restaurants, etc. Try to get an idea about how things move, where everything is, and what your daily life would be like so it is less of a shock. It may also be wise to invest in a GPS system for your car or at least get good maps of the area. I can't tell you how frustrating it is being totally lost in a new area and trying to find your way. When I moved to NJ I spent an hour trying to find my way on a trip that normally takes 5 minutes. Make sure you are prepared for these situations and you will have a much easier transition.
In conclusion, relocating can be both exciting and scary. Do a lot of research and prepare yourself for the move and things will go more smoothly. By following some of the advice I have outlines here you can save yourself some time and a whole lot of stress.