A new report from Evansville-based Atlas Van Lines shows the number of household moves across state lines continues to rise in Indiana and around the country. The 2011 Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns study shows for the first time in six years, Michigan is no longer considered an outbound state. Washington D.C. continues to see the highest percentage of inbound moves, while Ohio has the highest percentage of outbound moves.

EVANSVILLE, Ind.--According to one of North America’s leading moving companies, Atlas Van Lines, the number of household moves across state lines continues to rise. The 2011 Atlas Van Lines Migration Patterns study found Southwestern and Mid-Atlantic coastal states to be popular destinations. Atlas first conducted the study in 1993 to track the nation's interstate moving patterns.

“Our annual migration patterns study is an interesting gauge of the economy, where economic development is taking place and trends to follow throughout the upcoming year”

For the first time in six years, Michigan went from a perennially outbound state to a balanced state. Michigan now joins South Dakota and Iowa as the only Midwest states to remain balanced in 2011, as the rest of the Midwest continued to lose residents.

Five states that were balanced in 2010 are now outbound states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, West Virginia, Louisiana and Utah. Wyoming and Mississippi, which were outbound in 2010, are now balanced. Previously inbound states Kentucky and New Hampshire became balanced in 2011.

The highest number of interstate, or between states, moves occurred in states with larger cities, including, California, Texas, New York, Florida, Georgia and Illinois. California comes in at the top with nearly 15,000 moves in 2011. For the sixth consecutive year, Washington D.C. had the highest percentage of inbound moves. Once again, Ohio saw the highest percentage of outbound moves.

"Our annual migration patterns study is an interesting gauge of the economy, where economic development is taking place and trends to follow throughout the upcoming year,” said Jack Griffin, president and COO of Atlas World Group. "These new findings are especially promising, as we saw the number of moves increase yet again.”

Visit http://www.atlasvanlines.com/migration-patterns/ for a full report, detailed map and state-by-state statistics.

About Atlas Van Lines

Atlas Van Lines, a national moving company, is the largest subsidiary of Atlas World Group, an Evansville, Ind.-based company. Atlas World Group companies employ nearly 700 people throughout North America. Nearly 500 Atlas interstate moving agents in the United States and Canada specialize in corporate relocation, household moving services and in the specialized transportation of high-value items such as electronics, fine art, store fixtures and furniture. For more information, visit http://www.atlasvanlines.com.

Source: Atlas Van Lines

Relocation managers across the U.S. are expressing optimism that the worst of the recession is now in the rearview mirror, according to a survey.

Responding to Atlas Van Lines' 44th annual Corporate Relocation Survey, 72 percent of the relocation managers polled say they believe their respective companies will fare better in 2011. The optimism rate among large firms surveyed jumps to 80 percent. 

Data from the survey indicated that:

• Fifty-four percent of executives surveyed believe the U.S. economy will improve in 2011-the highest rate of such optimism recorded since 2006.

• Thirty percent of companies plan to relocate workers this year, the highest percentage in six years.

• Eighty-seven percent of companies will spend as much or more on relocation in 2011 as in 2010, the most since 2007.

The Midwest is now the top destination of transfers (37 percent) followed by the Northeast (31 percent), the South (28 percent) and West (20 percent). Thirty-two percent of companies say they increased the number of international relocations in 2010, with 28 percent predicting another increase in 2011. 

According to Griffin, the Atlas survey has revealed trends in how corporations are moving existing employees or newly-hired staff. He said, it shows where the economy has been and where it’s headed and the view looks better than it did one year ago. The effect of economic/market pressures on entry level/new hire and middle management relocations appear to be lessening.

In 2008 and 2009, roughly 40 percent of companies say these pressures decreased relocations in these job sectors. In 2010 that percentage dropped to just above 25 percent.

Seventy-eight percent say the economy or real estate markets are the most important factors affecting relocations. While employers may be more optimistic about the economy, many of their workers remain cautious and somewhat apprehensive.  Fifty-nine percent of firms say they had employees decline relocations in 2010; the third highest level in several years.  Among large companies, the rate jumps to 87 percent. Three of every four companies surveyed say the number of employees declining relocation in 2010 stayed about the same as 2009, reflecting little change in workers' attitudes toward moving. 

Sixty-nine percent of employees who wouldn’t move cited housing and mortgage concerns, 55 percent cited family issues and ties, and 41 percent cited their spouse’s or partner’s employment.

Twenty-seven percent of companies surveyed say that declining a relocation request usually hinders an employee's career. 

2011 Survey fast facts

• Eighty-four percent of firms have a formal relocation policy.

• More than half of all relocations were new hires (53 percent).

• Employees age 36-40 remained the most frequently relocated salaried employee in 2010 (37 percent); most are male - only 19 percent of relocations involved female employees.

• Forty-five percent of relocations involved employees with children; 61 percent of those relocated were homeowners.

• Thirty-two percent of responding firms give employees just one week or less to accept a relocation offer (up 7 percent from 2010 survey).

• More than three-fourths of companies reimburse/pay to pack all items; 28 percent to move pets; 14 percent will even reimburse for moving boats.

• Among international relocations, the most frequent destination was Europe (41 percent).              

Source: Atlas Van Lines http://www.talentmgt.com/industry_news/2011/April/5359/index.php

You're about to relocate and along with that comes the task of moving all your goods. Now is a good time to decide what you will keep and what you wish to leave behind. A moving sale can reduce the weight of your shipment and the cost of your move. Also, of course, a moving sale can generate additional funds that may offset other expenses.

The key to a successful moving sale is determining what you no longer use, have outgrown or what you can easily replace at your new home. Remember, what may seem worthless to you is another person's treasure.

And who knows, if you haven't sold your home yet, a moving sale may even attract the right buyer!

How To Begin

Ask your family members about items they wish to sell, they may desire to sell more things than you imagined. Or, you might organize a "neighborhood" sale and pool the efforts of other famlies on your street.

When To Have Your Sale

Set a date and a time as soon as you can. Fridays and Saturdays are usually best; however, try to avoid holiday weekends. Establish a rain date if you think it may be necessary. Determine the hours, such as 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Many shoppers like to be first in line, so be prepared for early arrivals.

Where To Hold Your Sale

Check with local authorities about restrictions for sales in your area. Once you have a location, decide if the sale will be in the garage, yard or basement. Make sure there is ample parking and space for people to move about.

Publicize Your Sale

A good source of publicity is your local paper. Contact the Classified Advertising department to find out:

• How they calculate costs — by column inches, number of lines or number of words?
• What is the cost to run the ad Friday and Saturday vs Saturday only?
• What is the additional cost for a bold headline?
• What is the deadline for submitting an ad?

Mention the most popular items in your ad, such as furniture, appliances, tools, electronics, etc. Consider including your phone number so people can call for more information about sale items or for directions (this is especially useful if you live in an obsecure area).

Another publicity technique is to display flyers around the neighborhood. Note in large letters the type of sale, date, time and location. You may also place signs in high-traffic areas on the day of the sale with arrows and directions. (Please note that there may be restrictions on the posting of flyers and signs. Your local Chamber of Commerce can assist you should you have any questions.)

Ten Essential Preparations

1. Look at your list of items for sale. Visit secondhand shops, retail stores, etc. to determine prices for each.
2. Record the price on a tag or sticker and place on the item in an easy-to-see location. Use different colored stickers or an identification code on the tags if more than one family is involved in your sale.
3. Start saving shopping bags and cartons to make it more convenient for customers. Have tissue paper or newspaper on hand to wrap glass, knickknacks and other fragile purchases.
4. Bundle or package all sets, groups, or units together so customers know what they are getting. Put loose game pieces in a sealable bag and secure inside the box.
5. Set up the yard, garage or basement so that all "For Sale" items will be separated from items not for sale.
6. Display items in groups according to type, such as kitchen utensils, sporting goods, tools, etc. If possible, hang clothing on a clothesline or rack for easy viewing.
7. Set up a cashier's desk with a calculator, scissors, tape, string, markers, a cash box and plenty of change.
8. Be prepared for the weather to change at any time. Have several large sheets of plastic handy to quickly cover everything.
9. To keep the kids busy, buy a few varieties of soft drinks and bottled water. Ice them down in a cooler the night before. Tell the kids that the money they earn selling drinks is their reward for helping. On a hot summer day, a cold drink will be a welcome relief to shoppers.
10. Assign everyone a responsibility for the day, like cashier, clerk, organizer, etc.

Now You Are Ready For A Successful Moving Sale!

Source: http://www.atlasvanlines.com/how-to-move/moving-sale/