Friday 8 April 2011

Caution during Shipping vehicles

In our life it is quite common for us to move every now and then. Shifting is never an easy task. Relocating to newer places can strike us quite hard every time. It involves a lot of patience, care and focus on the task. There is a saying that goes ‘travelling lighter helps you to settle easier’. Yes indeed, these words are pretty much true when you are sort of a nomad who keeps wandering from one place to another without any properties apart from what you carry in your hands. But is it practicable in today’s world for everyone to behave like a nomad? Especially when they have a family to support and provide them with all the comforts of life? It is certainly not possible.

Having said that we live in a hectic busy world with our families, it is quite common for us to provide them with the best of things for comfort. And while we do so we invariably buy expensive properties for our homes- cars, bikes, furnitures etc all come under them. Moving from one place to another can happen at any point of time in our lives due to several circumstances. We either transfer between cities or even countries and mostly we relocate to meet our work demands.  Thus it becomes unavoidable. Moving can be quite taxing upon us when the distance to the destination increases and especially when it involves heavy goods such as pianos and expensive cars. However we need to take precautionary steps before we go ahead with it.
When you own a car, it is a must to transport it safely across destinations with utmost care. There are quite a lot of car shipping service providers available in the market. You need to choose the best one among them for the task. In general the things you need to look out in them are as follows;

 Information about the company: Before you choose any company, it is necessary that we choose the one that is more experienced and well reputed in the market. Get an insight into the services provided by the company. Cross reference it with your demands and timeline needs. A good company not only provides quality work for the task but also provides reliable customer service.

Pricing: Always have a budget before choosing your company. Surf through the web and get an idea of how much does different companies charge you for the same task. This will give you an idea about the market value for the job. If a company charges you steeply, get a break down value of the service provided so that you may know where your money goes. Do not opt for services provided at a very cheap rate just because it is cheap. Such companies generally don’t take responsibility for your vehicle and their service always tends to be poorer than usual.

Credibility: Check for the credentials of the company before you opt for any company for the service. The company you opt for should be licensed by the proper governing authorities for carrying out the task. The driver who comes on that particular day to shift your vehicle should be licensed to drive and should always carry all the necessary documents with him.  

Tuesday 5 April 2011

What's Worse: Snow in March or Rain in July?

Here we are the start of spring and in many areas snow, rain, freezing rain, and hail are in the forecast. Mother Nature does like to remind us from time to time that she–and not the calendar –is in charge of the weather.

While the forecast of snow in March is depressing to some – it begs the question what’s worse – snow now in this transitional month or rain and lots of it in July?!

Most of us long for perfect weather seasons. Of course the definition of “perfect weather” varies with the individual. Many enjoy snow filled winters while others prefer not to see a spec of white precipitation at all. But from my experience working on the Farmers’ Almanac, most of us want a really nice summer.

There’s something depressing about a forecast of a “rainy summer or July.” Even if you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, and the winter outlook is for harsh snowy conditions, this winter forecast seems to be  more bearable than a rainy, cool summer season. Is this because summer to many means spending time outdoors – and if it’s rainy and cool that can’t happen?

For me the idea of a harsh winter is OK. Snowstorms give me an opportunity to slow down and enjoy some time off. Harsh winter weather almost gives me an excuse to stay indoors and watch movies, or head outdoors and enjoy some cold weather sports. Yet a rainy, cool July depresses me. By July, I want to be outdoors, heading to the beach, working in the garden, or enjoying a good book in a shady spot.

March is not one of my favorite months, I did get a taste of 70+ degree weather the other day and it was nice. Snow is forecast for me tomorrow… I like snow but am really fine with snow not coming and it being done for the year. Yet if I had to choose one or the other,  I’d choose snow in March and warm, sunny days in July.

What about you? What’s your idea of “perfect season weather?” Does March snow bug you or are you fine with it? Share your thoughts here.