Complete Moving Guide to San Jose, CA:

It's no doubt that San Jose carries a high end reputation with Silicon Valley's top execs seeking refuge in this picturesque city under the California sun.

If you too are considering nestling down in the city that dubs itself the Capital of Silicon Valley, take a look at the following guide for tips and information that will help you to reach your final decision.

San Jose Climate

Characteristic of the Bay Area in California, San Jose has what's called a Subtropical Mediterranean climate – mild winters and warm dry summers with very little rainfall. The San Jose area has an average temperature of 73 degrees each year, and over 300 days of sunshine.

Rain occurs typically in November and can last through May (precipitation averages about two months annually), making the area green with vegetation that eventually dies and dries out during the summer months, making the hills and fields prone to fires.

San Jose Neighborhoods

San Jose has a blend of various different cultures, and similarly has a mix of both suburban historical neighborhoods and exciting city life.

If a bountiful nightlife excites you, try relocating to somewhere in the downtown area, that is not only bursting with culture through its plethora of museums and music festivals, but is safe and appropriate for all age demographics. Visit the San Jose Downtown Associationfor more information on what to do and where to go in the city.

For historic and quant living, Willow Glen is for the family-friendly side of Silicon Valley, with Boutique stores, spas and antique shops intermingled within residential streets. Take a trip to smell the roses just northwest of downtown in the Rose Garden area, with over 4,000 rose shrubs that span 5.5 acres.

Interested in a 19^th century vintage? Los Gatos still maintains its historic architecture characteristic of old style wine country. Museums and music festivals entertain the locals, along with the weekend farmer's market.

Registering Your Car

In order to avoid any penalties, you must register your vehicle within 20 days or entry or residency, according to the state of California's DMV website. You will need an application for Title or Registration signed by the owner as they appear on the out-of-state title, the last issued out-of-state title, smog and weight certification (if applicable), any fees or taxes, and the vehicle must be inspected by the DMV.

Upon moving to California, you have 10 days to acquire a California driver's license. You will need to complete application form DL 44, give a thumbprint, have your picture taken, and provide your full name and social security number. You must also pay the application fee, pass a vision exam and pass a traffic laws and signs test.

San Jose Schools

San Jose's primary and secondary education, provided primarily by San Jose Unified School District, contains over 125 elementary schools, over 45 middle schools and over 40 high schools in the area. The Catholic Diocese of San Jose runs most of the private education in the area, with the second largest student body in Santa Clara County. Some of the schools within the diocese include: Archbishop Mitty High School, Bellarmine College Preparatory, Notre Dame High School, Saint Francis High School, Liberty Baptist School and White Road Baptist Academy.

There are a large number of colleges and universities in the San Jose area as well, with notable institutions like San Jose State University (a top-ranking public university in the US), National Hispanic University, California University of Management and Technology, Lincoln Law School of San Jose and University of Silicon Valley Law School. Stanford University is about 20 miles from San Jose.

San Jose Employment

Known as Silicon Valley, technology engineering, computer and microprocessor companies have carried the area's economy. Many companies like Adobe, Cisco Systems, eBay, IBM, Kaiser Permanente, CEVA, TiVo and Netgear have headquarters in the valley. Some of the top employers for the city are: the County of Santa Clara, Cisco Systems, IBM, San Jose State University, Brocade Communications Systems, eBay and Hitachi.

The unemployment rate in San Jose was at 8.2 percent as of January 2013, and the median salary for college graduates is approximately $92,000.

Living Costs in the City

San Jose is among the highest in California and in the US, about 75 percent higher than the national average, but households within the city and the surrounding areas have statistically the highest disposable income of any city in the country. An average house costs between $300-$400 per square foot in San Jose, with homes starting in the $250,000 range and jumping to multi-million dollar mansions.

A single person renting an apartment in San Jose would need to average approximately $60,000 a year with limited luxuries to live in this city. A studio apartment will cost you upwards of $1,100, while a single bedroom starts at around $1,500, not including your utility costs.

San Jose Moving Resources

Moving and storage companies are ready and willing to help you with your move to San Jose, whether you're moving from out of state or from another county in California. Make sure you get estimates from multiple moving services before you commit to hiring any (at least three estimates). Check back to our guides for tips on how to choose your moving service wisely with important questions to ask, differentiating between types of estimates, and mistakes to avoid. Visit the following pages at Movers.com to get quotes for the following services:

• Moving Companies in San Jose
• International Moving Companies in San Jose
• Auto Transport in San Jose

San Jose Transportation

There's a large freeway system in San Jose, like many other California cities, including three interstate highways (280, 680, 880) and one US route (101), but none of the interstates primarily serve San Jose. State highways in the area include: SR 17, SR 82, SR 85, SR 87 and SR 237, and a few expressways in the county.

Amtrak provides rail service within San Jose and beyond with the Sacramento-San Jose Capitol Corridor and the Seattle-Los-Angeles Starlight. The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority operates a local system that connects downtown to Mountain View, Milpitas, Campbell and Almaden Valley. Streetcars are also available throughout the city.

Culture & Contemporary Life

Experience a myriad of cultures in the San Jose area that all offer alternative activities, dining, unique architecture and businesses.

Visit the ever-unique Japantown just north of downtown, which features martial art studios Asian performing arts, Japanese traditional music, and the San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin. Little Saigon gives an authentic Vietnamese vibe with traditional eateries and gift shops, as well as a museum.

For those who wish to take advantage of San Jose's year round agreeable weather, there's outdoor parks and gardens to stroll through, like the Almaden Quicksilver County Park which was former mercury mines, Circle of Palms Plaza with a ring of palm trees surrounding the California state seal, and the Chinese Cultural Garden. There's also over 50 miles of trail networks for recreation and commuting purposes throughout the city, like the Coyote Creek Trail, Los Gatos Creek Trail and Los Alamitos Creek Trail.

Pass through the town of Campbell on the way to Santa Cruz and you'll find a historic town with shops, dining and pubs and the Ainsley House, an English Tutor-style home built in the 1920s. The town used to be the home of eBay, and features an annual civic festival for locals and visitors.

San Jose Relocation Tips

• Have a purpose for moving to San Jose. The cost of living is high and unless you are relocating for a job in digital technology, the move may be risky. Unemployment is still particularly high, so establish employment and create a budget before your move.
• Since house prices are high within the city, you may end up moving outside of the city limits and commuting to work in San Jose, so make sure you have reliable transportation before you get there.
• You won't have to worry about scheduling a move date based on cold winters of unusually hot summers, just keep in mind it rains more often from November to April. Otherwise, pick a date that best suits your needs

Bay Area Named The Worst Rental Market:

It probably doesn’t surprise most of us to live here, but if we rent, we are paying out the you know what for just rent. If we own, we’re paying even more. At least those are the findings of Forbes’ annual ranking of rental cities.

The worst city for rentals, according to Forbes, is San Francisco. On average, renters pay $2,800 a month and their rent increases almost 13 percent a year.

MSA: San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $2,802

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 12.8%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $85,087

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 40% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 3.6%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $5,851

Mortgage payment v. rent: $3,049 cheaper to rent

Right behind San Francisco on the “worst” list is Oakland.

MSA: Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $1,815

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 10.5%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $76,493

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 28% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 2.9%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $4,182

Mortgage payment v. rent: $2,367 cheaper to rent

Right behind Oakland is San Jose.

MSA: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $2,291

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 11.3%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $93,902

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 29% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 3.5%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $5,050

Mortgage payment v. rent: $2,759 cheaper to rent

Believe it or not, New York is behind even San Jose. Their average monthly rent is a bit higher than San Francisco, at about $3,300, but the annual increases are much lower.

METRO (Not an MSA): New York County (NY)

Average monthly rent, Q4 2014: $3,290

Year-over-year % change in apartment rent: 3.4%

Median houshold income, Q4 2014: $74,915

Avg. rent as a share of household income: 53% Apartment vacancy rate, Q4 2014: 2.3%

Average monthly mortage payment, Q4 2014: $7,917

Mortgage payment v. rent: $4,627 cheaper to rent

Rounding out the bottom cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, Northern New Jersey, Boston, Orange County, California and Palm Beach, Florida. I guess we should be happy that California has “only” six of the 10 worst rental markets.

Of course, there’s a reason our rental market is so tight – everyone wants to live here. We have the best weather, the best companies, but biggest variety of recreational activities and the best people.

Here’s What You Need To Know To Make The Best Inventory Sheet:

The inventory sheet is an inevitable part of every move. It helps guide your relocation, its organization, timing and can point you towards the cost of your move. But what is an inventory sheet, to ask in the first place. The inventory sheet in relocation is the list of items that you will be moving. It is very important to have one for a number of reasons which which we will now explain below. You will also read here some useful tips on how to create an inventory sheet so that you can make your move happen better and easier. So, what do you need to know and what do you need to do?

What Is An Inventory Sheet?

The inventory sheet is something that is essential for every move which you are a part of. It can help you get a better picture of what you will be moving by having a list that provides the information visually.

How much does your move cost? This is probably one the main questions for every move. If you want to know the price for your move, an inventory sheet is the start for that. Once you make it, you will be able to plan what sort of packing materials you will need and how much. And if the cost is too high, you can simply remove some items from your list (sell them, donate them, give them away or just throw them to the trash), until you are happy with what’s left.
Timing. A list of many things is more difficult to organize in terms of packing, if you will be doing the packing yourself. So, take a look at what you have for moving, and take the time to pack. Do a little bit every day, beginning with the items you are certain you won’t need until after the relocation, like clothes from a different season.
Organization. While doing the packing with the help of an inventory sheet, you can sign up boxes with their content and the room or person that they belong to, for example: “Kids’ winter clothes”. Then keep track of the boxes, too, so that once they all arrive in your new home you will be able to immediately notice if a box or a certain items is missing, particularly more costly ones like a laptop. With an inventory sheet, you can plan what to pack for each day. If your job is 9 to 5 like most people’s, finding the time to do the packing at once could be very difficult so an inventory sheet can make your work much easier.
The movers will need it.If you wish to hire movers, the first thing that they will ask you is what you will be moving. Based on your inventory list and the services you wish to have, they will give you an approximate calculation of your relocation.

Make a list by writing down the items you want to move, their cost, and mark special (expensive or fragile) items.
How Do I Make An Inventory Sheet?

You need to know what you will be moving. Before making your inventory sheet, go through the premises of your house or apartment and write down the items that you will be taking. Those that won’t make it to the list, can be removed to a certain area of your home or a special room where you can decide later what to do with them.
What insurance options do you have? In order to be able to decide that, based on the worth of the items that you will be moving, you need to establish a cost. So, right next to each item you could write down what it is worth, approximately. And based on this informative list discuss with the movers the insurance options that they provide.
Do you have any special items for moving, like expensive or fragile things? These could be precious art pieces like painting, statuettes, grandfather clock, etc. More expensive items could be other pieces of heirloom; breakable stuff could include your home cinema system, large screen TV, china, items of emotional value as well, etc. They will need special, careful handling, and special packing. If you are not aware of how to handle those, here is how to pack fragile items. Alternatively, you can get a quote from movers and ask them to pack specifically those items, if you wish to organize and take care of the move yourself. Of course, the easiest option is to always request a relocation company to organize the move for you – professionals who are experienced can make a move better, quicker, and safer than you.

You Just Moved. Now What?

The hardest part is over. You’ve packed up your entire house and had it delivered to your new place. But after the moving truck leaves and the dust settles, you’re left with an unfinished home-and a LOT of boxes. So what do you do first?

1.  You want your new place to be safe and secure—start with the locks. If the previous residents or owners did not change the locks, make sure to do this first. And if the garage has a code, don’t forget to reset that, too! You can rest easier knowing that no one has the keys to your new place except you.

2.  Next, tackle the most important boxes first. Unpacking every room of your house will take a huge amount of your time, so make sure that you start with the most important rooms first—namely, the kitchen, bathroom(s) and the bedroom essentials. That way, you have everything you absolutely need ready to go while you take time to unpack everything else.

3.  Once you have those set up, make sure that you have all of your utilities in place. Test out your internet, electric, heat, etc. to make sure that everything is ready to go.

4.  Don’t forget to register your vehicle(s) if you’ve moved states, provinces or countries! Taking care of this ASAP will help you avoid hassles later down the road.

5.  Enjoy your new home!

For all of your relocation needs, call the premiere household moving company in Seattle—Pacific Movers! We can help you with every step of the moving process to make it quick and stress-free. Give us a call to get started or fill out our easy online form for your FREE quote!

Avoid Moving Scams. Protect Your Move!

Have you discovered LOSS AND/OR DAMAGE to your Household Goods Shipment?
If so, you should contact the mover immediately and notify them that you have lost and/or damaged
goods and file a claim. Next, you should promptly:
• Make a list of the items that are missing;
• Make a list of the items that are damaged;
• Take photographs of the damage (If possible take photographs before loading of your shipment
and after unloading if there is damage);
• Obtain cost for replacement value of items that are missing and/or damaged;
• If the mover provides a claim form to you, complete and return the claim form along with the
supporting documentation.
You have 9 months from the date of delivery to file your claim for loss and/or damage
The mover has 30 days to acknowledge receipt of your claim and it then has 120 days to decide whether
or not it will offer a settlement. A Claim for Loss and/or damage to your Shipment is a Civil Matter.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not have the authority to force your mover
to pay a settlement for loss and/or damage, or act as your advocate against the mover.
Understanding the Liability of Your Mover for Your Shipment
There are two types of liability coverage under Federal Law:
• Full Value Protection which covers the full replacement value per item of your shipment and is
often obtained from your mover for a fee; and
• Waiver of Full Value Protection which is offered by the mover at no cost to you. This level of
protection only covers your shipment at $.60 a pound per item, and you have to agree to this
coverage from the mover in writing. For example: If you have a 42” flat screen TV that
weighs 50 pounds, the mover is only obligated to offer you $30 as a settlement. (Calculation:
50 x $.60 = $30)
The type of liability you signed for at the pickup determines how your claim for loss and/or damage will
be handled. If you signed and paid the fee for Full Value Protection, the loss and/or damage to your
shipment will be processed based on the replacement value of the damaged or lost item. However, if you
signed for Limited Value Protection, your loss and/or damaged goods will be based on $.60 per pound per
item, regardless of the value of the item.
If you are not satisfied with the outcome of your claim filed with the m over, you should first attempt to
work out an agreement with your mover to resolve the dispute. However, if both you and the mover are
not able to agree, you have two options:
1. Seek an arbitration hearing; or
2. Initiate legal action against your mover.
For more information about your recourse when a dispute occurs see the “Dispute” section on the home
page of protectyourmove.gov.

To Do: 2 Weeks Before Moving

• Continue packing everything up and make sure that you are cleaning each area of the home as you go.
• If you will need items right away, make sure you pack them separately and don’t just throw them in one gigantic box.
• Make sure you have enough time off around the move (coordinate it with your employer).
• If you have children find ways to let them contribute to the packing and move planning.
• If you have children make sure you have someone lined up to watch them on moving day.
• Begin packing suitcases to have all necessary items really handy (some clothes and toiletries).
• Reconfirm again your movers and method of moving (take no chances).
• Make sure all of your prescriptions are filled.
• Empty any safety deposit boxes you may have and put the contents in a safe place for transport.
• Cancel the following services at the old home: newspaper, housecleaning, lawncare, pool maintenance, and water delivery.
• Take some furniture apart (what you don’t absolutely need) and check it for any pre-move damage.
• Make sure all paperwork for the old and new homes is complete and in proper order.
• Get rid of any flammables such as paint, propane, gas, etc.
• Continue trying to use up any perishable food.
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14 Proven Moving Day Tips That Work:

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Moving day is one of the stressful days in one’s life. Many of you are now asking the question how troublesome a moving day can be, but only people who have already moved can understand. Usually, the moving day is underestimated, as it is the final step of the relocation process. You have found a professional moving company after researching a list of licensed movers, dates are booked and everything seems to happen so effortlessly. However, moving day seems to be the most problematic and annoying one during the whole relocation process.

Beware that overlooking minor details can cause a total mess. Since, as the moving day is approaching you are getting more annoyed, you should be well organized to avoid making a mistake. Inspired by the numerous horror stories about the moving day, I am offering you easy to follow moving day checklist with essentials that will safe you a lot of troubles.

Moving Day Checklist
Wake up early on the moving day.
Plan your time, so you can get up early in the morning on the moving day. Do not frown upon it. It will be a long and tiring day and you should be fresh and alert, thus you must have had good sleep. Do not risk to be waken up by the movers. Staying organized during the move is essential for an easy transition.
Wear appropriate clothes.
Your wear during moving day may seem unessential to you, but do not underestimate it. Put on comfortable clothes, because it will be a really long day. Also, to protect yourself from any injures, avoid clothes and shoes with ties. Loose-fitted clothes are more likely to cause troubles too. If you are performing a long distance trip, take into consideration that there might be a weather drop. In this case you will need to change clothes during the trip, so keep a pair of clean clothes with you just in case. Keep in mind that ones you pack your stuff up, it will be very hard to find your clothes.
Cell phone must be charged.
Make sure that you and your family, or friends you are moving with, have full batteries on their mobile phones. Having your mobiles turned off will make it difficult for you to stay in touch, and thus cause a lot of problems. Also, you have to be reachable all the time in case your movers want to contact you. And on the other hand, you may need to call them to ask about their location etc.
Make lists when moving.
Usually, we think of the list making as a time-consuming and inessential job, but actually lists can save a lot of time and worries. Before your moving day make lists to ease the activities on the moving day. Make a list with the mobile numbers of your movers and the driver. Make another list with the everyone’s duties on moving day, and do not forget to make a list with all the boxes and its content. Lists make things easier, so use them. Prepare additional checklist to keep the progress of your move. You can also use a moving app on your phone for even better progress tracking.

Label all of your boxes on your moving day to save time and troubles when unpacking at your new home.
Additional help on the moving day.
If you are getting extra help on your moving day, make sure everybody has their tasks assigned. As plans change sometimes, someone may occur to be busy. Confirm that different duties do not overlap, otherwise there might be misunderstandings. Organize your people well, so every task will be finished on time without any difficulties.
Move day packing.
Try to manage packing prior the moving day. Packing is not as easy as you think, so educate yourself and read some packing tips online prior to your relocation. Here is an article about how to pack your bedroom you should read before the day of the move. If your belongings are not packed properly, they may be severely damaged, especially valuables such as electronics and antiques. Being in a hurry on your moving day, you are more likely to fail on this job. Moreover, some household items may need special handling. Consult with your movers before you start packing. Moving experts will give you the needed guidance. Last, but not least, whether you are packing yourself or not, make sure all the boxes are properly labeled and sealed. Use more descriptive labels so that you will save time while unpacking to the new place. And don’t forget to protect your floors and carpets when moving.
Moving day food ideas.
You should think of the food the day before the moving day. Do not leave everything for the last moment. Consider sandwiches, pizza, even some sweets. Also, be prepared to offer food to the movers. If the packing and the loading takes more time than you have planned, you will have to take a break, so it’s a good idea to have some refreshments around. If it is cold outside, count on hot drinks – coffee, tea.
Moving day and kids.
Moving with youngsters is quite a challenge. Make sure that there will be someone to take care of your children. There will be people moving around, coming in and out all the time. Ask a friend to keep an eye on your juniors on moving day, as they always need special attention. If everybody is busy around, hire a sitter. It will cost you some extra money, but it’s worth it.
Moving day and pets.
If you have a pet, make sure that it won’t cause troubles or worse, have it lost. It will be best to entrust your pet to someone of the family. Pets are not very friendly to strangers.

Make sure that there is somebody to take care of your children on the moving day.
Cleaning after movers.
After the movers leave the house and load all of your furniture, it will be a total mess. Buy the proper cleaning products in advance, so you can start cleaning after everything is loaded. You will save much time if you have your detergents prepared to use on moving day. You can consider hiring a cleaning company to help you with the mess if you can afford it. Or else, ask some friends or neighbors to give you a hand with the cleaning on the moving day.
Arrange payment.
Usually, moving companies ask for a moving deposit fee when you are hiring them and the rest of the sum is paid on the moving day. You may be doing a thousand jobs at a time, but make sure you will have the rest of the money ready or your credit cards in hand. It will be very awkward situation if it turns out that you don’t have the exact sum to pay on the moving day and you may even have to stay in a hotel until you do the full payment, because the movers will not unload until they are paid in full.
Check out inventory moving list.
Do not forget to check out if everything is properly noted in your movers inventory list. This is very important because in case of damaged or lost items, you can file a complaint against your moving company based on this inventory list. Be sure that everything in the bill of lading is checked the way it is.
Take all personal documents and jewelry with you.
Since moving day is a busy and tense one as whole, make certain that your personal documents, money and jewelry won’t go with the rest of your belongings in the moving truck.
Confirm the route to the new location.
Moving locally or long distance, check the route twice before setting out for the new location. If you are driving and moving by yourself, the last thing you want is to get lost in the middle of nowhere. Discuss the route with your movers. They can give you easy to follow directions for your trip.

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