It is that time of year again. People are starting to get restless, and they are ready to start moving. Summer is always the busiest time of the year for moving companies, and auto shipping companies. For some reason it is the time to move. Record numbers of people are starting to pack up an move down south. They are getting sick and tired of Old Man Winter staying for extended visits. These people are looking for some place a little warmer, but this place must also have some sort of Winter weather. Florida is out of the question. It is like an oven down there. Many people are taking a much closer look at South Carolina. Is it a great place to experience four seasons? Is it a great place to call home? Autoshipping.org attempts to answer those questions in this informative article on South Carolina.

Take a Closer Look at South Carolina

South Carolina is located in the Southern United States. You might be surprised to hear the thick southern draw that most residents have, but don’t let that stop you from enjoying their true Southern hospitality.

In South Carolina you will find all sorts of different lifestyles. You can enjoy some great mountain views, and you can enjoy the nice cool waters of the Atlantic Ocean. It is hard to find a place in South Carolina that is not considered nice. The most difficult time that most people have is choosing where to live.

How is The Local Economy

It is always a good idea to have a good job before you set out to move to a new state regardless of what the local economy is like. The unemployment rate in South Carolina is currently hovering right under 9%. That is right in line with the national average. Just a few years ago the unemployment rate was as high as 12%.

Over 80% of the entire economy of South Carolina is based in the service industry. The rest of the economy is broken down among manufacturing, transportation, education and health.

Can you Afford to Live in South Carolina

An average meal for two at a mid range restaurant in South Carolina will cost right around $60.00. Food seems to be right on par with the rest of the country. A loaf of bread will cost around $2.00, and a dozen eggs will run just under $2.00. A pound of chicken breasts will cost around $4.50.

Housing is a little more expensive. An apartment in the middle of the city will cost right around $2500.00 per month. Outside of the city you can expect to pay roughly $1800.00 per month for the same size apartment. The yearly mortgage rate hovers right around 4%.

These costs are all bases on averages. There are some cities in South Carolina that are more expensive, and then there are some that are not.

The absolute best way to find out which place would be best for your new home is to plan a trip to South Carolina. Seeing is believing, and taking a vacation in South Carolina is a great way to see everything that this state has to offer.

The bill of lading is a very important document that should not be brushed aside like some old dirty napkin. Most people that are moving, or having their cars shipped don’t even know what a bill of lading is. Just the name itself sounds rather confusing. First, let’s breakdown the name.We all know what a bill is, but in this case the word bill actually just refers to a document, contract or a piece of paper. It is not a bill, like your utility bill. The second word, “lading” simply means goods, items, or freight that is carried by a large vehicle. So if you put the two together you get, a contract that refers to goods carried by a large vehicle.

Why is This so Important

The bill of lading is the most important document when it comes to shipping your vehicle, or hiring a moving company. It is the contract between you and the company that you have chosen to either ship your vehicle, or ship your personal belongings. Without this piece of paper, all sorts of things could go dreadfully wrong. This document is required by law for every shipment.

Being that the bill of lading is a contract, it should be looked at very closely, and just like every other contract, the bill of lading should not be signed unless you fully understand what it means to you and your shipment. This is your responsibility.

If there is anything on the bill of lading that you do not agree with, don’t sign it until you and the auto shipping company or moving company have come to some sort of mutual agreement.

Here is what you should expect to find on every bill of lading.

The name and address of the company that is handling the move should be clearly written on the bill of lading. If more than one company is taking part in the shipping, then their name and address must also be on the bill of lading as well.

Contact Information

The bill of lading must also have a clear contact section that should list the name, address and phone number of who you are expected to call during the shipment.

Payment

The form of payment that was agreed upon must also be clearly written on the bill of lading.

Pickup and Drop Off Dates

The dates that the company is expected to pickup and return your merchandise should also clearly be written on the bill of lading.

Every vehicle that takes part in the shipping process must also include their vehicle identification numbers on the bill of lading.

Costs

The bill of lading must also list all of the costs associated with the move. It should list the terms of the payment, the method of payment, and the maximum amount that the company expects to charge you. If there is any type of insurance involved, it must also be on the bill of lading.

The bill of lading must also always be with your shipment at all times. This very important document must never leave the shipment until it is delivered.

Now that you know a little more about the bill of lading, you also know why it is so important.

It may not come as much of a surprise to you, but in the year 2011 moving rose about 7 percent. The economy has a lot to do with all of this. People are losing their jobs, or they are being forced to move to keep their jobs. Others are downsizing, and trying to make the best of a bad situation. Moving companies are very happy with all of these numbers, and they are happy to profit from all of this, but some people are wondering where everyone is choosing to move. Keep reading to find out more.

Up North

People were busy last year moving in the Northern states, but they were busy moving away from the North. Maybe they just got sick of the cold weather, and decided to seek out warmth and humidity in the Southern states.

There were more people leaving Virginia, Connecticut, and Massachusetts than any other state in the North. What could be causing so many people to leave these beautiful states. Our guess is the economy. While these states may not have the highest cost of living, it could be that they faced record unemployment. People want a change, and they are taking it anywhere they can find it, even if it means that they have to move to get it.

In the South

People do everything differently in the South. More people left the wonderful state of Louisiana in 2011. The steady flow of hurricanes and then the BP Gulf of Mexico disaster have been the cause of most of these moves. It looks like more people have packed their bags and headed for the big state of Texas. Texas has a lot to offer people and its size could be the number one reason more people decided to move there. The hot plains of New Mexico, and the Mountains of North Carolina come in a close second for states that had a lot of people moving into them on 2011.

What about the states in the Midwest?

It seems like everyone has decided that Midwest life was not that good. There were a lot of people that moved away from the Midwest in 2011. The rest of the states in the Midwest are balanced. They have the same amount of people leaving and the same amount of people moving in.

How about the West Coast?

Last, but definitely not least is the West Coast. Everything is a little different on the West Coast. It seems that most of the states on the West Coast are properly balanced. They have the same amount of people moving in as the same amount of people moving out. The higher cost of living in some of the western states make the West Coast a difficult move for most people.

If this were a contest, it looks like the South would win hands down. There were more people that moved to the Southern states in 2011 than any other place in the country.

There are plenty of great cities to call home in the United States, but none of them can even come close to the Windy City of Chicago. Is Chicago everything that you hoped it would be? Autoshipping.org has put together this handy guide that will help you decide if Chicago is the city that you want to call home.

Understanding the size and scope of Chicago

Chicago is a large city, both in terms of actual physical size and population. It is estimated that over 2.7 million people are living in Chicago, and as you read this article that number has just gone up. Chicago sits on 234 square miles of land. That puts just over 11,000 people per square mile. If you are looking for some wide open space with very few people, then Chicago is not it. It is the third most populated city in the entire United States.

Chicago is much more than one city. There is an entire area of cities that surround it. This entire area has been called Chicagoland, and it is home to around 10 million people.

How is the weather

If you plan on living in Chicago for an entire year, then you will be treated to four full seasons. Chicago’s far distance from the Equator allows for Winters where you will get to experience snow, ice cold wind, and plenty of ice. When Summer rolls around, it can get very hot and humid, but luckily this only lasts for about two months. Spring and Fall are the two most popular seasons because the temperatures are mild.

Enjoy the food

Chicago has its own style of food. It is home to the world famous Chicago style stuffed pizza. This is unlike any other pizza in the world, but there is much more than pizza in Chicago. You will also find an entire unique line of sandwiches that originate in Chicago. These sandwiches range from an Italian Beef sandwich to the famous Mother In Law Sandwich.

Get ready for some serious sports

If you are a sports fan, then you will love Chicagoland because there are plenty of sports to keep you entertained. It has been named the best sports city in the United States, and people love to watch and participate as much as possible.

For Baseball, there are the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Football has the world famous Chicago Bears, and basketball has the Chicago Bulls.

Enjoying the city

There is always plenty to do in Chicago. There is a very active nightlife that is full of clubs, bars and restaurants, and you will find that most of them are open during the day as well. There is never a shortage of things to do. There are some lovely places to shop, some really nice parks, and there is Lake Shore Drive which is located on a huge portion of lakefront property.

Is Chicago the right home for you? This information on the Windy City should be able to help you make that decision.