Five Questions To Ask Yourself While On The Job Hunt

Joel Garfinkle put out a blog post not to long ago that puts some poignant questions to those that that are looking to change careers and go after their dream job.  While the article is geared towards those that are looking to find greater purpose in their lives through their work, the questions can still apply to those just looking for a job.  With over 300,000 people giving up finding a job last month alone, we need some guideposts to help us keep in the game and keep moving towards the goal of gainful employment.  Below I have kept the five questions he asked and tailored the adjoining thoughts to fit anyone looking for a job.  You can follow the link on career change to see the original article. 1. Can you invest hours of your free time in learning something new?  If you are looking for a job, you may need to extend yourself beyond just what you did in the past.  Be willing to try something new, even if you have to intern to gain new skills while you continue to look for a ... Read the rest of entry »

UPDATE -- Lessons From An Iraq Vet

Last week we looked at a King 5 investigation on scam movers in which an Iraq Vet was charged $8,700 instead of $5,700 for his move after his items were already in the truck. We have an update.  Elisa Hahn, the reporter that broke the story, noted a few days ago that Jonathan Sheets did receive his household goods, once the FMSCA got involved. (I would also add King 5's involvement - since, I am sure, that the moving company knew they were being watched on regional TV) The FMSCA was on hand to make sure that the household goods were delivered and all Federal laws were obeyed. Anyways, it sounds like our vet was treated fairly once his items were delivered. But the cautionary tale remains, Local news stations can't cover every abuse and the FMSCA can't respond to every case. So it remains to the consumer to thoroughly check out a mover. Remember to: Check with the with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Check with the FMSCA Check with the Washington Utilities and Trade Commission (WUTC) ... Read the rest of entry »

Lessons From An Iraq Vet - On Scammed Movers

King 5 did an all-to-common piece on scam movers the other week.  In it they described how a veteran was told one price for moving, and then told another price once all his possessions were secured on the moving truck.  Let's look at the story and see if we can learn how to avoid this happening to you. Jonathan Sheets is a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan and suffers from PTSD.  He suffered a serious injury from an EID explosion.  He was awarded a medical retirement and was starting his life over by moving back to his parents vacant home in Gig Harbor. In order to make the move to Washington State, he contracted with Precision Moving, the lowest bidder, and agreed to a price of $5,700.  They asked for over $1,200 up front.  Once the items were onboard the truck, the total price soared to $8,700 and must be paid upon arrival. So let's look at a few items that we should discuss: He went with the lowest bidder…  Not that this is always a bad idea, but many times ... Read the rest of entry »

May Is National Move Month

How To Tackle Your Painting Project In Seven Easy Steps

Whether you are painting a home that you are getting ready to sell or painting a place that you are just moving into, it is a monster task. It can take even longer when you don't know what you are doing. So here are some tips on making your painting project a little easier so that you can take pride in a job well done.   1.  Pick the shade of paint that is right for you. Try to consider the furniture that will be in the room and find complimentary colors. If you are selling, stick to neutral colors so that prospective buyers will be able to visualize their tastes in your house. 2.  Buy the correct amount of paint. Read the coverage directions on the side of the can and purchase the correct amount of paint to cover the surfaces that you will be painting. Make sure to also buy enough primer for the first coat as well. 3.  Buy all the accessories that you will need: paint rollers painters tape brushes edgers roller pans roller pan liners drop clothes ... Read the rest of entry »

Federal Way Wa Movers Concerned About Fire Levy

As your Federal Way WA Movers, Apex is committed to the safety of this great city. Federal way is a great place to live and do business. But the Federal Way Mirror has reported that the South King county Fire Levy may be just shy of passing. With the housing crash of 2007 still rippling its effects down to the present, every sector of the economy has been hit. Cities and the budgets are no exception. But cities and counties can start to look less attractive to move to if their police, fire, and schools are anemic. If given the choice of moving to a city that has been able to invest in critical infrastructure and a city that has not… well the choice would be obvious. In many ways, spending money in your police, fire, and schools is an investment in your economic future. If you have a robust influx of people moving to your city or people deciding to stay when they move, it is a great shot in the arm for your economy. When people move to a new home, they start by fixing it up. This means that goo ... Read the rest of entry »

Create More Visual Interest On Your Balcony Or Porch With A Vertical Garden

Creating appeal in smaller spaces like a condo or a two bedroom house can be more challenging. You want to make it feel more spacious, but how? With spring upon us, one of the easiest ways to make a small home more appealing and feel more spacious is making your back porch or balcony like an outdoor living room. Looking to move - you need a buyer: When you put your home or your condo on the market, every little thing can help. You want to sell your home so that you can move into your new home. But attracting the right buyer can be hard in this economy. So finding a ways to make your home stand out is important. The Home Depot just posted this great example of what you can do to make a small space stand out with some ingenuity: the vertical garden. A vertical garden is essentially a flower box that has been especially constructed to stand vertically or hung on a wall. They walk you step by step on how to assemble a flower box with this how to video and explain all that you will need to make it ... Read the rest of entry »

How To Avoid A Scam Move In Five Easy Steps

This is a compilation of past posts that dot the blog archives. I have put them together so that the reader can more easily make an informed choice in selecting a professional mover. You can view the full post on each tip by following the links adjoining. Enjoy! Moving Companies, which ones do you call? With over one hundred different movers in the greater Seattle area alone, finding the right moving company can be overwhelming. You need a moving company that is responsive, reliable, and experienced. So many times a mover will entice you with discounted rates and big promises, only to leave you stranded and with no cash. We at Apex Moving & Storage are determined to arm you with proven techniques to finding and hiring a great moving company. Scam movers and rip off artists make it their business to look just like the good guys. They have snappy websites and slick salespeople. Below are great tools to make sure that you find one of the honest moving companies in the Seattle area. When it comes to findin ... Read the rest of entry »

How To Get A Job With These Key Moves

There have been so many times that I have bought what was cheap only to have it break on me in a few months. I am a miser, and admittedly so. I want my dollar to stretch. But I have learned that the best way to make my dollar stretch is to buy for quality, and not price point. If I buy something for five dollars and it lasts me five years as opposed to something that is two dollar and lasts one year, I have made the smart move. It is more up front, but it is an investment. How to get a job by investing in your future: The same theory goes with job advancement. Sometimes you have to shell out money in order to make more money. Today we will talk about two scenarios that will cost you money but will pay off in the end. the first is a job interview and the second is a possible promotion. The Interview: You are getting ready to go in and go after that job that you applied for. You have done your homework and have read up on the company. You calmed your nerves and you have your resume polished. Y ... Read the rest of entry »

Getting Ready for Spring (And Moving) With An Updated Tool Shed

Many times we dread doing yard work because instead of feeling free and productive with our workspace, our workspace in itself feels like a chore.  For many people the lawnmower is piled high with pots and tarps, the weed-wacker is buried under shovels and rakes, and they can't even find extension cords amongst all the mess. If your shed or garage looks like this, the urge to get up and be productive is probably greatly diminished.  And who can blame you, if a chore takes fifteen minutes longer than normal because of all the other sifting and sorting, most would give up before they start. Getting Your Workspace Ready: You will be amazed at what an organized workspace can do for your productivity.  Walking into clean space energizes your mind and makes you feel like you are smarter and more efficient (I am not kidding).  So here is what you can do in order to make your job easier and less stressful: Sort all your items.  Go through everything, and I mean everything, and put ... Read the rest of entry »