New Orleans - Thanks for the cheap (but tasty) eats!

According to the latest Zagat Survey, New Orlean's is the nation's most affordable dining out locale. Compared to other cities' average meal price such as Chicago ($37), Los Angeles ($35) and New York ($42), New Orleans food is priced extremely reasonably at $28.36. Take that, other cities! A buck sure does go a long way in New Orleans, while you're having a delicious meal in New Orleans at a place such as Commander's Palace.

Also, New Orleans residents are quite generous, and according to the survey, leave an average tip of 19.7 percent compared to the national average of 19.2. I always thought that it was a given that you tip 20 percent on every meal, but that's just me. Hey every other city, for shame, it's time to appreciate your waiter or waitress a little bit more.

On the downside, 75 percent of those polled were not happy with their service at New Orleans restaurants. Ouch! I suppose you get what you pay for? But even though diners may not have been satisfied with their food, it's not stopping them from still giving a generous tip.

Keep your chin up, New Orleans, we know your food scene is amazing. We don't need a Zagat survey to come in and tell us how good or bad our food is. We know that places like Bayona, Stella! and Brigsten's are top food destinations in New Orleans. To the restaurants who have persevered through these tough years, we salute you and look forward to many more years of fine dining to be had. Whether your prices go up or down, (as they have as of late), we will be there to sample some of your delicious dishes.

Good News for New Orleans’ Residents, Now and Future

After the devastation Hurricane Katrina left behind in 2005, New Orleans has been struggling to recover and rebuild. While some areas of New Orleans feature rows of newly renovated homes, just down the street it’s as easy to see dilapidated, blighted homes. However, as of today, the number of these broken-down homes has reduced by nearly 20,000, a 32% decrease over the past 2.5 years.

The increase in renovation and rebuilding is a welcome sign to local residents in New Orleans. It also does much to boost the numbers of people moving to New Orleans or making the decision to stay. A rebound from such urban blight isn’t simple to achieve, but the neighborhoods especially hit by Katrina, like Broadmoor, which are rebounding provide a little light at the end of the tunnel. What do you think about the positive home development and renovation in New Orleans?

Want to Move to a New Home? Housing Construction is Up!

Good news for those people looking to move into a new home. Recent data from the Commerce Department shows that housing construction is up 4.1% since September 2009, with the greatest jump seen with construction of single-family homes at 4.4%. This kind of news is especially promising for those moving to or within Louisiana, specifically New Orleans, an area that is in special need of a housing market bounce back. Likewise, New Orleans moving companies may also see a spike in business with the increase in families moving into new homes, even during the typical off-season.

Not only has the Commerce Department noted an increase in housing construction, but the National Association of Home Builders says that their monthly Housing Market Index jumped three points in October. This is the highest rating it has been since June, and since it measures the confidence among homebuilders, it’s a great sign for the housing market and economy. If you’ve been holding off on buying a new home to wait until the economy bounces back or the market stabilizes, this can be a great indication that a big move for your family might be right around the corner.

A Big Move Brings Big Opportunity to Baton Rouge

Hawker Beechcraft Aviation is rumored to be moving to Baton Rouge, bringing the major company, facilities and corporate headquarters to Louisiana. This is a massive development for Baton Rouge, as the airport moving to the city will bolster the local economy, creating new jobs and new money. This is the first major industrial development the city has seen in a few decades, and is anticipated to bring great things to Baton Rouge.

Hawker Beechcraft Aviation received a huge offer from Louisiana, causing its relocation from Wichita, KS. The governor of Kansas is scheduled to meet with the machinist union and Beechcraft today to decide the where the company will relocate. What do you think of the company’s relocation to Baton Rouge? Will the new development, money and jobs boost the economy, or will the cost of building and relocating the company prove to be too much for the city?

For Love or Money?

I read a very interesting article this morning that talked about the rise of unmarried couples moving in together. According to MSNBC.com, "The number of unmarried couples living together shot up by 13 percent between 2009 and 2010, and some of the decisions may not have been completely motivated by romance." After reading this article, I thought to myself, are couples really just postponing the marriage part of the relationship and just heading for the "moving in together" part to save some cash. After all, two people living together is a lot cheaper than two people living separately, so maybe it's not such a bad idea after all. With the way the economy has been in America, Americans have been forced to become economically smarter. The unemployment rate obviously has also increased among Americans making living situations a little tighter. According to the article, "The sharp increase in opposite-sex couples living together coincided with a big jump in unemployment among the unmarried couple. Nearly 7.5 million couples were cohabitating in 2010, up from about 6.7 million in 2009."

As you can see American couples are stepping away from traditional ways and moving towards a more economical way of living. Many of the couples that are moving in together, usually one of the partners is most likely jobless. According to the article, "People who moved in together this year were more likely to include at least on jobless partner than couples who already were living together." It seems as though these couples are sticking by eachother during these rough times and living within their means, even if it means going against the norm. How does everybody feel about this article?

Hug Condon Moving & Storage

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Items Not To Ship!

Today's blog is about what items you should not ship when you are planning a move. These items are most likely items that will break, spill, or our toxic to certain climate changes. Please check the list out and make sure none of these items are packed up if you are moving soon.


When you are planning your move, there are some common household items that should not be included in your shipment.

Below is a partial list of items that should not be shipped.

Bleach
House paints
Open containers of liquid
Propane tanks or cans
Gas or oils
Butane
Ammunition
Open alcohol containers
Open non sealed food containers
Aerosols
Fire Extinguishers
Welding Gas
Antifreeze
Disinfectant cleaners (especially those that contain bleach or ammonia)
Perishable foods (unless the move meets strict guidelines - please check with your carrier about these to see if your move meets the guidelines)
Items with excessive odor

As a general rule, if the item is flammable, combustible or explosive it should not be included.

This article was taken from www.moving.org