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1. Getting a quote over the phone or Internet: A big mistake that consumers make, when planning their moves, is obtaining a quote over the phone or the Internet. Any quote obtained in this manner is a non-binding quote. The only way to obtain a guaranteed or binding quote is to have a visual survey of your household goods by a reputable mover. If you choose to accept a quote over the phone or Internet you are setting yourself up for a nasty scenario when the mover shows up at your new home and demands more money. 2. Waiting too long to line up a mover: Allowing time for a visual survey, receiving a written and binding quote, and reserving a truck for your move takes a lead time of 4-6 weeks. Although moves can be arranged in a shorter period of time, many consumers find that their choices are limited by availability, especially in the busy summer months. In our current real estate market many homes are taking longer to sell, but once sold are closing very quickly. The time to obtain estimates for your move is before your home sells so that you are prepared when it does. 3. Misrepresenting what you are moving: It is very important to show the surveyor or estimator everything you are planning to move. If you forget to show items in a basement, garage, attic, or off-site storage unit and then add those items at time of pick-up, your estimate will no longer be binding. In the same vein, if you commit to packing your own items but don’t have time to finish, the van line will pack your items and charge you for the service. If you are uncertain of whether you will be taking something, or are not sure if you will have time to pack everything, ask the surveyor to put the items or service in the estimate. If you decide not to take something, or do not require the packing, the cost will be adjusted downward. 4. Paying a deposit up front: Reputable movers do not ask for payment up front to reserve trucks or dates. This is a classic red flag in moving. A reputable mover will expect payment upon delivery. 5. Finding a mover based upon price rather than reputation and service: If a mover gives you a price that is significantly lower than other movers it is likely that you are being low-balled. If a surveyor has underestimated your weight in order to give you a lower price you may find, on moving day, that the moving truck does not have enough room for your shipment. This is called an overflow. An overflow means that your items will not all travel together, will not all arrive at the same time, and will generally just cause you a big hassle. Another way to lower cost is to compromise service. Look for a competitive bid from a professional mover who is certified and reputable. Although price is an important factor, don’t base your decision on price alone. The Move Advocate was designed to help you and your clients navigate your way to a smoother move. Call 800-617-1918 to discuss your moving needs with a professional moving coach, and to obtain multiple binding quotes at no cost and with no obligation. Relocating to Columbia South Carolina Cantact: Desmond Meade For all of your Real Estate needs
803-319-2703
buymeadehomes@gmail.com
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The U.S. Army is reminding Soldiers and their Families of the many available mental health and well-being programs to assist them with stress during the traditionally busy Summer months, when Soldiers and their Families often move from one duty assignment to the next in addition to many wartime stresses.
"Army leaders are fully aware that repeated deployments have led to increased distress and anxiety for both Soldiers and their Families," said Secretary of the Army Pete Geren. "This stress on the force is validated by recent studies of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reporting symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression. The Army is committed to ensuring that all Soldiers and their Families receive the behavioral health care they need."
Services that are available for Soldiers and Families include combat and operational stress control for deployed units, behavioral health care programs in garrison, and suicide prevention programs. Chaplains, Military One Source, and Army Community Service offer additional support.
All Soldiers redeploying from the theater of operations are required to complete the Post Deployment Health Assessment (DD Form 2796) before leaving theater. This process screens for PTSD, major depression, concerns about Family issues, and concerns about drug and alcohol abuse. A physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner reviews the form, interviews the Soldier if needed, and can refer the Soldier to a behavioral-health care provider either on-site or at a military treatment facility. About 5 to 6 percent of Soldiers are referred for behavioral health care.
Soldiers complete the Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA) screening program three to four months after returning from deployment. Soldiers who report problems can be offered care through military medical treatment facilities, Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers or VET centers, or by private health-care providers through TRICARE. About 12 percent of Soldiers are referred for behavioral health care after this screening.
Although the challenge is great, these efforts are meeting with success. The Army's Battlemind training helps Soldiers and Families anticipate the challenges they may face before, during and after deployments. Battlemind has proved to reduce the number of Soldiers with symptoms of behavioral health problems. This has been so successful the program is being expanded to be standard for all Soldiers. Units can use videos and printed materials available at www.battlemind.org.
As part of the effort to remove any stigma that is attached to behavioral health care, Soldiers now do not have to report counseling undertaken to deal with stress from combat or related to marital, Family or grief issues when they apply for a security clearance unless the treatment was court-ordered or was the result of violence.
All Soldiers, both active and reserve, participated in training on mild traumatic brain injury and PTSD last year. This chain teaching program provided leaders and Soldiers information and resources on concussions and post combat and operational stress. Over 900,000 Soldiers received the training.
The 2007 Mental Health Advisory Team (MHAT) evaluated behavioral health support in theater last year. That MHAT concluded that programs such as Battlemind and chain teaching programs are helping, and there is a slow but steady decrease in perception of a stigma attached to behavioral health treatment.
Since last fall, the Army has added more than 190 contract behavioral-health providers to work on its installations. Additional help will come from Public Health Service providers detailed to work at military installations. There are an additional 93 social workers now employed by the Warrior transition Units. Across the Army, we have over 2000 providers, including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric technicians, drug and alcohol counselors and marriage and family therapists.
From the beginning of the Iraq War, the Army anticipated the value of a robust combat and operational stress control presence on the ground, and deployed more than 200 behavioral health providers in Iraq and 30 in Afghanistan. All deploying behavioral health providers complete the Combat and Operational Stress Control Course, which has been revised to include lessons from the war on terrorism.
The Department of Defense this year established the Defense Center of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, led by Army Brig. Gen. Loree Sutton. This organization will pool expertise for treatment, education and research on these issues.
The Army has made a concerted effort to improve suicide prevention programs. Army personnel officials, morale and welfare leaders, and chaplains are coordinating education and training efforts for Soldiers and Families. The Army Suicide Event Report system provides surveillance and analysis. Analyses of suicides have resulted in new educational products, which are currently being distributed, both in theater and in the continental United States. These include "tip cards" such as the ACE (Ask, Care, Escort) card, and updated videos. However, we recognize more needs to be done, and are committed to doing everything it possibly can to decrease suicides.
Health care providers face their own stress as they care for injured Soldiers day after day, and so they now receive Provider Resiliency Training. All health care providers will be screened, and based on those results care teams may be installed at each military treatment facility, specifically to focus on the needs of the health-care providers.
A wealth of information is available at www.behavioralhealth.army.mil on the World Wide Web. Soldiers or Family members also can call toll-free to Military One Source (1-800-342-9647) for help, including referral for behavioral health counseling.
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The Army Family Covenant says that Soldiers' strength comes from their families. It pledges to provide for and support those families, increase the accessibility and quality of healthcare, improve Soldier and family housing and standardize and fund family programs and services. The Army Family Covenant says that Soldiers' strength comes from their families. It pledges to provide for and support those families, increase the accessibility and quality of healthcare, improve Soldier and family housing and standardize and fund family programs and services.
"We recognize what it takes to be an Army Family, and that our Soldiers draw great strength from their families," said Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. "The welfare of Army Families is increasingly important to all of us," he said, adding that the Army was committed to building a partnership with families. That partnership is embodied in the Army Family Covenant.
Child care in the Army, officials point out, exemplifies the success of the AFAP process:
• There was no funding for child care construction in 1981
• Between 1983 and 2006, 132 child care facilities had been built or renovated, at a total cost of $325 million.
• The Army funded 22 new Child Development Centers in FY07; 92 Child
Development Center projects are programmed during FY08-13.
• One new Youth Center was funded in FY07; 24 Youth Center projects are programmed during FY08-12.
Examples of family support programs and services impacted by the AFAP process include:
• Family Readiness Groups are currently funded, staffed and a unit requirement as a result of policy changes made through the AFAP process.
• The Family Advocacy Program, created after an AFAP issue identified the need to assist families in crisis, provided training and support to more than 164,000 Soldiers or families in FY06.
• Financial Readiness Program managers conducted 110,041 financial readiness courses and provided individual support to 49,681.
• More than 50,000 spouses have found employment through the Army Spouse Employment Program.
• Army garrisons now provide more than 50 different support programs/activities (on average) ranging from "Army Family Team Building" classes to Youth Services Activities designed to ease the burden on the spouses of deployed Soldiers.
Throughout the coming months and leading up to the Army Family Action Plan national meeting in Alexandria, Va., in January 2009, installations and garrisons around the world will conduct local AFAP meetings to identify key issues to be addressed by Army leadership.
Thanks to the foresight of Gen. Wickham and his staff 25 years ago, officials said, the needs of the Army Family remain front and center in the hearts and minds of Army leaders around the world today and into the future.
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On June 23, the Internal Revenue Service announced an increase in the optional standard mileage rates for the final six months of 2008. Taxpayers may use the optional standard rates to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes. The rate will increase to 58.5 cents per mile for all business miles driven from July 1, 2008, through Dec. 31, 2008. This is an increase of eight cents from the 50.5 cent rate in effect for the first six months of 2008. In recognition of recent gasoline price increases, the IRS made this special adjustment for the final months of 2008. The IRS normally updates the mileage rates once a year in the fall for the next calendar year.
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Great Investment, or first time home buyer property. list at only $80,500. 3 Bed rm, 2 bath. with den all brick. This a Great Buy. Desmond Meade 803-319-2703
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Visit my website For all of your Real Estate needs for 2008. You can find information for buyers, sellers and a hold lot more. Search Our Listings for a full inventory of homes for sale today. Request a daily listing report and much more. Desmond Meade email. buymeadehomes@gmail.com www.buymyhomes4sale.com
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Two 10 wins team. Who is your pick this Thursday Cowboys or Packers
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Who is going to win the College Football Championship? Lets get your pick.
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• 1,107 sq. ft., 2 bath, 3 bdrm single story
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MLS®
#206717
$76,500
South Carolina, United States
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Great starter home or investment. All brick property convenient to Ft. Jackson. 3br/2ba. Motivated seller, bring all offers! Seller will assist with closing cost.
Property information
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