Relocation Insights from International Assignment
International Assignment Relocation is a well-known relocation agency headquartered in the Taunus above Wiesbaden. Director Ursula Diefenbach is one of the leading veterans in a competitive, challenging field. She shares with us some of the challenges facing relocation companies.
"It's service, nothing but service. Service day and night."
"We are here for the client. We are expediters, innovators, go-fers, problem-solvers, all-around experts in dozens of areas covering the thousand details that govern or regulate moving a person or persons or entire families or even groups of families in and out."
"We deal with or contend with government agencies ranging from small unincorporated communities to town councils, large municipalities, Land (state) and occasionally even Federal authorities."
"It's become more than getting electricity, water, heat, telephone lines, drivers licenses, car registrations, schooling facilities, churches, clubs and explaining store hours, garbage collection and a thousand customs."
Often these days the access to cable and satellite programming, internet and network phone lines and adequate power for running full or part-time offices at home present new demands in finding appropriate housing.
One newer requirement is outfitting offices or dwellings for clients whose household goods are still at sea or being held elsewhere. Finding high quality suitable rental furniture for long-term or temporary usage has become an important aspect. Living Room is a subsidiary service created to make sure there's a broad choice of selection for clients who'd rather live in temporary quarters than in a residential hotel - especially when children are involved.
Things are faster and more complicated today. But, occasionally, unusual incidents happen that give pause to smile, if not shake one's head. Here are just a few recent examples:
- A client comes to view a large three-room apartment completely furnished and designed by Living Room. He enters the foyer, not three feet in the apartment and promptly announces "I'll take it!" And then he proceeds to view the apartment. Queried as to his immediate, conclusive decision, he replied, " I felt at home here the moment I entered the door. The mirror and armoire are exactly like back home!"
- One member of a large company who had been transferred to Germany was sold on the idea of having a "museum-piece" car. Naturally, it couldn't be parked on the street, and, furthermore was only to be driven in good weather. What to do? The Agency managed to find a large one-car garage in the middle of the city close to the fellow's apartment, arranged to have new electric lines installed in order for him to put in heavy-duty power tools.
- And, last but not least, and probably more often than not, there's the American family with two small kids. The little boy wants a full-sized bed, like his older sister. The mother is concerned that the little guy might fall out at night even though he is beyond the crib stage. With a bit of clever carpentry, a large bed is made secure. No more tears. The kid's happy, mom's relieved, and another challenging day in the life of Ursula Diefenbach, is successfully concluded.
"Service," she said.
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