Moving is a significant event, and you want to avoid as many common mistakes as possible so your household relocation is successful. Making a mistake can waste time and money. 

Good organization and planning go a long way toward enjoying a seamless move. Make sure you create a moving checklist to facilitate the move. Then look at the following mistakes people often make so you can proactively avoid these top blunders.

1. Taking on Too Much

Many people try to make a DIY move to save money but then take on more than they can reasonably handle. As a result, they might hurt themselves, damage their belongings, or pay more than they would have by hiring a professional mover. As you start making plans for your relocation, remember what is feasible.

2. Not Decluttering Ahead of Time

It’s natural to amass many items in your home, especially if you’ve lived in one place for a long time. Plan to declutter before you start the packing process. There is no reason to pack and move items you don’t want or need, so scale back, especially if you’re moving to a smaller place. This way, you can start with a clean slate in your new home.

3. Delayed, Rushed, or Careless Packing

Delaying the packing process results in unnecessary stress. Don’t wait until the last minute to pack because it usually results in lost or broken items. If you don’t plan to utilize packing services with a professional mover, start packing a box a day until you’re ready to go. Remember to fill, tape, and label each box appropriately.

4. Packing Too Early

While you don’t want to delay this vital task, you also want to time it right. A good rule of thumb is to start about a month before your move. Carefully choose what you pack – you don’t want to re-open boxes because you need a specific item. Plan to pack non-essentials and things you know you won’t need until after your move.

5. Forgetting to Assemble a ‘First Night’ Box

The first night in a new home is likely to be highly chaotic. Plan to assemble a first night box so you and your family have everything they need at their fingertips. This way, you avoid stress and late-night errands to get what you need.

Your first night box should contain PJs, first-day clothes, toothbrushes, toiletries, snacks, drinks, pet food, toilet paper, bedding, shower curtain, and other essentials. If you have medications, be sure to pack those as well and keep refrigerated essentials cool.

6. Didn’t Book a Mover Early Enough

One task you don’t want to procrastinate on is booking a mover, especially if you’re moving during the late spring or summer. You’re more apt to get your preferred moving date and the best prices if you book as soon as you know your moving timeframe.

• Plan to get at least three estimates
• Ask prospective movers lots of questions 
• Check reviews
• Verify licenses 
• Confirm with Better Business Bureau,
• Follow up on references. 

Reputable companies are happy to share information, answer questions, and address concerns. 

Moving Made Easy

These are the most common mistakes to avoid. Ready to plan? Contact us today for a free quote.

In a competitive housing market, selling a house quickly is not always possible. Making your home more appealing to buyers can help, as can working with the right team of real estate professionals. You can do many proactive things to speed up your home-selling experience to be on your way to your household relocation. 

Here’s what you need to know.

1. Stage Your Home

Staging is a process of decorating, decluttering, and de-personalizing your house to make it appear attractive and move-in ready. Staging can impress buyers and make listing pictures more attractive as well. Some staging tips:

• Start by de-cluttering each room. All surfaces should be clean and clear of the clutter that tends to build up inside most homes.
• Deep clean each room, including parts of the house you rarely think about (like the tops of your ceiling fans, the back of the couch, the space behind the dresser, etc.)
• Get rid of old pieces of furniture that look drab and don’t contribute to the overall decor of your home.
• Buy, rent, or borrow a few new furnishings to give your home a newly decorated feel.
• Repaint rooms that need it.

If you need help with the staging process, work with a decorator to do it for you. Getting help from a professional can go a long way.

2. Hire the Right Real Estate Professional

An excellent real estate agent will know how to price your home so that it’s ideal for attracting buyers. Find a real estate professional with experience in your area and a track record for selling homes quickly. Vet several real estate professionals before picking one. Be sure to check their references.

3. Take Care of Deferred Maintenance

Many buyers want homes that are “turnkey,” meaning it’s ready to move into without doing much work. One way to make your home turnkey is to take care of any deferred maintenance. Fix small broken things around the house. Make repairs and replacements as needed. Ask yourself what a home buyer might want to do to your house shortly after moving in, and then do that work for them.

4. Fill Your Home With Natural Light

Natural light can make your home look clean and inviting. Replace any dark, heavy curtains with light sheers. Clean your windows. If outside shrubs block light from entering your home, trim them back.

5. Get Professional Photos

One way to bring buyers calling is to make your home looks lovely in the listings. Get photos taken by a professional. You’ll have to spend a little money on it, but you’ll be glad you did.

6. Work on Curb Appeal

Just as staging your home makes the inside more appealing to buyers, working on curb appeal makes the exterior more attractive. Here are some things to add to your list

• Update your landscaping
• Plant colorful new flowers 
• Remove weeds
• Water and mow your lawn
• Clean your home’s exterior
• Paint your front door a fresh color

Moving Soon? Find Movers Fast

Once your home sells, you’ll have little time to move out. It’s time to find a moving company you can trust. Contact us today to get started with your relocation.

Moving a blended family under one roof is challenging, whether you’re relocating one parent and children into the home of the other or whether both families will move to a new home they’ll all share.

Here are some tips to make your move smooth:

Consider the Children When Determining the Pace

Many emotions surface when a parent begins to seriously date another person, especially if they also have children. Children may wonder how they’ll fit into the blended family. They may also be concerned about whether the new parent will have different rules and, if so, which rules to follow.

They may also be jealous of the parent’s relationship with the stepparent or stepsiblings. But, on the other hand, they may be looking forward to having siblings.

Adults may consider moving in with each other a foregone conclusion. However, the children may still be adjusting. First, let them air their feelings and acknowledge them. Then help them get to know each other before moving in together.

Set Boundaries

Expecting that the blended family will do everything together is unrealistic. Striking a balance can help avoid resentment.

Family members should divide their time in four ways:

• Couples’ time without any children
• Each parent’s time with their own kids
• All together time
• Alone time for each parent while the other parent watches both sets of kids

Share Space Positively

Everyone has personal items and memorabilia that they treasure. Even if other family members don’t understand the significance of these items, a successful move requires finding space for them in both shared and private spaces.

Children need to have a space of their own. If you can, give them each their own room, allow them freedom, and leave their personal items untouched.

If they will share a room, help them negotiate ground rules. Each child should have at least some space of their own. Each child also should be able to require that no one touch or borrow their personal items without their permission.

If one family is moving into a home already occupied by the other, consider making everyone change. For example, rather than having one child move into a room that has previously been the sole habitat of another, consider having both children move to a new space. If moving into a new room isn’t possible, consider redecorating and rearranging the room to make it as different as possible.

Manage Expectations

The blended family will differ from the old family, so manage expectations accordingly. Give yourself, your partner, your children, and your partner’s children time to work through the new relationship and develop a new way of being family.

Some conflicts may occur, especially in the first year or two. Talk through feelings and use conflict mediation skills. If you can successfully resolve initial disagreements, the new family can live happily together.

Moving the Family

We have experience moving families. We can help your relocation go smoothly. Contact us today for a quote and more information.

If you are one of the millions working remotely, your home office is undoubtedly a crucial location in your home. However, if you are facing a move, moving your home office can feel like one of the most intimidating parts of residential relocation. Therefore, one primary task is determining how to position the home office in your new home.

 Check out a few points to consider when narrowing down the right location for your work-from-home headquarters in a new home.

1. What area of the home will offer you the most privacy?

Work-life balance is challenging when you’re a remote worker. To have an effective workspace in your home, you need a private space to separate yourself from the rest of the house. Look at the new home and consider which room would offer you the most privacy. For example, you may have a spare bedroom that would work well because it is further from the living room and kitchen.

2. Do you typically spend much time switching between home and work life?

Think about your general work day. For example, do you enter your home office and only come out for lunch or bathroom breaks? Or, do you spend some time on work, get up to wash dishes or do a load of laundry, and then do a little more work? If you spend a lot of time bouncing back and forth, you may prefer your home office location to be closer to things like the kitchen or the laundry room.

3. Are certain rooms in the house most secluded from external noise?

External noise may not be an issue if your next home is rural. However, if you are moving to a more urban neighborhood, external noise sources are vital to think about when picking your home office location. First, consider what part of the house will be most secluded from noise from a busy street or neighbors. For example, you may face fewer noise disruptions if your office is in the back of an apartment instead of near the front facing the street.

4. Do you prefer a window or exit door in your home office?

If you interact with clients stopping in at your office for appointments, having an entry door from the outside can be necessary. And, you may prefer a window to give you a nice view while you work. While having a window or exit door in a home office may only sometimes be necessary, this feature may be something you prefer. Look at the layout of your new home and decide which room or area has the parts you need to keep you as productive as possible.

Moving Made Easy with Experienced Residential Movers

From your home office to your bedroom, there can be many things to contend with during a move. Hiring a team of experienced residential movers can make all the difference in the process. If you need help, contact us for a free moving quote and schedule your preferred moving day.

Anyone can struggle with residential relocation, but children are particularly vulnerable. 

While moving to a new home is bound to generate a wide range of emotions for your family members, your children may experience some stress along the way. Starting over somewhere new and unfamiliar can be overwhelming and scary, particularly for children who are used to a standard routine.

You can help your kids adjust and successfully transition to a brand-new home with the proper planning and understanding. Here are a few strategies to help your kids cope with the impending changes.

1. Allow Children Some Control When Possible

Take your child with you when you are looking for a new home if you can. Consider their opinions when moving to a new place as one of the decision-makers.

Additionally, let your child choose the color and furniture for their room. Then, before unpacking the rest of your house, set up your children’s rooms first, so they have a familiar spot to call their own.

2. Help Your Kids Say Goodbye Before the Move 

Your children will likely leave behind familiar friends, family, and neighbors. If your children are in school, they need to bid farewell to valued teachers and classmates, not to mention their familiar hometown.

Sometimes it’s wise to allow your children the time to grieve the things they are losing while providing optimism about their future in their new home. Giving them a chance to say goodbye to their favorite places and people will give them a sense of closure before starting a new chapter of their life.

3. Stay in Contact With Friends

Your children might be afraid that they will lose their current friends after a move. And while the distance will make staying in touch a challenge, maintaining that friendship is still possible.

Encourage your kids to exchange photos with their friends before you move. Then place those photos in their new room as a reminder of their friends.

Technology and social media apps make staying in touch easier today. Encourage your children to share stories about their new home, neighborhood, and experiences.

4. Explore Your New Neighborhood

You want to make relocating enjoyable for the whole family, and exploring your new area is critical. So it’s essential to dive in and get started right away. Visit a park or find a good pizza place when you arrive at your new home. 

Then, once the chaos of moving has calmed down, take your kids around town with you and help them discover. Assist them in getting oriented to their new school and campus. Doing so will make them more familiar with the area and feel less anxious.

Moving the Family

Saying goodbye to the home where your children have grown up is difficult. However, you want to help them in the best way possible and make the transition positive. Let us assist with the move so you can assist your family in making the transition. Contact us for a free quote.