Moving is a time of excitement, but it can also be a time of apprehension.

Deciding to move is difficult, but once you’ve decided, you will want to do everything possible to make the transition smooth.

There are a few ways you can make your family’s move seamless. Eliminate the stress with these tips so that you can focus on enjoying a positive new experience with your family.

1. Share the News Gently

It is essential to tell the family about the move as early on as possible so that they have time to adjust to the idea of moving.

Although this might be a hard discussion to have with kids of any age, putting it off will only make it more difficult.

Tell them in a comfortable home setting and not a public place. This will allow them to express their true feelings about the news.

2. Spark Excitement

Get the family excited about the move. Generating excitement is especially important if the kids did not take the news about moving well when you told them.

Share positive information about your new location, so that the family will start feeling excited about relocating.

Provide books, stories, or movies to your kids about moving. Children process their emotions better with a narrative that helps them understand and gives them something to relate to.

If possible, let them share in the house hunt. Visit your new home before the move, and acquaint your kids to the new neighborhood and their new school. Stop at local parks and let them get out and experience their new area.

3. Start Planning the New Home

Once you know where you will be living, let the kids plan out their new space.

They’ll feel excited and take ownership if they know what their room will look like and if they can start to imagine how they will set it up.

Discuss paint colors, decorations, new furniture, or other unique ways to personalize their new room. Your new house will feel like home for the whole family much faster.

4. Make Packing Fun

Get the children involved in the packing process, so they’ll feel included in the big family move and feel like they have a bit of control.

Turn the packing process into a creative activity instead of a chore, and it will be more fun for all. Let your kids decorate some of their moving boxes with stickers, markers, or crayons.

If you have young children, pack up their rooms as close to moving day as possible. Perhaps even provide a couple of boxes for them to just play with will help keep them entertained.

5. Dedicate a Box of Essentials for Everyone

Make sure to pack a small essentials box for each family member, so there is not a frantic search through boxes for important items upon arrival.

The essentials boxes contain the things each person needs for the trip and the first few days in the new home. Essential items include things like a change of clothes, medicines, toiletries, and chargers.

Boxes for young children might include toys, games, and books as well as comfort and entertainment items.

6. Maintain Routine

Moving creates disruptions in routines. Try to re-establish your family’s routine as soon as possible in the new home. The sooner you can resume your regular schedules, the better.

Resume your regular mealtimes, bedtimes, and activity times that the family had at your old home. Provide both necessary routines as well as fun ones. For instance, if your family had popcorn and movie night once a week, continue that tradition as soon as you are settled.

Getting back into the swing of the old routine will provide comfort and security for everyone.

Getting Settled With Less Stress

These steps will help make your family move less stressful. Try to make it a team effort and find ways to make it a fun process.

Make your move even easier – give us a call. Browning Moving & Storage can help you handle your move so you can focus on your family.

Are you a new homeowner, moving into a new home from an apartment or condominium? One of the most critical, challenging, and potentially frustrating aspects of owning a home is managing your home’s yard work.

You may look forward to spending your weekends relaxing and enjoying your home, but without proper care and planning, your weekends may quickly become dominated by the physical and emotional toll of doing outside labor you’re not prepared to do.

If you’re buying a home with a yard (even if it’s a small one), there are steps you can take to make your life easier. Here’s our list of the essentials when it comes to managing your yard work.

1. Get the right equipment for the job.

Invest in good quality hand tools, such as rakes, shovels, spades, and so on. Don’t be taken in by what looks like a bargain, only to regret the purchase later. Opt for high-quality, steel implements rather than cheaper plastic ones.

Carefully weigh the pros and cons of gas vs. electric equipment. Consider the size of your yard and how useful each item will be. It might be tempting to buy a new electric lawnmower, pressure washer, leaf blower, or another item, but keep in mind that electric motors rarely have the torque (power) as gasoline engines.

2. Know your new area.

Learn the rules in your new area and follow them. Your yard care might not be entirely up to you. Find out if your neighborhood has homeowner association restrictions when it comes to landscaping, plant life, house exterior, and fencing.

3. Pace yourself.

According to the Cleveland Health Clinic, yard work can put a lot of strain on your heart, and if your body is not used to that exertion, you may be a prime candidate for a stroke or heart attack. Break the yard work up into manageable chunks, and take enough time to rest.

Avoid doing yard work in the hot afternoon hours, and stop when you’re tired.

4. Consider a lawn service.

Consider hiring a lawn or exterior maintenance service rather than taking on the work yourself.

Professional landscapers don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Check with your neighbors for recommendations, and chat with workers in your neighborhood to have them inspect your property before quoting you a price.

If you have trees on your property, opt for a lawn service or landscaping company that can take care of your outdoor work, including trees.  

5. Organize a work party!  

If you have major yard cleanup work to do, there’s no better way to get the job done than to make it an event.

Invite a few friends or new neighbors over to pitch in, fire up the barbeque grill, and have some R&R after the work is done. You’ll get the job done faster with more hands on deck, and have fun in the process.

Enjoy your yard!

Good luck with your new yard!

Have you made the move yet? Still, need help? Contact us for a free quote. We can help you get to your new home.

If you’re in the market for a new home, you may be eager to move in. Haste, as the saying goes, makes waste.

One of the most important tasks you’ll need to do before signing any document that obligates you to financial responsibility is to inspect the home yourself. Whether you’re purchasing a brand-new home or one that’s had several previous owners, you owe yourself (and your wallet) the peace of mind that you’ve done your homework.

We’ve put together a checklist for you to follow as you inspect the interior of a potential new home before you consider making an offer. It’s important to identify any possible problems with the inside of any house you’re considering making an offer on before you commit to the financial responsibility as a homeowner.

Here’s our list of the most important things to check in the home’s interior.

1. Doors and Windows

Open and close all doors and windows, and make sure they open quickly and fasten securely.

Look at calking and weather sealing and note any cracked caulk or worn weather seals. Take special note of any possible mildew or mold. Examine window sills and look for bubbles or discoloration, sure signs of water damage.

If the home has glass block windows or other window types that don’t open, be sure to check them as well. Pounding rain, freezing temperatures, and heat can crack caulk and sealants even in decorative or fixed windows.

2. Plumbing

Open the cabinets under the kitchen sink and look for discoloration and signs of rust. Using a flashlight, check that drain pipes are securely fastened to sinks and free of any signs of mold, mildew, rust, or hard water stains.

If the drainage pipes are made of PVC, make sure all seals are free of any visible signs of stains.

Move all items from under sinks in the kitchen and bathrooms and look at surfaces. Pay close attention to areas where the area under the sink meets a back wall and take note of any gaps or possible signs of previous water damage that may have been repaired.

Examine each toilet in the house, flush, and wait to ensure the water supply shuts off. Check that toilets are securely fastened to floors. In a multi-story home or townhouse, check the ceilings in rooms below any plumbing fixtures for any possible signs of drywall damage.

Check showers, shower stalls, and bathtubs. Turn on all water supplies, and note how quickly water fills up a tub and drains. A slow drain is a sign of damaged, old, clogged, or worn-out drainage lines.

3. Water Heater

Feel the hot water supply line that leads out of the water heater to make sure it’s hot. If the hot water heater is insulated, feel the insulation carefully to make sure it’s not warm or damp to the touch.

Look at the drainage pan under the water heater to see if there are any signs that it’s ever contained any water (it shouldn’t).

If the home has a tankless water heater, check that the system is operating correctly.

Turn on hot water faucets and note how long it takes for hot water to flow. If the home has more than one shower or tub, turn several on simultaneously to see if there is a sufficient supply of hot water.

4. Kitchen Appliances

Dishwasher

Check that it runs and is quiet enough for your preference.

Refrigerator

Open the fridge and note the temperature, the make, and model, and be sure to ask about its age. Check the manufacturer’s product label on the inside of the fridge and write down the make and model. The average lifespan of a home refrigerator is 13 years. If the fridge is nearly that old, chances are you’ll need to replace it soon.

Stove

Make sure gas supplies work for gas ranges or ovens, that there is no scent of gas when the appliances are off, and open doors and inspect under gas cooktops to make sure there is no odor.

Other

Turn on the kitchen disposal, under counter lights, and open and close all cupboards and drawers. If the kitchen has a food pantry, look for any signs of pests such as roaches, rats, mice or other predators.

Next Steps

If the home passes your inspection, it’s time to call in a professional to do a more thorough examination before making an offer. Contact the American Society of Home Inspectors to find an expert in your area.

Need help with your move? Browning Moving & Storage Moving Systems is committed to providing outstanding customer service and is ready to help you move to your new home. Contact us today for a free quote.