Category: Moving Tips

Are you preparing for a residential move? Staging your home to sell is an art. When you create a look that entices potential buyers, it’s easier getting offers on your home. While working with a professional for staging your home is one option, there are plenty of ways to stage your home on your own. 

Take a look at these tips for creating the looks that buyers want.

Get Rid of the Clutter

A clean home is a happy home. Potential buyers will love seeing your home when it is free of clutter. 

Minimize or eliminate distractions that might take buyers’ focus away from the positive elements of the house. Remove as many personal items as possible. Get an early jump on packing by packing up things like family photos, large collections on display such as trophies, as well as unusual decor.

Potential buyers will be able to envision it as their own functional space when you eliminate your own personality from the home.

If you’re a pack-rat with overstuffed closets, clear those out as well. An overstuffed closet might be interpreted as a house without enough storage. The same idea applies to garages, basements, laundry rooms, and storage areas. Eliminate the excess so that your home looks big and inviting. 

When potential buyers see that you keep your home free of mess, they’ll be impressed that the place has been well taken care of. Simply taking an hour or two to clear up all clutter in your home can be one of the biggest changes you can make to draw in potential buyers.

Do a Deep Cleaning and a Little Fixing

While decluttering, take the opportunity also to do a thorough cleaning. Scrub and polish each area of your home from top to bottom to make it shine.

Clean the tile in the bathrooms and kitchen. Make sure to eliminate all cobwebs and dust bunnies. Clean the baseboards and remove smudges from walls, doors, mirrors, and windows.

Now is the ideal time to fix those small items you’ve had on your “to-do” list but haven’t gotten to. Regrout or replace any chipped or broken tiles. Repair cracks and holes in the walls. Consider touching-up and painting any areas that are worn, like doors and high traffic areas.  

A clean and well-maintained home shows potential buyers that you have taken excellent care of the property.

Let The Light In – Literally

The chances are that your potential buyers are looking for a home that’s light and bright, so you’ll want to do all you can to bring light into your home. 

Open all curtains and blinds, and strategically place some mirrors around your home to reflect light into dark areas. Your realtor can help you with strategic placement. If it’s cloudy outside on the day of your showing or open house, strategically placed lamps can add a warm glow that makes the home feel more inviting.

Clear Out Non-Essential Furniture

While it may sound odd, removing some furniture from your house can make it more appealing to potential buyers. You don’t want the furniture to crowd your rooms. Instead, you want them to feel spacious. This might be challenging if you’re still living in your home. Renting a storage unit for a few of the non-essential pieces of furniture can help give your home an open and roomy feel.

Rearrange Furniture

When you’ve gotten rid of non-essential furniture, rearrange the rest of the furniture away from the walls. This creates an open and inviting space and allows your guests to imagine themselves relaxing with family. Think about the cozy furniture in a coffee shop — that’s the look you’re after when you stage your furniture.

Add Some Extras

Think about what would wow you if you walked into a nice hotel room. Welcoming folded towels in the bathrooms, fresh flowers on the kitchen table, and bowls of fresh fruit strategically placed around the home can go a long way to impress.

Freshly baked cookies and clean linens also add inviting smells to your home.

Staging it Right

Properly staging your home can make or break a sale. You must take the time necessary to make your home appealing. Be sure to chat with your realtor about any specific tips they have for boosting your home’s appeal.Need help planning your residential move? Contact us for more information.

If you are moving soon, chances are you are prepping for your move and reviewing your moving options. 

Using a full-service moving company is a brand new experience for those who have only completed do-it-yourself moves in the past. If you are weighing the alternatives, you may be unsure of what to expect.

Let’s take a look at what to expect when you utilize the services of a full service moving company.

Full-Service Moving

A full-service move means the moving company handles all the heavy lifting related to your move from beginning to end. Full-service moving is ideal for those who aren’t able or don’t want to deal with the physical challenges of a move, like packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, and driving the truck. Full-service moves are also excellent for people who prefer not to manage the details of moving on their own.

Moving companies that provide full-service moving packages save you stress and hassle as well as time and money. By delegating the time-consuming details of your move, you can concentrate on your day-to-day responsibilities leading up to your relocation. 

Typically full-service moves include:

• A personal move coordinator to handle the details
• Qualified drivers and equipment
• Loading, transporting, and unloading of household belongings
• Full Value Protection
• Standard transportation of appliances (excluding service, disconnect, and reconnect)
• Disassembly and reassembly of bed frames
• Furniture placement

Additional Moving Options

Check for ways to customize your moving experience when reviewing moving companies. Depending on your needs, these extra options will make your moving experience that much smoother!

Here are some additional options that excellent full-service moving companies also offer.

Packing and Unpacking

Without a doubt, your daily life is hectic, and even more so now that you are moving. If you find that you are too overwhelmed or don’t have the time or energy to pack your entire house, look for a packing and unpacking option from your residential moving company.

Professional movers are systematic and organized about packing. They will ensure that your belongings are packed, protected, and safe for the move. They’ll go room to room and box up your items, dismantle any furniture that needs to be taken apart, and even take your artwork off the walls.

Handling Special Items

Sometimes there are belongings in your home that require more than just a standard packing job. Make sure that your valued items make it to your new house intact.

If you have fragile items that need special attention — from artwork to antiques or heirlooms to wine collections — inquire about special or custom crating or handling of these things. A full-service moving company can create a custom crate or another custom packaging to get them there.

Storage

You may have a unique moving situation. Perhaps you sold your house faster than expected, and you are still searching for your next dream home. You may be in a situation where you need to store your belongings in the interim.  

Full-service movers provide short-term and long-term storage options so that you can stash your belongings until you are ready.

On the Move

The best residential moving companies offer optional moving services in addition to their basic package. Look for one that is well-equipped to assist you with all aspects of your move. These customized services might be your key to a successful, smooth move. 

If you are planning your move and are looking at full-service movers, contact us for a virtual survey today.

Getting ready to move can be tough on every member of the family. 

You’re trying to make your new home perfect. Your children may be adjusting to switching schools or playing in a new neighborhood. When you’re working to keep your family happy during a move, it’s easy to forget your pets. 

However, your furry family members need some extra love and care when you’re moving. Check out these tips to make relocation to a new house less stressful for your dog or cat.

Check-In With Your Vet

If you’re moving to a new home that requires you to change vets, be sure to check in for an appointment. Even if you’re close enough to continue using the same vet, talking to your vet can be a smart move. 

Your vet knows your pet. They might have some tips and recommendations that can be helpful during the move. This is also an excellent time to get your pet up-to-date on shots. If you’re registering your dog or cat in a new county, you’ll need to provide immunization records.

Be sure to get their microchip records updated to your new address.

Snuggle And Play

Giving your pet some extra attention and affection is essential during your move. As you transition to a new home, reassure your pet that your love hasn’t changed. Give them some extra walks or playtime to relieve some pent up anxiety. 

If your pet wants to be alone, don’t feel that you have to force them to play (especially true for cats). When they’re ready, engage with them, pet them, and let them know that you’re still there, even though you’re in a new home.

Explore Slowly

You want to see your pet explore your new home, but be cautious. While it’s fun for pets to check out new areas, it can be overwhelming if it happens to fast. 

Limit your dog or cat to one room of the house, and slowly expand their territory. This helps them learn the space, feel safe, and keep stress levels low.

Stay Consistent

Your pet knew your routine at your old home – do your best not to change it. Keep feeding times and exercise times the same. If you usually place their food and water bowls near the door, try to accommodate a similar spot in the new house.

Provide them with their favorite treats. Pack their crate or bed in your car – not on the moving truck – so you can get it set up right away. The more consistent you can keep their life as you move to a new home, the better.

Give Them Time

It’s normal for pets to act out as they get used to a new home. Know that this will pass in time as they go through the adjustment to a new space. Urinating in inappropriate places, being destructive, and showing anxious behaviors (hissing or barking) are all normal things for pets who are learning something new. If you’re concerned, reach out to your vet. For most pets, these behaviors usually pass within a few days or weeks.

Smooth Move With Your Pet

Moving is tough. Don’t forget that this is true for your dog or cat, too. Providing your pet with some extra love and care can go a long way in helping them make the transition to your new home.

Phase 1: Clean Out

1. Prepare a designated area at your home to use as a storage spot for when you clean out each room. This area could be the garage at your house or storage area at your condo. Define two areas: one for items to toss out and another for items to donate
   
   
2. Put an empty box and a few trash bags in every room.
   
   
3. Go through one room at a time. Put all give away items in the box and any items to toss out in the trash bags. Bring them to the designated area. Complete one room each day. This will keep the task from being overwhelming. Save your bedroom for last, as this may take the longest.
   
   
4. Place all high-value items together in one area of the room. Make a List of each high-value item. Include the item name, brand, make, style name, etc.
   
   High-value items need to be inspected by the mover before the box is sealed. If you are packing yourself, put the high-value items and an empty box with packing paper next to the high-value items. The mover will list each item on the “High-Value Form.” The mover will then wrap each item, pack it into the box, seal, and label the box “HV.”
   
   The mover will list each item on the HV inventory sheet. At your destination, the mover will bring all boxes labeled  “HV” to you. Together you will open and inspect each item. There is no extra charge for this.
   
   
5. Pack any personal high-value items, including important papers inside a box labeled ‘personal,’ and put them in a closet. On packing or moving day, remove them from the closet and put them in your car or the truck. Be sure to lock your car.  

Phase 2: Get Estimates

Moving estimates are good for 90 days. Make sure the quote is binding with a weight credit. If the weight goes under the estimate, Mayflower automatically sends the customer a ‘weight credit’ refund. 

Phase 3: Packing

1. If you are packing your own belongings, use the survey with the moving estimate to determine the number and sizes of boxes you will need for each room.
   
   
2. Buy or obtain moving boxes from your mover. These boxes from your moving company are specially rated for moving, unlike those at big box stores. Your belongings will be more protected during the move with boxes obtained through your mover. Keep in mind, if boxes obtained from an outside source crush during transit, the movers aren’t liable unless carrier mishandling is proven. 
   
   Steer clear of using plastic totes for moving boxes. They are not moving industry compliant. They are made to be stacked on a stationary shelf in a climate-controlled atmosphere. They’re not meant to be packed and stacked inside a moving truck that will be subjected to road and temperature conditions.
   
   
3. If you’re packing your home yourself, pack up one room each day. Continue packing one room a day and save your bedroom for last. Be sure to label every box.

Phase 4: Appliances, Special Services, Disassembly

Call to schedule third party services for all belongings that require professional attention. This includes things like preparing front load washing machines, disassembling grandfather clocks, pool tables, and exercise equipment, and removing TV and surround sound systems from the walls.

Phase 5: Pack Day

If you hired the moving company to pack — sit back and relax! The packers will pack and inventory each room. The basic contents of each box will be labeled on the box and inventory sheet. The moving crew will know where to put every box when they arrive at your new home. 

Phase 6: Move Day

The driver and crew arrive. They put down floor protection, and pad wrap other areas of your residence to avoid damage.