Moving Tips

How To Prepare For A Move

September 1, 2021

Moving can be a big task. But by taking mindful steps to thoughtfully plan it out, you will help ensure a more positive experience. Continue reading below to learn how to prepare for a move.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

Start with a Home Inspection

Find a notebook around your house that you can use for all of your moving notes. If possible, look at a floor plan of the new residence you will be moving into, or draw your own if needed. Now walk around your current home and pause in each room. Ask yourself where each piece of furniture or accessory will go in the new place. Begin making a list in your notebook of what items will go in each new room, and keep your list handy as you begin packing and labeling boxes.

Sell, Donate, or Toss

After you give your current home a full inspection, you will then be able to decide what to let go of. The less you have to move, the easier it will be. So only take with you what you really want or need. Moving is a great time to give your possessions a thorough purge, so take advantage of it now!

[Read: Get Organized]

Make a Moving Plan

Will you be handling the move yourself? Will you need some help from family members or friends? Or will you be hiring movers? And if so, will they just be transporting? Or will they do all the packing and unpacking as well? A lot of moving companies offer a variety of packages and options.

Moving experts, like Bekins Moving Solutions, can often handle all of those moving logistics. And then they will quite literally do all of the heavy lifting for you if that is what you choose.

Hiring Movers

If you do decide to reach out to a professional company for help, here is typically what that involves.

First they will speak with you to assess your needs. Knowing if this is for a local or cross-country move is important because not all companies cover the entire nation.

After scheduling the packing date, professional movers will arrive at your property to pack all of your belongings if you choose this option. If you have unique or uncommonly shaped items, they can make custom crates to fit what you need.

Your items are then often stored at one of the moving company’s secure facilities until you are ready to receive them at your next destination. Or they will be transported immediately based on your schedule.

Finally, when you arrive at your new location, you will schedule the delivery of your household goods. Now you and your family will have the opportunity to set up your belongings just as you had planned in your notebook.

What to Pack In Your Car

Of course the majority of your items will be in the moving truck. But with everything packed away, it will take time to get to anything specific. So you need to keep that in mind when packing. If there is anything that you need right away, you will want to set it aside to be packed in your car. Things like medicines, a few clean outfits, a roll of toilet paper, cleaning supplies, a toiletry bag and towel, etc. Anything that you might need to help get you through the first few days of unpacking and relocating all of your things should go in your personal vehicle.

Saying Your Goodbyes

Say goodbye to all of the family and friends you have made during your time in your current location. Stop by favorite local establishments for a fun goodbye photo. Making memories should be part of your moving plan. And if saying “Goodbye” is hard for you, try “See you later!” instead.

Wrap Up Your Appointments

Getting unpacked and settled into a new home always takes longer than anyone expects, especially if you are relocating to a new area. It will take time to learn where things are at, and finding new medical care professionals is a whole other job in itself! So before you prepare for a move, get as many health appointments out of the way to by you more time once you arrive.

Be Mindful of Your Children’s Feelings

A location change can be stressful for anyone, but it can be especially frustrating for children. Check in with your family members routinely to assess their feelings. Talk about any fears or concerns they may have regarding the move. Often, children will internalize their feelings and act out in unexpected or seemingly unrelated ways. They are trying to process the immense change that is about to take place which will move them from everything that has been familiar to them in their short lives.

Help your children take ownership and give them responsibilities during the moving process. Ask them to make a list of items they want to bring with them in the car, and another list of things they wish to be packed in a “To Be Opened ASAP Upon Arrival” box. Task them with making a list of snacks and other travel necessities to purchase before the move.

Prepare For A Move

Moving happens for many reasons. But it can be a wonderful experience when you properly prepare for a move. Happy Packing!

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

7 Things Every Household Should Pay Attention To

May 10, 2021

Whether you’re buying a new house, looking for a fixer-upper, or thinking about purchasing an investment property, there are some key elements you should pay attention to. Buy property comes with some intricate ins and outs that will definitely influence your final decision. You might find yourself fixating on the price, how the house looks, fixtures, and other amenities. And while these are important, they aren’t the most important. When you go into this process you aren’t going in it alone if you’re a family, whether that’s a family of two or more. Your entire household will in some way, shape, or form be involved. And as such, every member of the household that is able should keep their eyes open for these things that we’ve listed below. Continue reading below to find out what 7 things every household should pay attention to!

For more helpful resources, check out the full Moving Tips collection

7 Things Every Household Should Pay Attention To

Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish your mortgage for your new property will be influenced by it. You want to be aware of this and try to have ballpark figures in your mind when viewing various houses. Use a house mortgage calculator to help you get an idea of what a particular property might cost. Once you have these estimates you can then focus on these other areas of concern that you’ll want to pay close attention to.

1. Realtors Relationship With The Sellers

If you find that your realtor is also responsible for the listing you may want to consider looking for another real estate agent. This can potentially be a conflict of interest that will not go in the buyer’s favor (your favor). While it may make for an easier transaction, the realtor and seller will benefit most from making as much as possible from the listing. So this doesn’t protect you, the buyer. Instead look for an agent with no conflicting interest or ties to the listing.

[Read: 5 Tips to Buy a New Family Home]

2. Sellers May Be Recording Viewings

Something that buyers of a household should be aware of is the potential of being spied on by the seller. With all the tech available a seller will likely in some way record or watch a viewing with buyers. When touring a house it’s best to be careful with what you say, both positive or negative as either type of comment can influence the way a seller behaves. You can always discuss your thoughts once you’ve left the location. You don’t want to find yourself overpaying on a home because you love it and the sellers are aware of that fact.

3. Growth Potential And Challenges When Making Changes

Another thing you’ll want to pay attention to is the potential for growth and possible challenges when wanting to make changes. You may think that buying a small place is ideal in the beginning. However, if you plan to grow your family you may find yourself quickly running out of space. Depending on where your home is located you may face a lot of challenges trying to make changes to accommodate your growing family. You’ll want to make sure that the space you’re buying now has room for this potential. Moving is hard enough! But having to move every time there is a new addition, or need for change in your family, can quickly become a nightmare.

[Read: 3 Ways to Make Your House Feel Bigger]

4. Recent Sales In The Area

Something you’ll want to look into is the recent sales in the area. Use the information from these sales to get a general idea of what a house or property costs in the area. That way you can know if a price is fair or not. If it’s overpriced you’ll know why. If it’s underpriced there may be unseen issues that you’ll want to avoid. This is a good method to give yourself some leverage when going into the process of potentially purchasing a place. The price may also give you some indication of what the immediate area is like. Low-priced homes may come with some unsavory surroundings whereas a heavily-priced home may come with some additional amenities. These are all things you’ll want to ask about.

[Read: 4 Things to Look Out for When Buying an Older Home]

5. The Location

Location is probably the most important factor when purchasing a home and it can be one that many don’t pay attention to. Sometimes when considering the cost it can be easy to buy a home in a not-so-great location. You can make all kinds of changes to your home. But if you’re the best home on a bad block it can seriously hurt the value of your home. This can also lower your resale potential and make selling the home a much more tedious process. So remember that location matters when making your final decision.

6. Maintenance Cost

Another thing you should pay attention to is the maintenance cost of a property. Your expenses don’t stop at the completion of the sale. Once you’ve gained the house you have to take care of it. There are certain things that can greatly increase the maintenance cost which may be outside of your monthly budget. Pools are an example of this. A large yard is another thing to consider. Make sure that you can handle these costs before investing your money.

[Read: 8 Tips for Keeping Your Family & Home Safe]

7. Neighbors

This goes without saying but neighbors can make or break how long you live in a particular area. When you’re going for a house tour pay attention to the people you see around and ask questions. If you see a lot of basketball nets, bikes, and other toys around the homes in the area then you can be sure it is a family-oriented place. This is great for families with children. If you are looking for something quieter this can tell you that it may not be what you’re looking for. Neighbors can be one of the single factors that make you dislike where you love. Pay attention to who your potential neighbors may be.

Once you’ve covered these things and found the perfect home you’ll be well on your way to closing on the property. This process takes time so you’ll have to remain patient and also be prepared for some drawbacks or possibly not getting them home. For this reason, you should also have backup listings just in case. You don’t want to rush your decision either. Rushing may make you miss out on key important factors. The right home for you will come along but making the wrong choice can cost you big in the immediate and long-term future.

For more helpful resources, check out the full Family Home collection

4 Things To Look Out For When Buying An Older Home

June 12, 2020

Buying a home is always a difficult process and there are a lot of things to consider. When you are buying a family home, you need to think about your needs as a family and what your priorities are in a house. You also need to consider the price and the amount of work that needs to be done on the property. If you are buying a new build property, you don’t need to worry too much about the condition, but things are more complicated if you are buying an older home.

Older properties are very popular because they have a lot of character and you can often get a better price on them, as long as you are willing to put some work in. But it’s important that you don’t take on too much work, which is why you need to be thorough when viewing houses. These are some of the most important things to look out for when viewing an older property.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

Dangerous Materials in Older Homes

In the past, a lot of houses were built using dangerous materials and it’s important that you check for things like asbestos or lead paint before you buy a house. If there is a lot of asbestos in the home and you think that it may have affected your health, you should seek the legal representation you deserve and make a compensation claim. When it comes to buying a house, you should always have a survey carried out to check for asbestos because it’s expensive to remove and you may not want to take that task on. If there is lead paint, that is easier to deal with but it’s important that you remove it safely.

Faulty Wiring

Older properties often have problems with the electrics because the wiring is very old. When the houses were built, people didn’t have anywhere near as many electrical devices, so old wiring is not capable of powering multiple laptops, phone chargers, TVs and kitchen appliances. If you start plugging lots of things in, there is a big fire risk. A lot of older properties have already had their wiring updated recently, but it’s important that you check this before buying the house because it will be expensive to rewire the entire property.

Structural Problems in an Old Home

Older properties are often prone to structural problems, and that’s not something that you can fix easily. If you buy a home that has foundation issues, you won’t be able to move in until it’s fixed, and that will be incredibly expensive and time consuming. When you are viewing a house, look out for cracks in the wall because this can be an indication of structural problems.

Roof Damage

Roof damage is another expensive problem that you won’t be able to ignore. A few loose tiles is nothing to worry about but if there are big holes in the roof, water will leak in and the walls will be damp and moldy. It will cost a lot to replace the roof and you will also have to cover the cost of dealing with damp, so make sure that you check the condition of the roof before you buy.

You need to make sure that you check these things before you buy an older property, so you don’t end up buying a money pit!

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

How to Prepare Your Home to Sell It

June 2, 2020

Prepare Your Home to Sell It

Buying a home is the most expensive purchase that most people will ever make. So it makes sense that people take their time with the decision. Buyers won’t put an offer in for a house unless they are absolutely sure that it’s perfect for them. And this is something that often frustrates sellers. However, you can speed the process along a bit if you present your home in the right way before somebody comes to view it. These are some of the best ways to prepare your home to sell it.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

torso picture of lady holding cleaning products

Clean Your Home Inside and Out

Most people recognize the importance of cleaning their home thoroughly before people come around because you want it to be a pleasant environment. If you follow this clever strategy, you can make sure that you keep your home in tip top shape so you’re always prepared for viewings.

It’s equally important, if not more important that you keep the outside of the house clean as well. First impressions are key and if people pull up outside to see a dirty, run down property… your chances of making a sale are very slim. Before you start showing people around, consider pressure washing the driveway and paved areas. And you will also want to clean all of the windows. Just before the showing, give the outside areas a quick sweep so there is no debris. Having a clear walkway and clean deck leaves a better impression than having dead leaves lying around.

[ Take the 30 day challenge to declutter your home! ]

dripping faucet

Keep Up with Maintenance

People don’t like the idea of buying a house and then doing lots of maintenance as soon as they move in, which is why you need to keep up with DIY. Go around the house and check for small issues. Look for broken light switches or dripping taps. And deal with them before any showings. If there are any more serious issues, it’s important that you either fix them or you notify potential buyers and adjust the asking price to account for the maintenance that the new owners will have to do.

window sill with plants

Open Up Doors and Windows

A house that smells bad is always going to put people off, but the thing is, you may not notice. You get used to smells when you are in the house all of the time, but your potential buyers will not be used to it. You need to look for any sources of bad smells and open up all of the windows to air the house out. Opening up all of the doors also helps to improve the flow of natural light throughout the home and make it look a lot more spacious.

[ Learn how to take professional looking pictures of your home ]

woman giving a dog a bath

Clean Your Pets

If you have a dog, the smell can really put people off. In some cases, you may decide to send them to stay with a friend or family member for a few days. If not, you need to bathe them properly and groom them so you can get rid of the smell. The added bonus is that it will also limit the hair that they shed in the house.

Taking the steps to prepare your home to sell it can be time consuming, but it is worthwhile! By making sure that your home looks, smells, and seems clean to potential visitors makes a world of difference. You could even get a higher purchase price when selling your home just by paying attention to the little details that make buyers feel welcome and at home!

For more on this topic, check out the full Get Organized collection

Prepare Your Home to Sell It

5 Tips to Buy a New Family Home

May 29, 2020

When you’re looking to buy a new family home, there are certain things you’ll want to consider from the get-go. You want it to be perfect for your growing family, so it’s vital that you’re as prepared as possible. Moving to a new house is never easy. But if you are organized ahead of time, it will help to ease the stress of the process.

To help guide you down the right path, here are 5 key factors you’ll want to consider when purchasing your future family home.

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection

Ideal Budget for a Family Home

The first thing you should consider is what your ideal budget will be. Not everyone’s budget is the same, and you’ll want to ensure that you’re not spending more than you can realistically afford on the property. Think about what features are a necessity, and items that are wants.

Unfortunately, unless you have a large budget, you’ll have to compromise on some things. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t purchase a home that you can transform into a family-friendly haven. And remember, you can always add to it later on.

[ Read tips about Saving Money ]

Location for Buying a Home

Secondly, you’ll want to think about where you want your new family home to be. Realtors often say that the 3 most important things to consider when buying a new home is location, location, and location. So, when viewing homes, pay attention to how close it is to amenities, child care, schools, your office, etc. This is a factor that you should definitely prioritize. And by talking with your realtor, and taking a walk around the neighborhood, you’ll get an insight into whether it’s the right location for your family.

[ Read about the different Childcare Options ]

Safety of the Neighborhood for Your Family

You want your family to be as safe as possible. So before submitting an offer in on a house, make sure that you read up on what the safety is like in the area and whether it’s suitable for families. This is also something that you can get a feel for during your visit. Make sure that it’s the perfect environment for your children.

Turn Key or Project for Your Family Home

If you have a young family, then this question might be an easy one to answer. You’ll likely want a turn key property as you don’t have the time nor money to pay for a renovation project. But if you’re in no rush to move into your new family home, and you want to customize it so that it’s exactly right for you, then you might want to consider taking on a project.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you as to the type of property you opt for. But by weighing the different options in terms of costs and time, you’ll get a better idea for which one is a better fit for your family, your budget, and your current phase of life.

[ Get inspiration and tutorials for your next DIY project ]

Planning for Your Family’s Home

This is something that can be considered alongside the above point. If you’re planning on expanding your family in the future and you’re looking for your forever home, make sure that you view houses that can accommodate this.

Whether this is looking for a home with one or more extra rooms, or that generally has more living space, it’s something that you’ll want to keep in mind from the start.

Buy a New Family Home

So, there you go! Those are just 5 of the key things that you should consider when buying your new family home. It’s a big decision that mustn’t be taken lightly. So speak to your realtor, and be sure that you’ve taken time to consider all of your options in advance. Happy House Hunting!

For more on this topic, check out the full Moving Tips collection