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Posts Tagged ‘moving’
More Places to Consider when Retiring
When most of think of retirement we think of warm places and places where we can do new and exciting things with all of our free time. Maybe there is something you have always wanted to try and you are waiting until retirement to try it. Well, here are some more places to consider when retiring especially if you want to do something different with your life. Keep these in mind when thinking about the future; you may be surprised what they have to offer.
Ask your real estate agent for advice
Many people when they plan to retire want some place different, some place affordable and some place relaxing and peaceful. Well your real estate agent can be an excellent resource to you when trying to find the retirement place that suits you the best. They have plenty of tips, tricks and advice to help you get started.
Georgetown, Texas
This is a good location for warm dry weather. It also offers wines at local wine bars. It is also close to Lake Georgetown and Texas Hill Country which can provide beautiful views and be peaceful while still giving you the option for city services a half an away in Austin.
Corvallis, Oregon
This location offers highly educated people and has employers from companies like Hewlett Packard. It also has two hundred acres of beautiful parks and a dozen wineries in the Willamette Valley.
Fort Collins, Colorado
This is an affordable college town surrounded by lakes, parks, and forests. It is also near the Rocky Mountains offering beautiful scenic views and only two hours away for skiing. It is a wonderful place to enjoy all of the four seasons.
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
This area is known for its high tech companies and Research University. It also offers a free local bus service which makes it easy for many residents to get around town and see the four hundred square miles of parkland.
Madison, Wisconsin
This location offers lakes, top employment at state and government universities such as the University of Wisconsin-Madison. This area is also growing in the fields of tech and biotech firms.
Leaving everything you know and love behind when you retire can be difficult for many people. However, retirement can also be a time to find new interests, do new things, and just to enjoy the things going on around you. Retirement may be just around the corner or years away, but you should still keep these places in mind when you make your decision about where to live. They offer some exciting and unique opportunities that may be worth looking into.
Number of Views :69Moving Day Tips
Moving is a carefully timed production, full of potential pitfalls. It’s stressful, it’s unpleasant, and it’s usually unavoidable. Very few people only move once or twice in their lifetimes. So, if you have to do it, make it as easy as possible.
Plan ahead. Rent a moving truck and hire a moving crew (if needed) as far in advance as you can. If you have carpets in your current home or carpets in your new home, rent a carpet cleaner at the same time, for a couple days on either side of your move.
Put in your change of address form (through the post office) before your move. The address change won’t take affect until the date you specify, and it will be one less thing to worry about on the day you move.
Choose one room for storing packed boxes in. This will keep the rest of your home from becoming cluttered with moving gear, and will make moving day much easier. Remember to label your boxes as you go. Pick up Styrofoam coolers for moving perishables on the day of your move, if you are moving locally. Food should be the last thing packed, and the first thing unpacked to prevent spoiling.
Move on a weekday. Banks, utility companies and other businesses will be open. If any problems come up, you’ll be able to contact somebody right away, instead of having to wait until the next business day. Avoid moving on a holiday. Banks and many businesses may be closed, and the extra traffic on the roadways might make moving more stressful than it already is.
Keep a list of when each utility is being turned off at your old home and turned on at the new. Plan for a few days of overlap. There’s nothing quite like cleaning up, either at the old home or the new, with no electricity and no hot water. Plan on keeping the utilities on for a few extra days in your old home after the move, so you can go back and finish up any last minute cleaning after the home is empty.
Reserve several boxes for last minute items on moving day. There are almost always a scattered collection of things that need to be packed up right before you move, such as the last bit of clothing, personal supplies and other odds and ends.
Keep all of your cleaning supplies together. This includes sponges, paper towels and plastic bags to hold garbage. Put them all in a box with handles, to make them easier to move around while you clean. If you will be returning to your old home to clean up after the move, have a second set of cleaning supplies to leave there until you are done. This will prevent you from needing to carry the supplies back and forth between the two properties.
Number of Views :135Best Cities for Jobs This Year: Will You Make the Move?
Many of the readers out there may be wondering what a topic like this has to do with the housing market and real estate. Well, many people buy or sell their houses based on where they live because of a job or how much income they earn at their job. This is why talking about the best cities to find jobs in this year affect the housing market. Everyone needs to know if any of these cities or jobs is worth moving for or if staying put a little longer may pay off in the end.
Many of these cities with the best jobs for this year had some advantages such as lower costs, more access to talent, and industry resources, among many other factors. However, many of these cities did not show that much of an increase in employment rates, so it is important to do research on how well one city is doing in comparison to another. This way you get as much information as you can before making any major decisions.
The top cities for job this year include:
Austin, Texas
This city has many top graduates graduating for many top schools and they also have an entrepreneurial spirit because they have a high number of self-employed workers. Austin also has been recruiting many technology companies due to the low business costs in this area and it is featuring itself in the clean technology industry which may do very well in the future.
Fort Hood, Texas
A major army base, strong health care services, and higher education options make this a top city for jobs this year. The area is working on building a major satellite company, the army base has increased its population, and it has a low rate of subprime mortgages so it has not been affected as much by the housing market crisis.
Salt Lake City, Utah
This city has a strong technology and finance industry. It was also only affected minimally by the subprime mortgage problems, and the city on a whole seems to be strong and recovering well from any problems.
Durham, North Carolina
This city has made strong advances in technology, biopharmaceutical, medical research and higher education. It has had a population increase due to being popular for many young professionals and it has seemed to recover well from any economic difficulty.
Now with more information, many home buyers and sellers need to make some important decisions. Is it worth moving for the higher paying jobs and lower costs or not? Many real estate agents also need to pay attention to what may attract people to certain areas. This is why jobs and the job market greatly impact the housing market.
Number of Views :104Moving with Pets
There is a lot of information available about the challenges of moving with children, but not as much attention is paid to the difficulty of moving with Fluffy and Fido. Unlike children, who can mostly understand the move and who can communicate their concerns (unless they are very young), your pets aren’t going to know what’s going on. All they know is that their homes are being changed drastically (as you pack) and then they are being brought to an unfamiliar place.
One of the most important things to remember when moving with pets is to keep everything as familiar as possible. Try to not alter your pet’s daily schedule. If you always go for a long walk after dinner, for example, keep the walk as part of your routine, even if you are short on time. Also, try to stretch out the move for as long as possible. Start packing when you decide to move instead of rushing during the last week or two. A slower transition will make the move go a lot smoother, for both you and your pet.
Create a “pet room” in both the home you are moving out of, and the home you are moving into. The pet room should have food and water dishes, a litter box for cats, toys, a sleeping area, and anything else your pet needs to feel secure. Put a sign on the door, asking that no one goes into the room, or lets the animals out. If you will be using a moving crate for your pets, leave the crate on the floor, open, so that the animals can investigate it for a day or two. When you let them out of the crate, keep them in the pet room for a few days, while you set up your new home. Not having to see the home with boxes piled everywhere will help the transition.
Make sure you have new tags, with your new address written on them, made up before the move. On moving day, or even a day or two before, put on the new tags. Make sure your leashes are in good shape and readily available at any point during the move. If your dog needs to go out, you won’t have time to dig through boxes.
If you will be moving to a new town, make one last visit to the vet’s office for a final check-up and to get copies made of your pet’s medical file. You will be able to bring these documents to a vet in your new town, saving yourself more paperwork down the road.
If you will be driving long distance with your pet for the move, remember to stop often, every two hours or so, to give them fresh water and to give them a chance to walk around. Rest areas often have pet-friendly areas just for this purpose. Keep the car at a comfortable temperature, and cover the cages, to help the pet feel more secure.
If you will be flying to your new home, call airlines in advance to ask about their guidelines and regulations. Try to choose the airline company with the best pet-friendly policy, preferably one that offers a non-stop flight to your location, reducing the amount of handling required for shipping your pet. Make reservations as soon as possible, and call the day before the flight to confirm.
It may take several days, even a few weeks, for some pets to adjust to a new home. Other pets will experience very little anxiety, and be excited to explore their new environment. It depends on the temperament of the animal and how pet-friendly you can make the move. Be patient and understanding, and provide lots of extra attention, and your pet will settle into his or her new home in no time at all.
Number of Views :239Before Moving Out
Once you have sold your home, set a move-out date, and have begun packing, time will probably seem to fly right by. All you really need to do is pack up your stuff and leave, right?
Maybe. You should, of course make sure all of your personal belongings are out, and that you have cleaned up all of your garbage. You will still have to get your keys to the new owners in whichever way was previously agreed upon, but other than that, you’re not really obligated to do anything else.
You could, though. A little extra work and consideration can make moving in a lot more pleasant for the family that will be moving in. A lot of agents will recommend that the home is at least “broom swept” before you move out. Sweep the floors, get rid of cobwebs along the walls and ceiling. Take it a step further, and mop or vacuum and clean the windows and surfaces, such as countertops and sinks. You should also take the time to give the bathrooms one last cleaning.
If it has been several days since the last time the lawn was mowed, that might be a really nice gesture to consider. Rake up leaves in the fall, or, in the winter, shovel the driveway and put down some rock salt to get rid of ice.
Of course, after you’ve gone through all of the work associated with moving, trying to get extra work done is probably not what you want to be doing. If you can, try keep everything neat while you are cleaning, and do any necessary yard work before you start loading the moving van. Then, you will only have a few quick things (a quick sweep and mop) to get done afterwards. This can be even easier if you entirely clean out each room as you get everything out of it. Empty out a room, clean it quickly, and then move on.
If you really don’t have the time, consider calling a cleaning service to give the home a once-over after you have moved out. Yard work could be handled by a neighborhood teen.
So, what do you get out of this extra effort or expense? Nothing, really, other than the knowledge that you have made moving a more enjoyable experience for the new owners. Not having to handle a lot of cleaning in the first few days after they have moved in will mean a lot.
You don”t need to scrub the home from top to bottom, but a little extra cleaning can make a great impression. You’ve loved living in the home you are leaving behind; make sure the new occupants will love it just as much, from the moment they walk through the door.
Number of Views :138After the Movers Leave
You bought a house, packed up all of your belongings, and hired a moving company. Now, you are standing in your new home, the movers are pulling out of the driveway, and you feel…
Overwhelmed. Everything you own is in a box, scattered around the house. Or, more likely, stacked in what will, someday, be your living room. So, where do you start?
First things first—you will need a place to sleep tonight, and so will your family. Set up the beds first. Ideally, you have all of the bed linens in one box, and it’s labeled and easy to find. Once the beds are set up, unpack all of your toiletries.
At this point, concentrate on getting boxes to the right rooms. Don’t start unpacking until all of the boxes have a home, and then tackle one room at a time. If you have wrapped your dishes in newspapers or something similar, they will need to be washed. Pop the first load into the dishwasher while you start on the bedrooms. Put dressers and other furniture back together, and start putting things away, one box at a time. Break down and stack empty boxes in an out of the way area when you’re done with them.
As the dishes finish up, start putting them into the cupboards. Your perishable foods should already be taken care of, but now you should start on the rest of it. It might take a little while to figure out how you want to organize your new kitchen. Remember that you can always change things around later; right now, you just need to get everything out of the boxes and in some sort of order in the cupboards. Unpack and put away appliances and anything else that belongs in the kitchen while you are at it.
Put together the rest of your furniture. Don’t worry too much about where it is going right now. Just make sure it is in the right room. Next, start setting up offices, entertainment centers, and other electronic areas. Before you begin setting them up, though, look for your outlets. There is nothing worse than getting everything all set, only to realize that the cord is just a little bit to short to reach a power source.
Start unpacking each room. Put books on shelves, stack toys into toy chests. This is the longest, and most frustrating part of the unpacking process. It probably seems like it will never end! It’s okay to take breaks, and to let this task stretch out over several days. Just remember to keep boxes waiting to be packed set out of the way, and to take care of the empty boxes as you clear them out.
Seasonal or seldom-used items can go into storage, without being unpacked. Carefully label each box before storing it, and then pack it away in the attic, basement, garage, closet, or where ever else you are using for storage.
Unpacking takes a while, a long while. Just remember to do it in small chunks and take breaks. Don’t think you need to have everything done within a day or two. Unpack what you need, and then unpack as you can after that, even if it is only a box or two a day.
Number of Views :79Movers or Do it Yourself?
Buying or selling a home usually means one thing: time to pull out boxes and start packing.
For some, packing for a move is a great opportunity to look through the memories and treasures they have gathered throughout the year. For the rest of us, it is a stressful task that we would just as soon get over as soon as possible. Finding boxes, wrapping breakables correctly, and then carting everything to your new home can be stressful, especially if you’re already busy with work and family responsibilities.
The alternative, of course, is to hire a moving company to pack and move for you. Although this is the more expensive option, it can save a lot of time, which is why most people choose to hire a moving company. However, they can be expensive, and it is sometimes easier to move on your own.
So, should you hire a professional, or do it yourself? It depends on a few factors:
1. How Much Stuff Do You Have to Move?
If you are moving from a small apartment into your first home, and you don’t have a lot to move, it’s probably going to be easier to pack on your own, and then ask some friends to help you. If your family is moving, including children and all of their things, it is probably better to hire a mover, unless you have a lot of extra time and patience. This is especially true if you have a lot of heavy, bulk, or difficult to move items, such as furniture.
2. How Far Are You Moving?
Are you just going across town, or are you going across the country? A short move, even if you do have a lot of stuff, can probably be done with the help of family and friends, if you don’t mind making a lot of trips. However, if you are moving a long distance, even more than 30 miles away, it is probably smarter to hire a moving company, or at least rent a moving truck. Being able to move everything in one load will be much easier, and won’t take as much gas.
3. How Much Time Do You Have?
If your time is at a premium, consider hiring a moving company. Professional movers can do the job with very little input from you while you continue on with your busy day. While you will need to be home while the movers do their initial estimate and while they are packing, you won’t be spending the weeks leading up to the move trying to do all of the packing yourself.
4. How Comfortable Are You With Someone Packing and Moving Your Belongings?
The chance of something getting broken by a mover is small, but it is still a possibility and one that should be considered. Even if you hire someone to do the packing and moving for you, you should still take the time to package any irreplaceable belongings yourself, and drive them to the new home in your own vehicle. Many moving companies ask you to pack any jewelry, antiques, or other valuable items yourself, to avoid something being broken accidently.
You should also consider how comfortable you are with someone going through all of your belongings as they pack. Some people are comfortable with this, but many aren’t. Instead of hiring movers to pack everything, pack all of your personal items, such as clothing, yourself, and let the movers handle things like dishes, books, and bedding.
5. How Much Help Can You Get?
If you live in a town surrounded by family and friends that can help out during a move, you may not need to hire a mover. This is especially true if you have friends with pick-up trucks. Spending a day moving as a team may even be fun. However, for those who do not have anyone nearby that can help, hiring a moving company might be the only way to move.
Hiring a moving company is a great idea, if you can afford it and can use the extra help. But don’t discount the benefits of moving yourself, especially if you can get help for free. Renting a moving truck might be all that you need to get everything moved.
Have you hired movers in the past? Were they worth the expense?
Number of Views :1235 Tips To Make Moving Easier
1) Get Estimates – Be very careful who you hire! Always remember you get what you pay for and always read what you sign. Have a few reputable moving companies come and give you estimates. Some do flat rate, by the pound, by the hour, and others by the size of the home and estimated sq footage needed in truck space. Be very clear as to which plan you are agreeing to and ask as many question you need to until you get the clarity you are looking for. Driving time usually gets added after a certain distance so always factor that in as well. Another great way to choose a mover is by referral, we all know word of mouth is always the best referral.
2) Clean Out Prior To The Move – Have a tag sale, moving sale, any kind of sale that will help clear out all your unwanted salable stuff. Other ways to lighten the load are charitable donations, depending on the condition a lot of companies will come and pick up the stuff. Also get rid of anything before you move, there is no sense in bringing unwanted stuff to the new place and getting rid of it there. All that does is add to your bill and headache. This may sound like a no-brainer but I can tell you first hand it’s not.
3) Pack - If you can, try to do as much of the packing yourself otherwise you will pay by the hour for the professionals. Between materials and man power the hours will add up. If you have to go this route then you do but if you don’t save yourself some money. Anything that can go in a box will make the loading of the truck much easier. When it comes to packing boxes the trick is to pack it tightly so that NOTHING moves once closed. It’s the shifting or jingling of fragile items that cause the breaks. Start by stuffing all bottom corners and coat the bottom of the box with crumpled newspaper to make it more of a cushion. Always pack glasses and dishes straight up and down, NEVER flat. Think of it as you would an egg, staright up and down is much harder to break then laying flat. Always wrap the glassware in a couple of sheets of newspaper to act as a buffer for the next dish or glass. Once packed stuff all open holes with paper to make a tight fit, then crumple a bunch more to completely fill the top until the box closes tightly. Remember the movers will stack the box so you don’t want there to be any give in the top of the box. Let the movers handle anything you are scared to wrap as they can do a few things the day of the move, but don’t save a ton of packing for the day of, do as much as possible prior. ALWAYS label the box with the items inside and the ROOM they will go in at the new home.
4) Measure And Label – Try to measure doorways in your new home prior so you can catch any potential problems for furniture that won’t fit or go upstairs. Having the movers strategize and attempt the difficult can eat up a lot of moving time and cost you more money. If you can remove any handrails in the home if you think furniture going up or downstairs my have a problem getting by. Also try to label each room so that once the movers exit the truck with an item you can stand by the door and tell them what room and all they have to do is look for the sign on the doorway.
5) Don’t Stress – Most think moving is a very stressful experience, for some it is. I’m here to tell you it doesn’t have to be. Most feel this way because they don’t know where to begin and get completely overwhelmed. If you have a plan in advance and a mover that works with you as a guide your move can actually be a pleasurable experience. Being organized is your key to success!
Number of Views :76