Homeowner Tips for Moving Local or Long Distance

By: Terry Neff
UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA

This month we’re focusing on moving and all that is involved in the process. There are so many things to consider and plan when moving; the first involves distinguishing what kind of move you’re making. Are you moving locally (within 30-45 minutes of your current home?) or are you moving long distance (anywhere from 45 minutes or more from your current home?) Depending on the kind of move you’re making will determine all that you will need to do to make the transition from old home to new home a smoother one. Here are some tips for both local and long distance moving to help make your move a less-stressful one.

Local Moving

Local moving is typically about 30-45 minutes from your current home to your next home. Although you may not be going too far from your old home, there are still some things you’ll need to do to make the transition an easier one

• Don’t make lots of little trips- The amount of time and gas it will take to go back and forth could be costly. Load up everything at once and use the appropriate size moving truck or storage container  to get everything there together and all at once.
• Buy wardrobe boxes for clothing- If you think just throwing the clothes in the backseat is cheaper, consider the fact they will get wrinkled and dropped in the process and mostly likely get dirty or stained. You may end up throwing out more than what a box would’ve cost you!
• Move fragile furniture in your vehicle- If you have a big enough vehicle to allow for flat screen TV’s and computers—use that over moving trucks. These items are extremely fragile and can easily be shifted around on the move and get broken.
• Disassemble the furniture- Just because you’re not moving far, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t properly take apart the big pieces of furniture. By doing so, the items will take up less space and will be less likely to get broken or damaged.

Long Distance Moving

Moving across town is hard enough, but when you’re moving farther away, it can become very overwhelming with more to consider. Here are some tips to make your move a smoother one.

• Decide if you’ll do it yourself or hire someone- You’ll most likely need to hire a moving truck to transport your items but you may want to also consider if you’ll need someone to help you pack and load up the items as well or if you will do it yourself.
• Prepare appliances for the long move- Unplug items such as the refrigerator, washer, dryer, and air conditioners a couple days before the move to prevent drips and leaks during the long move.
• Make sure to switch utilities- This is true for both local and long distance moves, but when moving long distance you’ll most likely have to change or set up new service with a new provider rather than just give a new address. Make sure to do this in advance so you have the service when you arrive at your new home.

Whether you’re moving locally or long distance, it requires a lot of planning and preparation. Whichever move you’re making, utilize the tips above to make that move an easier and smoother one.

Terry Neff is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA. He is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact Terry, call 610-997-8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.

Moving or Relocating? Money Saving Tips You Need for Your Next Move

By: Terry Neff
UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA

Last week we discussed “Home Staging” and how it can help to get your home sold. If you’ve already sold your home, you have completed a huge step to getting to your new home. However, now you have to move! Moving can be very overwhelming and extremely stressful, not to mention expensive. You’ll want to make sure you know all of the moving options available to you and know how to move the most cost-effective way possible. We have compiled some moving and money saving tips to help make the transition as smooth as possible from your old home to your new one.

Moving tips for the day of your move:

• If possible move on a weekday. Prices for moving trucks and mileage rates are usually lower on weekdays.
• If moving locally, leave the power and water on at your old home so you can go back and clean it after you’re moved out.
• Use moving labels to mark all boxes with the contents inside and what room it belongs in. This will be a big help when you unpack the items at your new home.
• If moving locally, leave pets with a friend or family member, they can become confused or frightened during the move.
• If you’re using a mover to load and drive the moving truck, be there to direct him in the loading process and make sure he has the correct directions to the new home.
• Take a final tour of your home to look for anything missed—once you’ve checked everything and are ready to leave, make sure to lock all doors and windows and turn off all switches.

Money saving tips for moving:

• Consider packing yourself. It will take you more time to do, but you’ll save money by not having someone else do it and you can make sure your items are packed safely and securely.
• Purchase moving supplies online and in advance. Items can be much cheaper online and when bought early.
• Don’t buy tools, borrow them from friends and neighbors—why buy something you may only need one time?
• Don’t take unwanted items with you. If you don’t need it, don’t pay for it to be moved, either sell it or throw it out.
• Consider whether you really need to take out insurance for the kind of move you’ll be doing. In some cases it may be best to have it, but in others it may not be necessary.

Moving can be one of the most stressful and expensive times in your life. There are so many choices to make from the start of the process (selling your home) until the end of the process (settling into your new home.) By following some of the tips we’ve outlined above; you can lessen the strain on both your mind and your wallet to keep the moving process as stress-free as possible.

Terry Neff is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA. He is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact Terry, call 610-997-8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.

The Home Staging Checklist You Need to Help You Move

By: Terry Neff
UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA

You’ve decided to move! This can be a very exciting time in your life; however, it can also be a very stressful and overwhelming one. Deciding to sell your home takes a lot of hard work and there are many things you need to do in the process. This month we will discuss all the options you have to transition from your old home to your new one. Getting your home sold is the first step and in this current housing market where houses aren’t selling well, you’ll have to try even harder to give yourself the edge. One way to do this is by “staging” your home. Home staging is shedding new light on how to promote a home in the real estate marketplace by working with the flow of a home, eliminating clutter and arranging furniture to enhance the home’s appeal. Home staging helps your home to make the best first impression, which is crucial is this tight housing market. Here are some home staging ideas to help give your home that edge it needs to get it sold!

• Store extra clutter- When people come into your home they don’t want to see a cluttered mess; they want to be able to envision what it will be like to live in the home with their items. Store your items in portable storage units (insert link: unitspa.com), that way you can store them at your home and have your items accessible to you when you need them.
• Make functional repairs- Fix dripping faucets, broken fences, holes in the floors or walls and sticking doors. If potential buyers see these small issues they may think there are bigger issues for them to deal with too.
• Update items in the most visible areas- Rooms such as the kitchen, bathroom, master bedroom and family room are usually viewed as the most important rooms. Update the hardware on cabinets and doors and repaint the cabinets and walls to freshen up these important rooms.
• Replace the carpet if needed- Carpet is one of the first things potential buyers will look at in your home; and they don’t want to see stains or a lot of wear and tear. Replacing the carpet is relatively inexpensive and could help give you an edge to getting the house sold.
• De-personalize your home- Buyers want to be able to envision themselves and their family in the home, which can be difficult if your family photos are all over the home. Store away photos, momentos, collections and any valuables you have displayed.
• Angle furniture away from walls- Move furniture 4-6 inches from the wall and, if possible, angle one or two pieces to make the room more interesting.
• Set the table- Set your dining room table with attractive dishes, silverware and linens.
• Decorate with plants, flowers and candles- Put plants in attractive pots or baskets to fill in empty spaces and have fresh flowers displayed and candles burning to help add some ambiance to the home.
• Use as much natural light as possible- Keep the curtains open to give the house as much light as possible and add lamps in dark rooms or corners.
• Keep the outside of the home landscaped- Keep trees and shrubs neatly trimmed and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered regularly.

Getting your house sold in this tough housing market can be a challenge to anyone—so give yourself and edge and try “home staging” to help increase your chances. By making some small, inexpensive changes you can make people feel like they could live in your home and if they move in—you get to move out to your new home!

Terry Neff is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA. He is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact Terry, call 610-997-8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.

So I Moved, Now What? Simple Tips For Unpacking In Your New Home

By: Terry Neff
UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA

Congratulations! You’ve survived the packing and moving process and you’re now in your new home! Your move is almost over; the last part is the unpacking and getting settled into your new home. This can be the longest part of the process—but it can also be the most fun. Unpacking gives you the chance to get your new home organized and decorated the way you want. As you begin to unpack the sea of boxes that awaits you, you’ll need to have a plan to help you get through it. Here are some easy tips to get you through the process as quickly and pain-free as possible.

Unpack one room at a time - looking at all the boxes that surround you can be a daunting task, but if you concentrate on one room at a time, it can lessen the burden of that task. Here’s a list of the rooms that should get unpacked and set up first:

1. Bathroom- this room is a necessity in any home, so unpacking it tops the list. Unpack the toiletries, shower curtain, toilet paper and soap. You’ll be glad you did when you need to get in there to take a much needed shower after a full day of unpacking!
2. Kitchen- the bathroom may be number one but this room comes in at a close second. You will spend a lot of energy unpacking and decorating your new home and you’ll need this room to refuel with food, drinks and snacks.
3. Living Room/Bedroom- these rooms can be unpacked at your own pace, however, enlist help for unpacking these rooms since there are usually electronics to hook up and heavy items to hang up or put together that may require some assistance.
4. Garage- this room may not seem to be as important to start with initially, but getting it organized by hanging up shelves or hooks will allow you to have immediate storage for items like: tools, yard supplies, plastic storage bins, etc.



Take note of what you have or need- if you’ve followed the tips from week two you will already have an inventory of your packed or stored items which will allow you to know what items you need for your new home. Here’s a start to getting your new home in order:

1. Review your list- now is the time to get out that list and make sure nothing has been lost or broken. (If there is anything lost or broken you may only have a certain amount of time to report that information to your insurance company.)
2. Create a shopping list- based on your inventory list, you’ll start to be able to see what items you may need, such as: light bulbs, cleaning supplies, batteries, groceries, etc.
3. Start a home maintenance list- you’re in your new home, but not everything may be new inside. Start to keep track of any repairs or maintenance that you will need to address in the upcoming days or weeks in your new home.

Decorate- The fun part has finally arrived! You can now start to add your personal touch and style to each of your new rooms. This will help you to settle in and enjoy your new home!

1. Outline your new home- make a sketch of each room before you start. This will prevent you from pointlessly re-arranging furniture, which can leave you exhausted and frustrated.
2. Add your style- paint, wallpaper, hang pictures, stencil, refinish—whatever your preference.

You’re in your new home! You’ve done all the hard work leading up to this point, and now you can begin to see and enjoy the final result. Using these tips can keep the stress to a minimum, but remember, although you’re anxious to get everything unpacked, you don’t have to get it all done in one day!

Terry Neff is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA. He is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact Terry, call 610-997-8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.

Take The Stress Out Of Moving – Simple Checklist To Ensure A Successful And Less Stressful Move!

 By: Terry Neff
UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA

Did you know that moving can be one of the most stressful times in your life? It’s right up there with losing your job, divorce or the death of a loved one, as one of the biggest causes of stress. Moving may sound like a relatively easy process— pack your items, move to a new location, then unpack those items. However, the process is much more complicated and entails a lot more than just packing and unpacking. The more you can prepare for the move and keep yourself organized ahead of time, the less stress you will endure during this overwhelming task. Here is a checklist you can use during the weeks leading up to your move to help you stay organized and complete all the tasks required for a successful and less stressful move.

8 Weeks before Moving Day:

• Create a “Moving File” to keep track of all receipts, estimates and other important information.
• Begin researching your new community online to find things that are relevant to your needs, such as: parks, libraries, banks, schools, community events, etc.
• Make an inventory of your household products and start to organize what things you will take with you and which ones you will give or throw away.
• Check with your accountant for possible tax deductions regarding your moving expenses.

4-6 Weeks before Moving Day:

• File a change of address (very easily done online).
• Make a list of all family, friends, and professional contacts to notify of your move.
• Gather all family personal papers including: school records, passports, birth certificates, medical and dental insurance, etc. Pack them together in a safe place.
• Open a bank account in your new community (if your branch isn’t in that area) and order checks with your new address on them.
• If you’re changing doctors, ask your doctor for referrals and obtain all of your medical records or have them forwarded.
• Schedule connections of your utility services for your new home and the disconnection of them for your old home.
• Start gathering unwanted items and prepare for a moving sale or arrange to have the items donated.

1-2 Weeks before Moving Day:

• Hold your moving sale or sell unwanted items online—throw out or donate the rest.
• Cancel or transfer any subscriptions, prescriptions, registrations, etc.
• Designate a travel bag or plastic bin to hold all the personal papers you gathered, as well as items often overlooked, such as: keys, first aid kit, flashlight, phone chargers, etc.
• Schedule the delivery of the moving truck or portable storage container for your move.

1 Day before Moving Day:

• Empty and defrost the refrigerator and freezer and disconnect all major appliances.
• Check every room, closet, and cabinet in your home one last time for anything overlooked.
• Have cash on hand for emergencies and (if traveling by car)a cooler filled with drinks and snacks.

MOVING DAY:

The day has finally arrived! Keep friends or family informed of your schedule in case any emergencies should arise. You’ve worked hard up until this point; planning, packing and preparing for this day, so sit back and enjoy the journey to your new destination—because tomorrow you will need the energy to unload and unpack it all at your new home!

Terry Neff is the owner of UNITS Mobile Storage of Eastern PA. He is an expert on relocation and the ins and out of this tough life change. To contact Terry, call 610-997-8648 or visit www.unitsstorage.com.