Help Kids Acclimate After a Household Move

When moving to a new home, the residential relocation process of unpacking and reorienting can be overwhelming, especially for children. You can, however, help your kids adjust to their new surroundings.

As you unpack your boxes, here are a few tips to help your kids adjust to the move.

Plan for the Transition

Getting your children ready for the move significantly affects how easily they adapt to their new surroundings.

A month before the big move, gently and calmly explain the relocation to your kids. This will give them the time to process the information, but not so long as they dwell and worry.

Explain how the house contents, such as their bedroom furniture, toys, and other special belongings, will move with you. Stress that you are moving as a family, and everyone will be together.

Stay Positive Despite their Fear or Hesitancy

It is overwhelming and stressful for everyone to move into a brand new house, but it is incredibly stressful for children with no prior experience with this type of change.

Having a child express their frustration and irritation through venting their emotions is understandable, so let them vent their frustration. Then remind them of the positive aspects of a new home, such as a park near the new house, new neighbors, a larger yard, or a new bedroom.

Maintain a positive attitude to reassure your child. This will go a long way towards keeping everyone happy.

Follow Routines

Keep family rituals and routines intact after your move, for example, dinner time, bedtime, and movie night, to help keep your children calm during this confusing time.

It might be a good idea to wait until you have settled into your new home before introducing new pajamas or bedding, as these subtle changes can upset sensitive youngsters.

Let Your Kids Make Some Decisions

Involve your child in simple decorating decisions in your new home by giving them some control. Your child’s sense of ownership could increase if they are allowed some choices. For example, consider letting them select the color for their new room or the shower curtain for their bathroom.  

Expect Some Regression with Young Ones

When your kids are young, it is common for them to experience temporary regression. During and immediately after the move, be prepared for possible regression. Your child might experience some disruptions to sleep and regression in potty training if they are that age. After you move into your new home, these issues should resolve themselves.

Allow Time

Your child may take weeks or months to acclimate to their new surroundings. Give them the time they need. In the meantime, nurture new and old friendships. Help get them involved in playgroups, clubs, sports, or other activities so they can meet new friends and playmates.

Family Relocation

Let us assist you with packing and heavy lifting during your move so you can focus on preparing and adjusting your young children.

Contact us today for a free estimate.

5 Tips for First-Time Movers

Let’s face it: no matter how often you’ve done it, moving can feel overwhelming. When you’re moving for the first time, a move can seem exciting, exhilarating, absolutely daunting, or (most likely) all of the above.

Luckily, there are ways to improve that first moving experience. From working with a reputable household moving company to planning ahead, these five tips for first-time movers will help reduce your stress so you can have a smooth move this time — and every time after, too.

1. Create a Moving Budget

When heading out on your own for the first time, you might not be sure how much a move will cost. So avoid any unpleasant surprises and create a moving budget.

You can use a spreadsheet on your computer or phone or do it old-school with a pencil and paper. Either way, your moving budget should include:

• Potential expenses, such as packing supplies, hiring movers, and renting a moving truck
• Actual costs (once you’ve got quotes and receipts in hand)
• The amount you have to spend
• A bit extra built-in, in case of emergencies

2. Decide What to Bring

Whether moving for the first time or the 100th, take the time to pare down your belongings before you pack. While it may seem straightforward to simply throw everything you own into boxes and sort it all out once you’re in your new home, consider that relocating more items:

• It costs more because it requires additional packing supplies, takes movers longer to move, and takes up space in the moving truck
• It takes longer to pack and load
• It takes up more of your time after the move 
• It occupies more space in your new place

You’re already spending time packing, so why not set aside a few hours to sort through your belongings? Then, simply separate your items into “keep,” “donate,” or “recycle” piles.

3. Use the Right Packing Supplies

Yes, it’s possible to find free cardboard boxes. But some cartons are simply better suited for moving than others. Don’t risk the safety of your items just to save a few bucks on used cardboard.

Packing supplies to include:

• Sturdy, clean, and dry cardboard boxes
• Packing peanuts and bubble wrap
• Packing paper or newspaper
• Labels
• Strong tape
• Sharpie pens

4. Give Yourself Plenty of Time To Pack

Packing usually takes longer than you think. So save yourself some stress and start well in advance of moving day.

Begin by packing the items you use the least in the rooms you use the least. Set aside a few hours a day to methodically go from room to room, packing boxes as you go.

Label each box with the contents and where in your new home it should go.

5. Hire Movers to Make It Easier

Moving can be stressful. Studies show that moving is among the top stressors in life. Fortunately, hiring a moving company is a tried and true way to reduce that stress.

Be sure to get quotes from at least three companies. Then, choose your moving team carefully, ask for recommendations from trusted friends or family members, and read reviews before making your decision.

 Moving Help

Contact us for help with your move. We can help simplify your move by helping you organize, plan and do the heavy lifting.

 

Five Ways to Help Your House Sell Faster

Selling your home can be an exciting yet overwhelming process. The situation can be even more stressful if you’re trying to sell your house and buy a new one. However, you don’t need to sit back and let the worry take over. Instead, try these five methods to help your house sell faster.

1. Work With a High-Quality Real Estate Agent

How much time do you have to show prospective buyers the house and fill out paperwork? Real estate agents can handle the logistics and details of selling your home, and they can connect you with motivated buyers that you may not otherwise meet. Real estate agents are worth their commission and can help you quickly get your house off the market.

2. Make it Presentable

You’d be surprised how many prospective buyers will get turned off by minor cosmetic issues. Even something as simple as a bright or bold paint color could mean the difference between a sale and a dud.

So, it helps to take some time and money and make your house as presentable as possible. The best option is to hire a cleaning service to come in and deep clean every room. However, you may also need to keep your belongings tidy, so the home looks livable but not “lived-in.”

If you’ve already moved your stuff out, you may need to leave behind some furniture to make some rooms “show ready.” But, again, you can discuss specifics with your agent before committing to an open house.

3. Price the Home to Sell

Many home sellers run into the issue of pricing their property too high. But, even if the market is white hot, buyers will still pay attention to the details.

The problem is that sellers will look at what a nearby home sold for recently. But unfortunately, that number doesn’t include many variables, including the needs of the seller and the buyer.

Overall, if you’re looking to sell quickly, it’s better to price the home a bit lower than you might like. However, sometimes pricing a house a little lower can also drive up interest and encourage prospects to bid higher in the hopes of outbidding the competition.

4. Take Care of Small Repairs

Typically, home buyers will want to perform inspections before signing anything. These can turn up all kinds of issues like leaky faucets, faulty wiring, and crumbling infrastructure. One way to lessen these concerns is to order a review and take care of minor repairs that may give a prospective buyer pause. While you shouldn’t invest in major renovations (i.e., redoing the foundation), small jobs can make the home more appealing.

5. Improve Your Curb Appeal

Just as buyers pay close attention to how the home looks on the inside, you want to give them an excellent first impression on the outside. Some ways to improve curb appeal include:

• Fresh Paint – While painting your house can cost several hundred dollars, you can make up that cost once it sells.
• Landscaping – If you have any trees, bushes, or other landscaping elements, make sure they look presentable.
• Cleanliness – Pay attention to aspects like overgrown weeds, dirty spots on your driveway, and anything else that makes the home look dirty or run-down. In many cases, a good power washing around the property can make it look a lot better.

Ready to Move? We Can Help!

If you’re attempting to sell your home to move into a new one, why put yourself through the hassle of doing everything solo? Contact us to see what we can do for you!

 

5 Items to Have for Your First Night in a New Home

When you have a long-distance move, you most likely won’t arrive at the same time as your moving company. Depending on how far you’re moving, you might have a night, or several, in your new home without all your belongings.

The first few nights in a new house can be challenging, especially if you don’t have what you need. You’ll want to prepare if you forgo a hotel and will be “camping” in your new home until your moving truck arrives. Also, if you are driving to your new home, you might be able to bring more things with you, but if you are flying, you’ll need to hit the stores right away when you get there.

Here are things to consider bringing or buying to make the first few days in your new house easier before the movers arrive.

1. Basic Cleaning Supplies

It’s a good idea to clean the house before you start setting it up. The previous occupant probably cleaned it, but that might have been weeks ago, and they may have done it in a hurry.

Bring or buy a few basic supplies, such as antibacterial wipes, window cleaner, and dish soap. Getting a roll or two of paper towels is also a good idea.

If you need to clean natural stone countertops, consider the solutions you put on them. It’s better to wipe them down with a damp cloth until you can source the right cleaning tools.

2. Toilet Paper

Believe it or not, toilet paper is probably the first thing you’ll need in your new home. Your essentials bag might have room for a roll or two, but how fast you run out might surprise you.

Stock up on enough toilet paper to get you through the first week. Buy the kind that you like. It’s not a bad idea to consider having a plunger on hand. 

3. Kitchen Items

Even if you plan to get takeout for the first few days, you’ll need some kitchen supplies. Restaurants sometimes include these utensils, but you don’t want to be stuck if they forget.

Make sure you have plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. If you choose paper products, make sure they are thick enough to hold the food item without disintegrating.

4. Towels

You may pack basic toiletries in your essentials bag so you can shower or wash up at your new home. But if you don’t have towels, you’ll have no way to dry off. So bring a few bath towels with you.

5. Air Mattress

If your belongings arrive several days after you, an air mattress is an essential item. You need to be able to sleep, preferably not on a bare floor.

Choose an air mattress that is large enough to be comfortable. Make sure you have a way to inflate it. Make sure you have some bedding available too.

Options

You might consider ordering from places like Amazon, so your necessities arrive at your new home quickly and conveniently. Or order ahead from local stores and plan to pick up your items when you arrive. Online ordering makes shopping easier for you.

Other things to have on hand before the moving truck arrives include:

• Medications, including all of your prescriptions.
• Personal electronic devices like laptops, phones, and tablets, plus their chargers
• A small first aid kit
• Tool kit

Moving Done Right

No matter if you are moving long-distance or locally, we can assist. Contact us for a free quote today.

 

What to Put in a Moving Day First Aid Kit

At the end of the packing process, or on the day you move, there’s a chance you’ll have a minor injury.

Keeping the right supplies available can make it easier for you to continue instead of spending time on a trip to the store.

Put these items in your first aid kit to have everything you might need.

Antiseptic Wipes

Antiseptic wipes are a practical tool for a first-aid kit, but they aren’t a replacement for soap and water. Nevertheless, they are better than nothing, particularly for dirty cuts and scrapes.

Ideally, you should wash the wound under water. However, if soap and water aren’t immediately available, use the wipes to wipe the dirt away from the center of the wound.

If you have the space, throw in a small bottle of hand sanitizer. This acts to disinfect the hands of the person treating the wound.

Bandages

You’re most likely to need bandages, so devote a decent amount of space to them. Select materials that will stay on if the area gets a little wet, which is essential if you sweat. Fabric options tend to work well, but there are others that manufacturers list as waterproof.

Choose a variety of bandages and gauze pads, and throw in a roll of bandage tape as well. You don’t want to end up with ones too small to cover the scrape.

Wraps, Braces, and Splints

If you twist your ankle or something similar, you might need a brace to protect it. Fabric wraps can also cushion the joint until you can get medical attention.

Remember that braces and wraps should be snug but not tight. Wrapping it too tightly can cut off circulation.

Finger splints are relatively simple to use and don’t take up a lot of space. They protect the finger and keep the bones in place.

Cold Packs

Injuries often lead to swelling, and cold is a great way to reduce it. You can grab some ice out of the freezer, or buy instant cold packs to keep in the kit. Knowing how to use ice packs before you need them is essential.

Cold packs minimize swelling, but they can also reduce blood flow to the area. Therefore, you should always wrap the cold pack before applying it to the injury. Avoid using it for more than about 20 minutes at a time.

OTC Medications

A handful of over-the-counter medications can be helpful, particularly if you have packed everything else.

You can often buy travel bottles or single-serve packages of pain relievers, which take less space.

Remember to pay attention to dosage, which often depends on age. Use the original packaging, so you can refer to it if necessary.

Moving Done Right

Moving sometimes takes a toll, but having a first aid kit can minimize the damage. Contact us to learn more about how you can make your upcoming move stress-free.

 

How to Buy a Fixer-Upper for Your Next Home Move

With the housing market as hot as it is, buying a house has never been more challenging. You could compete against dozens of other buyers, some ready to make a cash offer. One way to mitigate these challenges is to buy a fixer-upper. These houses often don’t go as quickly as they’re not “move-in ready.”

However, you can turn a fixer-upper into a fantastic home with a bit of insight and savvy. Also, depending on your situation, you may be able to “flip” the house for more money to buy your dream house potentially. With that in mind, let’s look at how to buy a fixer-upper for your next home.

Step One: The Neighborhood Matters

It’s one thing to buy a fixer-upper. It’s another thing to buy one in an unsafe or declining neighborhood. In the latter situation, even if you can get the house in excellent condition, you still have to worry about undesirable neighborhood issues. Also, when you’re ready to resell, you won’t get as much of a profit because of the area.

Ideally, you can buy a fixer-upper in a thriving neighborhood. Once it’s improved, it fits with the rest of the homes and can sell much faster.

Step Two: Get Estimates of Repair Costs

While getting a home inspector to evaluate all the various problems is tempting, it’s better to get focused professionals to look at each section individually. So, you’ll want a roofing inspector, foundation inspector, HVAC, and more. This way, you can get more accurate estimates of the repair costs needed.

Also, make sure to work with professionals that can deliver fast results. Even fixer-uppers can go quickly, so you can’t afford to wait around for someone to check the place out. If you’re unsure what current issues are, you may use a general home inspector to find problems and then hire specialists to get precise estimates.

Step Three: Prioritize Repairs

Once you know all the problems with the house and the repair costs, you have to prioritize them. The first step is looking at issues that can affect your health and safety. For example— will it collapse during the next thunderstorm if the roof has considerable damage?

Next, you want to address minor problems that can become substantial headaches later. For example, a small roof leak can lead to mold, wall damage, and even foundation issues.

Finally, pay attention to the repairs that are not immediate but should get addressed before you consider reselling. If you plan to stay in the house for at least five years, you can factor that into your decision and offer.

Step Four: Make an Offer

Ideally, you can reduce your offer based on the total repair cost for the house. However, realistically, you can only get a reduction for immediate repairs that can’t wait more than 90 days.

One way to save money on these tasks is to get a renovation loan. This loan is higher than a traditional mortgage because it includes funds to fix any significant existing repairs. In addition, you don’t have to rely on credit cards or other loans to get the job done.

Get Moving Help For Your New Home!

Once you make an offer, it gets accepted, and you’re ready to move in, contact us! We can help you plan and pack for your next stage, so see what we can do for you!