The process of moving can be a very stressful experience for many folks, so follow these important tips to make the experience easier.

1. If using professional movers, get quotes well in advance of your anticipated move.  Knowing the costs of a move is the first step to alleviating stress.
2. Set a date for your move and book the movers as early as possible (especially if you are moving out-of-state or toward the end of the month.)
3. Create a household inventory detailing each household good and the number and condition of the items.  (Consider photographing these items as well to ensure that all items arrive at your new home in proper condition as well as to create a record in case something gets lost in the move.)  Record serial numbers and brand names for all electronics and items of value, and if you have the receipts for those items, place them in an envelope to be kept with your household inventory.
4. When packing, keep items for each room together and label the box indicating which room in the new house the box should be placed.
5. Compile all important documents (i.e., birth certificates, marriage licenses, social security cards, insurance policies and wills, deeds and titles, stock and bond certificates, passports, your household inventory list) and keep those documents with you throughout the move.
6. Take your pets to the vet and make sure that all of their shots are up-to-date.  Carry all appropriate documentation and medication with you on moving day.  Also, make sure that your contact information is attached to your pet in case it should get lost in unfamiliar surroundings.  If possible, have your pet stay with a family member, friend, or pet day care center on the day of the move and retrieve your pet the next day.  Moving is stressful for animals as well humans, and removing pets from the chaos, if possible, makes the moving experience much easier for them.
7. Make sure that you have retrieved items from the cleaners and that you have returned all library books and rented movies.
8. Retrieve items from safety deposit boxes, close accounts, and make arrangements for new accounts at your new location.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

For most people preparing their homes for sale, de-cluttering is a “must do!”  To make this daunting task easier, follow these steps and your home will be market ready in a jiffy.

1. Work on one room at a time.  Too often, people try to work on the whole house at once which can be overwhelming.  By working in one room until it is done before taking on the next room, you will see progress for your efforts much more quickly and you won’t feel like you are totally inundated with this task.
2. Pack for the move.  Take down all personal items like photographs and pack away knick-knacks.  All flat surfaces (i.e., table tops, shelves, countertops) should have a minimal number of items on them which will make the home appear larger.
3. Clean out closets.  Pack away items that you will not be wearing this season, donate items that you have not worn in the last year, and fold/hang remaining items neatly to make closets appear spacious.
4. Remove excess furniture from your home.  Hire a company like PODS or Pack Rat to bring a container in which you can store these items to be taken to your new home.  Too much furniture in a house makes it appear much smaller than it actually is, so remove some it while your house is on the market.
5. Get rid of things that you haven’t used in a while and most likely won’t use again.  It is time to part with those items that you’ve been hanging onto.  After all, you don’t want to pay somebody to move these things to your new home only to throw them away after a year or two.  Make that decision now and save yourself time and money.  Call a company like 1-800-Got-Junk or donate useable items to an organization like Goodwill or Purple Heart, so that you might be able to get a tax deduction for your donation.

Making your home clean, neat, and clutter-free will put you on the fast track to getting your house sold.

For more tips on preparing your house for sale, get our FREE brochure.

Thinking about making a move, but want to find out what your home is worth before you put it on the market?  Just provide us with a little information and we'll get that number back to you pronto.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri

Before putting your house on the market, you should go through your house carefully looking at it through the eyes of a potential buyer and determine what needs to be fixed.  If those items call for a professional, here are the things you should do to make sure that the job will be done the right way.

1. Get referrals from people you know or other people who have hired this contractor.  You can also check online consumer rating sites like Angie’s List.
2. Get written bids or estimates from at least three contractors and make sure that you are comparing apples to apples.
3. Ask each contractor for his MHIC license number.
4. Use an experienced contractor and check the company’s reputation with the Better Business Bureau.
5. Once you’ve decided on a contractor, make sure that you sign a contract detailing all aspects of the project.
6. Pay the contractor in installments with a check or credit card until the project is completed and don’t make the final payment until every item in the contract has been completed to your satisfaction.

Thinking about selling and wondering what your home is worth?  Just email us with your name and address and we will be happy to provide you with a FREE Comparative Analysis or Instantly View Recent Home Sales In Your Neighborhood with our free home valuation tool.

Get our free brochure, Pricing & Preparing Your Home to Sell for Top Dollar, and learn the components of effectively marketing your home and how that fits into the selling process.

Wishing you sunshine everyday and the home of your dreams,
Jeri