Month: March 2024

Making home repairs before your household move can speed up the sale and often net you more money. Here are the top fixes before selling your home.

1. Paint

Painting is inexpensive yet can improve how the house looks to prospective buyers. Safe colors, such as beige or gray, generally work the best. Have a professional paint the house if your budget allows. However, if you have the skills, you can save money by painting it yourself.

2. Landscaping

The yard is the first thing prospective buyers see. An overgrown or patchy lawn can jeopardize a sale. Remove anything dead, place sod or plant seed, and add fresh mulch to flower beds. If you have the time and money, consider planting new shrubs or perennials.

Check the condition of any fences. Replace any rotting or water-damaged boards on wooden fences. Ensure the gate on all fences opens and closes quickly. Fix chipped paint or rust.

Repair any water or termite damage to decks or porches.

3. Flooring

The condition of your floors is also essential. At the very least, consider refinishing hardwood floors and replacing chipped flooring. Also, replace any worn carpeting. If you have pets, have the carpet steam-cleaned if you can’t afford to replace it.

4. Bathrooms

The bathroom condition can help you sell your home or miss a sale. Repair leaky faucets or runny toilets, and replace damaged tiles or broken fans. Unclog drains. Replace old caulking and rusty or corroded shower heads. If you can afford to make some updates, consider

• Improved countertops
• New cabinets
• New fixtures
• Frameless glass doors

5. Lighting Issues

First, handle minor issues, such as tightening loose wire connections. Next, consider updating fixtures. Have an overall lighting design plan and keep choices consistent with hardware throughout the rest of the house.

6. Damaged Doors and Windows

Damaged doors and windows are noticeable and can cause a delay in making the sale. Replace cracked windows, dented frames, and torn screens. Replace old-looking hardware on doors.

7. Kitchens

In most cases, you don’t have to renovate your kitchen, but you do need to ensure it is in good condition. Repair any rusty fixtures and fix leaks and clogs. Replace appliances that look beat up and repaint or touch up paint chips. Replacing the hardware on cabinets and drawers can update the room while staying within your budget.

8. Garage Doors

Garage doors and their remotes should work. Ensuring the door meets all current code requirements can save you from inspection delays during the purchase.

9. Damaged Drywall

Holes in the drywall can make the wrong first impression on prospective buyers. Discoloration and dents can also be an issue.

10. Roof

Repair missing shingles, tiles, or ridge caps. Also, you should repair any water damage from clogged storm gutters. Check for cracks, bubbles, and blisters in the sealant.

Efficient Relocation

Once you sell your home, prepare for a smooth move to your new home by hiring a professional mover. Contact us for a free estimate today.

 

Extended family members are increasingly common in American households today. Sometimes, this is because of cultural reasons, and in other cases, it may be financially beneficial for everyone. Regardless of the situation, having extended family members in the house can make moving a little trickier. So, before you start packing boxes and calling movers, remember these tips.

Step One: Communicate With Everyone

An extended family typically means a mixture of people of different ages, backgrounds, and needs. For example, one house could have grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins.

So, it’s imperative to have everyone on the same page when planning and preparing for a move. It’s also critical to discuss why the move is happening. For example, if you’re upgrading to a larger house with more room for everyone, you can discuss specific living arrangements.

It may also be necessary to determine whether the new house is convenient for everyone, regarding amenities like schools, healthcare, stores, traffic, etc.

Overall, it’s best to have these discussions with everyone involved as soon as possible. Even children should be aware of what’s happening and voice their opinions. This way, they’ll be more excited about the move and the changes it can bring.

Step Two: Try to Accommodate Everyone’s Needs

Living in a household with extended family often means overlapping schedules, mobility concerns, and potentially language barriers. Moving can disrupt daily life, from cooking meals to getting ready for work or school.

So, it’s best to devise a plan to accommodate everyone as much as possible before, during, and after the move. Consider who performs specific tasks within the house and plan accordingly if necessary. For example, if a grandparent makes breakfast for the kids in the morning, you may want to wait to pack their cooking utensils until the day of the move. Similarly, kids should have their school supplies handy to be ready to go once they’ve transitioned to the new home.

Overall, focus on the more minor details of everyday life. This way, you can determine which items can be packed first (i.e., those that aren’t used very often) and which must be accessible throughout the moving process.

Step Three: Focus on Comfort, Not Speed

When multiple generations live in the same household, everyone moves at a different pace. While most people try to move as quickly as possible, it may be better to take your time and move in sections. For example, if there are multiple immediate families (i.e., two sets of parents and children), one family may move first, then the other.

If you have elderly grandparents or relatives living with you, focus on how comfortable they’ll be during and after the move. For example, they need a place to sit in the new home if they can’t stand for too long. Also, you can have them help by unpacking boxes or sorting items by room—jobs that can be done while sitting. This way, they feel like they’re part of the transition.

Step Four: Utilize Help Whenever Possible

Although you have extended family living with you, not everyone can pitch in on moving day. Sometimes, the best option is to hire professional movers who can pack, transport, and unpack your belongings for you. The cost can often be worthwhile because it streamlines the moving process and reduces stress for everyone involved.

Let Us Help You and Your Family Move!

Moving with an extended family doesn’t have to be challenging. With our comprehensive moving services, we can help you relax and enjoy your new home in no time. We can make the transition from packing services to speedy moving assistance easy. Contact us today to find out more.