Ten Moving Tips for Summer

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Now that summer is around the corner, you are probably beginning to consider all the little things that will need to be done before moving day arrives. Aside from all the packing, you’ll need to make a list of all the ends that will need to be tied up, both small and large. Below are 10 tips that will help make this process easier.

 

Tip One: Figure out your best strategy. If you are able to pack and move on your own, you will save a lot of money. If you simply do not have the time, resources, or manpower to do it alone, you may want to consider hiring someone. You can choose a partial or full-service move, whatever works best for you and your budget. Shop around before choosing a company. This is the best way to find the best rates. Ask others you know who they recommend. The level of service you receive is extremely important.

 

Tip Two: Plan how you will unpack in your new home before you move. Take pictures of each room of your new house. This will help you figure out where to place furniture and other items. Write down where you will put each item before you pack. That way you will be able to systematically pack and unpack each of your belongings. It will make the process of unpacking much easier in the end.

 

Tip Three: Develop a packing strategy. Know what you will keep, donate, or throw away. Begin as early as possible and pack all the items you won’t need until after you move. As the big day nears, begin packing more of your belongings. It’s amazing what a difference a little planning will make.

 

Tip Four: Make a list of tasks that will need to be taken care of by moving day. These can include filling out a change of address form at the post office and switching utilities over from the old house to the new. The moving process will go much more smoothly if these tasks are handled ahead of time.

 

Tip Five: If you will take care of all the packing and moving on your own, divide everything up into jobs so the whole family can get involved. This will make moving day much easier. Make sure those you ask to help with the actual moving process are reliable and dependable. You don’t want to drag the process out any longer than necessary and you want to know your belongings will be properly cared for while in transit.

 

Tip Six: Store all parts to an item in the same place. Some items contain very small pieces such as screws and washers. Losing even one of the parts can cause problems when attempting reassembly. If all parts to a given item are stored in the same place, you won’t have to go through the trouble of tracking any of them down.

 

Tip Seven: Take photos of all appliances and electrical items before breaking them down. This will make it easier for you to reconnect and set them up once they are in your new home.

 

Tip Eight: Pack all “like” items in boxes together and label each according to what it contains and in what room it should be placed. For example, all dishes and other kitchen items should be packed in boxes with other similar items. Labeling each box will make items easier to find. Once you arrive at your new home with all your boxes, place each in the appropriate room according to the labels.

 

Tip Nine: Consider protecting your belongings with full value insurance. If you use a professional moving company, you can obtain this by paying a few dollars in addition to the moving costs. This will protect your items from loss or damage that may occur during the moving process. Should any item become lost or damaged, you will receive a repair or replacement for it or the cash to purchase a new one. Know and understand what your policy covers and how it all works.

 

Tip Ten: Know your rights when using a professional moving company. If the company does not provide good service or fails to fulfill the agreed upon duties, you may need to notify the Better Business Bureau or your local law enforcement.

Installing The Perfect Window Treatments

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Spring is the perfect time of year to update your existing window treatments.  Perhaps you purchased your home late in the year and haven’t yet had time to upgrade your window treatments; or you have just purchased a new home and are faced with finding the perfect size window treatment to fit custom sized windows.  If you feel that your window measuring skills are not adequate enough to measure custom windows, you may want to consider having an expert come in and properly measure your windows.  This will ensure that the window coverings you choose will be the perfect size and fit your windows properly.  Below are some helpful tips that will make installing your window treatments much easier.

  • Be Prepared – Before you begin hanging your new window treatments, there are some tools that you should have ready before you begin.  Approaching the process ready and armed with the proper tools, will help you proceed with the process without having to stop and restart as you run and get the tool that you need.  The tools that you should have ready are a drill, screwdriver, anchors, level, tape measure and ladder.  Once you have gathered the tools we mentioned above, you are ready to move onto the next step.
  • Instructions – Before you begin making any holes in your walls, you should take a few minutes to thoroughly read the instructions that the manufacturer included with your window coverings.  During this time you should also empty the package of all of its contents to ensure that you have all of the proper equipment necessary to hang your window treatments.
  • Measure Carefully – During this step you will need your measuring tape and level.  Using your ladder you will need to ensure that your window treatment is properly centered and placed at the right height.  You can use the holes in your hardware as a guide and use them to make your marks on the walls.  Using these marks, you are now ready to begin drilling the holes that will be used to hold your hardware.
  • Anchors – If you are drilling holes into areas where there is no support from a stud, you will need to use anchors to hold hardware onto the wall.  You will need to choose anchors according to the type of material that was used to build the walls in your home.  Once you have purchased the proper type of anchor, you will then need to place it into the hole that you drilled earlier and install the hardware using the screws that came with it.
  • Ask For Help – If you run into a situation that you were not prepared for when you first started hanging your window treatments, do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer for assistance.  They are experienced in the process and have helped many other homeowners navigate the process.

3 Benefits of Leasing Commercial Property

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“What are the benefits of leasing commercial space instead of purchasing the space,” is one question that every commercial real estate agent gets nearly every day.  Of course, every client is different, but for many people leasing is the best option they have.  This article will showcase three benefits of leasing commercial space instead of purchasing space.

 

  • Keep the Cash Flowing – One of the biggest reasons for a business of any size to lease a commercial building instead of purchasing a commercial property is because it won’t tie up a ton of cash.  When leasing a business the down payment is usually just a month or two of rent, but then a business purchases a building they often have to come up with a ton of money out-of-pocket up front just for the down payment.

 

Leasing commercial space instead of purchasing usually doesn’t require the renter to spend any money on leasehold improvements.  Someone who buys a property will need to fork over all the renovation cash on their own or they will be required to take a loan out to cover the construction costs.

 

Business owners who lease commercial space instead of buying the space also save money on insurance as well.  A property renter will simply need to carry liability insurance while a buyer will be required to get liability insurance as well as insurance to cover the property.

 

  • Keep the Eyes on the Business – Of course saving money is good, but making money is even better.  Another benefit of leasing commercial space instead of buying the space is the fact that a business owner who leases can spend all their time worrying about their business and not the up-keep of the building.

 

An owner who leases their space simply calls the landlord if a leak pops up in the roof, if the plumbing breaks, or if an AC unit dies.  This allows the owner and their managers to focus on running the business and not wasting time lining up bids from contractors.

 

  • Keep Only the Space they need – Purchasing a commercial space means that the business is making a long term commitment to that particular space.  This often means a company has to buy a space that is too big for their current needs so they can grow into the space.  Or if the company buys a space that fits their current needs exactly, they may find it hard to grow in that space.

 

A business owner who leases their commercial space can pick-up and move at the end of their lease or in some cases they can re-negotiate for a larger space in the same building or complex.     Or conversely, if the business goes through a down period they will be able reduce costs by finding a less expensive place to lease.

 

Overall the choice between purchasing a commercial space and renting a commercial space will depend on the company looking for the property.  But in many cases there are a lot of benefits to leasing a commercial space.