SayRelocate.com

Home Moving Tip

for the weeks of: May 13

NEED HELP? USE THESE MOVING GUIDES

Use these quick helpful guides in getting yourself prepared for the move. View our guides for taking inventory, packing moving with children and/or elderly parents, moving pets, and more.

Weekly Tip:

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Getting Ready For Your Big Move

from our BLOG

If you are planning to move, then you understand that you have a big task in front of you. If you are moving from one house to another house, you’ll need to arrange for moving services and prepare well in advance to ensure that your move goes off as smoothly as possible. Making any kind of move is stressful; moving when you aren’t prepared is downright nerve racking!

There are four stages to prepare for a successful move and we’ve provided some details which can help take the pressure off of you:

3-4 Months Prior To Your Moving Date — Certainly, if you need to move quickly, you can. However, if you need to sell one house and purchase another one, then allowing several months to accomplish this task is the best approach. Use this time to search for your new abode, checking out neighborhoods, and estimating/budgeting your moving costs.

Up To 2 Months Before You Move — Select your moving options (moving company, U-Haul, moving pods, etc.) and set up the moving date. Inventory everything to be moved, sell off or donate unneeded items, and arrange for storage, if needed. At this point your housing arrangements on the other end should be done.

About 1 Month Before Moving — Complete the change of address forms for magazines and other subscriptions, notify your utilities (gas, electric, phone, internet, cable, cell phone, etc.) of your pending move, and obtain copies of your financial, dental, medical, and pet records. If you are moving far and will need to fly to your new home, then make your airline reservations at least 21 days in advance for the best prices.

Around The Moving Date — The time around your moving date will be when you are the busiest, therefore having the other steps completed will reduce your stress. However, stress will come! Make sure that your personal vehicles are ready to move (oil change, tune up, coolant, etc.) and that you have adequate room at your home for the moving van to pick up and transport your belongings. Settle all of your outstanding bills with local merchants and be prepared to leave your home as soon as the movers have completed their work.  Travel to your new home, unpack, and enjoy!

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04A -/08 home relocation

Plant A Tree, You Nature Lover!

from our BLOG

Trees are sometimes considered to be a nuisance, especially come autumn when deciduous trees drop their leaves. That is why some folks prefer evergreens as they’d much rather deal with pine straw and pine combs. Regardless of what type of tree you choose, there are two important benefits to consider: shade and your home’s value.

Choosing The Right Tree For Your Property

Pick the right broad leaf tree and it can provide a nice swath of shade to provide a cool respite on hot summer days. Squirrels, birds and other critters will be attracted to it, offering a natural refuge that can be observed and enjoyed by your family and guests. Trees can also lower you home’s energy bill through shading and by partially deflecting cold winter winds.

The right tree can also provide a remarkable benefit to the value of your home. Surveys of real estate agents has shown that most agree that the presence of healthy shade trees on the property can contribute to the “sell-ability” of a home with an even bigger impact on curb appeal and the buyer’s overall impression of the neighborhood.

Planting A Tree: The Environmental Appeal

Of course, trees also contribute to the environment thanks to their ability to absorb carbon dioxide, a strong reason why many cities value shade tree management programs.

As far as planting a tree, I would encourage you to get some advice from a local arborist before you plant. An arborist can help you choose the right tree for your yard, tell you what time of the year is the best to plant a tree, and offer advice on how best to care for it.

Some other thing to keep in mind:

The look – Make sure that the tree you plant is something that you can live with. My neighbors have a big, beautiful magnolia in their yard, but I know that it can create some extra work for them. Some trees drop a lot of sap which can damage your car’s paint while others are disease prone and likely to die young.

The dig – In some locales, it can make all of the difference in the world where you plant a tree. Underground cables, pipelines and such could be in the area. You may need to call your town and/or local utilities to get a map of your property or face the risk of causing damage.

The hole – This part gets tricky, because there is no “one size fits all” hole for planting a tree. You will need to follow the instructions explicitly as given to you by your arborist, otherwise your tree may not survive long enough to give you or the local wildlife much pleasure. The depth and circumference of the hole are very important. Placement in the hole, fertilizer and compost followed by watering and mulching after the tree has been planted can ensure a healthy outcome for your tree planting project.

Shop, Compare and Save!

Finally, shop around for a tree, choosing one with a guarantee as well as from a garden center which has everything else you need to make your tree growing expedition a success.

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03A -/09 home tips