There’s something about the holidays that gets us in a charitable mood. You know where to take old clothes and how to help out local food banks, but it can be trickier for other items collecting dust around the house. Check out these ideas from Expert Contributor Laura McHolm of NorthStar Moving in Los Angeles.
Some people move to new homes every five to 10 years, while many stay put for decades. Over time, a home can lose its identity and feel like it’s not fulfilling your lifestyle needs. Reconfiguring rooms within a home can push the restart button, set you and your home in a different direction, giving everyone a fresh perspective and a new beginning. Reconfiguring or repurposing a room can also make your home more attractive to homebuyers. DIY moving may seem like the least expensive option, but it all depends on the distance of your move and the amount of your belongings that need to be moved. The main expenses that affect a DIY moving budget are the price of the truck rental and the purchase of boxes and packing materials. However, there are other costs of which to be aware. First and foremost, you have to change your mindset; it is not “your home” anymore. Treat the house as if it were a five-star hotel; you need to maintain the staged look and keep everything spotless. You do not want it to appear that anyone is living in the home; there should be no dishes, family pictures or piles of personal stuff visible. You want your potential buyers to easily envision themselves living in the home. The good news is that keeping your house like a five-star hotel will also enable you to treat yourself and your family to a mini-vacation – no cooking and lots of fun outings! Have you heard of the tiny house craze? The trend is to live big in a small space. This means enjoying life with fewer things. On college campuses, living in a tiny space isn’t a revolutionary idea, but new organization tricks from the micro-living movement can help you make the most of your dorm room. Moving from the U.S. to another country? Fantastique! Magnífico! You are beginning a great adventure. But of course, you first need to get there with all of your belongings. First, I am sure you are wondering how much will it cost to move overseas. The cost of an international move is determined by the volume of your shipment. Volume is measured by either cubic feet or weight, depending on the final destination of your international move. When it comes to packing before a move, the garage is often the last room most people pack. We put it off due to the sheer number of things piled up and because the items in the garage are the most awkward to pack. Garages are full of tools, landscaping equipment and things you don’t want to look at. Often, garages become the dumping ground for junk we don’t want in the house. Did you know May is National Moving Month? May kicks off the busiest moving season. Nearly 40 million of us move in the summer and begin to plan in May.
If you’re moving this season, make a game plan before you pack. Assess which items are fragile and what you’ll need to pack them. Not surprisingly, we suggest letting experts do the packing. However, for DIY movers, we compiled a list of the most breakable items, with moving tips on how to protect them.
As if moving once wasn’t bad enough, now you need to move twice. Maybe the construction is not complete. Maybe you haven’t found your dream house. Maybe the old house sold, but the new one’s not ready yet. Whatever the holdup, let’s make this as easy as possible.
To be happy and organized in your temporary home, here’s your new mindset: Move only what you would take to a hotel for an extended stay, plus basic furniture and daily household items. Put the rest of your belongings for the Big Move into storage or donate some to charity.
Congratulations on your new home! It is an exciting time full of countless to-dos. But new homeowners frequently overlook one to-do. It’s a step that saves you money on moving day and quickly transforms a new house into your new home — laying out your future before moving day.
I called upon an experienced pro, interior designer Kathy Geissler Best of Kathy Best Design, to unwrap the secrets behind creating a beautiful and functional floor plan.
Here are Kathy’s seven steps to create a well-designed floor plan:
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