Moving Into A New Home Checklist

For the most part, moving into a new home is undoubtedly an exciting time. Whether you are moving out on your own for the first time or expanding your family and need bigger space. Moving into a new home offers new beginnings, a fresh start and a sense of adventure. On the flip side, moving can become quite overwhelming and time consuming, whether you are a first timer or have done this many times before. A swift and stress-free relocation process entails a hefty work list before and after you make the move. Lets take a look at the few essentials everyone should do before moving into their new home. 

So you have just closed on your new home and enthralled with anticipation, awaiting to embark on your new adventure. But before signing the dotted line one important step must be accomplished and that is a thorough inspection walk- through of the house. Often times if an inspection raises a few red flags, the current owner is obligated to fix the issues, this must be done before you have signed the settlement papers. This is why, it is recommended to do the walk-through the day of the closing and not long before, to avoid significant condition changes. This avoids unnecessary additional costs and gives you a peace of mind. 

As soon as you closed on the house, be sure to change all of the locks, you do not know who else has a spare key and don't want to take chances. You can purchase quality locks at low costs and follow the instructions to do it yourself. It is a relatively easy DIY process.

If there is carpeting in the house from previous owners and you decide to keep it, have it steam cleaned. It is imperative to remove the dirt and allergens that gets trapped inside the carpeting. Steam cleaning is a better alternative than shampoo treatments, performing a deeper treatment approach. If you decide to have it removed or replaced, it is essential you have this done before the furniture is moved in, to avoid additional rearranging of the furniture. For a more cost effective option, you can rent a steam cleaner for about half the price and do it yourself. 

Another no brainer is to thoroughly inspect and clean the entire kitchen, carefully inspecting cupboards, cabinets, sink, refrigerator as these are all dwelling spots for common household pests, identify and remove, if applicable.  If there are no visible pests, it doesn't mean that they are not there. The previous owners might have taken care of part of the problem and that's killing off the adults, but the eggs may still be in place, as those are sometimes harder to get to because they will typically be in a more darker and concealed areas. And if the previous owners had this problem, you do not want it to become yours. This routine applies to the rest of the house, respectively. Typically this problem is acknowledged during the house inspection, but may potentially get overlooked.  Pests or no pests, you'll want to clean up after the previous owners before placing your belongings in their places. 

Last but definitely not the least important is to get acquainted with the main control systems of your house, such as the circuit breaker and the boiler room. Of course you get more privacy and space living in a house versus an apartment, but unlike renting, owning comes with a lot of maintenance work. There will be no landlord to call once something breaks, because you are the landlord! That is why its essential you become familiar with your new home on a deeper level. It's a good idea to figure out which fuses control what parts of the house and label them accordingly. Do not wait until you need to replace a light fixture or the power goes out in a specific part of the house. You will also want to know how to turn off your main water valve if you have a plumbing emergency, a case of bad weather or you may be going out of town. Whether your new home came with a boiler or a furnace, try to regularly perform required maintenance and testing. Most accidents attribute to poor maintenance and corrosion. 

When you get settled into your new home, arrange a house warming get together and invite your neighbors. Chances are they lived in the neighborhood for a while and can help you get familiar. Get friendly with the people that you may be living next to for many years to come and make new friends. 

Relocation Essentials Do's and Don't

Successful relocation requires careful planning, budgeting, and strategy. There are a huge number of potential pitfalls if important factors are overlooked. When planning for your move, these important Do's and Dont's will impact how the process will unfold, smoothly or problematic. 

The very first decision you will have to make is undoubtedly hiring professional movers or opting to do it yourself. Unless you are a professional mover, chances are you are not properly equipped or accustomed to performing even half of what the actual process entails. Professional movers know how to pack, how to handle your fragile items and how to arrange the truck and drive it. Therefore, hiring a professional moving company is a colossal initial step towards a smooth relocation. Even a small move across town can be very complicated and doing it yourself will put a lot of strain on your mind and your body.  Ultimately, a DIY move may not be as affordable, potentially costing you more money and adding more stress to an already stressful situation. Now that you've made a conscious decision to hire professional, choosing the right company for you  is just as important. Not all moving companies are the same, although many are legitimate, there are some who take advantage of their clients and choosing the wrong mover can make your relocation into a nightmare.  There are many companies to choose from, ideally you may want to narrow down to your top three to compare prices and services being offered. First and foremost, make sure your top picks are legitimate operating companies who are licensed and insured, otherwise walk away immediately and start your search over. Research your top candidates to insure your items are in good hands and the movers you choose are trustworthy and reliable.  Begin by getting estimates and be wary of very low prices, some companies tend to lure with incentives just to get a contract and then they hit you with hidden fees. Be sure to include everything you will want to move in your estimate, failing to provide the movers with accurate information, will result in additional fees. In the moving industry, as in most, you get what you pay for and opting to go with the "cheapest" company should be avoided. In the end, you may be sacrificing more important things, like getting your precious belongings moved and delivered safely. Now that you've picked your company, make sure to book a few months in advance. Reputable moving companies tend to stay consistently busy, especially during the summer months and on weekends. Avoid booking last minute and risk ending up with unreliable movers. Begin packing your belongings in advance as well to avoid over packing possibly causing damage. Do not pack your heavy items in large boxes, but rather in small, this allows for easier and safer handling. If you are not doing the packing yourself, oversee your movers, some tend to rush and may cause sustainable damage to your items. Pack your valuables, such as jewelry, on your own time and transport them yourself. Small items, such as jewelry can go missing and unnoticed for a long time after the move before you realize they're gone, at which point they're gone for good. Be sure to also pack a survival kit of essentials you will need for the first night at your new home. Going through all the boxes and finding what you need is time consuming, and after a long move day you may want to relax rather than go looking for bed sheets to sleep on or utensils to eat. This way you will recharge and start fresh the next day, because unpacking is a lengthy and just as stressful experience as moving itself. Lastly, if your move went as good as you hoped and you are one satisfied client, be sure to return the gesture and leave your company a positive review. As with any business, reviews can either make or break a company. If the company of your choice has a website you can leave it on there or on an affiliate website, such as Yelp, designed specifically for this purpose. 

Hiring the RIGHT Movers

Moving into a new home can be an exciting and yet stressful time for many folks. The actual process of getting your belongings from point A to point B can become daunting and while the right movers can make your move go smoothly, choosing the wrong moving company can disrupt your life and add unnecessary stress to an already delicate situation. Choosing a reputablemoving company is one of the initial and most important steps you will take in your relocation process. Although many are accredited, there are some movers who attempt to take advantage of their clients with hidden fees and false incentives.  They are the ones you need to steer clear from and these vital steps will lead you on the right path to choosing one that works for you.

There are many companies to choose from that appear legitimate and offer competitive prices. The key is to narrow down your top three and begin by doing some homework. Do a thorough research on your candidates to ensure the movers you pick are trustworthy and reliable.  Begin by checking if the companies of your choice have license authority to perform your move. Request a DOT license number and refer to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for verification. It goes without saying, if in any case the DOT number is not accurate, cross the company off your list immediately.

The next step is shopping around for an estimate to insure you receive the most accurate and reasonable quote on your move. The cardinal rule here is to be wary of very low estimates and ask all and any questions that you may have. Some companies lure customers with promising incentives to get a contract. If you come across a company from your list that offers much lower rates than their competitors, proceed with caution. The cost of your move will closely reflect on the quality of your move. You may be sacrificing other things that are actually more important, such as getting your valued possessions moved and delivered safely without damage. They are worth many times more than the cost of your move, both in monetary and sentimental value.

Request an on sight estimate and make sure it includes everything in your home you wish to move. This will give you leverage, as often times an accurate estimate cannot be calculated without a visual survey of the items to be moved. Obtaining a binding estimate will lock in a price based on the services requested and deemed necessary during the estimate, however if you add on items or services after the fact, you will be faced with additional charges. Depending on the type of move, local or long distance (interstate), you may be charged to obtain a binding estimate. Different states abide by different rules and regulations, be sure check with your state to determine what applies to you.

Whether you used the World Wide Web to find the moving company of your choice or not, be sure to check to see if they have an online website. It may provide you with additional insight and answers to any other questions you may have, as well as testimonials from previous clients that can shed some light on what to expect on your big day. Even though every company has had a few tough clients that may have felt they did not have the experience they were looking for, non the less be sure to check your company’s reviews online. A trustworthy company will provide you with any questions you have and will handle all of you needs and concerns in a prompt and appropriate manner.

Tips For Last Minute Moves

Moving is an important event in anyone's life and it consumes a lot of time, effort and energy. There are many important factors to consider when planning a move, to ensure things go smoothly and efficiently. Some people, will have the luxury of time on their hands to tread slowly and carefully, others won't be as fortunate. It is a well-known fact to many who have relocated homes or offices in the past, that planning a move requires strategy and a well thought out blueprint. But what if you are moving unexpectedly and in a hurry, which seems to be the more likely case nowadays, as we are always on the move. Not having the luxury of a month or a week to plan your move, are you doomed for a stressful and agonizing process? The answer to this question will vary depending on your coarse of action and with these helpful tips you will undoubtedly have the same odds of a smooth relocation as the person with plenty of time on their hands. 

When moving in a hurry, the first cardinal rule to consider is the exact time you have, whether a day or two. Map out your precious time carefully with everything that needs to be done within this time frame.  You may allocate each date on a calendar or a notebook page for each day you have until moving day and things to be done. Now that you have a physical map of time to execute your move, you must focus on getting it all done efficiently in a timely manner. Enlisting the help of professional movers is essential in any relocation process, especially the ones on a limited time frame. They can do professionally a lot of work that most people are not accustomed to perform. Professional movers are vastly trained in properly disassembling, packing and loading your items to be safely transported. Upon request, movers come with their own packing and moving supplies, saving you additional headache of having to acquire them on your own, if you even have the luxury of time to do so. Noting that you don't have a lot of time on your hands, choosing the right mover is still an essential factor, as choosing the wrong movers can make an already tense situation into a nightmare. We live in a time where information is available to us at a single click of a mouse button. Utilize this source and research a few local moving companies, this won't take up too much of your time but will further ensure a stress-free relocation process. Most reputable moving companies are equipped to accommodating last minute moves. Make arrangements with the company of your choice to lock in the date and time of your move.

Now that you hired professional movers and eliminated half of your to do list, focus on the aspects you personally have to take care of. Make sure to be the one to pack and transport all of your valuables, such as jewelry and heirlooms, do not leave this task for the movers. When performing any move taking extra precautions are essential. Valuables tend to get misplaced or in worst cases, lost.  You do not want the 100-year-old vase that your Aunt gave you on your wedding day to go missing.  Be sure to also pack a survival kit of essentials you will need for the first night at your new home. Going through all the boxes and finding what you need is time consuming, and after a long move day you may want to relax rather than go looking for bed sheets to sleep on or utensils to eat with. This way you will recharge and start fresh the next day, because unpacking is a lengthy process and just as stressful experience as moving itself.  Last but not least, transfer all of your mail to your new address and make sure to cancel all of your utilities, to avoid being charged for them once you have moved out. 

Green Moving or "Greenwashing"?

Over the last few centuries, pollutants, such as greenhouse gases have made a tremendous negative impact on our environment. The devastating effects and growing awareness have prompted us to become more mindful of the way we lead our day-to-day lives and the carbon footprints we leave behind. Today more people around the world are beginning to take effective steps towards a healthier and more sustainable future. As the green movement initiatives have emerged across nearly all consumer sectors, more companies appear to be making efforts towards reducing their carbon footprint on the planet. Going green is slowly dominating businesses as the demand for environmentally friendly services and products continues to grow.  Inadvertently resulting in "greenwashing" marketing campaigns perpetuating this practice to help their company increase product sales by appealing to ecologically conscious buyers.

Moving companies are one of the many who are increasingly adapting to the growing concept of being more sensitive towards the environment. The vastly expanding industry of eco-friendly movers are offering services to meet the consumer's desire for options they see as both convenient and environmentally responsible. Converting their trucks to biodiesel fuel, using reusable plastic container bins instead of cardboard boxes and offering biodegradable replacements to conventional moving supplies, such as tape and bubble wrap. These are some of the revised approaches the greener moving companies are taking to service environmentally-conscious consumers. It certainly appears that the "green" moving industry strive to have a more positive impact on the environment and our communities or perhaps their incentives is for the kind of green with dollar signs on them? Lets unpack the truth! 

Plastic has undoubtedly become an essential compound to modern life, its versatility has reached the masses and is continuing to grow. Plastic bins first made it onto the scene aiding warehouse and commercial moves. They were invented and designed for optimal warehouse to store distribution or office relocation. Servicing customers with reusable plastic bins has now become a staple at most moving companies that are going "green". It is perceived to be a new age eco-friendly alternative to using cardboard boxes and their longer lifespan and durability as compared to that of its counterpart, appeals to most. Expect to be charged a premium for this equipment, which can be dropped off and picked up by the company. The time constraint on renting them is usually two weeks, this doesn't allow for long-term storage or unpacking at your own convenience, because exceeding that timeframe will result in additional charges. Packing difficulty can be expected with the one-size-fits all approach of plastic containers, which often times deem unpractical for irregular shapes. Consumers should also be weary of failed proper sterilization that can greatly put them at risk of contracting bed bugs, cockroach eggs and germs from previous users. If you are like the rest of the people on the planet, you will have tables, couches, and other furniture that will need to be properly wrapped in the moving blankets to avoid damage. Moving blankets will then need to be secured in place via plastic tape and most companies do not even use biodegradable tape, as it is almost ten times the price of a regular one. Be that as it may, an eco-conscious consumer is perpetually concerned with the environment above all else. Undoubtedly, plastic is responsible for more than a booming industry, it is also at the heart of an environmental crisis. 

Plastic is the result of a complex process called polymerization.  Plastic molecules are made up of atom chains of carbon and hydrogen with repeating units that don't break down easily over time. Therefore, plastic does not corrode or biodegrade like its counterpart, cardboard box, with a lifespan of less than four weeks. Plastic takes almost twice as much energy to create than cardboard and if it not recycled it is more than likely it will end up at an incinerator. In the event that plastic bins are recycled, the product is then broken down and remodeled, greatly reducing it's unity. Most importantly, prompting "green" movers to supply plastic bins made from raw materials rather than recycled. Numerous studies have also shown the actual process of recycling to burn more energy and produce more pollution than it saves. However, out of all the waste generated in the U.S. in a single year, only 35% is being recovered. Thirty million tons of that waste is plastic with only two million tons recovered annually, the rest fills our landfills, incinerators and pollutes our oceans, killing more than 100,000 marine wildlife annually.   Burning plastic in incinerators releases toxic heavy metals and chemicals such as cadmium, lead and dioxins harming human health and the environment.  Incinerators are one of the largest sources of dioxin identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Dioxins are a class of 75 most potent synthetic chemicals ever tested, causing cancer and harming our immune system at even the lowest concentration. Once emitted into the environment, toxins don't stay local, they can travel vast distances via air, which makes them a global contaminant. Even the most technologically advanced incinerators that have air pollution control filters capture some of the pollutants but they do not eliminate them. These pollutants are transferred to other by- products, such as ash and wastewater that are then released into the environment. 

In the moving business, as in most fuel dependent businesses, being eco-friendly means running their vehicles on biodiesel fuel or at least portraying to do so. Biodiesel is tested to be a cleaner burning, alternative fuel made from organic sources, but it doesn't always come out as the most sustainable option. Several studies have shown that while biofuels may be cleaner to burn, there are strong indications that the process to produce the fuel, including the machinery necessary to cultivate the crops and the plants for production results in immense carbon emission. It takes anywhere from 27 to 118 percent more energy to produce a gallon of biodiesel than the energy it contains. Biofuels such as biodiesel from soybeans can create up to four times more climate-warming emissions than standard diesel or petrol.  Other potential risks include, land and water scarcity, loss of biodiversity, and nitrogen pollution through the use of excess fertilizer. Nothing is without penalty and biofuels certainly have its drawbacks. 

Lastly, to avoid further greenwashing, look for companies that are certified. These are certification systems that strive to standardize the principles of social and environmental responsibility. Such organizations include, Green Business Bureau, B Corporation and Green America's Certified Business. In addition, there are an immense number of non-profit and for profit organizations that have come together for the sole purpose of helping the environment, insure the company of your choice is an avid member.