Moving Tips for Winter Relocation

Most of the people usually move in the summer, but those who move during the wintertime know that it is much cheaper that way. Since there are not so many people waiting to move, the prices tend to drop. So, if you are thinking about winter relocation, go for it. We have a lot of tips for winter relocation that will make your move a lot easier. With a reliable moving company, you should not experience any major issues despite the possible bad weather.

Wear the right clothes:

winter clothes

Winter relocation requires proper clothing. Make sure that you have gloves, a warm jacket, and a cap. Besides this, you need a pair of waterproof boots. They should also be anti-slippery as you really want to avoid the moving day injuries.  You should wear several layers of clothes, as they will keep you warm enough. Always have a bag with dry clothes just in case the one you are wearing gets wet.

Protect your electronic devices:

Your electronic devices do not like cold temperatures. A tablet, PC, phone, laptop, and chargers should not be left in the moving van. Rather keep them with you in the car. If you are taking longer breaks during the move, just think about carrying them with you. Many electronic devices will not work if left on sub-zero temperatures for a while.

Clear the pathways:

You should clear the pathways both in your old house as well as in the new house. Think about where your movers will have to go and clean that area from snow entirely. You can sip salt on the pathway to prevent the ice from forming. Due to safety concerns, this is something you should watch closely and react if snow begins to fall again. A clear walkway or pathway is something that your movers will be grateful for. Before you arrive at your new house, do the same way and clear the path all the way to the entrance doors.

Protect your floors:

Again, this is something that you should do in your old and in your new house. When moving we have a lot of moving boxes that should be loaded into the moving truck. Bring them as close as possible to the front door. Cover the floor with old sheets, towels or blankets. They will soak up any mud, snow or rain that you and movers bring into the house. When you are in your new home, just cover the floor immediately as you will avoid all the dirt and floor damage.

Don`t forget to turn on utilities in your new home:

heating

Moving in the winter is not bad at all. What is worse is that if you arrive at your new home only to realize that the heating is not turned on. Arrange for your utilities to be installed a day or two before you move in. Electricity, heating, and water are the most important things that you will absolutely need to have when moving in the winter. Furthermore, if you are moving to a different country, do not forget to get a new number for your phone, and change the address on your documents.

Service your car:

service car

If you are moving by car, it is extremely important that they can function well at low temperatures. Have the local mechanic check your car and see if there is anything that should be done before you head off. Check the tires, the fluids, the A/C, the heating system, even your radio. Moving during winter is best with the radio on and your favorite song to keep you in the mood. Don`t forget to obtain a first-aid kit for the journey.

Protect your furniture and artwork:

If the snow is falling while you are taking your boxes and furniture out of the house, it is a potential hazard to them. Protect your furniture by covering them with blankets and sheets. Protecting your artworks is very important and art handlers NYC know this and ready to help you. Cover all your boxes with a protective sheet. Although cardboard boxes seem fragile against the snow, they are actually pretty effective. However, you should cover them just in case and only if the snow is falling heavily.

Prepare hot beverages:

tea

There is nothing better than a hot beverage during the winter. Both you and your movers will love a cup of tea or hot chocolate once in a while. When the temperatures are low, and our hands are freezing, a warm cup of tea brings us to life. So, leave the kettle in the kitchen and make yourself a hot beverage once in every couple of hours.

Monitor the forecast:

Knowledge is power, and this is especially true in wintertime. Monitor the weather forecast closely, as it can change in a matter of two to three days. If heavy snow is expected, contact your moving company and see if they will tell you to postpone the move. Safety always comes first, and while moving in winter is not impossible, there is no reason to risk any injury or damage.

Pack an essentials bag:

This is one of the best tips for winter relocation. Pack one bag for each of your family members with the essentials. The essential bag is basically what you will be using during the move and in the first 24 hours when you move in. It should contain your phone, charger, spare clothes, toiletries, your kid’s favorite toy or a book. The essentials bag is a lifesaver as you will have all that you need in one place, instead of rummaging through the moving boxes to find one thing.

winter relocation

As we have seen, there are plenty of moving tips during winter relocation that will make this process a lot easier. Good luck!

2020 Best Apps For Selling Your Stuff Online

You have finally made the decision to downsize and move to a smaller house. You have created a home inventory and now you are surrounded by numerous things that you don’t need anymore, items that will not fit in your new home and duplicated items. A garage sale is a great option but you will not be able to sell or donate everything you want during one garage sale. Selling and donating your stuff online is one of the most convenient modern world advantages when you are moving to a smaller home. It will help you get rid of all the unwanted stuff and it is also a great way to make some extra cash during the moving process. There are numerous online apps for selling items online and we have created the list of 10 most popular ones to help you choose the one that works for you. All of them have their own features, and you will find one more suitable for your needs than others. We advise you to list your belongings before contacting a professional moving company. Remove the items that you don’t want to bring with you from the inventory list to make sure that your movers have the accurate information for all of their services, especially if your plan is to get professional packing services.

We have also included 2 apps that will help you organize and notify your neighbors about your garage sale.

garage sale

These are the apps that will make your downsizing process easier:

1. Letgo

LetGo is one of the most popular Craigslist alternatives. It is extremely user friendly and easy to use, you simply snap the picture of the item you want to sell and it will be listed very quickly. If you are a seller, you need to use the app to sell your stuff while the buyers can view your listing on the desktop website.

2. Decluttr

Decluttr is one of the fastest online selling apps, your items like DVDs, CDs, cell phones, tablets, textbooks or similar can be sold in a few minutes and you will receive your payment the next day. Your items have to pass the quality control and after they are accepted you only need to scan the bar-code and you can begin the listing process.

3. OfferUp

OfferUp can be described as a local version of eBay. It has a lot of important features that other apps don’t, like leaving feedback. There is also an in-app chat feature that you can use to ask questions about the item you want to buy. This app is free, and listings can be searched by category, proximity or by entering the zip code or the city.

4. Carousell

Carousell gives you the opportunity to sell anything from clothing items to cars in one place. It is a widely used app that will offer you an opportunity to share your listings on social media for a better online presence. Carousell is free to use, and it takes only 30 seconds to list a product.

5. 5Miles

Apart from your items and unwanted things on 5Miles you can also sell services. This app allows their users to filter their listings to within 5 miles of their current location, you can also list your garage sale on this app.

6. Bookoo

Bookoo app is part classified, and part social media platform. You need to make a profile whether you are a seller or a buyer and you need to friend other users. Your profile will show all of your listings, all sales that go through Bookoo are local so you don’t have to worry about shipping anything. If Bookoo is not active in your city yet you can request it.

online sale

7. VarageSale

VarageSale is similar to Bookoo. You also need to make a profile and build trust connections with other users. This app has selling communities all across the globe, you can use it to sell your items or to trade them for free.

8. Poshmark

Poshmark is mostly used to sell clothing items. The listing is free and listings are known as closets, shoppers can browse your entire closet. You can sell your clothes all around the world and this app sends you a free pre-paid shipping label when you make a sale.

9. Shpock

Shpock is short for “Shop in your Pocket.” This app is similar to Pinterest, only visually, it showcases your listings with large pictures. The picture will be the first thing that your buyers see and after they click on it they can read the further specifications of a product. This app is simple and free, suitable for both Android and ios.

10. Craigslist

The Craigslist app is very similar to the Craigslist website. It is widely used, and it has a large audience, which means that you have a higher chance to make a sale. It is not the most user-friendly app but it has a great network of potential buyers.

yard sale

If you have listed all of the items that are worth selling online, you can start planning a garage sale. You need to organize your items and let your neighbors know about your sale, there are several online apps that can help you in this process.

1. YardSailr

YardSailr is free to use, you can list your items and sell them through this app too, and you can share all your listing on social media. By doing so you will let your friends know about your garage sale and they will be able to see what you have to offer and decide will they come to visit or not. Your listing will also appear on an in-app map, and that will help potential buyers plan the route.

2. Yardsales.com

Yardsales.com is one of the most thorough garage sale apps. There is an in-app pricing tool that will help you determine the price of your items. You can also hire helpers through this app and there are a lot of options for advertising your sale.

small apartment interior

Downsizing a home also means that you have to downsize your stuff. Decluttering can be a long and exhausting process and there is no need for you to do it all by yourself. Make a home inventory and start listing. Throughout the moving process, you will find numerous things that you don’t use anymore but you have created an emotional connection with, it will be hard to give some of those items away, but just remember, somebody relly needs those items and they will be sent to a good home. Embrace the minimalist lifestyle and enjoy your new home.

Pros and Cons of Downsizing to a Smaller Apartment

Downsizing to a smaller apartment is not a simple task when you decide to buy a smaller home than the one you already have you will need to make a lot of adjustments. If you own a lot of stuff you will need to organize them and decide what will you take with you and what will you give away, the organization is the key to a successful downsizing process. The downsizing practice started because of the “The Less Is More” concept, and most of the people that decide to downsize are doing so for money related reasons, but of course, the reason can vary. If you decide to downsize you will experience numerous advantages, but you need to be prepared for disadvantages too.

While most of the people are trying to reach the goal of upsizing, downsizing keeps offering so many different options.

small apartment

When should you downsize:

The perfect time to downsize can be at any time, and it depends on your current situation. Maybe your current home is too big and related costs are hard to deal with, maybe your kids have moved out and you have too much space and the house feels empty or maybe you simply have the need to change your lifestyle and you want to save more money for traveling or other costs that are not related to housekeeping.

Whenever you decide to take this step you should do a lot of research first, you need to be sure that you will be happy in your new place, and you need to lookup downsizing tips and tricks. Our advice is to be realistic about how many personal belongings you own, and start thinking about what will you keep. Most of the people get shocked by the amount of stuff they own when the moving process starts, so you need to make an inventory list before you contact your movers, because you won’t be moving everything. Selling, donating or throwing away the things you don’t need will be the most important step in the process of downsizing. Selling your belongings is even more important if you are moving because of your financial circumstances.

Downsizing Pros:

money

1. Increased Money Flow:

Spending less on a mortgage payment and other housekeeping costs means that you will have more money to allocate to your other needs. You will finally be able to spend money on things you want and desire rather than on the things you need.

2. More Free Time:

A smaller home means fewer rooms, fewer rooms means less time will be spent on cleaning. Downsizing can extremely reduce the time that you send on household tasks which will leave you with more free time to do something you actually enjoy, you may even pick up a new hobby. This is one of the main reasons for downsizing among younger generations.

3. Traveling Lifestyle Opportunites:

Traveling often can be a big burden if you own a big home, not only because of the amount of money and time it requires but also because of the security. If you decide to downsize from a standalone house to an apartment or a condo not only that you will be able to travel more it will also be less stressful.

4. Less Consumption:

A smaller home means that you will have less storage space so it is highly likely that you will go shopping less often. You will acquire fewer consumer goods, and you will spend less time and money on shopping.

5. Lower Utility Bills:

Your utility bills will be smaller, it costs less to heat or cool a smaller home without wasted spaces. Typically there is no wasted space, such as vaulted ceilings, in a smaller home.

6. Saving Energy:

Less square footage decreases the amount of energy expended. A smaller home will reduce your family’s carbon footprint meaning that smaller homes are more energy-efficient.

7. Family Bonding:

Smaller houses will create a special environment where you will need to make more compromises and work with your family as a team. Opposed to spread out floor plans small homes will create a cozy, warm atmosphere.

Downsizing Cons:

messy room

1. Space Restrictions:

Sometimes it will be hard to find your own peace in smaller homes. You will probably miss having lots of space to escape and your new home may look too crowded at first until you get used to it and find ways to organize your belongings.

2. Guest Space:

If you have a lot of out of town friends they will need to forget haveing their own room when they come to visit, they may even have to stay at a hotel. Also, hosting big family or holiday dinner parties will be tricky.

3. Change of Lifestyle:

Some people will need more time to get used to a new lifestyle. Adapting to changes can vary from person to person but you will definitely need to forget some old habits and make new ones.

4. Fewer Belongings:

Moving to a smaller home would probably result in selling, giving away, or throwing out multiple personal items. If you are one of those people who form an emotional attachment to your belongings this may be quite a challenge.

interior

There are numerous things that you will need to do before moving to a smaller place. You should always start with making a home inventory, this is the first step that will help you decide what to bring with you and what to leave behind. You will definitively keep your valuables and our professional movers can help you with art handling during the move. Sort out all your items, find and sell or donate duplicates.  Make a garage sale or sell your items online, there are numerous apps that can help you with this step. You can also use “Free Books” tactics and put all the things that aren’t worth selling in one box label as “FREE”. You will need to organize your closets and storage spaces carefully.

One of the most important steps will be measuring your new space and your furniture. You need to be extremely precise while doing so. You don’t want to move your heavy furniture across town or state only to find out that it can not fit properly.

Downsizing will save you a lot of things, including time and money, it will teach you how to organize your belongings, it will help you have more control over your possessions and it will make you a more efficient person.

Making a Home Inventory for Moving

A home inventory is one of the most important and useful documents that you will need in the relocation process. Home inventory for moving purposes can be really similar to the one you may already have from your insurance company, but it is not the same. You should keep track of all of your belongings, especially of your priceless and valuable possessions.

Relocation can be overwhelming, and as hard as you try you will not be able to remember all of the things you own. This is why it is important to make a home inventory list before you start packing. If you hire a professional moving company and professional packers they will provide you with an inventory list, you should have your own too! You will want to double-check everything.

writing home inventory

Why Should You Make a Moving Home Inventory List:

1. It Will Help You With the Packing Process:

The home inventory list can be used as a comprehensive packing list too and this way you can be sure that you will not forget anything and that all of your items will be packed in an organized and systematic manner. Also, the inventory list will help you determine the amount of packing supplies!

2. You Will Get a Better Picture of Your Belongings:

Surely, everyone has some items around the house that are outdated, damaged or simply duplicates, and they tend to be forgotten about. You will have the list of all of your belongings, and you will be able to decide which items to leave behind. You will be able to organize a garage sale, sell those items online or simply toss them away. You don’t want to fill your new home with unnecessary items from the start, and you will also have fewer things to move.

3. You Will Be Able to Get a More Accurate Moving Estimate:

The cost of your move depends on a number of things, but it definitely depends on the total weight and number of your items. If you make an inventory, you will be able to get an idea of the weight and to assume the moving cost ahead. Your inventory list will also help your movers come up with the final price since they will be able to tell you how much time will they need for loading and unloading, packing, what special services will be required and it will help them prepare all the necessary equipment for your specific situation.

4. It Will Help You Get the Proper Insurance and Liability Coverage:

Your moving home inventory list includes information about the cost and value of your belongings and this will help you determine what kind of liability coverage is appropriate in your case. If you have some valuable possessions you may need some special art handling services or you will need to fill out some high-value forms, etc. Your inventory will also contain information about the condition of your items and if some of them are damaged or lost during a move your inventory list will help you file an insurance claim. Apart from that, after the relocation is finished, you will be able to use this list for your new insurance plan.

5. It Will Help You With the Unpacking Process:

Not only that this list will help you pack your belongings, but it will also be extremely useful for unloading and unpacking too. You will be able to check every item upon delivery, that way you will know if anything is lost. Sometimes people don’t notice that their stuff is missing immediately, especially in the case of long distance moving, and by the time they notice it is too late to file a claim.

unpacking

How to Make a Moving Home Inventory List in 10 Easy Steps:

1. Decide When to Start, Pick a Date, Take a Lot of Time:

Allow yourself plenty of time for making a home inventory for moving. You don’t want to rush this if you are going to do it, do it right. Otherwise, you will only be wasting a lot of time, and your items will still be able to get lost. Take your time.

2. Pick a Method: Digital or Analog?

Before you make an actual inventory template you will need to decide will you write with your hand or will you create a digital spreadsheet? Both of those methods are right, and they both have their own pros and cons. Digital files can be a faster method and it will allow you to make changes faster in the future, you can always choose to make a digital list and print it after so you can add notes by hand.

3. Create a Home Inventory Template:

Once you have determined the method, you can make a template. There a several most important columns that your inventory template must include and those are:

1. Item Name

2. Current Item Condition

3. Quantity

4. Year of Purchase

5. Value, Original Price

6. Destination Room

7. Notes

4. Delegate, Find More People to Help You:

Before you start going over your house and writing down everything you own to make sure you have enough people for this task. You can ask your friends and all family members should be included, even kids, they can inventory their own rooms, you will need to double-check after them but you should double-check everything either way.

5. Start With One Room:

It is time to start, pick a room and go over it, residential moving is never easy, especially if you lived in one house for a long time. One person can inventory one room, and after you can switch, for double-checking.

making home inventory room by room

6. Take Photos:

You should take photos of your items. It will be easier to remember the exact item and those photos will be one of the most important proofs on the current condition of your belongings.

7. Make a Video:

This step is not mandatory but if you have time you can make short videos of your rooms and belongings.

8. Start With the Furniture:

You should start with the biggest items in the room, and you should note if they need to be disassembled, if they do, mark the pieces appropriately.

9. Double-Check Everything:

If all of your belongings are n the home inventory list you can take a break and relax. But you should also double-check it, go the other way around this time, read the list and look for the items.

10. Make Multiple Copies:

You are done now, all of your belongings are on the list and all of the information about them is there too. Now you just need to make sure not to lose it. Make several copies before you contact your movers, keep one with you, one with the most important documents, you can send one with your movers and you can have one in the hands of someone you trust.

 

 

As it was mentioned earlier, moving home inventory list is one of the most essential self-made documents that you will need in the relocation process, but you will want to save it for the future too. This document can be used for your new insurance, and you should update it regularly. Write down all the big purchases and keep track of your possession in the future!

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