Author Archives: greggstewart

Every year, one out of every six Americans makes a household move. In our lifetime, we might end up packing and unpacking for a move more than 11 times.

Moving isn’t exactly fun. Gathering up all your belongings, placing them into boxes, relocating them across town (or across the country), and then unpacking everything again is a real chore.

Great news — our guide will help you relocate faster and more efficiently. Check out these five tips for moving so that you can focus on getting cozy in your new place sooner!

1. Start with a Plan

Even last-minute packing can benefit from a plan. Here are the first things to think about:

·        Create a budget

·        Gather your packing supplies together — boxes, tape, markers, etc.

·        Assign rooms to friends and family who are helping you pack

Don’t go into it blindly. Start with a plan and make it easier on yourself.

2. Purge Your Belongings

Before you begin packing, evaluate what you have.

Packing up for a move is a great time to eliminate items you no longer use or want. Be ruthless when evaluating your belongings. Don’t take stuff with you that you won’t use in the future.

Schedule a charity like the Salvation Army or Goodwill to come by and pick up donation items.

3. Pack Things Simply

Some things in your home can be packed and moved without too much hassle. With hanging clothes, for example, slip a heavy-duty garbage bag up and over your hanging clothes and tie a knot near the hanger. This way, you can bag them all and transport them together without additional boxing.

Clothing in dressers can be transported right in the dresser drawer. If the dresser is sturdy and filled with clothing only, wrap it in padded blankets and secure them with tape so that the drawers do not open. Be careful to never put tape directly on furniture.

4. Prep Work is Key

There are a few things you can do to make your move easier for yourself. A little bit of prep work goes a long way towards making the moving process a smooth one.

Don’t wait until moving day to start packing. Pack as early as possible, and make sure you have completed the task before your movers arrive.

Pack an essentials box. Put in things like soap, towels, and other toiletries. This “first-night” kit will help you start settling in without completely unpacking.

Also, pack a suitcase for yourself. You don’t want to have to dig through your stuff those first few days.

5. Get in the Flow

You made your plan, stick to it, and don’t overthink your packing strategy.

Label each box on every side.  Include a description of the box contents plus the name of the room the box is supposed to go to in the new house.

Essential Tips on Moving Out

Moving isn’t always fun, but sooner or later, you’re going to do it. These crucial tips on moving out will help get you through a rough time.

Make moving even easier on yourself. Hire professional movers to help you transition to your new place without the hassle.

Reach out to us today, and we’ll make moving day stress-free!

Signing the paperwork and getting the keys is only the first step of homeownership. When you’re transitioning from renter to homeowner, there a few steps you can take to ensure you get off to a good start in your new home.

We’ve put together a list of three things to know about homeownership before moving into the first house you’ve ever owned.

We hope it helps as you move your belongings in and begin making your new house feel like a home.

1. Get to Know Your Security System

Before you move in, make sure your home is safe.

Change every lock—you never know where the previous owner hid spare keys. Once you’ve changed the locks, consider installing a permanent lockbox outside your home where you can store an extra key. Don’t forget locks on sheds and gates.

If your home has a garage door opener, reset your key codes.

Check any motion lights and security lighting on your property and replace burned-out bulbs. Check and replace the batteries for your home security system. 

2. Be Prepared for Emergencies

Before you sleep or cook in your home for the first time, make sure you have fire extinguishers. Place one in the kitchen and one on each level of your home.

Check smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Your home inspector likely checked them as part of your pre-closing inspection, but do your own check as well. Remove the covers from smoke detectors, dust inside and outside the units, and replace the batteries.

When you first move into a new house, you likely won’t have your address memorized. Print it on a Post-It note or a small magnetized whiteboard. That way, you’ll have it handy if you need to call 911.

Tip: Even hardwired smoke detectors need new batteries.

3. Hire Help When Moving into Your First House

If you’re like most first-time homeowners, you might think you don’t have much to move. Besides, your friends don’t mind taking a day and helping lug your belongings up and down a few stairs.

There’s a vast difference between asking friends and hiring professional movers.

When you hire a moving company, the team is there for you from start-to-finish. Friends are helpful, but often they can’t commit the time it takes to get everything moved. Movers help you plan then get everything moved efficiently. 

Tip: Help your movers by clearly labeling your boxes and creating a map of your home so the movers know precisely where to place them upon arrival.

Ready to Move?

We’ve shared three of our favorite things homeowners should know when they buy their first home. Over the years, you’ll discover many more things about owning a home.

If you need help moving into your first house, we’re here for you. Contact us today for a free quote.

When most people decide to relocate, they tend to focus on factors like selling their home, purchasing their new one, or choosing a moving company.

It’s also essential to know how many moving boxes you’ll need before you begin packing. But, not everyone knows how to calculate this.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know to answer how many boxes do I need for my household move?

So, How Many Moving Boxes Do I Need?

There are a few questions you’ll need to ask yourself to decide how many boxes you’ll need. 

How Long Have I Lived Here?

The longer you’ve lived in your current residence, the more likely you’ve acquired various possessions over time. Things like pots, pans, and books can quickly take up space.

How Many Square Feet Is My Home?

Larger homes often translate to more boxes since you’ll have more space to store more stuff.

So, if you live in a home with plenty of square footage, you’ll need to anticipate obtaining a sufficient number of moving boxes.

How Many People Are Moving With Me?

As previously mentioned, ‘more’ of something directly results in needing more boxes. Moving with your spouse is drastically different than moving with your spouse and children.

What Size Boxes Do I Need?

In general, you’ll want to have a similar number of small and medium boxes and about half as many large boxes. The typical sizes are as follows:

• Small: 1.5 cubic feet
• Medium: 1.5-3.0 cubic feet
• Large: 2.5-3.5 cubic feet

So, if you have ten small boxes, you’ll likely need ten medium boxes and five large boxes.

How to Calculate

While there are a handful of factors at play in determining how many of each you’ll need, the base number will typically depend on your home’s square footage.

• 25 boxes for a home between 400 and 700 sqft (10 small, 10 medium, 5 large)
• 40 boxes for a home between 700 and 1250 sqft (16 small, 16 medium, 8 large)
• 60 boxes for a home between 1250 and 1700 sqft (24 small, 24 medium, 12 large)
• 80+ boxes for a home over 1700 sqft (30+ small, 30+ medium, 20+ large)

From here, you’ll have to determine if you have additional things like collections or lots of momentos. These added items might require additional boxes.

More Packing Supplies

A smooth packing and moving process requires gathering the necessary supplies. Make sure you also have plenty of the following equipment on hand as you pack

• Unprinted Packing Paper
• Bubble Wrap
• Markers
• Labels
• Box Tape Dispenser
• Box Tape Refills
• Box Cutter

Be prepared and get your moving supplies ahead of time. That way, you can enjoy a safe, well-organized move.

Estimating Moving Boxes

Moving doesn’t have to be stressful.

With the above information, you’ll be well on your way to determining how many boxes you’ll need for your household move.Want to learn more about how to introduce yourself to your new community once you move? This article has plenty of useful info.