Month: January 2018

While moving can be extremely exciting, it can also be very daunting. The idea of having to go through everything you own, boxing it all up, transporting it, and setting it all up isn’t exactly thrilling; in fact, it can be quite overwhelming.

To make the moving process easier and more efficient while keeping your sanity intact, here are some handy tips to keep in mind.

Purge!

Before you even think about packing up a single item, do a major purging. The more items you get rid of, the less you have to pack, move, and unload in your new space. Go through every area in your house, including the attic, the basement, the garage, closets, drawers, etc.

It might be tough, but try to let go of emotional ties. The pan you were given as a housewarming gift when you moved into your current home but chars all your food? – Trash it! That dress your mom gave you for your birthday a few years ago and still has the tags on it? – Donate it!

Downsizing the amount of stuff you have will make the entire moving process a whole lot easier. Plus, you’ll start off with more of a clean slate in your new digs.

Get Your Supplies

Once you’ve cleared out clutter, start collecting your supplies. You’re going to need boxes and lots of them. You can buy boxes, or you can collect them from grocery stores, retailers and other establishments that have their shipments delivered in boxes. You’ll also want to make sure you have plenty of newspaper and bubble wrap, packing tape, and markers.

Making sure you have necessary supplies before you start packing will help you avoid having to stop to get more supplies when you’re in the midst of your packing groove.

Take it Room-by-Room

Instead of focusing on everything all at once, work on one space at a time. For example, focus only on packing up the bedroom and don’t even think about any other space until that room is done. Once you have your bedroom packed up, move onto the next space and continue the process until every room is packed.

An important note: start with rooms that are used the least often; the dining room, for example. This way, you can avoid unpacking things that have already been packed up.

Label, Label, Label

When it comes to moving, labeling is your best friend. You can use a marker and print out the contents of each box right on the side, or you can print out the contents of every box on self-adhesive labels and slap them on the top or sides. Also, don’t forget to clearly label where each box should go in your new abode.

Labeling will make the unpacking process so much smoother. It will also help you avoid tearing through every box to find your sheets when all you want to do is make your bed and catch some Zs at the end of moving day.

Call in Helping Hands

There’s going to be a lot on your plate when you’re in the middle of a move. The packing alone can be a long and exhausting process; not to mention actually hauling everything from one space to another.

Ask your friends or family members to help out! Reward them with tasty snacks and beverages. You might even want to consider giving them gift cards or some other token to show your appreciation. Make the packing and moving process fun by playing lively music and just getting silly! Things will go a lot faster and you might make some great memories, too!

If going the friend and family route isn’t an option, consider hiring a moving company. Professionals can help you with packing and transporting so you can have some of the weight of your move lifted off of your shoulders.

Save the Essentials for Last

Though you’re eventually going to have to move everything out of your current location, there are some things that you are going to need until moving day arrives. Toiletries, a coffee pot, some articles of clothing, pillows and a blanket, your laptop; these are examples of some of the items that you probably use every day and want to wait until the last minute to pack up.

Pack these essentials in clearly labeled boxes so that you know exactly where they are when you arrive at your new home and can access them right away.

Heavier Items = Smaller Boxes

Pack those heavier items in smaller boxes. For example, if you have a ton of books, packing them in a large box might seem like the obvious choice; however, that’s a really bad idea. Books are heavy, especially in large numbers. The same is true for anything on the heavy side. If you’ve ever tried to lug a box full of textbooks out of a dorm room, you know exactly what we’re talking about.

Packing heavier items in smaller boxes will make them much easier to haul. Save the large boxes for lightweight items, like linens.

Start Early

The earlier you start, the better off you’ll be. In fact, we recommend you start packing as soon as you find out that you are moving. You’ll save yourself some major anxiety and ensure that everything is taken care of.

By following these tips, you can make your move a lot less stressful and much more successful. If you find that you have a lot of junk to purge, don’t forget to rent a dumpster! You’ll have a convenient space to toss out all of that junk so you can focus on packing.

Though the real estate market has been experiencing an upswing in recent years and there has been a steady decline in the foreclosure rate, there are still active foreclosures taking place in every corner of the country.

While a foreclosure may not be a good thing for a homeowner, for a real estate professional, it can be a great investment. These properties are relatively inexpensive to purchase, and once they are fixed up, they can be sold for a hefty profit. However, before the refurbishing process can begin, the property has to be cleaned out. Cleaning out a foreclosed house can be a tough task. Often, these homes are in disrepair and need to be taken down to the bare bones. And, on top of that, many people leave a lot of junk behind, from furniture to appliances, and just plain old trash.

How can you tackle the big undertaking that is involved with cleaning out a foreclosed property? Here are some helpful tips to guide you.

Realize the Challenge

Unlocking the door of a foreclosed property can be quite overwhelming. It’s not uncommon to see tons of trash left behind, and even damage that the previous homeowners have caused. Broken windows, holes in walls, torn out light fixtures, graffiti; the mess can be quite alarming.

To avoid getting overwhelmed, it’s important to realize that you are more than likely going to be dealing with a huge undertaking. With that realization in mind, you can then start creating an effective plan of action to get the job done.

Assess the Property

First things first: you need to assess the property. Doing so will allow you to determine exactly what needs to be done. The structure itself may be in good condition, but you may have to remove a lot of rubbish that has been left behind. Or, the house may be in disrepair and you might have to pull up carpeting, tear down walls and replace windows.

Enlist Help

Even if you pride yourself on being a hard worker and don’t mind taking on a big task, when it comes to cleaning out a foreclosure, you’re definitely going to want to enlist some help. You could hire a crew, or you could ask trusted friends to help. The more hands you have on deck, the faster the job will go.

Gather Your Equipment

Once you know what needs be done, you want to get the equipment you need to get the job done. What type of tools do you need? That depends on the condition the property is in. If the house is in good shape, you might simply need standard tools you would find in any toolbox. However, if you need tear things down to the bare bones, you will probably need bigger construction equipment.

Whatever type of equipment you need, you definitely want to make sure that you rent a dumpster. No matter what condition the foreclosure is in, there’s no doubt that you are going to have a lot of trash to get rid of. Renting a dumpster will ensure that you have a convenient place to put all of that trash. You won’t have to worry about waiting to have the garbage picked up by a sanitation company, or have to deal with some items not being picked up; all you have to do is call the business you rented the dumpster from and they will haul it away for you.

Don’t Forget the Exterior

You’re probably going to focus a lot of your attention on the interior of the foreclosure, but don’t forget the outside. Cleaning up and repairing the exterior of the house will definitely improve the value of the property, as well as attract buyers, making for a quicker sale.

Just like the inside of the house, the condition of the exterior could vary. For example, it may require nothing more than updated landscaping and a coat of paint or the siding may need to be torn down and a new driveway may need to be laid. Remember that the exterior is the first thing prospective buyers will see. Make sure they have a positive impression by sprucing up the outside of the foreclosed property.

Make Sure Everything is Legit

If you are planning on doing any upgrades to the property, make sure you check with the town to ensure your plans meet town ordinances. Depending on what your plans are, you may have to get certain permits, too. For instance, if you going to turn a basement into an apartment make sure that you are allowed to and that you do everything necessary to make the space legal. The last thing you want to do is make changes to the house, only to find out that you aren’t in compliance with rules and regulations. Not only could you get in trouble, but so could the future homeowners. Moreover, if you don’t ensure everything is legit, there’s a chance that you could get fined, or that prospective homeowners will walk away from a purchase.

List the Property

When the project is completed, it’s time to put the property up on the market. Call a reputable real estate company and speak with a realtor to find out how much you put the house on the market for. The agent will share great insight with you and will serve as an ally for selling your property at the highest rate possible.

A new year has arrived and the best way to start it off is with a fresh, clean slate. Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over, you are probably overwhelmed with all of the cleaning and organizing that needs to be done. The decorations need to be packed up and put away, the gifts need to find new homes, and there’s just so much “stuff” lying around. It seems like such a big job and you can’t help but wonder how you are going to tackle it.

First, take a deep breath, and then keep on reading for some handy tips that will help you get your home clean and tidy so you can start the New Year off with a fresh start.

Pack Up the Decorations

First things first: start with putting the decorations away. While they are certainly beautiful and bring so much joy, now that the holidays are over, they are collecting dust and you just want your house back to normal. Once the decorations are gone, you can really focus on cleaning and organizing the rest of your house.

But how do you clean up your holiday decorations? Here’s some advice:

• Ornaments. Everyday items, such as egg cartons and plastic cups, are a great way to store fragile ornaments so they won’t roll around and break.
• Lights. Tangled up lights are a pain. Wrap them around empty gift wrap tubes or strips of cardboard to avoid a headache when it’s time to put them up next year.
• Wreaths. Put wreaths on hangers and hang them up in a closet, on nails in your attic, or on a rolling coat rack.
• Gift bags and cards. Use file folders to store gift bags, tissue paper and cards so they won’t crinkle. Tuck them in a storage bin and store them away.
• Gift wrap. Have extra rolls of gift wrap? Store them in a garment bag to avoid creasing and keep them fresh so that it doesn’t become a jumbled up mess.
• The tree. If you have a real tree, lay it down on a tarp before you haul it out to prevent the needles from scattering everywhere.

The Gifts

Next up: cleaning up and putting away the gifts. Start by sorting through them and determine what you want to keep and get rid of. It’s the thought that counts, but the best intentions can add unnecessary and unwanted clutter to your home. Return or donate gifts that won’t be put to use. For the things you want to keep, decide where to store them. You’ll probably have to get rid of some old stuff to make room for the new. This is the perfect opportunity to clear out old clothing, shoes, toys, etc. Donate old items that are in good condition. Contact local charities to find out if they are taking donations. Most will gladly accept anything that you are willing to give. For items that are in disrepair or simply can’t be used anymore, don’t be afraid to toss them out.

Get to Cleaning

Once all of the decorations are taken down and stored away and the gifts have a new home, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get cleaning. Here are some tips to get you started on the task:

• Make a plan. Decide what room you want to start with. Trying to tackle everything all at once will be overwhelming. By focusing on one room at a time, you’ll be able to do a much more efficient job – and you won’t be as frazzled. Start with the kitchen or the living room, for example. Once you finish one space, you can move on to the next.
• Gather your supplies. Cleaning is a whole lot easier if you have everything you need before you get started. Some items you’ll probably want to have on hand include:
  • Broom and dustpan
  • Vacuum
  • Mop
  • Dusters
  • Cleaning sprays
  • Rags
  • Paper towels
  • Sponges
  • Trash bags
• Top-to-bottom. Start at the top and work your way down to the bottom. In other words, clean high spaces first and move down, saving the floors for last. As you clean, any dust, dirt or debris from high spaces that fall down can be swept, vacuumed or mopped away so that all surfaces are left clean.
• Move furniture. To get a really good clean, don’t forget to move furniture. You’ll be amazed by what gets trapped underneath couches, tables, shelves and other furnishings; gift wrap, bows, and dust bunnies, for example. You might even find things some things that you thought were lost forever!

Cleaning and organizing will get your home in order so that you can have a happier and more productive year. If the job is really big, consider renting a dumpster. You’ll have a convenient place to trash all of those unwanted items, and you won’t have to worry about having a big mess in your front yard until your refuse company hauls them away. We have a wide assortment of dumpsters in varying sizes and will gladly help you find the best option for your needs. The best part about renting a dumpster? – When you’re all done, you don’t have to worry about taking out the trash! Just give us a call and we’ll take the dumpster – and your trash – off your hands!

To learn more about our dumpster rental options or to schedule a delivery, give us a call today! Happy New Year!