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If you’ve decided to save some money on your move by packing the moving truck yourself, you’ll want to make sure you maximize the space available while minimizing the damage to your belongings and if you’re using a truck or using  work lights for vehicles buy is also important  and can be the best option for this. Take these tips from the pros to pack your truck the right way. If you decide to hire a professional moving company, you should find one that hires the right people for Local trucking jobs home daily.

Items you’ll need

Before you even begin loading those boxes onto the truck, gather all the supplies you’ll need. These include:

• Moving blankets or paper padding for furniture
• A dolly
• Plastic stretch wrap
• Plastic sheets or tarps
• Packing tape
• Tie downs like bungee cords, rope or ratchet straps
• Gloves
• Step ladder

Before you load the truck

If you take a little time to make a game plan before you start loading, you’ll save yourself time and more than one headache.

• Make sure all your boxes are properly packed to safeguard against damage during the move.
• Defrost refrigerators and freezers at least 24 hours ahead of time.
• Prepare washing machines.
• Label all your boxes with what’s inside and where they go in the new place.
• Disassemble furniture that can be taken apart.
• Wrap furniture and other unboxed items with plastic wrap, paper padding or furniture pads.
• Pack an overnight bag.
• Take very fragile items and electronics like computers in the cab or car with you.

Packing the truck

According to this NJ moving company, there is a proper strategy to packing a truck, and following these steps will make the job much easier.

• Park the truck as close to the entrance as possible and make a clear path to it.
• Lay the tarp or plastic sheets on the bottom of the truck to keep items clean.
• One person should stay on the truck to organize all the items, while the others bring the items from the house to the truck.
• Move as much furniture as possible outside so you can better see what order it should go into the truck.
• The first things onto the truck should be the heaviest and largest items like appliances, mattresses and couches. Start with the appliances, then load sofas, chairs and entertainment units.
• Don’t place an item with sharp edges against a fabric piece, as it could cause damage.
• Place wrapped mirrors or glass in between mattresses or cushions.
• After all the furniture and appliances are loaded, then load the heaviest boxes.
• Stack items floor to ceiling, using every available space.
• Pack the truck in tiers, and tie down each tier with ropes or ratchet straps.
• Think of packing like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Pack items tightly into every crack. This will help ensure that items don’t shift while en route.
• Make sure heavier boxes are on the bottom and lighter boxes are on the top.
• The lightest boxes, awkwardly shaped items and fragile pieces should go on last. Rolled up rugs and other odds and ends can be placed on top.
• Don’t forget to tie down the last tier to prevent the whole load from shifting backwards while driving. Make sure you leave enough room for the door to open and close.

While moving can be a real pain, if you take some time to plan ahead, packing your moving truck won’t be as difficult. Happy moving!

Compliments of Virtual Results

Now that you’ve decided it’s time to sell your home, you’re probably getting all kinds of advice from friends and family about how to do it. While they often have good intentions, some of the suggestions they provide can be downright harmful to you. Here’s the advice that we recommend you skip.

Wait until the market is better

There are so many factors that play into the fluctuations of the housing market, it’s often impossible to predict how your local market will be impacted in a few weeks or months. If you need or want to sell your home, there’s no time like the present.

You don’t need professional photos

Unless you are a professional photographer, you should not be relying on the photos you take to sell your listing. Yes, the cameras on our smartphones are amazing – but there’s a lot more to taking a great real estate photo than slapping a cool Instagram filter over it. Most people decide whether or not they want to see a property in person based on the photos in the listing. Do yourself a favor and make sure the photos do your home justice.

Don’t sell your home in the winter or fall

While conventional wisdom dictates that the best time to sell your home is in the spring or summer, that doesn’t mean those are the only times to sell. Yes, buyers with school age children are more likely to move when school is out of session. But what about the empty nesters? Or the couples without children? Or the single people looking to buy their first place? They are less likely to be limited with their window of opportunity. The reality is there will always be people who are shopping for a home.

Price your home high

We’re not sure of the logic of this, but some people might believe that pricing a home high gives buyers room to negotiate. Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to selling your home. If you price your home too high, many potential buyers will not even look at your home. Your property will languish on the market, and you will eventually have to reduce the price – which can make you look desperate. Price your home appropriately from the beginning.

Don’t make repairs – let the buyer do it

If there are repairs that need to be made, you’re better off making them before you list. Potential buyers will see the problems when they view your home, and they’re more likely to offer you less than your asking price. You’ll lose money in the end if you don’t attend to those repairs first.

You don’t need an agent

Maybe you believe your market is so hot right now that you don’t need an agent to sell your home. But there’s so much more to selling a house than finding a buyer. There are legal processes and documents that need to be addressed. Selling a home is a complicated process, and a professional real estate agent can help you navigate through the confusion and stress.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Are you considering purchasing a home that has an easement, but you’re not sure how it will affect you? Are you worried that it’s something that could cause you problems down the line? Are you confused about what an easement even is? Here’s what you need to know.

What is an easement?

An easement is the legal right to use someone else’s land for a specific purpose. You may see the term from time to time in listings as you search for homes. Before purchasing a home it’s essential to know about any existing easements on the property and how they may affect your usage of it. Easements can be granted to entities like utility companies or even to individuals such as your neighbors.

How do you know if there is an easement?

Easements are usually filed with the local assessor’s office. If you do a title search for the property, the easement will show up as well. You can hire a title insurance company or a private title searcher to do this for you, or you can review the deed to the property yourself, which you can obtain from the county clerk or recorder. You can also contact the county or city’s zoning department; they will have surveys and plot maps that detail the easement. The local utility company or other entity with easement rights will also have information regarding the easement.

What are the types of easements?

While there many different types of easements, here is a brief overview of the types of easements you may encounter in your home search.

• Right of way – This type of easement allows people to pass through your property, typically to a play area, park or lake. Sometimes, this can include a neighbor’s driveway if it is necessary to cross through your property in order to reach another.
• Utility easements – These easements are generally the most common and are granted to utility companies or the city. They often don’t impact your day-to-day living, and are in place simply to prevent your interference with their use.

What if there is a dispute over an easement?

As a property owner, you may not interfere with the use of a legal easement. If you do, you could be held accountable for damages or even be taken to court. If you find that you are involved in a dispute regarding an easement, you should seek the advice of an experienced Thailand litigation attorney. Laws vary from location to location, so it’s essential to find out the appropriate details that are applied to your specific situation. While most legal easements are written documents, there are cases where unwritten easements can legally be created through particular circumstances, and the laws can be complex. You’ll definitely want reliable advice from someone knowledgeable that you can trust.

While easements may be a little complicated or cause confusion, they are a normal part of many real estate transactions. The most important thing you can do should you decide to purchase a property with an existing easement is to understand what it entails and abide by those determinations.

Compliments of Virtual Results

We get it – there are days where you just don’t love the home you live in. Worse, there may be days where you don’t eve like it. Maybe you think it’s too small, or it doesn’t look like the homes in fancy magazines.

But we have a secret – you don’t have to have a perfect home to love the one you live in. If you’re looking for ways to find a new appreciation for the place where you hang your hat, read on.

Keep it tidy

It doesn’t matter how awesome your house is – if it’s a mess, it’ll make anybody feel blue. That goes double for a house you’re struggling to love. One of the first things you can do to warm up to your home is to keep it tidy. Eliminate clutter that has been piling up, donate unused items to charity, and give every room a thorough cleaning. It’s kind of amazing how good a clean house can make you feel.

Stop comparing

Yes, your cousin’s 3,500 square foot house in the country is amazing. And it can be tempting to see everything that she has that you don’t. But the key to happiness in any situation in life is to stop comparing what you have to what others have. Besides, think about how much more time your cousin has to spend cleaning such a large home! Less time cleaning equals more time for the fun things in life.

Find new uses for old things

Maybe your house is giving you a serious case of the blahs. You’ve been looking at the same art on the walls for ages. You haven’t moved the furniture since you moved in five years ago. Now is the time for a change. But, instead of going shopping for new items, take a little “shopping” trip through your own home. When items live in the same place forever, they begin to blend into the background. Switch things up and move art, furniture, pillows and more from one room to another. It can really spice up the energy in your house and remind you of belongings you cherish that you had forgotten about.

Consider the bigger picture

Sometimes you need to remind yourself why you chose your home in the first place. Is it close to work, giving you a wonderfully short commute? Is the backyard huge, with lots of space for the kids to play? Do you live within walking distance of your best friend? Is there a park or a café nearby that you love? Do you have really great neighbors? There are many reasons beyond the physical structure that can make your home a great place to live. Remember those things when you start to feel negative.

Practice gratitude

It’s true in life and it’s true when looking for ways to appreciate your home – practice gratitude. We have so many conveniences and beautiful things in our home that we take for granted, like that cozy quilt you inherited from grandma or the antique chest of drawers from your father’s aunt. I also found an absolutely amazing antiques shop in Petworth recently, and luckily they have a web site so you can also view those amazing antiques wherever you are, the web site is https://tallulahfox.co.uk/. Take time to express gratitude for the things you have. You’ll soon find that you’re falling in love with your home all over again.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Conventional wisdom dictates that spring and summer are the best times to sell your home. And since Labor Day is the unofficial end of the summer season, you may be thinking that you’ve missed your opportunity to put your home on the market.

But that isn’t necessarily the case. While families with school-age children generally tend to move when school is out of session for the summer, that doesn’t mean everyone else follows that line of thinking. If you’re contemplating putting your home up for sale after Labor Day, here’s what you need to know.

There are fewer homes on the market

Summer is the high season when the real estate market is flooded with the most inventory. By putting your home up for sale after Labor Day, you’ll have fewer homes to compete with. Some buyers who didn’t find what they were looking for over the summer will be glad to see new listings, while buyers without school-age children may just now be deciding it’s time for a move. This timing could very well work in your favor.

Price it right

With fewer buyers looking for a home after Labor Day, you’ll want to make sure you price your home correctly the first time. If not, you could lose potential buyers who might otherwise be interested in your home. Be sure to research comps in your neighborhood, and work with an agent who is an expert in the local market. Pricing your home right from the beginning will help keep it from languishing on the market for too long.

Give your home a makeover

It’s easy to make a home look great in the spring and summer, when sunshine is abundant and flowers are blooming. It can be a little more difficult when days are dark and trees are bare. Be especially aware of what your home looks like on both the inside and the outside in order to make the best first impression.

On the outside, be diligent about fall chores like raking leaves, cleaning gutters, and pruning trees and shrubs. Inspect your aluminum fencing to determine if it requires repairs or even a replacement. Check the roof for missing shingles and replace them as needed with the help of a roofing contractor. Spruce up your porch with pots of winter annuals like mums or pansies. You can even put out some seasonal decorations, but don’t go overboard. Keep it minimal and tasteful.

On the inside, give your home a thorough cleaning and clear out personal belongings like family photos. If you have large or bulky furniture, move them to storage and arrange what’s left to maximize flow. Give your rooms a fresh coat of paint in neutral colors and remove heavy curtains to let in as much light as possible. Set out fresh flowers and light some candles. If you have the budget, consider hiring a professional staging company to make your home look as welcoming as possible. You want any potential buyers visiting to be able to imagine living in the space. This is also a great time to check your heater installation and make sure that it’ll be working properly when potential buyers visit your home.

If you’re thinking about putting your home on the market after Labor Day this year, don’t worry that you’re too late. Follow the tips above to make the most of your listing, and you could have your home sold before the end of the year!

Compliments of Virtual Results

Winter’s coming – and, no, we don’t mean it’s time for a new season of Game of Thrones. While the end-of-August hot temperatures may have you thinking summer is here to stay forever, autumn really is just around the corner. It’s time to do a little maintenance to prepare your home for the coming season. Here’s the rundown of what you should accomplish in the next month or two.

Inside your home

Fall and winter bring cooler temperatures, so it’s time to make sure the inside of your home is ready for the switch. These are the chores you should consider tackling:

• Save some money on heating costs this winter by sealing leaks around doors and windows with weather stripping and caulk.
• Have your furnace and heating system checked by a heating repair service professional and change furnace filters. Consider signing up for an annual maintenance contract, which could save you money on maintenance visits so make sure you speak with your hvac system services for assistance.
• Check your fireplace or woodstove. Look inside the flue to make sure the damper is functioning properly and that it is free of debris or nests. Have built up creosote cleaned by a professional.
• Change batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean humidifiers – bacteria can develop if the water in the tank is dirty.

Outside your home

The weather can be especially harsh in the winter, so make sure the exterior of your home is up for the challenge by performing these chores:

• Use caulk to seal cracks around windows and doors and where trim and siding meet.
• After leaves have fallen, clean your gutters. Replace any gutters or downspouts that are worn or sagging.
• Inspect your roof. Replace missing shingles and check flashing around pipes, chimneys and skylights.
• Remove window A/C units or cover them with an insulating wrap.
• Clean and store your lawn mower.
• Drain or add fuel stabilizer to the fuel storage tanks before putting it away.
• Remove hoses from outdoor faucets and turn off shutoff valves that supply exterior faucets. Drain the hoses and store them.
• Drain your irrigation system if there is danger of the buried lines freezing, which can cause them to burst.
• Remove screens from windows and install storm windows. Clean and repair screens before storing.
• Inspect your sidewalks and driveway for cracks and repair with filler.
• Clean porches and decks, including furniture. Check for any needed repairs and store furniture and grilling equipment in a protected place.
• Clean and organize the garage and install weather stripping around the garage door.
• Clean leaves from the yard and prune plants and trees. Be sure branches are at least three feet from the house so water doesn’t drip onto the house.
• Divide and move perennials and plant spring-flowering bulbs. Remove dead or dying annuals.
• Add a fresh layer of mulch in garden beds.
• Aerate your lawn and re-seed patchy areas. Spread fertilizer.
• Clean your pond and aerate it as you did with your lawn. If this is your first time doing this, you can read these tips from Living Water Aeration.

While it might seem like this is a lengthy to-do list, regular maintenance and repairs each season will go a long way to make sure your home stays in the best shape possible. Tackle a project or two each weekend and by the time the holidays are here, you can relax and enjoy!

Compliments of Virtual Results

Having a good relationship with your neighbors can have a big impact on how happy you are in your home. If you get along and have an easy rapport, it can truly add to your good feelings. On the other hand, if your interactions with neighbors are tense or negative, it can make you uneasy and unable to truly relax.

Part of having a good relationship with your neighbors is being a good neighbor. Here are some ideas to help you build a feeling of community in your neighborhood.

Get outside

It’s hard to know your neighbors if you never step outside the front door. Say hello to people walking by when you collect the mail. Do a little gardening in the front yard or spend some time sitting on the front porch. Go for regular walks in your neighborhood. You’ll be surprised at how friendly people can be, and it’s a great way to get to know the people living in your neighborhood.

Welcome newcomers

Being the new guy can be tough. Make the transition a little easier for new neighbors by taking the initiative and introducing yourself. Bring them a little gift like some cookies, a plant or a favorite goodie from a neighborhood store.

Be aware of your behavior

Nobody wants to move next door to someone who throws loud parties, plays their TV at an obnoxious level, or blares music late into the night. Don’t be the one who does it. Keep noise levels low before 8 a.m. and after 9 p.m. – this goes for music, outside conversation, pool filters, lawn mowers and leaf blowers. If you’re throwing a party or planning some renovations, do your neighbors a favor and let them know about it in advance.

Keep pets in check

How people deal with their pets can be a real bone of contention for some. Bring barking dogs inside, keep dogs on a leash and always clean up after your dog when out on a walk. If you have more unusual pets, like chickens, let neighbors know about them and share some fresh eggs now and then. Let neighbors know they can come by if your pets are causing a problem, and be kind if you are approaching a neighbor about their pet.

Deal with problems in person

Do you like getting passive aggressive notes on your car’s windshield? No? Your neighbor probably doesn’t like getting them either. Instead of solving problems, handling an issue this way usually causes more. If you are having a problem with a neighbor, address it directly with them. It may make you feel uncomfortable or awkward, but it gives both parties a chance to be heard.

Respect common spaces

If you live in a condo or apartment, be aware of shared walls and keep common spaces like hallways and lobbies clear of personal items. If street parking is normal in your neighborhood, try to only park in front of your own house and don’t block a neighbor’s driveway.

By extending a little courtesy and friendliness, you can turn neighbors who were once strangers into friends. Living in a neighborhood where everyone is looking out for each other contributes greatly to your overall happiness, so it’s a good investment of your time and energy to nurture those relationships.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Moving into a new home can be a very exciting experience. But if you have kids and you’re moving more than a few neighborhoods away, chances are they’ll be going to a different school. This means learning new routines, getting to know new teachers and, most importantly, making new friends.

Changing schools can be a difficult transition for some kids to make, especially as they head into their teen years. Here’s what you need to know to help make that switch as easy as possible for them.

Involve your child

Before you move, involve your child in the process as much as you can. Let them have a say in where they would like to live and what school they would like to attend. Be enthusiastic about the move and talk with them about all the positive things that can happen as a result. Listen to your child’s worries and discuss them.

Tour the school

If possible, arrange for you and your child to have a tour of the new school before classes start. First days are always tough; first days where you are totally unfamiliar with your new surroundings are even tougher. Walk through their schedule with them, make sure they know where their locker and bathrooms are, and let them ask any questions they have.

Find opportunities to meet people

Once you’ve moved in, look for opportunities to meet your new neighbors, especially if any of them have children that are around the same age. Knowing a familiar face or two in a sea of strangers will help calm your child’s nerves on the first day. If you move over the summer or a school holiday, see if there are any classes, workshops or organizations your child can join to help make some friends before they start at their new school. Once school starts, encourage your child to sign up for after school activities and clubs. It’s easier for some kids to make friends in smaller groups than it is in a large classroom of 30 or more.

Establish a routine

Most kids feel more stable if they have a routine they can count on. Take the same route to school every day and stick to a schedule at home. The sudden upheaval of moving can be disorienting, so try to establish a new routine as quickly as possible.

Have patience

It could take a few weeks for your child to feel comfortable in their new school, and their grades could drop while they’re settling in. Don’t fret too much about it. If the problem persists after more than a couple of months, seek advice from teachers and the school counselor.

While helping your child settle into a new school can be stressful, it’s important to maintain perspective and be encouraging. Your child will most likely follow your lead, so if you remain positive and look for the good in each situation, your child will eventually follow suit. Play dates and sleepovers with your child’s new friends will be just around the corner!

Compliments of Virtual Results

Selling your home can be a stressful and challenging process. Why would you want to make it doubly so by irritating potential buyers? Here’s what you want to avoid when putting your home on the market.

Not being prepared

In today’s housing market, if you want your home to show well you need to be prepared. You will be competing against sellers who have hired professional staging companies to make their homes look as good as possible, so you’re doing yourself a disservice if potential buyers walk into your home and feel like they’re invading your personal space. Before opening up your home for showings, you need to thoroughly clean, remove clutter and relocate personal items. Remember – you want buyers to be able to envision themselves living in your home. Make their job easier by neutralizing spaces, getting rid of old or worn-out furniture and packing up all your personal belongings like family pictures and sports team memorabilia.

Not having the home available

While it can certainly be an inconvenience, you need to accommodate buyers when they request a showing. This means being ready to leave at a moment’s notice, as potential buyers will likely not feel comfortable looking at a home if the seller is present. If you make it difficult for anyone to view your home, it can hurt you down the line during negotiations. Be amiable and understand you’ll be inconvenienced from time to time during the showing process.

Not being realistic about the selling price

If you haven’t done your homework and you overprice your home, you’ll likely extend the time your house is on the market by many months. You can be sure that buyers have done their homework and are aware of what comparable prices are in your neighborhood. If your home falls outside of this range, it is quite likely many potential buyers will simply overlook your home. Working with a knowledgeable agent will help ensure that your home is priced appropriately from the start.

Not being honest about issues

If you know your home has problems, it is best to be upfront about them. Whether it’s a funky smell or issues with the roof, trying to mask problems during the selling process is only going to hurt you in the end. These issues will eventually come out during the home inspection and could delay or endanger the sale and even possibly involve you in a legal battle. When it comes to any repairs that will need to be made to the home, honesty is the best policy.

Not being emotionally detached

Yes, you have an emotional attachment to your home – that’s normal. But when it comes time to sell, you need to set those emotions to the side. Potential buyers may have different ideas about what they like – or don’t – about your home, and you can’t take it personally should they suggest doing away with something about the house that you love. Maintain a healthy emotional distance and let your agent handle any interactions that may be tough for you.

Compliments of Virtual Results

Moving can be tough on a tight budget – but not impossible. If you’re wondering how you’re going to get through your next move without spending a fortune, here are some of our favorite ideas.

Save money on packing

Did you start packing yet? It always seems to surprise people when they begin packing up all their belongings that they have so much more than they thought. How much stuff you move can have a significant effect on what it costs to move it since most moving companies charge by weight, so unloading unwanted items before you move is key. As you pack, decide what you no longer need and donate it before you go.

Save money on supplies

Boxes can be expensive. But why buy them when you can get them for free?  Many businesses will gladly unload their empty boxes if you ask them — produce boxes, liquor boxes and copy paper boxes are especially good for your move. Also, check the free section on Craigslist; many people who just moved will post their empty boxes.

Another way to save on supplies? Use some of the items you are going to pack anyway to cushion other items, instead of buying packing peanuts. Clothes and towels are great for protecting dishes, and blankets are perfect for making sure framed art and mirrors don’t get scratched. As your moving date approaches, save newspapers and circulars that come in the mail – they’re great for protecting anything fragile.

Save money on labor

Some moving companies give discounted rates if you pack your own boxes – call around and get estimates from several different movers. Do you have some friends or family who owe you a favor? Round them up on moving day to help load the truck. If you have some flexibility with your moving date, you can save by scheduling your move during off-peak times. Shoot for the months between September and May, when rates tends to be the lowest, or during the week or the middle of the month.

Save money with the post office

Books are heavy, making them one of the most expensive things to move. If you’ve got a library to rival that of the Library of Congress, consider boxing up your books and shipping them through the US post office via Media Mail. They’ll take a little longer to arrive, but you won’t need those hardcover copies of Harry Potter while you’re unpacking in your new place.

Save money on your taxes

Did you know that you might be able to deduct your moving expenses on your taxes? While the IRS has strict rules about who qualifies, be sure to save all your moving receipts and ask your tax accountant next tax season. If you’re moving for work, your employer may also be willing to cover some if not all of your moving costs.

While moving can be a daunting and expensive task, there are certainly ways that you can save if you get creative and stay organized. With the money you’ll save, you can splurge on massages for the whole family after you’ve unloaded and unpacked all those boxes.

Compliments of Virtual Results