Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: Moving Strategies

  • Ask a Pro Q&A: Staging Your Home for Potential Buyers

    Living in a home for any period of time will leave a wealth of clutter that can prove challenging when it comes time to stage it for potential buyers. See if this process is the right one to help you keep your treasures.

    Question: We have lived in our home for more than 30 years and have done quite a bit to it. We are planning to finish the remainder of our remodeling and sell. How do I “stage” and edit out 30 years of living?

    -Wanda G.

    Staging is all about creating a blank slate. Many potential buyers simply have a hard time seeing past your treasures, which they may see as clutter!

    Depending on the housing market in your area, it’s also smart to finish any partially completed remodeling projects that may be a distraction. Starting a new project, unless it is to fix a glaring problem, is probably not necessary. As you interview potential agents, see what they have to say.

    The most time-consuming part of staging is going to be the “editing out” or, essentially, massively de-cluttering. As you obviously know, any time we live in a house for a long time, we tend to hang onto things simply because we have the room. Since you’ll be moving anyway, pack up the valuables, art and especially all your personal items including family photos, trophies, unique treasures and mementos, large collections, etc. This may be a great time to encourage your family members to ask for what they want! Or, get a storage unit if you can’t move directly into your new place.

    Try very, very hard to store only items you will use in your new home, and donate the rest. You’ll thank yourself later – trust me on this! Otherwise, you’re paying good money to keep things you don’t really want. Allow plenty of time for this process if you are working or have a busy life – maybe even a couple of months! It’s more than a weekend project. And give yourself a realistic deadline to keep on track.

    -Jennifer Adams

  • Strategies for Finding the Right Moving Company

    Choosing a moving company is not an easy task. There are numerous companies’ eager to earn your business, but they may not all be trustworthy. It is important that you conduct your due diligence before making a final decision about a moving company. After all, they are transporting your most treasured possessions, and you will want to have them arrive safely and without incident to your new home. Here are a few guidelines to follow when choosing a moving company.

    Ask Around

    Start your search by creating a list of recommended moving companies. If you have friends or family who has used a moving company recently in your area, request a recommendation. Talk to your neighbors and check out reviews found on the local site.

     

    Check Them Out

    Conduct an online search for a moving company on sites such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to determine if there have been any issues reported of the company. At American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), you can determine if a moving company is a member, which is a sign of quality moving company. They also provide helpful information such as free quotes, articles, and other resources. RipOff Report and Moving Scam’s offer reports about scams and complaints about moving companies to provide you with an understanding of their reputation.

     

    Call for an Estimate

    Once you narrow down your search to about three or four companies, call them for an estimate. They should come to your home and offer an estimate to determine some items you will need to be moved. The best type of estimate is a not-to-exceed estimate or a written binding estimate, which both cap how much you will pay for your move. Non-binding estimates are less desirable, as they almost always are more expensive once the work begins. Make sure to share with the estimator everything you plan to move, including items in the garage, in storage and the yard. Original estimates can be challenged if it appears you did not provide them all your items at the start of your discussion.

    Compare the Bids

    Make sure the bids from each company include all the same items. If a company provides an offer lower than the others, that may be a “red flag” that there are issues with the company. When there are several bids in the same price range, then you may consider it as an opportunity to negotiate a lower price.

     

    Check Licensure and Insurance

    While investigating a moving company, inquire if it’s properly licensed or insured. You can search for a company’s USDOT number on the U.S. Department of Transportation’s site known as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).  By locating this type of credible information, you are guaranteed that the commercial motor vehicle’s insurance status is positive. The company’s “Common” status should be stated as active with no application pending, and you should see a “yes” marked under “Household Goods.”

     

    Make Your Final Selection

    Once you complete your due diligence, you should be confident about selecting a moving company. Go ahead and sign the contract, and get ready for the big move to your new home!