Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Tag: transition

  • Tips to Keep Your Life and Financial House in Order During a Relocation and Move

    Keeping up with bills and daily chores is challenging when already settled in one place. In addition, staying ahead of everything during relocation and moving can become increasingly difficult. Learn clever tips to keep your life and financial house in order as your transition to a new home.

    Life is a Switch

    Relocation is a significant life change, and you must be well-prepared for it. For example, taking care of business at your old home prepares you to move to the new one.

    Make a List and Check It Twice

    Create a moving checklist of to-do items and keep it handy throughout the move. If you maintain the list digitally, have a paper copy around if you can’t access the Internet while moving. Include everything you need to accomplish for a successful transition, including packing, transferring licenses, and paying bills at the old and new locations.

    Get Organized

    Don’t wait until the last minute to clean out and get organized. Visit the local liquor stores and grocers to get free boxes to gather items together. Organize items by room and colored labels. For example, pack kitchen items in containers with orange labels to show where they belong in your new location.

    Keep Important Documents and Items Safe

    Searching for documentation is time-consuming and frustrating during the confusion of moving. Plus, you will likely need paperwork to make a seamless transition. Keep all necessary documents and items, such as precious jewelry, in a safe place. Consider investing in a safe or locked file cabinet. Another option is to rent a safety deposit box at the bank monthly. If you rent a safety deposit box, find out the hours of access to ensure you can get what you need when you need it.

    man talking on the phone and looking at a computer screen

    Make Moving Plans

    Are you hiring a moving company or renting a truck to do it yourself? Decide how you want to move and schedule the movers and van ahead of time. If you have friends or family helping, budget for soda and snacks to keep them going through the move. Also, remember how you will move vehicles and boats, so you can schedule drivers if necessary.

    Clean Up Last

    Trying to clean as you go is often a waste of time, as everything gets messy during a move. Instead, sweep up the debris and continue packing until the rooms are cleared. It is easier to clean your old house when it’s empty. Also, an unoccupied home is typically less expensive to clean if you hire a professional cleaning service to give you a break.

    Check the Other Side

    Is your new house ready for you? Take time to check out the new place before leaving your old one. Usually, a home is delivered broom-clean and empty so that you can move your stuff in right away. If you cannot visit the new house, ask your real estate agent to check the situation to ensure everything is ready to go.

    Financial House Before Your New Home

    Getting your financial house in order before moving to a new home is crucial to your future success. Know where your money is going so you feel comfortable in your next location.

    Maintain a Financial Planner

    Financing planning is critical to a successful relocation. Work with a team of professionals to get your finances in order, including an accountant, attorney, and mortgage banker. Your real estate agent can often recommend a helpful team if you don’t currently have representation. Make sure you are pre-approved for a mortgage before shopping for your new house. Also, have your financial planning journal to stay on top of money matters. Finally, consider using an app such as Mint.com to track your finances.

    Know Current and Future Expenses

    Remember that your current expenses might not be the same as your future ones. Research the cost of essentials such as insurance, utilities, licenses, and memberships in your new neighborhood, so you are ready to pay them.

    Clear Up Unpaid Bills

    Start paying off outstanding bills a few weeks before moving. Remember there will be utilities and other expenses to cover at the new home. Try clearing up unpaid bills before you leave to avoid paying double costs once you relocate.

    Know Your Credit Score

    After relocation, you may want to apply for memberships and credit in your new neighborhood. Keep track of your credit score to ensure all bills are paid during the hectic moving days and maintain good credit for when you move. Also, it is free to request your credit reports through an app such as CreditKarma.com that can help with credit building, if necessary.

    Keep Track of Installment and Recurring Payments

    From car payments and movie services to gym memberships, most people have several installment and recurring payments to track. Be aware of the dates payments come out of your accounts to ensure you always have enough to cover expenses during the move.

    Save Money

    While saving money during a move might seem impossible, unexpected costs always arise during the journey. Therefore, save as much as possible the months before moving to have a reserve fund for emergencies.

    Job and Professional License Transfers

    Some people relocate for a job, while others must find employment in a new location. Prepare to make job transitions several weeks before moving. If you have professional licenses, find out the rules for establishing your profession in the following place and take the necessary steps, so you have no lapses in employment.

    Research the Cost of Living

    Finally, living costs in one location may not be the same as in another. Always research the general cost of living in your new house to ensure you are well-prepared to cover expenses such as insurance, utilities, and groceries. Also, use a service such as Google Maps to determine the location of important places such as banks, shopping centers, and hospitals.

    Starting Your New Life

    Once you relocate, it’s time to start your new life in another place. A few simple activities can help you feel at home in a new location.

    woman taking things out of a box

    Unpack and Donate

    Schedule time to unpack and set up the new house before returning to work. As you unpack, put aside items that no longer fit into your new life. Use a service such as Craiglist.com to sell unwanted things of value. Show you’re a community-minded person by donating the rest, including moving boxes and packing tape. Consider a site such as FreeCycle.com, where you can post free items and meet people in your new community.

    Register for School, Library, and Community Venues

    Before settling in, register for essential services such as school, library, houses of worship, and other community values. Do you work out at the gym or belong to a professional organization? Find out where to do these activities in your new neighborhood so that you can continue uninterrupted.

    Update Licenses and Insurance

    If you move out of state, you will need a new driver and professional licenses. Also, insurance policies and rates differ based on your location. Contact the insurance companies or your insurance agent to make necessary updates.

    Connect with New Services

    One of the best ways to assimilate into a new location is by connecting with service providers. Research landscapers, cleaning services, contractors, and other essential service providers to maintain your comfortable lifestyle.

    Find Local Medical Providers

    If you take medications, verify your medical records and prescriptions are transferred to a pharmacy and doctor in your new neighborhood. Also, confirm your new medical providers accept your health insurance and are taking new patients. Often it helps to visit the doctors’ offices or call them to make an educated decision. Another option is using a site such as HealthGrades.com to learn more about local medical providers.

    Dive Into Your New Community

    Moving is busy, and you can get caught up in the fast pace of relocating. Take time to breathe, meditate, stretch, and appreciate your new surroundings. Join local social media groups and visit popular gathering sites in the neighborhood, so you’re ready to be part of the action!

    A relocation and move are one of your life’s most exciting and important times. Use these tips to keep your life and financial house in order as you prepare to move into your new dream home!

  • How to Transition Outdoor Living Spaces from Fall to Winter

    More and more, people enjoy their outdoor living spaces even after the snow begins to fall. Modern conveniences and some classic options have allowed homeowners and renters to transition from fall to winter without missing a step. And they can do this while still focusing on the comfort of their family and friends. Read on for some of our favorite tips for making much-loved outdoor living spaces winter-ready.

    Shine a Light on Your Outdoor Living Spaces

    As fall transitions into winter, there is no getting around the fact that it gets darker much earlier. When getting your outdoor living spaces winter-ready, the first thing you need to do is to add appropriate lighting. If your yard or patio is already reasonably well illuminated, you can focus on making small changes – adding solar table-top lanterns that can be moved where needed, installing path lighting, and assessing how weatherproof your existing lamps are. Southern Living advises those prepping their outdoor spaces to consider the elements before making purchases: “Rain dripping on an ordinary light bulb will cause it to crack. Bulbs designed for exposed outdoor use, such as PAR lamps, feature heavy-duty glass that withstands breakage.” 

    Are you interested in having your space take on a romantic tone? Picture draping ball bulb lights from tree branches, across pergolas, or from your home to the back garage or shed. The editors at Martha Stewart Living are fans of the affordable LTD Commodities Bulb Solar String Lights: “Available in both white and multi-colored, these ball bulb lights are an easy, festive way to light up your yard.” And while they are a delight for the holidays, they aren’t so season-specific that you can’t keep these magical lights up all year long.  

    Winterize Your Outdoor Furniture

    Do you know if your outdoor furniture can withstand the elements? If you were like many people who bought new patio or yard furniture in the last year, you might want to check to see if the furniture can handle rain and/or snow. If you are thinking about buying new furniture to make your outdoor living space into a wintertime oasis, make sure it is made from sturdy, weather-resistant materials like teak, coated iron or steel, or recycled all-weather plastic/resin. 

    Real Simple points out that “you’ll get the most life from your cushions if you bring them inside as much as possible.” If you can’t do that, consider investing in cushion covers so that you don’t have to worry about drying cushions out every time you want to use them during the winter (or a rainy spring). If you are in the market for new cushions, choose ones that are durable and made from “solution-dyed acrylic, which is designed for outdoor use and resists UV rays, moisture, mildew, and staining,” or “spun polyester with a UV-protective coating [which] dries quickly and is less expensive, but isn’t as resistant to fading.” 

    Turn up the Heat

    Have you been eyeing firepits with longing for the last couple of months? Now is the time to install one in your backyard or on the patio. While years ago, you may have been limited to one particular style of wood-burning fire pit, today, you have dozens of options for wood-burning and propane models. If you plan on doing a lot of entertaining in your outdoor living space (and you have the room), choose one that offers a table-like surround that can support drinks and snacks. If you are searching for something smaller, with a more rustic feel, consider something like “Martha Stewart’s Bedford Wood-Burning Round Fire Pit [which provides] intimate, cozy, wood-burning warmth for an evening in the backyard.” 

    Standing liquid propane heaters are also terrific for directing heat to your guests. You have undoubtedly seen the larger industrial models at restaurants, but home-use standing heaters are easily moved and can be situated wherever you need to turn up the heat. They are ideal for outdoor dinner parties and other sit-down celebrations. Couple the heaters with a hot cider toddy or cocoa and a fleece blanket, and your guests may never want to leave.

    Are you thinking about making a more permanent addition to your outdoor living space? It may be time to invest in building an outdoor fireplace. Midwest Living raves about the idea and celebrates today’s options. Among their favorites: a “three-sided fireplace [with] views [that] are hot from almost anywhere in the yard,” an outdoor fireplace with “flowing lines of brick and stone [turning] the back of a house into a thing of beauty and warmth,” and a “Spanish-style two-sided fireplace, [which] heats two seating areas.” 

    Take Cover

    It’s not too late to add cover to your outdoor living spaces. Heather Napier, Marketing Director for Backyard Discovery, tells Martha Stewart Living, “‘[investing] in a pergola or covered gazebo is also a great way to offer protection from the elements and create an inviting outdoor space.’” Pergolas and gazebos can often be constructed over a weekend and are an affordable way to enhance your outdoor experience, even during the winter months. 

    If you already have an outdoor living room that boasts a roof or fabric cover, try incorporating curtains as the season changes. Curtains can help guard against the icy wind as the temperature drops. They also help you retain the heat that you are generating from your outdoor fireplace, fire pit, or heaters. Just be sure to weight them so that they do not blow near the flame, should the wind pick up while the fire is lit.

    Prepare Your Garden 

    When transitioning outdoor living spaces from fall to winter, you want to prepare your garden. Preparations now will make your space feel festive and alive, even during the dead of winter, and they can make your transition into spring that much easier. Southern Living recommends bringing in your tender plants, turning off sprinkler systems, and “[mulching] over marginally hardy plants.” Cleaning up the vegetable garden will get it ready for spring, and planting winter-friendly specimens like Winter Jasmine, Camellias, and holly bushes will make your space look like it is thriving. 

    Finally, Southern Living cautions gardeners to remove all their clay pots from their outdoor gardens. Why? The Magazine warns: “Clay pots absorb and release water — they “breathe” — which is why plants grow so well in them. But when wet clay pots freeze, they develop small cracks that eventually become big cracks and the pots shatter.” Store them inside to avoid the worst of winter so they will be ready when spring arrives and a new cycle of planting (and entertaining) begins.