Blog

It’s hard to overstate how valuable elevators are in modern life. Not only do they allow us to access tall buildings, but they make moving so much easier. So, if you’re moving into an apartment building without an elevator, you must adapt accordingly. Another consideration is that some elevators may not be operational on moving days or are too small to accommodate large pieces of furniture.

Regardless of the circumstances, here are some top tips on managing when moving into an upstairs location without elevator access.

1. Measure All Large Items

Moving heavy furniture like a couch or table up the stairs can quickly become tricky if you jam it into a narrow space. In such a scenario, you might have to resort to destructive measures like breaking the furniture to remove it.

To avoid this, measure your larger items (like a couch) and the stairwell. As long as the piece isn’t too wide or cumbersome, you should be able to wiggle it around and make it work.

2. Disassemble Everything You Can

Sometimes, you can take apart furniture before moving it. While this process can be time-consuming, it will make moving much more manageable. While items like couches and chairs can’t be broken down (without significant challenges), certain tables, dressers, and other pieces can. Just make sure to keep any accessories with the piece so they don’t get separated (i.e., screws and bolts).

3. Consider Shedding Bulky Furniture

If you’re moving without a working elevator, you may have to make some hard choices. Is it better to keep your existing furniture or downsize to something small and compact? You don’t want to take this decision lightly, but consider how easy it will be to move in and out of your new home.

4. Use Dollies and Hand Trucks As Appropriate

A dolly is a flat piece with wheels, while a hand truck has a tall handle for grabbing. A hand truck can often navigate each step easily when carrying items up a flight of stairs, while a dolly cannot. That said, dollies can make moving heavy items through hallways easier so you don’t overexert yourself.

Also, remember that you should strap your belongings to a hand truck so they don’t fall off accidentally.

5. Start With Heavier Items

Depending on how much stuff you’re moving, you want to be strategic with how you use your time and energy. At the beginning of the move, you’ll be able to handle heavy belongings more easily. If you wait until the end of the day, you’ll be tired and sore, and moving a heavy piece may seem impossible.

6. Use Bumper Pads to Protect Walls

Bumper pads are thin, padded sheets that you can place on the corners of furniture to protect it from dings and scratches. They are also helpful in preventing wall damage from heavy furniture.

7. Get Lots of Help

Ideally, you can have three or four people helping you with moving items up and down the stairs. This way, individuals can take breaks without disrupting the flow of the move. Also, having more people makes it easier to block off stairwells, doorways, and hallways when moving items through the building.

8. Utilize Full-Service Movers

Professional moving experts are always the best to ask for advice when moving large furniture. Hire a professional mover if you need serious assistance. They have the experience and know how to handle various, unique moving situations.

Let Us Lighten Your Moving Load!

If you want to avoid moving your belongings yourself, let our professional movers handle the stress for you. Not only do we have a vast amount of experience moving items, but we also know what to anticipate and can plan accordingly. In most cases, hiring movers is significantly more convenient and stress-free, so contact us immediately for a free estimate!

While many people make it their goal to move to larger homes each time they relocate, there are some benefits to moving to a smaller property. From money savings to energy savings and other benefits, there are many reasons to move from a large home to a smaller home. If you have an upcoming relocation and you’re trying to decide where to live, these reasons to move into a smaller home can help you decide whether a smaller home is the right type of house for you.

1. Save Money on Utilities

Smaller homes require less heating and cooling energy, which means lower utility costs. You can further reduce the money you spend on utilities every month by weatherstripping your home and boosting insulation in the attic. Wearing sweaters in the winter and running the ceiling fan in summer is another way to keep yourself comfortable indoors without spending more money on heating and cooling costs.

2. Easier to Maintain

Smaller homes tend to be easier to maintain than larger ones because they have fewer rooms and less square footage. For many people, this means less mess to clean up weekly, potentially a smaller yard to maintain, and some maintenance tasks (like painting the walls) taking less time. If you’re tired of cleaning and maintaining your current home, a smaller one could be a welcome change.

3. Less Expensive to Maintain

Just as a smaller home is easier to maintain, it costs less. The smaller your house is, the less you’ll spend on cleaning services and products. The same goes for specific maintenance tasks like painting the walls: the smaller your home is, the less money a contractor will charge.

4. Frees Up Funds for Other Things

Choosing a smaller home can free up funds for other priorities, such as travel, business investments, or even a dream water view. Consider what you might gain by sacrificing some square footage before deciding you “need” a certain amount of space.

5. Easier to Sell Later

Smaller homes tend to cost less, and that often makes them appeal to a broader range of home buyers when the time comes to sell. Larger, more expensive homes appeal to a smaller number of people, and that can make them hard to sell when you put them on the market.

6. Modest Homes Can Feel Roomy

A house does not necessarily have to feel small inside because its footprint is modest. Compared to a much larger home with an awkward floor plan, a smaller home with a well-thought-out design can feel just as spacious (if not more so) and has fewer hassles.

Ready to Relocate? Find the Right Movers

It’s essential to find a reputable moving company you can trust to be reliable and careful with your things. If you’re moving soon, find the right moving company. Contact us today for a quote.

Are you thinking about listing your home for sale soon? If so, and if you’re interested in maximizing resale value with some home improvements you can enjoy in the meantime, the possibilities are endless. Of course, not all projects come with the same return on your investment—so you’ll want to be savvy about which ones you decide to tackle.

Here’s a list of a few home upgrades with the best return on investment (ROI) to boost your resale potential while enjoying your home a little more before you sell.

1. Adding a Deck or Patio

If your property doesn’t already have a great deck or patio space, adding one can yield an 80% ROI (or greater) when it comes time to sell. That’s because today’s home buyers prioritize outdoor living space more than ever, preferring to spend quality time with family and friends while enjoying some fresh air.

If you decide to add a deck or patio to your home before you list, thoughtful design is key. Your deck or patio should serve as an extension of your indoor living space—so if there’s a way to add an exterior door that leads directly to your new deck, that’s ideal.

2. Refreshing an Outdated Bathroom

Updating an older bathroom can also be a great way to boost the sale price of your home while enjoying a decent return on your investment. Ultimately, the ROI you can expect from this project will depend on how extensive of a remodel you’re doing. Even for a minor bathroom update, however, it’s not uncommon to enjoy a $1.71 return for every dollar you spend.

If you want to maximize the ROI on your bathroom upgrade, start by making necessary repairs (like replacing cracked tiles or installing a new vent fan). From there, you can focus on more cosmetic upgrades, like painting a dated vanity and refreshing hardware/fixtures.

3. Upgrading an Older Kitchen

Kitchen spaces are among the most important considerations for today’s home buyers. If your kitchen looks a little dated, making some much-needed upgrades before you list could drastically increase your final sale price. A kitchen remodel yields an average ROI of about 81% for most homeowners.

If you decide to go this route, opt for a design that will appeal to the broadest segment of buyers possible. Rather than choosing bold colors and polarizing patterns that may turn off some buyers, it’s generally best to stick with more traditional and neutral choices. This will help you maximize the ROI of your project and sell your home as quickly as possible when the time comes.

Preparing for a Move?

Sometimes, spending a little money now makes sense to make more money down the road. If your home lacks a great outdoor space or needs an updated bathroom or kitchen, you may want to tackle these projects before you list your home. From there, you’ll easily sell in a competitive market. Check with a local realtor to see how an upgrade can boost your forthcoming sale.

When it does come time for your next move, hiring an experienced team of professional movers can also make all the difference. Contact us to request your free quote!

 

Your upcoming local relocation is undoubtedly weighing heavily on your mind. Understanding the steps to your local relocation can help you make the event successful. Below are five steps to conduct a successful local relocation. Following these steps can help you complete your relocation and start your new life in your new home.

1. Declutter

Clutter is a challenge when you’re relocating. Clutter makes packing more difficult and also can make moving more expensive. The more stuff you bring when you move, the more you’ll pay to move it. If you can get rid of some of that clutter before you begin packing, you can meaningfully reduce the cost of your move. Decluttering also makes the packing and unpacking process easier, faster, and more rewarding.

Decluttering is a process. Do this room by room, cleaning out closets and drawers and removing clutter from surfaces you don’t need. Give it away if you last used something two years ago or more. If you’re unsure what to do with something, run it past a family member or friend. When you come upon sentimental items you’re not sure whether to keep, consider gifting those items to someone else who will also find them meaningful.

2. Buy Supplies

Buy packing supplies to have them on hand the entire time you move. Some examples of the types of packing supplies that you’ll need to include:

• Boxes (all sizes and dimensions)
• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape
• Permanent markers (thick ones)
• Scissors
• Packing paper

You may also benefit from labels you can pre-print with the names of rooms on them. This will make designating which room each box goes in more straightforward and reduce the time you spend writing the names of rooms on boxes. Keep plenty of supplies on hand while packing. Always have extras, so you won’t have to wander around looking for the one pair of scissors or packing tape you set down somewhere.

3. Pack

Make a packing plan. A packing plan will ensure you have enough time to get through the entire packing process before the movers come.

4. Prepare for Your Arrival

You can prepare for your arrival at your new home in many ways. What you do in this step depends on what your needs are. Some examples of the type of preparation you might need include:

• Turn on utilities at your new home
• Buy curtains and blinds that fit your new windows
• Buy furnishings that fit in your new home
• Tear out the old carpet in your new home and refinish the floors
• Repaint the walls in your new home

Doing this work before you arrive will help make your life easier when you get there.

5. Find Movers

Finding local movers is one of the most critical steps in your upcoming relocation. Get started by hiring a moving company you can trust. Look for a company with a good reputation, good references, and a long-standing presence in your community. Contact us today to make an appointment to discuss your upcoming relocation.