METCALF MOVING BLOG

6 Tips to Stage Your Home Without Help from a Pro

Staging your home can increase the sale price of your home by as much as 1 to 5%. Staging is more affordable when you do it yourself instead of engaging the services of a professional. When relocating, you can stage your home effectively if you establish a budget, clean it from top to bottom, and make smart decisions about furniture and personal belongings. These tips can help.

1. Know Your Budget

While staging is a relatively cost-effective way to boost the sale price of your home, it does cost some money. It’s crucial to establish a staging budget to avoid spending too much. Set aside an amount of money for your staging process.

Decide in advance how many rooms need staging and divide the budget equally among the rooms, or if one room is more important than the others, increase the amount you’re willing to spend in that room and subtract from the amount you’ll spend on the other rooms.

2. Clean, Clean, Clean

Cleaning is essential to the staging process. Plan to clean your house yourself, or work with a professional cleaning team to complete this. Either way, a deep clean is required, including parts you wouldn’t usually clean, like ceiling fans, curtains, baseboards, and more.

3. Make Small Updates and Remodels

Small updates like changes to the room’s paint color or replacing the curtains can dramatically affect the room’s appearance and ambiance. Even something as simple as installing throw pillows or a throw blanket can change a space’s mood.

If you’re repainting, remember that neutrals are universal in their appeal and are often the preferred colors if you’re going to repaint. In addition, lighter colors tend to make spaces look bigger and more cheerful.

4. Use Furniture Wisely

You can use older furniture in a staged home, but it’s best to hide furniture in poor condition. Put it in a storage facility or just somewhere out of sight. If you’re keeping your furniture in your home, consider rearranging it for a more attractive setup. If you need new furniture to fill a space, rent furniture for staging. Don’t leave a room empty: staged homes should have furniture.

5. Hide Personal Items

Personal items like kid toys and pictures can distract buyers trying to take in the whole environment and imagine themselves living there. Put your personal items away until your home sells or until you move into a new home.

6. Visit Staged Homes for Ideas

Get a sense of how to stage your home by visiting other homes that have also been staged. You’ll probably see staged homes if you visit open house events in your area. Take notes and pictures to get ideas. Brainstorm with other household members for ways to apply these ideas to your home.

Moving? Work With the Pros

Professional movers make relocating easier. Find out more about how we can help with your upcoming relocation. Contact us today to make an appointment.

Are You Relocating Alone? What to Do

Many hands make light work, they say. That’s why moving alone can be overwhelming without the help of an entire household. Staying organized, following a timeline, and stocking up on the right supplies can make the process more manageable. It’s also important to help when the time comes. Working with professional household movers can make the entire process less stressful.

1. Declutter Your Home

Clutter is the enemy of a relocating person. The more clutter in your home, the more stuff you’ll need to move. Decluttering before you pack can help limit the boxes you’ll need to move, making your relocation a better experience.

Decluttering can be a lengthy process. Some tips for decluttering your home:

• Go through the decluttering process room by room, finishing one before moving on to the next.
• Have a plan for removing items you no longer need but are still usable. You can donate these items to charity or give them to friends who need them.
• Set a rule to make deciding which items to eliminate easy. For example, if you haven’t used something in a year or more, it’s time to eliminate it!

2. Make a To-Do List and a Timeline

Make a to-do list and a schedule for accomplishing everything on your to-do list. Every day, check your list to see what you need to accomplish. Following your timeline will help ensure that you’re able to finish everything on time.

3. Gather Moving Supplies

Having moving supplies on hand can help make the packing process more efficient. You’ll need enough boxes, packing tape, markers, labels, scissors, and more to ensure you can keep packing daily. You’ll probably go through more moving supplies than you’d expect. To avoid running out of moving supplies, buy more than you think you need.

4. Give Yourself As Much Time As Possible

Giving yourself as much time as possible to pack and follow through with other moving-related tasks can help make your relocation less stressful. As soon as you’ve decided that you’d like to move, start decluttering that day. Work toward your goals daily, and always take advantage of every opportunity to finish your work.

5. Get Help When You Need It During Packing

There may be a time when you need help while packing. You may need help moving an extra large box or pulling apart a piece of furniture. Get help when you need it. Trying to do something independently when it requires two people can slow you down or even result in injuries. Find a friend or neighbor who can help you, or hire a moving professional to help you with the packing process.

6. Find the Right Moving Company

Finding the right moving company for your upcoming relocation can make moving by yourself much easier. A reliable moving company offers well-trained workers who can move your items without breaking them or getting injured.

Nailing down a solid move date early on can help ensure you’ll be able to get the moving date that you need, and you can get help when needed. Contact us to get started with your upcoming move. 

Engaging Employees During an Office Move

An office move can be challenging for employees, who often become anxious about change and the unknown. Yet, businesses must keep employees engaged throughout the move to maintain productivity and customer service standards.

Here are a few methods for maintaining staff satisfaction and involvement while you relocate your business.

Communicate

One of the best ways to lower anxiety and increase engagement is by keeping employees informed throughout every phase of the move. Develop an internal communications plan as part of your move plan. Consider how each phase of the move will affect employees and design communications to address their needs. Stress the advantages the move will provide for employees.

Your communications plan will include multiple channels to ensure everyone receives and absorbs the message. Channels might include newsletters, Intranet, face-to-face, screensavers, posters, and videos.

Also, allow time to listen to employee concerns, hear their ideas, and answer their questions. Include a human resources staff member on your move team to facilitate the information flow.

As the move draws closer, assemble a “Welcome to the New Area” communications packet for employees. Include information about daycare, banks, restaurants, and gyms near the new site. Include coupons from some of these merchants. Also include information about parking and public transportation.

Prepare information about the new building and any new etiquette or procedures it may require. For example, does the new building have a security guard or entrance code? Also, include information about the location of break rooms, restrooms, and other necessities.

Involve Employees

Employees will remain engaged if they feel included in the preparations. Divide the process into several smaller projects and assign tasks to employees.

Encourage employees to provide input into how they want their office space to look. You could gain this input through surveys or group meetings. Begin by asking what they like and dislike about their current space, then move into their wish lists for the new workspace.

Assign “Move Champions”

Choose one person in each department to be a “move champion.” The move champion should be organized and able to encourage others. The champion will organize tasks such as decluttering and packing. They can also forward any employee concerns to other move team members.

Provide Support On Moving Day

Many moves happen over the weekend, and employees may not be present. However, they’ll want to know how the move progresses; regular updates are essential. Remind employees to report to the new location the next day.

Ensure help is readily available on the first-day employees are present. They’ll become frustrated if their phones or computers fail to work and no one is helping them.

Bringing in food or special treats on the first day may ease some of the anxiety associated with the change and show employees that you appreciate their hard work.

Develop a Post-Move Strategy

Plan to celebrate the move with employees after you’ve successfully moved into the new quarters. Consider a staff party that might include drawings for prizes and great food. Also, gather employee feedback about their new environment and adjust as needed.

Rely on Commercial Movers

Professionals can help your office move go smoothly. Hiring an experienced commercial mover is critical. We’ve helped many companies successfully relocate. Contact us for an estimate today.

Helping Your Cat Adjust During a Household Move

A household move can be challenging for cats, as they prefer stability and familiarity. Cats who experience excessive anxiety may exhibit undesirable behaviors such as soiling the house, displaying aggression, or attempting to escape. However, there are ways to help your cat adjust to his new home more smoothly. Here are some suggestions as you prepare for your household move.

Prepping Your Cat for the Transition

It will be easier for your cat to adjust if you prepare it for the move. Bring moving cartons into your home days or weeks before packing to give your cat time to investigate, explore, and acclimate to them. 

You can also introduce the cat carrier by setting it in a room with some treats and blankets inside to entice your cat to investigate. Give them unrestricted access until the day of the move.

On the day of the move, secure the cat in the carrier. Avoid opening the carrier to comfort the cat until you get where you are going.

Make sure your cat’s collar tags are current and properly fitted. Update your kitty’s microchip before moving. Current microchip data increases the likelihood of reuniting with your furry friend if they escape your care in the transition.

Restrict your cat to a solitary room while you pack. Include his favorite toys and scratching pads. Position the food and water in one location and separate the litter box. 

Establish a “Safe” Space 

It takes some time for cats to adjust to new surroundings. Ensure your new home has a door and a ceiling-enclosed “safe” room for your cat. Provide them with food, water, a litter box, and toys. Include a t-shirt or similar clothing that carries a recognizable scent. This will create a sense of comfort and familiarity for them. Include blankets and toys that also have a familiar scent.

Once you open the carrier, allow your cat to exit at his own discretion. Sit with him and remain nearby while he explores the room for the first time. He will stay in his room until he feels comfortable exploring the rest of the house. Some cats will feel safe within a few days, while others will take weeks.

Reduce Stress Further

If your adult cat is generally anxious, consult your veterinarian about calming aids. Sprays, diffusers, and plug-ins containing pheromones might help calm your mature cat. Tryptophan, rosemary, and camomile-containing products can also aid in your cat’s relaxation. Again, your vet can assist with specific ideas to try.

Exercise Patience

Some cats’ reactions to change include acting out, hiding, or not eating. Reward your cat more often with treats and play with him more to help him associate the new house with positive emotions. Take your pet to the vet if their anxiety or challenging behavior persists beyond three weeks following your relocation.

Moving Help

If you need help with your move, contact us today. We help with everything, from packing to moving to unpacking and all the details. Get your free quote.

Minimizing Paper Clutter Before a Move: Tips for Success

If you’re in the process of packing for an upcoming move, you’ve probably run into your fair share of paper clutter. From financial documents to junk mail, paper clutter tends to accumulate slowly over time, but those stacks of paper can create a significant headache when it comes time to pack for a move. The good news? There are a few simple steps you can take now to minimize paper clutter and start being more organized in your new place.

Invest in a Shredder or Service

As you go through your paper clutter, you’ll likely come across many documents you no longer need that you don’t want to throw away because they contain sensitive information. For this purpose, consider investing in a paper shredder to shred these documents and dispose of them securely. To avoid buying a shredder, you can rely on professional shredding services to get rid of sensitive documents properly. Some of these businesses will even come directly to your home and pick up boxes/bags of documents for you, so you don’t need to leave your house.

Digitize Documents, When Possible

When dealing with physical documents, you don’t want to get rid of but don’t necessarily need in paper form, look into digitizing them. A good way to digitize documents, photos, and other papers (like kids’ artwork) is to simply scan them and save them on a computer or external hard drive. This way, you’ll still have access to the digital copies if you need them—but you’ll be able to get rid of the physical clutter.

Set Yourself Up For Success

Even once you’ve eliminated most of your paper clutter, you’ll want to prevent more paper accumulation in your new place. There are plenty of ways to better organize and manage paper in your new home.

Most importantly? Set up a system for handling paper in your household. Many people find it helpful to have file folders or other organizers where everybody in your household can deposit paper (such as mail and school work) and organize it at the end of the day. From there, it takes just a few minutes each day to sort through these papers and eliminate anything you don’t need to keep.

You can also set yourself up for less clutter in your new home by going paperless whenever possible. This means signing up for paperless billing when you set up utilities at your new place. You might also add yourself to databases to avoid receiving junk mail. There are many effective ways to do this, and you can read more about them on the Federal Trade Commission website.

Take the Stress Out of Your Move

Dealing with paper clutter as you prepare for a move can be a headache, but with these decluttering tips, it doesn’t have to be. You can continue packing and preparing for your big moving day from there.

Looking for more help with your move? We can manage any size relocation, regardless of its scale. We appreciate the need for extra caution when transporting your belongings from one residence to another. Reach out today to request a moving quote!

Short-Term Storage Options through Your Moving Company

Moving timelines only occasionally mesh together perfectly. Sometimes, you must move out of your existing home before moving into your new home. Others need to clear out their existing home to sell it before moving into the new house. Whatever the case, many moving companies offer short- and long-term storage solutions for customers. Make your move easier by understanding your storage options and choosing the best fit for your needs.

Determine Distance

The first step to determining the best storage solution for your needs is to consider the distance you need to travel. Moving companies have storage solutions in all shapes and sizes, helping to accommodate anything from a short, local move to an international move. For those moving between states, a long-distance storage solution may be the best option to move across the country.

Decide Your Service Needs

Storage options come in many forms and can be custom-created for your needs. Before deciding on a storage solution, consider what service level you need. Some people are happy to have a moving company come to their house, pack their belongings, and take them to storage on one trip. Other people are glad to pack themselves and have movers arrive to take their belongings to the storage unit. Consider the level and type of storage you need, too. Storage units can be simple shelters or completely climate-controlled.

Consider Portable Storage

Portable storage containers offer a simple, affordable alternative to traditional moving options. Portable storage containers are excellent for full-service and do-it-yourself moves. Consider portable storage containers for a DIY move option because they are simple and affordable. Some moving companies offer this option and will deliver convenient, easy-to-use portable storage containers to load your belongings at your own pace. They then deliver it to your new residence or store it until needed.

A 1,500-square-foot home can fit inside these containers, typically offered at 16′ long, 8′ wide, and 8′ high. 

Residential or Commercial

Moving companies offer various services and are happy to help you move your home or office. Residential storage solutions are ideal for single-family homes and help provide a place to store your belongings while you sell your house or before you move into your new home. Similarly, moving companies also offer storage solutions for commercial moves. If you’re moving your office or business, a commercial storage solution may be perfect for documents, office furniture, or technical equipment.

Storage For All

Storage options aren’t just for people moving to a new home. Using a storage option could be perfect if you’re renovating your home. Movers will help you move your belongings and furniture out of your home so you can safely renovate your space without damaging your furniture. Moving your belongings before a renovation can also help the renovation move faster without constantly moving boxes or bulky furniture.

Further, consider using storage options if you are downsizing. Adding a storage unit can be a great way to hold onto precious keepsakes and mementos without keeping them in your home. Enjoy maintaining a smaller home without saying goodbye to your belongings. Move to a smaller living space while still holding on to treasured memories with the help of a storage option.

Movers You Can Count On

If you need storage while you are in between homes, don’t hesitate to reach out. While we are experts in providing high-quality, professional moving services, we are also happy to discuss storage needs with you. Contact us today, and we can work together to determine the best storage solution for your needs.

Moving In a Hurry? 6 Tips to Get Through It

If there’s one thing that’s true about moving, it takes a lot of time. When you don’t have much time to spare, it’s vital to approach moving with a different strategy. Acting quickly can help you leave your house as soon as possible. You’ll need a plan and people to help when making a quick household move.

1. Have a Plan

Start by making a plan for your upcoming relocation. Make a checklist of everything you need to do. Establish deadlines, then sort your checklist by what you must do first, second, etc. Sort your list by who must accomplish each task if you’re moving with a group.

Once you have a plan, you can move forward quickly, but you should conduct this part of your process thoughtfully and deliberately to know the scope of work you need to accomplish.

2. Secure a Junk Removal Company

If you have time to sort through your items thoughtfully, you could sell some items at a garage sale, give away some items to local charities, and recycle or dispose of everything else. Given your short timeline, you might not have the time. Consider hiring a waste removal company to remove things you don’t need to take with you. Find one that works to donate usable items to local charities, non-profits, and community centers. 

Declutter your home looking for items you no longer need or want, whether old furniture, toys your children don’t play with, broken appliances or other items. Once you’ve gathered everything, have a removal company take them.

3. Gather All Your Packing Supplies

Gather all the essential packing supplies you’ll need for your upcoming relocation. Having all the packing supplies in one place will allow you to keep packing longer. Buy more boxes and packing tape than you think you’ll need. You’ll likely need it, and with those supplies on hand, you’ll be able to get through the packing process more efficiently.

4. Plan a Packing Party

Gather friends and members of your household to have a packing party. Having help while packing helps keep the process moving. One person can assemble new boxes, label packed boxes, and tape them up. Another person can be responsible for packing the boxes, and then someone else can move them out of the way when ready.

5. Hire Full-Service Movers

Full-service movers do things like pack for you, making moving even easier and faster. No matter how fast you are at packing, full-service movers will always have the tools and experience to make packing as efficient as possible. Hiring full-service movers can make moving a breeze, so get started today.

6. Remember Logistics

While packing, remember logistics like canceling your utility company, finding a new utility company, finding the kids’ new schools, arranging a new doctor’s office, and so on. Managing these details will help you settle into your new home.

Full-Service Movers Can Help With a Fast Move

Relocating in a hurry doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Hire a reputable full-service moving company. Contact us today about your upcoming relocation.

Perfect Housewarming Gifts When Your Child Gets Their First Place

Seeing your child get their first place as an adult can be a significant milestone in your life and theirs. While helping them make arrangements for the residential move, you might want to pick up something that your child may need at their first separate address to make the place feel more like home. Look at a few good ideas below to help you find the perfect gift to mark the event.

1. Gift Cards

Moving is always a big feat but can also be expensive. Because this will be their first time in their own place, unexpected expenses will come up. Therefore, it can be helpful if your young adult has a few gift cards to grab dinner after a busy day or simply pick up something they need for their new place. Consider picking up a gift card from their favorite restaurant or even a home goods store so they can track down a few pieces of decor.

2. A Cookware Set

You may still be inclined to drop off a meal or two during those first few months after your child moves out. However, your child will also be navigating cooking on their own as well. Therefore, gifting them a nice cookware set is always a nice gesture. Consider cookware sets that have pots and pans of various sizes or those that come with extras like a utensil set or measuring cups.

3. Personalized Home Decor

A first home is a big deal; anyone taking this step into adulthood will be excited about making their place their own. Hence, choosing a unique custom or personalized home decor can be a well-received housewarming gift. A few ideas to consider include:

• Personalized wall decor, such as a mirror engraved with a favorite quote
• Customized cutlery or dishware with a monogrammed initial
• Personalized kitchen items like cutting boards with an engraved favorite recipe

4. First Aid Kit

Surprisingly, almost half of all US homes do not have a first aid kit on hand. These kits are filled with necessities when someone sustains an injury and are undeniably important. Unfortunately, this is also an item young adults may not remember to buy for themselves when they move out. As a parent, a gifted first aid kit can be your little way of ensuring they are OK even though they are no longer at home.

5. A Family Keepsake

Transitioning from living with your parents to living alone can come with many emotions. Psychologists say staying connected to home and family can be especially important during this time. Therefore, sending your child to their first place with a tangible item that reminds them of familial connections can be a supportive gesture. Consider family heirlooms and keepsakes you want them to have and ensure they are packed with their belongings before the move. Or, you can make a memorable trip to their new place with the item once they are getting settled in.

Need Help with the Transition?

Bringing in the help of professional movers can be a big help when your child is leaving home. If you would like a free moving quote, contact us today.

5 Things to Do When Planning a Move

If you plan to relocate soon, now is the time to start preparing. By decluttering your home, interviewing professional movers, making your moving budget, and taking other steps, you can make your upcoming relocation a better experience. Here’s what you can do.

1. Declutter Your Home

Having too much stuff makes moving much harder. Clutter can make packing harder and makes moving more expensive. Getting rid of clutter before your relocation can make moving much more manageable. There are many things you can do to declutter your home. 

• Make a decluttering plan, giving yourself as much time as possible to go through each room.
• Remove anything that you haven’t used in two years or more.
• Plan to give away anything that is still usable but which you no longer need.
• Take time to go through storage areas first, then move into living areas as you run out of things to do in storage areas.

2. Interview Movers

Finding the right mover is essential. Interview several professional moving companies until you find a mover that inspires confidence. Some questions to ask:

• Will you provide all the equipment?
• Are you available on the dates I’m planning to relocate?
• Do you have references?
• Are you a mover or a broker?

Have a list of several questions before you meet with each moving company. Check references before hiring the mover that makes you feel most comfortable.

3. Make Your Budget

Moving is a costly undertaking. Making a budget can help you save money while moving. Making a moving budget can be complicated. Know how much money you can spend, then divide it into different expenditure categories, including money to pay movers, pay for moving supplies, spend on take-out food, and so on.

Part of making a budget is considering where you’re moving to and how much you’ll need to make your new home comfortable and livable. For example, you must buy window treatments for your new home. Think through your entire relocation from start to finish, and be sure you have enough money set aside for each step of the relocation.

4. Gather Moving Supplies

You’ll need many moving supplies, from boxes to permanent markers. Some examples of moving supplies you’ll need:

• Moving boxes of all sizes
• Permanent markers
• Multiple rolls of packing tape with dispensers
• Bubble wrap and packing paper
• Furniture pads

You may also need equipment like a dolly, primarily if your moving company won’t be supplying that on the moving day. Talk to your moving company to find out.

5. Start a Moving Binder

Create a binder to collect all the information about your upcoming relocation. Label the moving binder clearly so no one from your household will accidentally pack the binder in one of your boxes.

Find the Right Mover Now

Even if you’re still several months from your upcoming relocation, it’s never too early to start looking for a trustworthy moving company. Find the right moving company now. Contact us today for a free quote and discuss your relocation.

6 Tips for Buying a Home on a Tight Budget

Buying a home can be challenging whether you’re a first-time buyer or just operating on a tight budget. Knowing how to prioritize your spending and how to avoid going over budget is essential. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Know What You Can Afford

Establish a home-buying budget to decide how much you can afford. The 28% rule says you shouldn’t spend more than 28% of your gross income on your mortgage each month, while some experts recommend that home buyers can safely plan to spend as much as 31%.

Your debt-to-income ratio will determine how much mortgage you can be approved to borrow. However, just because you can borrow a certain amount doesn’t mean you should. Know how much you can afford and play it safe, even if lenders will loan you more.

2. Focus On Your Priorities

What features are you looking for in a home? Knowing your priorities will help you choose a home you can love for a long time. You may need a home in a certain location, or your home must have four bedrooms. Knowing the critical features to look for is essential.

3. Be Willing to Compromise

Be willing to give in on nice-to-have features to purchase a home with must-have features. You may want a fireplace, but it’s not critical for your happiness. Be flexible about the nice-to-have features and maintain an open mind, even if the house you’re looking at doesn’t have everything you’d ideally want.

4. Anticipate All the Costs

Buying a house can be expensive. The down payment alone can be 7% of the cost of the house (or greater) while closing costs can vary between 2% and 6% of the cost of the house.

If you’re working with a real estate professional, your Realtor can help you negotiate, sharing the closing costs with the buyer. Talk to your Realtor about this before starting the home-buying process. Remember to anticipate costs associated with relocation and fixing up the house once you’ve moved in. Get a sense of how much your moving expenses will cost by getting a quote from a moving professional as you’re making your budget.

5. Communicate Your Budget

Hopefully, you know how much you’re willing to spend. Communicate this with your real estate professional before you start looking at homes. Keeping everyone on the same page is vital for ensuring that your home search will be efficient and successful.

6. Hold Firm

You may be tempted to look at homes that exceed your budget. Buying a house you can’t afford can lead to many challenges. It’s essential to know your limits and not to go beyond them.

Hire a Moving Company You Can Trust

Buying a house is a lot of work. While it’s happening, you’ll need to focus on the home-buying process. Hiring a trustworthy moving company can relieve the stress of buying a home. Contact us to make an appointment and get started with your upcoming relocation.