Moving Checklist Part 2

  

Two Weeks before Moving

 

Start a new bank account in your new town.

 Transfer account from current bank?

 

Contact your children's new school and notify them of your upcoming move to their area.

 

Contact the Chamber of Commerce in your new town.

 

Request a relocation package

 

Pack your vital documents in one place:

  Passports

  Mortgage records

  Marriage license

  Birth certificates

  Vehicle titles

  Stock certificates

  Insurance papers

  Bank records

  School records

  Medical records

  Tax records

 

Make arrangements to disconnect your utilities.  Get refunds for any deposits made.  Have meters read. Give new address for them to send their final bill:

  Cable - return box if necessary

  Electric

  Gas

  Internet access

  Telephone

  Water

 

Make arrangements to connect utilities at your new residence.  A helpful website to do this is https://www.whitefence.com/

 

Make arrangements for cleaning

 

Inquire about your new state's auto licensing procedure and auto insurance rates.

 

Check with your insurance company about transferring coverage to your new home.

 

Arrange to have a sitter watch your children at their house on moving day.

 

One Week before Moving

 

Dispose or drain any flammable items:

  Lawn mower gas

  Snow blower gas

  Paint

  Aerosol cans

  

Plan what goes in the car with you:

  Toys and games for kids

  Special breakable items or collections

  Important documents and records

  Change of clothes and toiletries for your first day

  Vacuum cleaner - if you want to clean right away

  Toilet paper

  First aid kit

  Food kit with bottled water, cereal, bananas

 

Make travel arrangements for your pets and plants.

 

Purchase moving insurance if you have valuable antiques and collections.

 

Have your car tuned up.

 

 

Happy Holidays!  Wishing you all the best this holiday season can bring!

Paige

0 comments • Paige Earles • December 23 2009 11:32AM

Moving Checklist Part 1

Here's a helpful checklist to use when getting ready for a move.  Agents - this is a great checklist to provide to your clients and helps make the transition from one home to another a little easier. 

  

One Month before Moving

 

Pick up a Change-of-Address Kit from the Post Office (or online). Also notify the address change with:

  Friends and family

  Banks

  Insurance companies

  Credit card companies

  Magazines and newspapers - cancel local newspaper delivery

  Doctors, dentists and other providers - transfer drug prescriptions

  Past employer - for W2 forms

 

Take a look around the house. Start to think about what you don't want to take with you.

  Eat perishable foods

  Sell, donate, or hold a garage sale for unwanted items

 

For full service moves:

  Get written estimates from several moving companies

  Ask - Will the movers pack for you?

  Ask - What items won't they move?

  Get appraisals for high-value items in case of future claims

 

For Do-it-Yourself Moves

  Make truck rental arrangements

  Buy packing supplies (boxes, masking tape, markers, newspapers, twine)

 

Start packing boxes. Mark boxes clearly as to CONTENTS and ROOM to be placed in.  Mark "Open First" clearly on boxes containing important items to be unpacked first:

  Dishes, pots and pans, alarm clock, bedding, special toys, towels, light bulbs, plates, and tools

  

Stop by and make arrangements for picking up your important records:

  Birth

  Doctor

  Dentist

  Legal

  Optician, optometrist

  School - make sure you get one with a raised seal

  Veterinarian

 

Close out your bank accounts:

  Checking

  Savings

  Safe Deposit Box

 

 

Check back for Moving Checklist Part 2 and Part 3

Contact Pearle Staging & Design for all your home staging and interior redesign needs. 

www.pearlestaginganddesign.com

877-721-9987

Make it an awesome day!

3 comments • Paige Earles • December 11 2009 09:37AM

DIY Tips - Painting Dos and Don'ts

Painting Dos & Don'ts

DO buy a quart or smaller first instead of a large quantity in case you're not committed to the color. Paint a piece of foam board and move it around the room to see how the light affects the color at different times of the day.

DO take the time to prep the area. Gather artwork and accessories in one box and place out of the way. Move furniture to the center of the space (or into another room altogether), wipe down walls and tape off molding. Cover the floor with a drop cloth. (Plastic sheets can be slippery and messy.)

DO remove all of the hardware-switch plates, doorknobs, drapery hardware, etc.--and place the parts in a plastic bag.

DO gather everything you'll need to get the job done and set up a "paint station" in or near the room. Include a paint tray, painters' tape, brushes, rollers, stir sticks, a paint can opener, rags, paint thinner, a screwdriver, hammer and ladder.

DO purchase one good paint tray and line it with inexpensive disposable plastic tray forms. Aluminum foil works well in a pinch.

DO calculate how much paint you'll need. It's always best to get it mixed at one time.

DO choose the appropriate rollers and brushes. Specific rollers are required depending on the paint's viscosity (i.e. how well it rolls onto the surface) and the wall's texture. Brushes with angled tips are best for painting on and around trim.

DO wear appropriate clothing (you will get paint on you somewhere) and slip-on shoes for easy access in and out of the room.

DO prime the walls if going from one extreme color to another. For instance, if the walls are tan and you want deep green, paint first with a primer tinted to match your intended top coat to ensure you'll end up with the true color.

DO expect to apply at least three coats when painting walls red--one coat of primer and two coats of paint.

DO keep a stash of paint for touch-ups in a small plastic cup or glass jar, like margarine containers or baby food jars (thoroughly cleaned, of course). Be sure to label each container with the color and brand name.

DO keep inexpensive foam and artists' brushes (dollar-store variety) on hand for touch-ups on trim and hard-to-reach spots.

DON'T rush. You'll achieve the best results if you practice a little patience. Plan on making it a full-day affair and you won't get frustrated.

DON'T pour the paint from the can until you notch holes into the paint can rim. Simply hammer holes around the metal rim with a nail to create holes for the paint to drip back down into the can.

DON'T paint out of order-start with the ceiling, then walls, doors and woodwork and finish with the floor.

DON'T apply latex on an oil finish and vice versa without first sanding the walls (remember to wear a mask) and wiping away the dust particles with a tack cloth. Apply a primer of the same composition (oil or latex) of the intended topcoat.

DON'T paint directly over wallpaper. If possible, remove it all with a steamer or paper-removing solution and prime. If it's old and not coming off, remove the loose pieces (repair with joint compound to smooth out the surface), sand and wipe with a tack cloth, then prime.

DON'T close off the room. Keep doors and windows open to allow for proper ventilation.

DON'T underestimate how long it'll take you to get the job done. Allow at least 24 hours to dry before bringing everything back into the room. Allow two weeks to 30 days to cure before washing or wiping.

DON'T put off cleaning your brush and rollers if you plan to use them again.

DON'T dispose of paint irresponsibly. Check your area for local hazardous waste recycling centers.

DON'T reattach the lid without cleaning the rim of the can. Also, to further prevent inadvertent splatters, place a paper towel or rag on top of the lid, then hammer to secure.

 

4 comments • Paige Earles • December 08 2009 06:55AM

Decorating Green

DECORATING GREEN

So you've got a green building, or maybe you want to make some green lifestyle changes.  Consider redecorating to incorporate environmentally-friendly products into your home. 

Start with:

  • The paint on your walls
  • The carpet under your feet

Then move into:

  • Well-crafted furniture
  • Decorative touches like curtains and pillows
  • Accessories that really make the space your own

Redecorating with a focus on green will not only give your home a new, environmentally-friendly look, but it may also improve the air around you and your quality of life.

Walls: Paper and Paint
Vinyl wallpaper and conventional paints that are on your walls now may be off-gassing potentially harmful toxins into your home's air. To fix this, only purchase paint with low volatile compounds (VOCs).  You can also purchase green wallpaper that is made out of non-vinyl products, like bamboo pulp or grasses. 

Floors: Rugs, Wood Floors, and Alternatives
Want area rugs?  You can look for rugs with fibers made of recycled products or natural materials like wool, jute, sisal, sea grass or coir (coconut husks).  These types of floor coverings are widely available, and are generally long-lasting.  Check for labels indicating that the product is actually green.

There are other kinds of flooring options, of course, including wood.  When looking to install hardwood floors, buy only products certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  This means that utmost care was taken to harvest wood using sustainable methods.  Also, look for woods that have been reclaimed.  Other natural floor coverings include cork, bamboo, linoleum and concrete. 

Furniture: New, Used-All Green
When buying new furniture for your home, buy green.  Look for labels that mark certified sustainable wood, low-VOCs, and recycled materials.  Plenty of furniture makers now have lines for the green consumer.  Whenever you are buying furniture, make sure it is durable, and doesn't have to travel far to reach you.  You can reduce your furniture's carbon footprint simply by buying local.   

However, one of the best ways to get green furniture is to recycle it by buying vintage or antique pieces.  Not only were many of these pieces exceptionally well-crafted, you are helping the environment by keeping these items from filling up a landfill, and you are avoiding contributing to furniture manufacturing.  If you don't like the looks of the vintage or antique furniture, you can refinish it with low-VOC paints or stains, and you can also have it reupholstered with natural fabrics. 

Fabrics: Upholstery, Curtains, Pillows
Furniture upholstery, curtains, and pillows are all dependent on one thing for their beauty-the right fabric.  There's a bevy of fabric options that are durable, beautiful, and natural.  One great option is bamboo fabric.  Bamboo is a great grass that grows fast, and doesn't require a lot of chemical pesticides and fertilizer.  You can also purchase organic wool and cotton.  When you are buying fabrics, make sure they are untreated by chemical stain-repellents, which have a higher toxicity.  If dyed, look for solution dyed fabrics. 

Accessories and Plants
A great way to find accessories for your home is to buy used or go natural.  Check out antique and vintage shops or second-hand stores for pieces that you like. Or look for accessories that are made of recycled materials, or pieces of art made from found objects.

For a green décor that is truly green, consider adding plants to your room.  Houseplants can help clear the air, removing toxins like ammonia, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, benzene, xylene and trichloroethytene.  Some of the healthiest houseplants are the philodendron, ivy, spider plants, palms, ferns, and peace lilies. 

Whenever you are buying any green products, always buy from reputable suppliers and stores to make sure that you are purchasing the "real thing."  

Contact Pearle Staging & Design for all your Home Staging and Interior Redesign needs. 

www.pearlestaginganddesign.com

877-721-9987

 

 

 

0 comments • Paige Earles • December 03 2009 07:02AM