Sacramento Movers Share 7 Tips For Home Staging

Home staging started in 1972 as a concept of making a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers. Staging a home makes a huge difference when putting it up for sale, especially in today’s competitive market. In fact 95% of staged homes only take an average of 11 days or less to sell and are sold for 17% more than non-staged homes. This shows how first impressions are not just important in real estate – they are critical. Buying a home is a big deal and buyers need to know they are making the right decision. Staging helps potential buyers realize the full potential of a home.

(Photo Credit: Indiana Home Staging)

Staging your home doesn’t have to take long or cost a lot of money. Here are a few simple tips to help sell a home.

1.       Declutter. When staging your home, make sure to take out unnecessary items. This includes decoration items and furniture. By taking out these items, it will maximize the size of the room.

2.       Depersonalize. When potential buyers are looking at your home, they want to envision themselves living there. One of the best ways to help them accomplish this is by removing any family photos. They don’t want to be reminded of the family that lived there before but rather the memories they can create when they move in.

3.       Increase lighting. Adding more light to a space can make it feel warm and inviting. This may mean bringing in more lamps but it could also be as simple as increasing the wattage of the exiting lamps. Make sure you have three types of lighting: ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under-cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall).

4.       Paint. You can easily transform any room by changing up the color. For a room to appear larger, paint it the same color as the adjacent room. This will create a seamless look and make them feel like one big room.

5.       Vary wall hangings. Many people make mistakes when it comes to hanging wall art and hanging it in a high line encircling each room.  Art displayed creatively makes it stand out and shows off a space. Break up that line and vary the patterning and grouping.

6.       Add flowers. Flowers are a great design element for staged homes. They show the home is well cared for and adds a fresh, soft touch. To save money, find a flower that blooms and stays nice for nearly a week. Don’t use fake flowers, especially in more expensive homes.

7.       Use odd numbers. According to HGTV, when it comes to eye-pleasing accessorizing, odd numbers are preferred, especially three. Think about the different ways to arrange items. For example, instead of having them all in a row, why not try a triangle. Also make sure the items vary in size.

By following these seven simple tips your house will be that much closer to making buyers feel at home.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Manager at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.

Sacramento Movers Share Ideas On A Stress-fee Transition Into The School Year

It’s back to school for the kids and sometimes this means a little disorder takes over the house. With the added stress of getting the kids to school on time, all the extracurricular activities, and keeping track of all those homework assignments and forms… it can be easy for things to get a little chaotic. Follow a few steps to keep the home neat and tidy and transition into the new school year with as little stress as possible.

Handling the papers.

Before homework assignments start going missing, come up with a system for organizing assignments. One idea would be to get a file box from an office supply store with separate folders for each kid or for “finished” or “unfinished” projects. This way it is easy for all to understand what’s done and what’s not done. Another way to handle things is to set a time each day to sit down with the kids and go over all the papers handed out that day. This way you can sign what needs to be signed, make notes of events in a calendar, or get rid of papers you don't need so they do not become clutter. A good rule of thumb is to take care of paperwork immediately then either shred it, file it, or prepare it to be sent back to the teacher.

Where to put the arts and crafts.

Let’s begin with narrowing down the options and noting where not to put all those crayon drawings and macaroni noodle and craft glue masterpieces. Don’t place these decorations on the refrigerator as you will soon not know where to find the door handle. It’s also not a good idea to throw away their work while they might see and be disappointed. It may be nice to save some of their arts and crafts but perhaps not all. Try a few simple strategies for keeping only the best of the arts and crafts.

Not sure what to keep and what to toss? Ask yourself these questions. Does the project have sentimental value (a handmade Valentine or birthday card to mommy)? Does it reflect exceptional effort? Is it something the little one is especially proud of? Does it record a special moment of the child’s life? You may not want to save massive pieces such as posters, or work that leaves a trace such as a craft project that leaves a trail of glitter wherever it goes. If can’t bear the thought of never seeing it again, snap a photo and save it digitally.

For any pieces that you do save, do it in a purposeful way. Get plastic frames or shadow boxes that are easy to open so you can display art projects and then switch them out periodically. Alternately you can save art projects in sheet protectors in a tidy three-ring binder. Or for larger projects designate a plastic craft tub with a lid that these can be placed in.

Easy organization.

When you are working with multiple children in the house it’s a great idea to assign a color to each kid. This way all binders, homework folders, and storage containers can be color coordinated per child. This way if things are left out of place you will easily know who didn’t pick up after them-self or whose folder to open to place a note for the teacher without having to sort through three or four different kid’s things.

Designate a place for all school supplies to go including books, backpacks, supplies and projects. Teach the kids to place everything in this designated spot when arriving from school and after completing homework for the day. This way everything will be easy to find the next morning when it’s school time.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Manager at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.

Sacramento Movers How To Transport A Car Long Distance

Being a method of transportation itself, there is one obvious way to transport a car long distance and that is to buckle up and drive it. But this may not be the most appealing option if you’re looking at an especially distant destination such as a new home across the country. A more appealing option than spending hours behind the wheel and putting thousands of miles on your car may be to hire an auto shipping service. There are a few factors to consider when choosing a shipping service for your car.

(Photo Credit: ForgeMotorsAutoTransport.com)

First, before hiring any long distance shipping or moving services be sure to get a written estimate, not just a quick verbal quote. Verbal quotes are great for narrowing down the options and choosing two or three carriers to get an estimate from but verbal quotes do not lock you into a certain price.

Before selecting a carrier it’s also a good idea to consider their reputation.  Find out their BBB rating, what previous customers have to say about them and make sure they are licensed with the U.S. DOT. Be sure to ask about extra charges for fuel, worker’s comp, etc.

Each auto carrier will have slightly different processes so check with them on what they’d like you to do to prepare the vehicle for the move. Be sure to communicate any deadlines you have or specific requests. Make sure all agreements are in writing. Understand what is covered in their insurance and if additional coverage is available. Also find out if the car will be driven or carried on a transport trailer.

There are two types of transport you can commonly choose from. There is door-to-door transport, which means the carrier will pick up your vehicle from your current residence and deliver it directly to the ending residence. The second option is terminal-to-terminal transport in which you need to bring the car to their nearest terminal and then pick it up from the terminal closest to your ending location. Naturally the more services the carrier provides for you, the more they can charge so if you need to keep costs down, terminal-to-terminal may be a better option. Weigh in the costs you would incur if you did it that way such as the cost of getting a taxi to and from the auto shipper’s terminal.

While each carrier may have their own set of recommendations, there a few general actions you can take to ready your vehicle for shipment. For example put a quarter of a tank of gas in the vehicle, lower the antenna if possible, and remove any exterior accessories. Also remove any personal items from the inside of the car. Don’t forget the glove compartment!

Find out what payment methods the carrier accepts. Most carriers collect payment up front so you need to find out if you can pay by credit card, cash or check.  Before giving the payment, however, thoroughly read and understand the bill of lading, the contract that states all shipment details such as starting and ending location, price and delivery date. Also note the state of the vehicle before and after the shipment. Before signing off the driver, thoroughly inspect the car and report any damage incurred during the shipment.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Manager at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.

Sacramento Movers Share Tips For Starting College With The Right Move

Get organized for a successful school year!

For most incoming college freshmen, a new school year means a new home. Moving into a dormitory for the first time can be a stressful change. However, taking a few painless steps can make the transition to the new “home away from home” go more smoothly.

(Photo Credit: BudgetTruck)

Moving a teenager to college for the first time can leave parents and their student physically and emotionally drained if unprepared. It’s easy to get frustrated when faced with packing and condensing belongings to fit in a small room shared by one to three other people. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® offers these tips to make the process easier:

·         Start early – don’t wait until the last minute to collect boxes and moving supplies. Start packing non-essential items immediately, such as seasonal clothing. Clearly label all boxes so unpacking is easy. 

·         Try to condense – go through the new student’s belongings before packing. Reduce the amount of items to move to start the school year clutter-free.  

·         Use the right supplies – shop around for competitive prices on supplies. Avoid using old shopping bags, laundry baskets or topless boxes transport belongings. Items can get tossed around in the move and if loose items fall out, people can get hurt. Also, beware of using grocery store boxes – they store food and can carry bugs.

·         Pack similar items together – label the boxes so they are easily identified. This will helps the student prioritize unpacking without making a huge mess.

·         Don’t over-pack boxes – remember, the heavier the item, the smaller the box.

·         Use original packaging for large electronics when possible – the safest way to transport electronics like a computer, TV, mini-fridge or a microwave is to use the original packaging. If it’s not available, wrap the electronics in anti-static bubble wrap. Call a local moving company for advice or assistance.

·         Recycle – buying reusable supplies like high-quality containers is good for parents’ wallets and for the environment. Most corrugated cardboard boxes can be easily folded and stored during school year. Plastic storage bins with lids are also a good option. The containers parents buy this year can be reused and recycled throughout their student’s college career.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Sacramento employs a staff of over 40 Full-Time Movers and Drivers, with a fleet of 10 trucks. We have performed home and business moving services in and around the Greater Sacramento area for almost 10 years. Our award winning services include full service moving and packing services and we also sells boxes and packing supplies.

With comments or questions contact Carolyn Durkee, Marketing Manager at the Sacramento office of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® at 916-852-7411 or contact us here.