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For the last 10 weeks our kitchen has been torn up. The remodeling that was supposed to take less than 4 weeks turned out to be 3 times as long. I won’t go into the reasons but the final result is not only beautiful (as my three year old grandson said) but functional.

Moving and relocation can take many forms. To the large house and family moving internationally or across the country to my move-everything out of the kitchen, store it in the living room and put it all (or most of the kitchen stuff) back.

If you ever get into this sort of move, one thing I learned is to do a better job in planning the move. Since it was a “little” move I just jumped in and started. Not a good plan.

In any move you find that you’ve  stored things that over time are rarely used. Or you get something better and do nothing with the older item. How may orange juicers do you really need? Or do you need any at all?

First thing to do in a little move is to cull out the things that are not going back in the space. Throw them out, sell them at a garage sale (or ebay) or donate them to a charity.

Second, if it’s a kitchen, how are you during the construction going to prepare and store food? A microwave, hotplate or toaster oven, and a working refigerator are a must. What arrangement can you make to wash dishes? Even with paper plates and cups and plastic knives and forks there will still be dishes and pans to wash.

We didn’t sort out anything when the kitchen was moved and “unpacked.” This means more work putting things back together and more time.

So if you are making the “little” move, like a kitchen or bath remodel, or redoing a room, plan ahead and you’ll be saving a lot of time and make it a smooth move.

Ways to Break Large Moving Tasks into Smaller Ones

You will have a lot to get done before your moving day. By breaking up large tasks into smaller ones, you can concentrate on getting them completed easily and quickly. Spend one or two hours a day packing instead of entire afternoons or evenings. Other required tasks such as making arrangements for housing, school registration, closing bank accounts, and alerting others of your impending relocation, can be completed a little at a time as well.

When you have a clearer understanding of the time you have, create lists and accomplish planned tasks day by day. Not only will this reduce stress, it will also keep you from forgetting important details. Even if you have to add to your list as you go, accomplishing one or two tasks each day allows you to maintain your current job, family life, and other responsibilities you have in addition to moving.

For more information on moving and relocation my web site has a variety of good ideas that will help you speed up your move reduce uncertainty.

Saving Money on Your Move

Everyone wants to save money, especially when planning to relocate. Depending on the distance, your relocation could cost a lot. Planning ahead is the best way to save money. By creating a budget, you will be able to see where your money is going and how you need to spend it. While some companies offer relocation packages, others do not.

There are many ways to save money during relocation. You can pack, load, and unload items yourself instead of hiring movers, and you can find boxes and other supplies without having to pay for them.

Selling unwanted items and other stuff is another way to increase your relocation budget. If you start early enough you can move an significant amount of stuff by selling it on ebay. That old brass lamp that if you are lucky might be worth $3 in a garage sale may bring $50 or more on ebay. Don’t overlook this source of generating additional moving funds.

By being creative, you can find other ways to save. Asking friends to help with the move, hiring movers for only an hour or two in order to move heavy items is another option.

Bottom line, the greater the planning you put into the move, the better the outcome. For more moving tips visit my site. Good luck!
 

What is the shortest relocation?

Recently, I had to pack up our kitchen to get ready for a full kitchen remodel.

So everything had to be moved down the hall to the living room. The shortest relocation? Perhaps!

In the back of cabinets were packages of food that we hadn’t eaten in years. Cooking pans and cooking devices that hadn’t seen food for years were another surprise.

On balance, about 25% of the things will not be put back in the new kitchen. And we will have about 50% more cabinet space. There is some rule or law that stuff will multiply to fill the space. We hope to make the new arrangements more efficient and not a magnet to attract more stuff.

One thing I didn’t do a good job on was planning how food was going to be prepared. With no stove but a microwave, after two weeks it’s been an adjustment.

Another thing learned is to occasionaly clean out closets, cabinets and other places where “stuff” accumulates. Clutter not only does not look good but is a source of stress. Stress it not being able to find anyting, and to have the clean-up problem hanging over your head. Once cleaned out you have a great feeling of accomplishment. For more stress buster ideas you can visit my new site.

Of course with this type of full kitchen remodeling, you hear horror stories about a kitchen being torn up and unusable for up to six months or more. But after two weeks we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Everything has been ordered and delivery dates set. This all can change but it appears manageable.

I’ll keep you posted on our short distance relocation.

If you are involved in a corporate relocation-maximizing your home’s appraisal can put money in your pocket. Even if your move is personal, getting the most from the sale of your home with a relatively small effort is always benefical.

In many corporate transfers, the corporation has a policy of a relocation company buying your home if it does not sell within a set period of time. The relocation company then has the responsibility of selling your home after you move.

Knowing the ropes and assisting the appraiser will help you arrive at the highest value for your home. This can be accomplished by knowing what to expect when the appraiser comes to look over your house. Expect the appraiser to take pictures of both the inside and outside of the house. Spend some time getting the house ready for the appraisal. The results of the appraisal will give you the option if you should accept the corporation’s buyout offer or if you should continue to try to sell the house on your own.

Many corporations have policies that dictate they will buy your house if it does not sell in a specific period of time. To arrive at an offering price, a relocation appraisal will have to be completed. Here’s what you can do to assure you get the very best appraised value for you home.

Gather the following information and records: (1) The plat map or survey of your house and land; (2) If available, blueprints of the house; (3) If applicable, homeowners association manual and documents showing monthly or yearly fees paid; (4) A legal description of the property-your property deed; (5) Your realtor’s sales sheet or brochure; (6) Your most recent property tax bill; (7) Your title policy showing, if any encroachments; (8) If any personal property is being sold with the house, provide a list and value; (9) Get a list from you realtor of comparable area sales, and list, for example, if a comparable house sold from an inferior location or other factor which should be considered; (10) List major improvements to the home, dates and costs; and (11) Outline of exceptional qualities of your home.

With this information you can greatly assist the appraiser in arriving at the most accurate sales price for your home.

The most probable sale price of your home in a reasonable period of time and in the current real estate market makes up the appraisal value of the home. The appraiser will inspect your home and property, study the many factors that make up the housing market in your area and then estimate a market value for your property. The appraiser will write up an appraisal report after analysis of the most probable price of your home if sold in a reasonable period of time in the current real estate market. The appraisal will then be provided you and the relocation company for review.

If there is a wide variance in value after two appraisals, try to determine why the appraiser arrived at the lower figure. If possible get it reconsidered with the presenting of new data. Otherwise, it may be prudent to get a third appraisal.

If you are in agreement with the final appraisal, expect to get an offer to buy from the relocation company. You will be required to accept or decline the offer by a pre-determined date. Following and applying this outline will give you the knowledge to assure all data is considered calculating the highest possible appraised value of your home.

For additional moving and relocation tips visit our relocation ideas site.

If moving or relocating is in your picture for 2008 I invite you to review the moving tips in my blog and the more detailed moving information on my site.

Ways to Break Large Moving Tasks into Smaller Ones

You will have a lot to accomplish before you moving day. By breaking up large tasks into smaller ones, you can focus on getting them completed easily and quickly. Spend one or two hours a day packing instead of entire afternoons or evenings. Other tasks such as making arrangements for housing, school registration, closing bank accounts, and alerting others of your impending relocation, can be completed a little at a time as well.

When you have a better understanding of the time you have, create lists and accomplish tasks day by day. Not only will this reduce stress, it will also prevent you from forgetting important details. Even if you have to add to your list as you go, accomplishing one or two tasks each day allows you to maintain your current job, family life, and other responsibilities you have in addition to moving.

Good luck on your planned move!

Home, Sweet Home

Recently, a new family moved in down the street. On one of my walks I introduced myself to the couple. They didn’t appear to be in any hurry to get things unpacked.

They told me they have moved 3 times in the past 8 years and they found the best way to get settled is to take it slow. They were planning to paint several rooms and they wanted to get the colors just right. Also, if everything is unpacked it makes painting the room so much more difficult. And since closets sometimes don’t get painted they wanted them to be empty.

They seemed to have the right ideas. They were spending time enjoying the moving experience and getting settled into their new home. There is enough stress involved in a relocation and they were taking a positive approach regarding the whole experience.

For a balanced view of relocating, you might visit our relocation ideas site.

Moving is a lot of lifting and carrying. Maybe even up and down stairs and uneveen surfaces. Most of us a not used to this level of physical activity.

Oh yes, we go the the gym three times a week and lift a few weights, but this sustained activity can do painful things to our muscles and our back. Sore muscles go away after a few days but it seems back problems can go on forever.

So before you embark on moving yourself, with all the lifting and carrying, consider hiring someone to do the work. If this is not possible, know your limitations. Rent moving equipment, like dollies and hand carts. Nothing can mess up a back faster than trying to move something heavy with improper equipment. Take frequent breaks and don’t put to much weight in one box. Better to have 2 or 3 smaller and lighter boxes that to put everything in a box that a TV came in.

For more information on taking care of your back, Backology, might be the answer. Otherwise, take it easy, pace yourself and with proper planning your move will be as smooth as possible.

Relocation Ideas: Finding and Buying the right new home. 

Finding a new home during the relocation process can be difficult because of time constraints. While you may have a month or more, you have to pack, perhaps sell your current home, and finalize all the details concerning the move. If you are offered the opportunity to live in temporary housing, you should take it so you can have more time to find a permanent home. Depending on the housing market, finding a new home may be a challenge.

If your employer doesn’t offer temporary housing, renting a house or apartment for six months or a year is an option. This will give you enough time to find the right home, go through the closing, and move in at your own pace. Being rushed into buying a home is usually not a good idea unless the perfect one is available at the time.

For more relocation ideas visit out web site for a detailed look at relocation and moving. 

Benefits of Temporary Housing in your Corporate Move.

There are many benefits of temporary housing that you should consider before turning it down. Even though you will only be allowed to stay in temporary housing for a short period, usually a month or two, this may be enough time for you to find a new home without having to pay rent. Another benefit to this type of housing is that many homes are furnished. If you have to relocate immediately and you can’t wait until your belongings are packed, you can wait for them without having to sleep on the floor!

When you stay in temporary housing, you will have time to explore different neighborhoods, find homes that are close to your workplace, schools, and other locations on the weekends or in the evenings. Staying in a furnished apartment or townhome can reduce the stress of relocation and give you the time needed to find a permanent home. If available, temporary housing can assure you make the best decision in buying a home in a new area.