design

Planning Your Move

Planning your move

As you put your home on the market, the next step is planning the logistics of your move. There are many things to consider, but the item to tackle right away is choosing a reputable moving company. You can ask friends, relatives, and your Texas REALTOR® about their experiences with and recommendations for moving companies.

Keep in mind that many people move between May and September when they’re children are out from school. If you can’t avoid this peak moving time, be sure to call to schedule your move far in advance.

Moving day can be stressful, but thinking ahead and being prepared can make the process run more smoothly. Make sure you’re on hand to answer questions the day the movers are packing your belongings into the moving truck. As a driver does an inventory of the home, walk through with him to verify that he is accounting for everything. It’s also imperative to sign the bill of lading, which is the contract between you and the mover, which will allow for claims to be made and will legally ensure that everything is accounted for when the truck reaches its destination.

A few other helpful tips include not packing your jewelry and other valuables like family heirlooms, antiques, and silverware. It’s better to take these items with you than place them on the moving truck. Also make sure you keep important papers with you like school records, birth certificates, passports, closing papers, and mover estimates. These documents are very hard to replace if lost in your move.

Finally, consider using different colors to designate which boxes go to which room. You can use a red sticker for the living room, green for the kitchen, etc. When the moving truck gets to your home, you can have these colors on the doors of the respective rooms so that the boxes can quickly and efficiently be unpacked.

Texas Association of Realtors®

design

Design Trends

“Design can have such a positive impact on the way people live and on their relationships and moods.” – Genevieve Gorder

Not all remodels are created equal. You may already be familiar with Remodeling magazine’s popular Cost vs. Value report, which documents the average return on investment expected for specific improvement projects. But have you taken into account the latest design trends that will make your home more desirable and thus more valuable?

For example, many buyers are seeking homes with hardwood, composite or travertine tile
flooring because they require less maintenance than carpet and give a home a beautiful and natural feel. Replacing carpeted areas with these contemporary flooring options can give your home a worthwhile face-lift.

This month’s Item of Value is dedicated to new design trends around the home. You will
find innovative and affordable tips that can dramatically improve your home’s look and value, such as adding accent lighting and replacing outdated plumbing fixtures.

Specific ways you can stage your home successfully for an open house or merely to entertain friends and family are also included.

My hope is to keep you informed of the latest trends in home improvement and design.

Sincerely,

Alan Hopper

Oh, by the way®…if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number, and I’ll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.