Things You Didn’t Know Add Value to Your Home

July 27, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Woman holding home for sale sign – Image Courtesy of Pexels

You will always be looking for ways to add value to your home when you place it on the market. And it can be challenging to know how to do this. Yet often, it’s actually pretty simple, and in some cases, you don’t even have to lift a finger. Here are a few for a better asking price.

How Your Home Looks

When you are placing your home on the market, its appearance is vitally important. Many prospective buyers will make an instant snap judgment based solely on the property’s appearance. Since they cannot see the inside without a viewing, the exterior of your house is the first thing they will see. Therefore, you can’t ignore the things that make a home look more appealing. These include the quality of the roof (find out more), landscaping, and exterior features like paint, windows, and doors. A well-kept lawn also adds some value to your price.

Local Shopping Will Add Value to Your Home

Even though we live in a world with far too many cars, people still like to be close to shopping facilities. So if your home is near things like shopping malls, supermarkets, and retail parks, you can command a higher asking price. Especially if they are within walking distance, and your home is not next to the main traffic routes, i.e., a buyer gets the advantages with none of the noise and pollution. And naturally, the more amenities there are nearby, the more you can potentially get. Just be sure to give your agent a comprehensive list to include in the brochure.

Trees and Foliage

Nature plays a large role in the price of your home. Tress, plants, and foliage automatically increase the value of your home. And you don’t even have to do anything apart from trimming the hedges for curb appeal. People love nature and will pay more for it, especially in their own homes in urban areas. And the trees don’t even have to be on your property either. Street trees are a major attraction. However, it helps if any greenery is on the property owners can do as they wish with them. Herb gardens and vegetable patches are also a major attraction.

The Road or Street Name

Surprisingly, the name of the road upon which your property is situated can affect the price by as much as a 5% increase. Generic sounding roads don’t do much for your potential. However, upper-class sounding road names can tweak the price a little. For instance, “something road” or “something street” isn’t too exciting. But “green valley brow” has a certain ring to it that makes it more appealing. Additionally, studies have found that people will pay more for houses with officially-registered names and a matching name plate attached. Posh is a trending factor today.

Simple DIY Jobs Can Increase Value

The outside of your home is one thing. But the interior is a whole other subject. There’s so much inside a house that it can become overwhelming to stay on top of things. Especially in older properties. But here are some minor DIY jobs that can add value to your asking price:

  • Replacing incandescent light bulbs with LEDs.
  • Fixing creaking floorboards.
  • Bathroom and kitchen mold removal.
  • Paintwork touch-ups.
  • Keeping the house clean and tidy.

Of course, there are far more jobs you could do, such as fixing a dripping tap or replacing degraded door handles. The trick is to make your home appear like it needs as little maintenance as possible. As a result, you are also more likely to secure a quick sale.

The Garage and Front Door

Your home’s front door is much more than a simple portal. A reliable front door is made from reliable materials, has a strong lock for deterring burglars, and is energy efficient. So making an investment in a door upgrade gives a prospective buyer peace of mind. As a result, you can add some value to your asking price. The more reliable the front door is, the more you can ask. No one will pay more for a weak composite door that a child could break into. Additionally, energy bills will be higher if you have a front door made from cheap materials with no insulation.

Off-Street Parking

There are too many cars on the road today. And it’s getting worse. However, cars are seen as a modern necessity. However, because of the increase, parking is becoming something of a nightmare, especially on older roads and streets that were built when no one had a car. Simply put, they weren’t designed to accommodate oversized SUVs, RVs, and luxury sedans. Additionally, you might have to pay for the privilege of parking outside your own home in some places. Therefore, a property with off-street parking is worth far more to a buyer. 

Add Value to Your Home by Going Green

The green movement is happening whether you agree with it or not. New properties are being built to green standards as outlined by new regulations in many countries. Eco-friendly homes use energy and water in inventive ways, reducing the waste and costs associated with each. So they’re more appealing to a buyer. You can capitalize on buyer expectations by making your home a greener place. Some initial investment is required. Yet solar panels alone can reduce electricity bills by as much as 25%. Any green investment adds instant value to your house.

Smart Technology

Smart tech isn’t anything new. However, it was once only accessible to the wealthy. Today, smart technology is affordable to almost everyone thanks to leaps in ease of use due to smartphones and production costs. Because of this, smart tech is becoming an expected aspect of a home on the market. And it’s asked for by clients while being incorporated into new builds. From simple voice-controlled LED lighting to complex control systems throughout, any kind of smart technology can be installed relatively cheaply and can add up to 20% value.

Summary

The list of ways to add value to your home is never-ending. But some unexpected things increase your asking price, many of which require no work on your part. For example, local shopping, the street name, and off-street parking command a better asking price.

 

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How to Find an Apartment That’s Suitable for a Young Family

June 29, 2022 by Leave a Comment

There are many reasons why you might want to choose an apartment for your family over a more conventional house. For a start, it gives you the freedom to live on a lower budget. And it makes city living possible, which is something that’s beneficial to lots of families.

best family apartments

But finding the right one for your young family certainly can be something of a challenge and it’s one that you won’t want to overlook. We’re going to talk today about some of the most important things to do when trying to find an apartment suitable for your young family, so read on.

Find Outdoor Space

Outdoor space in some form or another is usually great for your kids. But having your own private garden when living in an apartment is pretty rare. That’s why you should at least make sure that there is some kind of communal space in which kids can play or perhaps a nearby park where they can play. If you can’t have your own outdoor space, you should at least think about the alternatives that you can make use of as a family.

Ensure There’s Space to Grow

It’s important to make sure that the home you ultimately choose is one that enables your family to potentially grow and expand in the future, whether you choose an apartment or a regular home. Maybe you don’t plan on having any more kids and this isn’t a major issue for you. But if it is, you should think about how that might work and whether the apartment you choose affords you that extra space you might later need.

Check the Local Schools

As a parent, you’ll no doubt care a lot about your child’s education going forward. You want to make sure that they have access to the very best educational opportunities. And there’s nothing wrong with that. That’s why when choosing your next home, you should take the time to research and understand the best local schools and ensure your child will be able to attend them.

Look for a Functional Layout

The layout of the apartment should at least be functional and suited to how your family lives. Maybe you want a dedicated play area or perhaps it’s more important for you to have an open plan layout where you have more freedom and flexibility in terms of how you make use of the space. This is all stuff for you to think about and consider going forward. It’s been to have made these decisions before you start looking for a home.

Cast the Net Wider

Casting the net a little further afield is something that can definitely help a lot when you’re looking to find the apartment that’s going to be ideal for you. By doing so, you’ll discover apartments that are maybe a little more affordable and offer more space within your budget. You can take a look at some options you might want to consider at https://www.zoomproperty.com/en/buy/dubai/apartments-for-sale-business-bay and expand your search from there if you need to.

Research the Safety of the Local Area

From a parental point of view, you probably want to make sure that the location you’re moving to is as safe as possible. No parent wants to move their child into an unsafe neighborhood. Luckily, you can find out a lot about crime statistics and the general safety of a given area by doing a little online research. All the information you need is out there to find. You can then make a more informed decision which neighborhood is likely to be the best one for you and your family going forward.

Look for Spots Where Other Families Live

One great way to identify a location that would make a good place for your family to live is to look at where other families are living. This is on I spilt a sign that families in the local area see that particular setting as somewhere that’s family-friendly and safe. You could even reach out to other parents in the area to see whether the location is good for families and whether they’d recommend it to you. It’s better to find out this information now rather than later.

Finding an apartment that’s suitable for a young family isn’t always easy. You want to make sure that it’s safe and that you won’t sacrifice anything by not choosing a regular house. By following the tips and ideas laid out above, that’s something that you should have no problem doing.

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How To Make Your New Home A Perfect Fit For Your Family

April 13, 2022 by Leave a Comment

You’re in the process of moving into a new property (or you’ve recently moved in) and you’re probably wondering how you can make your new home fit your family a little better. The chances are that you selected the new property that you live in because it was the right size for your family and set in a good area, but that doesn’t mean that it feels like home just yet. 

The truth is that when you move to somewhere new, it can take a while for your new home to feel like home. It can take time to work out how you’re going to make your new home feel like home and be somewhere that you and your family feel comfortable and at home, but with a few simple steps you can make your new property feel like home (and be a better fit for your family). 

Wondering what these steps are and how you can make your new home feel like a perfect fit for your family? Below is a guide to everything that you need to know about making sure that your new home is a perfect fit for you and your family. 

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Start with unpacking

The first step to making your new home feel like home (and be a good fit for your family) and the best way to do that is to unpack everything. Until you unpack all of your family’s boxes, a new home can feel like a foreign and rather unwelcoming space, so it pays to take the time to unpack everything. 

Once you’ve unpacked everything, work on determining where in your new home each item should go. Don’t be tempted to lay things out exactly like your previous home, instead take the time to think about how you can make the most of the space that your new home offers. 

You might decide to lay your furniture out in the same way as before, or you might opt for a new approach to the decor and design of your home. Either way, make sure that the layout you go for works in the space that you have, and fits yours and your family’s needs. 

Utilize accessories to add a sense of personality 

When it comes to adding personality to your new home, accessories are a real life-saver. The chances are that you have some plans to overhaul and redesign the space over time, but for now, utilizing accessories as a means of adding personality to the space is a great move to make. Honestly, you’d be amazed at how much difference a few well thought out accessories can make to the look and feel of your new space. 

Believe it or not, with a selection of carefully selected accessories, you can transform your new home into somewhere that you – and your family – will love living in and spending time in. You might have big plans for the future, but in the meantime, using accessories to update the tone and style of the space can be a smart move to make. 

When buying accessories, work on a room-by-room basis, carefully selecting matching accessories that fit the space. Then, once you’ve completed one room, move onto the next one, and start selecting accessories for that space. 

Think about practicality

When it comes to feeling comfortable (and content) in your new home, it also pays to think about the practical side of things, and what additions you might need to make to ensure the space feels comfortable and is liveable for you and your family. 

For instance, say there isn’t a good heating system in place, you might want to consider having a home heating installation performed, ensuring that you’re able to keep your home at the right temperature, even throughout the colder months. If you can afford to, you might also want to look at combined heating and cooling systems, so that you can alter the temperature in your home depending on the season. 

Take the time to think about any practicalities that your new home is missing, and work out how you can amend that. The most important thing is that your new home is a functional and practical space for you and your family, and offers everything that is needed for an easy day-to-day life. 

Not sure what else you might need? Take the time to think about all the essentials your previous home had and why they were so helpful for day-to-day life for you and your family. By adding these to your new home, you can ensure that it feels just as comfortable as your old home. 

Get inspiration

Before you can start thinking about any changes you want to make to your new home’s layout and decor, it’s a good idea to take the time to source some inspiration. There are plenty of online resources designed with home inspiration in mind, including various websites and tutorials. A super handy tool for sourcing decor inspiration and ideas is Pinterest, because you can create mood boards and save ideas that appeal to you on them, to return to later. 

Plan out any changes 

It can be helpful to start planning out any changes that you want to make to the property, so that you can see the potential that your new home holds for you and your family. If you’ve got ideas for what you want to do with the space, start by sketching them out or writing them down, so that you can get a better idea of what your aspirations are. 

The next step, when you’re ready, is to consult a designer to discuss your concepts and what your next steps should be to make them a reality. This process might take time, but it’s definitely worthwhile following it, if it means that the end result will be of a higher quality than simply diving straight into making the changes. 

There you have it, a simple guide to how you can make your new home a perfect fir for your family.

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5 Things to Consider Before Hiring an International Mover

April 5, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Moving to another country is a whole new experience. You go through different feelings from the surge of excitement, fear of facing the unexpected, sorrow of leaving your land, and tingling sensation of confusion. Amidst this turbulent emotional condition, you also have to deal with the headache of moving your household items.

 

Unless you are thinking of abandoning your old items and buying new stuff in the new place (it can be a blow to your budget, by the way!), you need to find ways to move your stuff. First you have to decide what you will need the most and can’t leave behind. Then comes the most difficult part. From packing items carefully, loading them, arranging shipment, and unloading, to setting them, moving your stuff to another country is not an easy feat. That’s where an international moving company can help you. Like, if you are moving to India from the USA, they will take care of all your moving hassle. However, finding the best moving company is another struggle.

 

You can’t afford to let a poor or fake moving company handle your precious items. Their carelessness might damage, wear and tear, or misplace your belongings. With so many options in the market, it is not hard to encounter fraudulents. So, it is better to be careful.

 

Here are a few things to consider before hiring a moving company to ensure you pick the right ones.

 

  1. No Ambiguity in Quoting

 

One thing you should remember, moving your items to another country is a pricey deal. Besides paying for the services of the company, you also have to bear the price of international shipping. You should awake your senses to ensure you are given a transparent shipping quote. You should know what is included in the quote and what is not. Also, ask about the hidden charges that might be slapped in the host country.

It is better to know the nitty-gritty of the shipping cost instead of getting shocked after receiving more than the estimated bill.

 

Go with Experienced Movers Only

 

No matter how much ‘best’ the company claims itself or how many crew members it has, if they are not experienced, nothing matters. Moving internationally is different from moving within cities of the same country. It requires a lot of experience and careful handling. So, make sure your selected movers have dealt with international moving for years and they know the ins and outs of the process to give you a seamless experience. Failing to hire experienced movers can be a very sore and costly decision for you.

 

Focus on the Quality not Price

 

Ever heard of the saying that you get what you pay for? This saying stands true here. Instead of focusing on hiring cheap moving companies to save a few bucks, pay attention to quality. Low quotes might seem tempting to fall for but they become more costly in the end when you have to pay more due to damages or in the form of hidden dues.

Don’t let your desire to save your money end you up in a poor condition when things go out of hand. Don’t hesitate to pay a bit more if it gives you an opportunity to hire better services and get a hassle-free experience.

 

High Level of Transparency

 

One of the biggest indicators of a good company is that they follow a high level of transparency. They don’t try to be extra smart and create loopholes to take advantage. For example, trying to take signatures on a blank contract. Make sure that everything is in writing, written in detail. 

From quotes, extra fees, important dates to your belongings, everything should be listed clearly to avoid any confusion or fraud. Obviously, you can’t file a claim for a missing item if it wasn’t listed in the contract. No proof, no claim! It is as simple as that!

 

Check Online Reviews

 

If you are not satisfied with the moving company, online reviews can be helpful. People like to leave reviews regarding their experience with a company or service. So, you can check ratings and read comments to find out the quality of their services or if they provide satisfactory services. Obviously, poor ratings and reviews are red flags that you should look for another option. Don’t avoid these reviews and learn from others’ experiences.

Now you know what to consider while hiring an international moving company ro make a safe and sound move. There are so many options, so falling for a scam is not difficult. But if you choose the moving company carefully, you can save yourself from any unhappy incident and begin the expat life with a happy beginning. So, what are you waiting for? Begin your company hiring hunt now and find the right fighter for the best experience.

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4 Tips on How to Get Ready for Moving Day

March 28, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Have you outgrown your current home, or are you in desperate need of a change? In such a case, you should consider moving out. A new home and a new neighborhood can bring a much-needed breath of fresh air into your life.

But you can’t just decide to move out, pack your bags, and leave. Moving is usually a stressful process that requires a lot of careful planning and consideration. It’s undoubtedly exciting, but no one would describe it as fun. Ultimately, though, it’s worth it once you actually find yourself in your new home.

To help you prepare for your moving day, we’ve asked NYC based Oz Moving for a few tips. What they’ve told us is sure to be invaluable to you!

1. Make a Detailed Timeline

The sooner you start planning your move, the better. After all, packing can take weeks, canceling all services and utilities usually has to be done in advance, and finding a good moving company is no walk in the park. So, once you firmly decide that you’re moving, don’t expect to do so in a week. Give yourself at least three months to be safe.

In those three months, you’ll have a lot of work to do, and it may feel quite overwhelming. To avoid feeling too stressed, you should make a timeline of events leading up to your moving day. That way, you will know by which time to complete tasks and how long each activity should take.

So, what exactly should you put on this timeline? Well, for instance, write down when to start packing and how long you expect it to take. Decide on the right time to begin calling moving companies or the day to cancel services and utilities. Try to think of as many things as you can and put them down on paper. That is also how the whole moving process will be much more organized in your head.

2. Find a Good Moving Company as Soon as Possible

Once you decide to move, the first thing on your list should be finding and contacting a moving company. Most of the excellent ones are booked far in advance, so you might have to call them two months before the move to hire their help. So, sit down, look up the best moving companies and choose the one that suits you as soon as possible.

And how do you choose the perfect moving company? First of all, thoroughly check each company’s website, looking at the services they offer and client reviews. Then, call the few you like the most. Through your phone conversations, you’ll be able to decide whether a certain moving company is right for you.

When you find the right company, book its services immediately. If you wait for too long, other clients might pick your date. And then you’ll end up having to settle for movers that you didn’t initially want or that aren’t as reliable as your first choice.

3. Start Packing With a Plan

You already know that you should give yourself enough time to pack and start as soon as possible, but even that’s not enough. Haphazardly packing whatever you come across first is a recipe for disaster. Instead, you need some sort of a plan to guide you through this process.

Before you make a plan, walk around your house and take a look at the things you own. Start noting down items you want to bring with you and those you’re fine leaving behind. Once you make these two lists, consider which of your belongings you can pack right away.

For instance, if you have any items you want to bring but don’t use often, you can put them in boxes immediately. Those usually include family heirlooms, art pieces, and books. Once that is packed, move on to the items you use more frequently but not daily. Finally, when the move is right around the corner, you can pack necessities you couldn’t live without.

But even once you’re fully packed, make sure to have a moving day survival kit with you. It should contain some basics — a toothbrush and toothpaste, a change of clothes, and toilet paper. That will help you get through the day smoother than you would otherwise.

4. Double-Check Everything on the Moving Day

On the day of the move, you need to go through your house once again and double-check that everything is ready. Make sure you didn’t leave anything important behind and that all boxes are properly closed and labeled. Clean all surfaces that may require it and turn off any electronics that still might be working. Then wait for the moving vans to arrive.

Once you load all your belongings, check everything once again. This time around, your house will be more or less empty, so you’ll have an easier time spotting anything you’ve overlooked. When you’re sure that everything’s in order, you can finally leave for your new life.

In Conclusion

Moving is always stressful, but you’ll get through it with ease if you follow our tips. Make sure to stay focused, organized, and don’t let small things get you down. And if you ever feel overwhelmed during the planning stage, step away and find ways to relax. You might be moving, but you’re still allowed to have some time off.

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Cleaning The House Before Moving Out

January 25, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Moving home is a big job. It’s one of the most stressful things you can do in your life, and it’s also a pretty lengthy one! Why? Because you’ve got to clean the house you’re moving out of; sure, there are a lot of repairs and decluttering jobs you need to do in the new place, but the work doesn’t begin or end there! You’re feeling like you’ve got a long list of jobs ahead of you right now, so let’s make it a bit easier; here are the main cleaning tasks to accomplish before moving out.

Clean Inside Cupboards and Appliances

moving boxes

You’ve cleaned out the cupboards, and you’re taking the microwave with you, but there’s still one more job you need to do here. Get a dry cloth, a wet cloth, and some antibacterial spray and then open up all the cupboard doors in your kitchen. Start with the dry, to get all the crumbs out without issue, do an antibac spritz (be sure to leave for 5 minutes!) and then get your wet cloth in there. 

For the oven you’ll need to be a bit more heavy handed. Get a homemade baking soda paste in there, let it rest for a few hours, and then come back later to scrub it all off. 

Steam Clean Carpets

The carpets in your home, unless you’re ripping them up and taking them with you, are going to need steam cleaning ahead of time. It’s useful to vacuum them a couple times, but if you want to get out years and years of grime, you’re going to need a good few hours and a steam cleaner at hand. Make sure to pass the cleaner back and forth three or four times to create the clean difference you’re going for. 

Empty Drains

Next up is possibly one of the most disgusting clean up jobs, but it has to be done. Make sure you’re wearing some gloves and then take off all the drain caps in your home. Get a brush in there and clean the top of the drain out – this is where all the hair and other household debris will collect, and you wouldn’t want the new owners to have to deal with that! 

Hit the Dump

Now that you’ve got all of your garbage in one place, either collect it all together for a one way trip to the dump, or save yourself some time and call in a Garbage Collection Service to deal with it for you. You could also hire a dumpster beforehand to throw large and bulky items into, as well as make it easier to bag up little things and get them right out of the door. This way your only job is to physically clean the house, and the rest is handled for you! 

Moving out of a house requires a lot of elbow grease; make it easier on you by following the tips above during this stressful period in your life.

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How To Get Your Furniture Ready For Moving Day

August 20, 2021 by 4 Comments

No matter if you’re going the DIY-way or have professional movers at your disposal – you need to get your furniture ready for moving day. Unfortunately, moving isn’t just done with packing a few boxes. You also want your furniture to arrive intact at your home. You can do quite a lot to make your move a little easier from the beginning. Don’t forget to schedule a pickup for furniture removal with items you want to let go of.

packing

All Good Preparations Start With Decluttering

Your furniture is most likely filled with all sorts of stuff. But have you looked at your clutter? Packing is actually the perfect opportunity for some serious decluttering. You’re pulling everything out anyway. What you haven’t used in ages can as well leave your space. It’d be a dead weight you’d have less to move.

Go room by room and start packing on time. It’s usually best to start packing a couple of weeks before moving day. Start with the items you need the least over the next few weeks. Go room by room, furniture by furniture. Pull everything out and organize it into keep, sell/donate, and junk boxes. Label the boxes accordingly. 

Do the same with your closet. With drawers you can take advantage of a small trick: declutter the drawers and wrap them up before moving day. You can easily transport every single drawer and save on annoying boxes. 

Since Your Furniture is Empty…

Give your furniture a wipe before the move. Firstly, it’ll be easier to transport and you don’t get dirty hands (or the movers, respectively). Secondly, you don’t carry dirt or grime into your new home. 

Then take a good look at it. Do you really want to take all of it with you? Are there items that’d be ready for furniture removal? You certainly have a good idea already where to put which item in your new home. It should also be mentioned that the less you have to transport, the quicker the move is done. 

And the cheaper it will get, too. If it’s wobbly and hard to repair, drop it. If you were thinking of an upgrade, get new furniture delivered to your new home. Drop the rest of it and let the furniture removal take care of the old. 

Disassembly is Crucial

Take each furniture item apart that you can take apart. With some older models, it might not be possible, but more recent furniture can usually be disassembled. For this task, it’s handy to still have the assembly instructions. 

Always keep them, if you can. When you look at the assembly instructions, you basically only have to follow them in reverse order. If not, you’ll have to find your way through each item. 

Collect all screws in a sealable bag for each furniture item. Label it accordingly and either tape it on a piece of the furniture or keep it in an additional small box. If you can, remove legs from tables, too. Also, remove knobs from drawers so they’re easier to stack during transport. 

The reason for disassembly is rather easy to understand: your furniture is not as bulky and easier to transport while it takes up less space in a moving van. You can start disassembly as you pack from each furniture item. Bookshelves are usually very easy to disassemble as well as bed frames. Of course, it’ll be near to impossible, if it’s glued. 

If you’ve chosen to let go of some furniture, you can disassemble it as well. The furniture removal guys could certainly do it, but you’d make their task a little easier. Pay attention that no nails sticking out. 

Wrap it All Up

To make sure your furniture arrives sound and safely in your new home, wrap it up. Use moving blankets and bubble wrap for the more delicate pieces made of glass or ceramics. Moving blankets are perfect for any wooden furniture. Plastic wrap is great to wrap up upholstery to avoid damages. You never know if it might start to rain during the move. Or maybe someone spills a drink. At best, you don’t want to have to call for furniture removal twice.

To save on wrapping material for the smaller bits and pieces, you can wrap dishes in towels, for example. Even though it appears a little chaotic, putting vases or lamps in between bed linen might be as effective. On the upside: you’ll be looking for both items rather soon.

When to Schedule Furniture Removal

Theoretically, the removal team can be around at any time between today and tomorrow. Practically, the guys tend to be rather busy during spring and fall. That’s when most people for a spring or a fall clean and also needs removal. Hence, you might benefit from arranging a pickup in advance. If you’ve got a set date for it, you can easily fit it into your moving schedule. Check your home the day before removal collection for any items you might want to drop. If you forget an item, you’ll have to call them back and pay additional fees.

Fortunately, you usually have a rough idea of which items you’re going to take into your new home. Try to sell your clutter before the guys come around. You won’t only have made a few bucks on the side. What you couldn’t sell can be taken care of by the same team. Such services don’t only remove furniture, but also junk removal.

Parting Words

Since time is likely not on your side during the preparations for your move, hand them your items for donation, too. Almost all services have partnered with charities. They noticed, they often pull out stuff that’s still good to use. What better solution could there be than to hand it to people in need?

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2021’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family

January 12, 2021 by 1 Comment

best places

With families looking for a fresh start once the COVID-19 pandemic dies down and moving becomes practical, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2021’s Best & Worst States to Raise a Family, as well as accompanying videos.

To determine the best states in which to put down family roots, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 52 key indicators of family-friendliness. The data set ranges from the median annual family income to housing affordability to the unemployment rate.

Best States for Families Worst States for Families
1. Massachusetts 41. Nevada
2. Minnesota 42. Arizona
3. North Dakota 43. South Carolina
4. New York 44. Alabama
5. Vermont 45. Arkansas
6. New Hampshire 46. Oklahoma
7. New Jersey 47. Louisiana
8. Washington 48. West Virginia
9. Connecticut 49. Mississippi
10. Utah 50. New Mexico

Best vs. Worst

  • Minnesota has the highest median annual family income (adjusted for cost of living), $85,473, which is 1.5 times higher than in New York, where it is lowest at $57,450.
  • Utah has the lowest separation & divorce rate, 15.74 percent, which is 1.7 times lower than in Nevada, where it is highest at 26.07 percent.
  • New Hampshire has the lowest share of families living in poverty, 4.60 percent, which is 3.4 times lower than in Mississippi, where it is highest at 15.50 percent.
  • South Dakota has the lowest average annual cost of early childcare (as a share of median family income), 7.22 percent, which is 1.8 times lower than in Nebraska, where it is highest at 13.19 percent.
  • Maine has the fewest violent crimes (per 1,000 residents), 1.15, which is 7.5 times fewer than in Alaska, the state with the most at 8.67.

To view the full report and your state’s rank, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/best-states-to-raise-a-family/31065

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