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Make the most of your move into a new home by planning and proper packing.
Moving all of your belongings to a new home can be stressful… even in the best circumstances.
There always seems to be some complication, whether it’s trying to maneuver a piece of over-sized furniture through tight quarters or not being able to find the sheets you put in one of the “bedroom” boxes.
You should expect to run into some obstacles, but there are ways to keep them to a minimum. The key is to stay organized and take precaution by protecting your belongings.
We found some helpful recommendations and a complete Moving Guide on FrontDoor.com that can help get into your new home smoothly without getting overwhelmed. Here are some great ways to get started with the packing process:
1.) If you have lived in your home for some time, the odds are good that you have accumulated a lot of “stuff.” In all honesty, there’s a little pack-rat inside everyone. The reality is, however, we typically don’t need everything we own. Consider this as a valuable chance to diminish the amount of clutter in your life.
Get rid of the things you don’t use. Separate items you don’t need into two boxes or bins, one for “charity” and the other “recycle.”
It's more important than ever to be able to maintain you home's value over time.over time.
There are many things you can do in your search for a new home that is more likely to retain its value and remain a great investment. New construction homeowners spend a lot of time and money on personalizing their home. They choose distinctive features and upgrades that reflect their individual taste. However, it’s equally important to establish a clear direction for the future. To help secure your new home’s value, please consider the following:
Understand the concept of “location, location, location.”
A new home will not retain its value if the neighborhood is not well desired. Is the community located somewhere that people want to move? Is it close to main highways, stores, and restaurants? When you tour the sales office, is it busy? Can you find out how sales are doing in the community? All of these things should be taken into consideration when choosing a place to live and establishing your new address.
Know the builder before committing.
It’s important to do your homework before purchasing a new home. Try to find out the reputation and quality of builders in the area. The more reputable the builder, the better off your home will be in holding its value.
Research the builder’s financial stability.
Is the builder private or public? How long has the builder been in business? Another great source is referrals. Those homeowners who have had a positive experience with a builder are likely to share their opinions with you. Check with family, friends or co-workers.
Pulte Homes builds value into every stage of the homebuying process.
The fact that Pulte Homes has grown into one of the nation’s largest and most diversified homebuilders is not an accident. For more than 55 years, they’ve built 500,000 homes and used their experience and size to benefit home buyers at every stage of the building process and at every stage of a homeowner’s life.
“My philosophy from day one has been to build the best house for the money, in the right location–and delight the customer by exceeding their expectations with the entire home buying experience,” Bill Pulte explains. “More than a half century later, the same vision and mission guide the company.”
Leslie Mann of the Chicago Tribune addresses the company’s celebrated customer focus in her January 2, Builder Snapshot titled, “Pulte’s Focus: ‘Buyer for Life’ – Home Designs Span Lifestyle Spectrum.”
In an interview with Chris Naatz, vice president of sales and marketing for Pulte’s Illinois division based in Schaumburg, Mann highlights Pulte’s Illinois projects to illustrate how the lifestyle needs of buyers are met from the first-time townhome buyers, to the move up single family owners and through the special needs of empty nesters.
“Our focus is the buyer for life—from first-time to move-up to active adult,” Naatz continues. “It’s about listening to what buyers want and understanding what they need,” says Naatz. “We have to change as the buyers change. They no longer need home offices for desktop computers because they carry their laptops from room to room, for example, but they do want specialty rooms for hobbies and fitness.”
Lowering the thermostat by just one degree can reduce heating energy costs up to 5% and save $35-$60.
It’s a fact: 45% of the typical Illinois homeowner’s energy bill goes to home heating. Here are ten tips to consider when opening that ComEd bill this winter:
1. Lower it. Turn down the thermostat. In Illinois, lowering it by one degree can reduce energy costs by up to 5%, depending on how your home is heated. Even better? Get a programmable thermostat. Programmed properly and with the “awake-times” in mind, you can save up to 10% off your heating bill.
2. Replace it. Windows in older homes can allow up to 16% of the heat in your home escape. If you don’t have the budget to replace them with more efficient models, at least close the drapes at night or install insulating shutters to keep in the heat.
3. Insulate it. Your attic, that is. It’s one of the easiest, cheapest things you can do to keep your heat in your home. Make sure to maintain proper ventilation to wick off moisture.
4. Caulk it. Seal and weatherize openings, cracks and gaps. This is a problem with older homes, but check around doors and windows, ductwork, electric outlets and switches on outside walls and around chimneys and in the basement or crawl space.
5. Shut it. Speaking of fireplaces, keep the flue closed when not in use — it’ll suck warm air right out of your home.
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