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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.”

2.)  Prepare a “load-last” box that has all the essential items you’ll need on moving day. Contents should include basic tools, telephone, flashlight, paper towels, bathroom tissue, and anything else you won’t want to search extensively for that day.

3.)  Keep smaller items such as hardware and remote controls from floating around and getting lost by putting them in zip-lock bags with clear labels.

4.)  Label each box clearly with a dark permanent marker indicating the room where it belongs in and the contents that it holds. Do this on both sides and on top of the boxes. Also,  you will also want to be sure to put signs on each door so there is no confusion for movers.

5.)  Protect all fragile items, mattresses and furniture by using blankets, sheets, and towels. Leave old sheets on mattresses during the moving process. Wrap picture frames up with towels and place in a box, if possible.

You can also keep delicates from moving around within the boxes by filling the extra space with towels. Use brightly colored tissue paper for smaller breakables. This not only protects them,but the bright color will keep them from from being thrown away accidentally.

6.)  Place clean sheets, pillow cases and blankets in dresser drawers. That way, when your furniture arrives, you don’t have to hunt for the box.

7.)  Trim household plants a week or two prior to the moving date. Then, the day before the move, pack damp newspaper on top of the soil to keep the plant moist and to avoid spilling. Place plants in a cardboard container and find a place in the car or moving truck where they will not be banged into or crushed.

8.)  If you have a family pet such as a dog, make sure to have an appropriate amount of food and water available and located somewhere that’s easily accessible during the moving process. Your “load-last” box might be a good place to put these items.

At Pulte Homes , we know what it’s like to move into a new home and have seen more than 500,000 families move into our communities. Our expert sales teams would love to talk to you about moving into one of our Chicagoland communities like Autumn Creek in Yorkville or about the moving process. Take the first step toward a new home by visiting online at PulteChicagoland.com.

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.

Be particular about upgrades.

When building a new home, there are many features and upgrades to choose from as part of your selection process. You want to put your personal “stamp” on the home, but at the same time, it’s a smart idea to keep the future in mind.

Choose upgrades that will add value to your place.

If they are very expensive or too excessive, your home may become over-priced for the neighborhood. Standard options are always a safe bet and good value if you don’t have a lot to spend on some of the premium options.

Look for a distinctive community.

New home developments often have a lot of competition in close proximity. Which community stands out? Why would you choose one builder and not the other? After driving the community, jump on the Internet to find out more information about the builder.  In one of our recent blog postings, “Pulte Homes Attracts Buyers For Life By Building Value Into Everything They Do,” potential buyers gain insight into how builders should run their community and build their homes.

From a corporate perspective, Pulte Homes strives to achieve both savings and sustainability for its customers. In terms of cost savings, Pulte incorporates many energy efficient practices and products into their new home that translates into lasting savings and a comfortable home environment for homeowners.

All of these points hold very true in today’s market. Currently, buyers are challenged to think about their future more than ever before when purchasing a home. They want to ensure that the money they are investing in a new home that will be the best longterm investment.

You can learn more about how Pulte Homes builds value in their communities.  Click here to sign up for more information or schedule an on-site appointment with one of our knowledgeable sales associates who can address your individual homebuying needs.

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.”

There’s another factor involved in this success story, however. In this competitive housing market, it takes more than a great deal on a home’s base price, innovative home designs, or communities with great schools and amenities, to attract a “buyer for life”  that will ultimately yield strong relationships, referrals and multiple Pulte purchases.

That factor is value.

Pulte Homes’ provides exceptional value. It begins with an ability to locate prime parcels of land, first-rate materials, and brand name suppliers.  It continues through to a long history of effectively managing new home construction, high quality materials, and exterior and interior home options. It ends with the buyer knowing that he or she has the best home for the best value.

Pulte Homes defines “value” in relationship to five dimensions of quality. Customers experience this commitment to quality as they work to build a home, and as they live in that home for years to come.

1.) Quality Processes

Innovation: The way we see it, because our lives are always changing, so too should our homes. Pulte Homes, Inc. continually looks for technologies that keep pace with our lives.

2.) Quality Materials

Signature Standards: The development of our Signature Standards™ is another step in our progress toward delivering the highest quality home at the greatest possible value. It’s all about giving you what you want—without paying extra for it.

3.) Quality Craftsmanship

7-Step Process: That means you’re involved from the start. We’re involved beyond the finish. Our respected 7-Step Process ensures that owners like you are involved at every critical stage of construction. It’s a chance for you to see the quality materials and disciplined approach to construction that go into the creation of your new home.  It’s also a chance for you to enjoy the rare and thrilling experience of watching what was once just an idea, a notion, a dream, take shape.

4.) Quality Service

When you purchase a home, we work together as a team before and after your move-in.  We come to know one another as family.  So, it should be no surprise that we want our customers to be as confident about purchasing and living in their homes as we are about building them. That’s exactly why we offer a variety of warranty services visits.

Protection: Happiness comes with peace of mind. That’s exactly why we offer warranties to our family member homeowners like none other in the industry.

5.) Quality People

Each Pulte Homes Inc. community—Pulte Homes, Del Webb and DiVosta communities alike—reflect the culture and diversity of the employee and homeowner families we serve.  Pulte Homes’ culture is wrapped around a strong sense of family and a small company atmosphere.

An Award-winning Combination
Pulte Homes operations have ranked highest in customer satisfaction in 11 U.S. markets, as reported in the results of the J.D. Power and Associates® 2008 New-Home Builder Customer Satisfaction Study. This represents the most top rankings for customer satisfaction by any homebuilder in the 2008 study.

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.

6. Check it. Get a routine inspection of your heating system. Have filters replaced monthly and keep them free of dust and debris.

7. Change it. Replace older style lightbulbs with ENERGY STAR® rated versions. The lights in your home can represent 20% of your electric bill. In fact, replacing a single incandescent bulb with an energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs can save up to $50 over the bulb’s lifetime!

8. Wrap it. A water heater blanket will keep your water heater insulated and could save you up to $40 a year.

9. Turn it off. 75% of electricity used by home electronics is consumed when they are “off.” Unplug unused TVs, DVD players, home computers and other devices that draw power even when “off.” Using power strips makes turning these truly off (and on) easy.

10. Gather together. Invite over some friends, family and neighbors. A winter get-together is a great way to spread some cheer — and heat your home. Each guest puts off the equivalent of a 175-watt heater!

While most of these tips apply to older homes that aren’t built with energy-efficiency in mind (like Pulte’s are!), even the owner of a modern, efficient home can find tips here to keep their energy bills down.

For more information or to ask about the energy-efficiency of Pulte’s homes, simply ask one of our expert consultants.