Archive for December, 2009

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Storage Solutions for Your New Home

Monday, December 21st, 2009

You may not realize how much stuff you have accumulated over the years until you have to pack it all up and move. Because of this you might have to be a little creative when putting your items away in your new home. Every home, no matter its size, has the potential to double as a storage space.

You don’t have to spend a fortune on storage containers. Recycle items around your home to store your smaller or larger items. For example, recycle baby food jars to hold buttons, washers, or small project items.

Use your bedroom to store items. A lot of things can be stored under your bed and will never be seen. Just slide the boxes, gift wrap, games, etc under the bed frame.

Store stuff in suitcases

Store stuff in suitcases

Store items inside your luggage. Rather than having your luggage and travel bags empty, put items in them and use them as storage. You can also use clothes hampers as a way of storing stuffed toys or smaller games for children.

Buy furniture that also doubles as a storage space. Cabinets, chests, benches, and ottomans work great for serving more than one purpose. Even buying a sleeper sofa and chair can double as an extra bedroom for guests who stay over.

Organize your closet. Put suitcases, rarely worn items, and out-of-season clothes on upper shelves. Add hooks to the door for belts, ties or a shoe organizer.

Maximize your Bathroom space. Hang a mesh organizer over your shower to store shampoo, conditioners, soap and all other bath accessories. Use a storage rack behind the toilet to keep first aid kits, extra hand towels, etc.

Scout out good storage locations in your home. A lot of people like to use the space above their cars in the garage to hang things. You can also store a lot of items in your attic or under the stairway.

The video below will help you use bins for storage and give you some great tips, if you decide to use storage bins.

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Posted in Moving Tips, Prepare for a move | 2 Comments »

Outside of Your New Home Is Just As Important As The Inside

Sunday, December 20th, 2009

sprinklersMaking a move to a new home is very exciting. There is something exciting about change that brings on a new adventure. Before your make your decision on a home, however, there are a few things that you should double check.

During the winter time it can be hard to know what a home looks like. Snow covers the ground it can be hard to know how well the lawn and yard are taken care of. Do yourself a favor to check on the status of your property before you sign the papers.

Landscaping can be a very expensive investment. People pay thousands of dollars to have their property well landscaped. Having a well taken care of lawn and yard will not only keep your home looking nice, but will help its property value.

Sprinkler systems are important tools used to keep your lawn and yard in good working order. Any plants or grass will have a hard time lasting if working sprinklers are not installed correctly. Sprinklers that aren’t installed properly can get expensive because of plumbing and other issues.

Before you move in to the home have an inspector check the sprinklers. Have him certify that they are in working order. If there are any problems, have the sellers fix them before your move in day.

Snow on the ground can cover what the yard really looks like

Snow on the ground can cover what the yard really looks like

If there is snow on the ground ask for pictures of how the yard looks normally. Be sure that it looks like it is in good repair. You don’t want to be caught with a yard that you have to invest thousands of dollars in after you move.

It is important to do your research before you sign. Always do your research. A lot of people dive in to buying a home and then make bad purchases when they realize the property was not well taken care of to begin with.

Don’t let the headache of an awful yard get you down.  Double checking how well taken care of your potential home’s lawn and yard is will save you a lot of repairs later on. Keep the excitement of your new home a part of your next exciting adventure.

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Posted in General, Moving Tips, Prepare for a move | 1 Comment »

Talk to Your Realtor to Get a Cleaning Contract For Your New Home

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Moving can take up a lot of your time and energy. Packing and cleaning your home or apartment can be very draining on your system. The thought of having to unpack and also clean your new home may be very overwhelming.

That is why a lot of people choose to have their realtors put cleaning stipulations into their contract before they sign for their new home. When you move in to a new home, most of the time you have no idea what needs to be cleaned. This results in you spending all of your time cleaning the entire house from top to bottom.

checklistSave yourself the hassle by asking for specific cleaning needs to be met by the sellers before you move in. Give them a checklist of things that should be cleaned. By having a checklist of things that need to be done you won’t have to waste all your time and energy cleaning when you would rather spend it repacking and getting your new house in order.

Have some ideas of things you would like to have cleaned before you move in. Ask that the appliances be cleaned before they leave. This should include refrigerators, freezers, microwaves, stove tops, fans, and ovens.

Have the carpets cleaned with professional vacuum equipment. If the previous owners were smokers or pet-owners, have them put in new carpet. Odors can be difficult to get rid of, so determine the damage before you accept the home.

Ask the walls to be re-painted if they haven’t been painted recently. Walls have normal wear and tare, so painting over them keeps them looking fresh and clean. Make sure the paint job is well done before moving in.

Also ask that they take all of their personal property with them. If they have items that they no longer want they should be able to take it to the dump or donate it. You shouldn’t have to deal with any items that they leave behind.

If the homeowner doesn’t want to clean the home themselves you can also suggest they pay for a professional cleaning company to clean the home when they move their items out. Be sure the cleaning company will have the guidelines for things that you want cleaned. This way they don’t have to spend their time and energy cleaning and neither do you.

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Cleaning a Home You Are Moving From

Friday, December 18th, 2009

A lot of people wonder how clean they are supposed to leave heir home for the new home buyers. This can be an easy question if you have a landlord that has specific guidelines for your check out, but what about everyone else? How clean is a seller required to leave the home after moving out?

72984038Some states require the home to be “broom clean”. This means that the seller should at least sweep the floor, clean the walls and the ceiling. Standard contracts normally address the home being in the same condition as it was when the offer to buy the home was accepted.

To really know what extent you have to clean your home, read your purchase contract. You may be contractually bound to clean in a certain fashion. To save yourself a headache later it is a smart idea to see what stipulations need to bet met by the seller, such as removing debris or all personal property.

If you don’t have a specific legal requirement, most sellers still should take steps to present a clean home to the new buyers. After moving all day, you may be too tired to want to spend a lot of time cleaning. Hiring a professional cleaning service can be a great solution to this.

Most home buyers will still clean the home before moving in, but just like you they also don’t want to spend their long days cleaning up your messes. There are still some simple things you can do to leave your home reasonably clean. A good rule of thumb is to leave your home in the condition that you would like to find your new home in.

You may wonder why you should create goodwill with your new home buyers. While the obvious answer is you should treat everyone with kindness and respect, there are other reasons for staying on pleasant terms with your new buyers. For example, the new home owners might receive some of your mail or packages by mistake. It is much more likely they will forward those on to you if you treat them with kindness.

It’s important to remove all of your personal property from your home and garage. Throw away all of your trash. Sweep and vacuum the floors and wipe down all your cabinets, sinks, tubs, etc.

Cleaning your home doesn’t have to be drab. Invite friends and family to help clean in exchange for a free meal at your new place. Bring a radio to listen to while you clean and have fun.

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Keep Your New Home Pet Odor Free

Friday, December 18th, 2009

dog_odorPets can stink up a home very easily. If you don’t watch them closely their smell can sink in to your house and their odor can easily take over. If you are moving in to a nicer home and don’t want to have your old pet odor dilemma, make some changes now before it becomes a problem again.

A temporary solution to pet odor is an air freshener. Find a sweet-smelling one and spray it over the problem areas of your home. The fragrance will only last for a few hours, but it will mask the more unpleasant pet smells.

Clean your home on a regular basis. It is important to focus on cleaning your animal’s possessions routinely. Clean his sleeping mat, “dog house” and eating dish.

Give him a bath. Keep him from smelling up the place by keeping him washed and cleaned. Wash your animal frequently to keep the stench at bay.

When giving your animal a bath it is important to dry him off completely. Improper drying can result in a much more potent, unpleasant smell because of your animal’s wet hair and skin. This is especially true for dogs.

Don’t let stinky animals climb up on your furniture. Learn to tell them no until they are cleaned. This is very important to keep odors from settling on your furniture.

Use baking soda. Baking soda does a great job at removing more unpleasant smells. Sprinkle baking soda over the smellier areas of your home and let it sit overnight before vacuuming it up.

Find a pet odor remover that actually works. Use one that has enzymes that will break down the stains and odor and not just mask it. Some good suggestions to start are Simple Solution, Capture Pet Stain and Odor Neutralizer, Complete Pet Stain and Odor Remover by 8in1, and Nature’s Miracle. Also, watch for pets that have a problem with spraying and take steps to stop them from doing so.

Fabreeze can help out as well:

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How to Get Rid of the Cigarette Smell

Thursday, December 17th, 2009
Getting the smoke smell out can be difficult

Getting the smoke smell out can be difficult

Moving in to a home that was previously owned by a cigarette smoker can have its drawbacks. Cigarette smoke is very noticeable, especially to visitors. If you are moving in to your new home and notice that the cigarette smoke is still very potent there are some things you can do to help get rid of it.

Vinegar can do a good job with helping rid your home of cigarette smells. Smoke, especially cigarette smoke, leaves leftover resins and tars. Vinegar is an acid that cuts through that resin and tar to get the smell gone. A bowl of vinegar, left out overnight, can do a surprisingly good job removing foul cigarette odor.

Many carpet cleaning jobs are not done well. These type of jobs do little more than smear dirt and resins deeper into the carpet. Have your carpets cleaned again with a truck mounted system.

You also have the option of renting a professional machine from a commercial rental place. The best vacuums are one that has a large container on wheels, usually around a 4×2x4. They will have a hose and a metal wand with spraying and suction functions.BakingSoda

Baking soda is another tried and true method of odor removal. Sprinkle a little baking soda over the area and wait. You can try it out for a few hours or up to a few days. Just make sure that you give it enough time to absorb the smell the smoke left.

Air out your home. Open all your windows and doors for several hours at a time. If you can, bring especially smelly items from the home outside on dry days to encourage the cigarette odor to leave.

Launder anything that still smells like smoke. Remove the cigarette smoke from your home by washing or dry cleaning items that have collected the resin from the hanging smoke. Put the curtains in washer, replace shades, and wipe down any fixtures with ammonia to get rid of the smell

It can be disappointing to move in to a new home and have to do so much work, but it is worth it in the long run. Remember to not be fooled by odor removal products that don’t contain a cleaning agent. They won’t get rid of the smoke smell, simply mask it for a few hours.

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Top 5 Things You Shouldn’t Take With You On A Move

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Sometimes it is hard to know what items you should hold on to and what items you should get rid of. Moving tends to take a lot of preparation and effort, so the less excess items you have the better. However, there are some things that people seem to hold on to unnecessarily.

Don’t get us wrong, there definitely are some things that are worth holding on to. Things with real sentimental value should make the long journey with you on your moves. However, there are many things you can get rid of and be better off. Here is our list of the top 5 things we feel people take with them on their moves that they really should get rid of.

1. Old furniture – We understand the need to have antiques in the home. If your furniture is worn down the odds aren’t the best that they will survive a lengthy move. You can normally find better off of craigslist or garage sales for a very affordable price.

Throw the old stuff away...technology is not cyclical!

Throw the old stuff away...technology is not cyclical!

2. Old electronics – Technology is constantly changing. Electronic equipment that no longer is equivalent or used shouldn’t be kept. Leave all your floppy disks and only bring items that work.
there are some furniture that would be best to keep at home.

3. Old exercise equipment – If you haven’t used it yet, the odds are against you that you ever will. Exercise equipment is particularly awkward to move. Many people move heavy exercise equipment from house to house with out ever setting foot on the treadmill.

4. Outdated clothes – A lot of people keep clothes for years that they never wear again. Fashion trends come and go, and with them so should the clothes. If you haven’t worn the piece of clothing in the past five years, get rid of it.

5. Old home decor – Don’t pack up decorations that are out of date and you haven’t used for a while. The odds that they will come back in fashion by the time you will use them again is slim. So even though you’ve saved your kitchen’s wall paper for the last fifteen years, don’t deal with the hassle of having to store it for another thirty. Simply leave it.

Older items that you are not using don’t have to be thrown away. You can get some extra moving money by having a garage sale. Or if you would like to donate them, there are many places that accept donations for good humanitarian causes.

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Moving Into A New Home: Cleaning Checklist

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

When moving in to a new home it is important to check for things that need to be cleaned. Most homes will be clemessy-kitchenaned before you move in to it, but there will still be a chance that they didn’t do a very thorough job. Here are some simple things you should check and clean before you unpack all your items in your new home.

Since a kitchen is going to be used often, it is a good place to start. An all purpose cleaner and disinfectant will be a great tool for cleaning kitchen cupboards. It would be a good idea to have simple cleaning items placed in a marked box so you can find them right away, with out the hassle of unpacking everything in a dirty home to find them.

The kitchen appliances should be cleaned thoroughly. This includes stove tops and oven, refrigerator, freezer, and a microwave if your home has one. Clean one appliance and move on to the next, until all the appliances are cleaned out.

kitchen-appliances-lennar-corp-easton1Kitchen cabinets should be checked and cleaned before placing items inside. Consider using a liner to be sure they are ready for your dishes. Kitchen counters usually require less work, but should also be done. Be sure to check the kitchen sink as well and be sure it is clean as well.

The bathroom is also another room that will immediately be used. Be sure the the shower, sink, and toilet are well cleaned well. Again, the bathroom counters will probably be an easy clean, but an easy wipe down to disinfect it is needed.

If you have the chance, it is a good idea to clean out your utility closet before putting your washer and dryer in. Most utility closets will need to be swept clean again. Use a wet cloth to wipe around and get the baseboards if they look like it hasn’t been done for a while.

It is also a good idea to clean the walls. It is a larger job, but it is good to do before you unpack. Look for fingerprints and scuff marks in particular, and remove all dust and cobwebs with a vacuum hose.

Your carpet doesn’t necessarily have to be cleaned before you move, but it should be cleaned before your children will be playing on it. It is a much easier job to do before all your items are there. You have the option of hiring a professional cleaner to steam clean them before you move in or doing them yourself.

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Now THAT’s a Move! Fu Gang is World’s Heaviest

Monday, December 7th, 2009
Heaviest Building Moved Intact

Heaviest Building Moved Intact

Two Man Movers is good at moving people across town or from one state to another, but these guys are at a whole new level!

The Fu Gang building in Guangxi Province in China is the worlds largest intact building move. It weighed a mere 33.3 million pounds. It was successfully relocated on Nov. 10, 2004. Moved only 35 meters it is still a Guinness World Record, completed in 11 days.

These guys are good! If you need a 15 metric ton building moved, call the Guangzhow Luban Corporation in China, if you need to move anything else, give us a try. We will move you faster and we guarantee for less money!

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Moving a Refrigerator

Monday, December 7th, 2009

Two Man Movers specializes in getting you locally or across state lines. Most of the families we move have a refrigerator. In an effort to share some of our expertise, we want to offer some helpful tutorials on moving your cumbersome refrigerator. Remember, the easiest way to do so is to call a professional mover, but if you want to do it yourself, we’re here to help also.

The first tutorial is about getting your refrigerator ready for the long haul. It includes some great tips to help you get ready for your next move. From pulling it out of the counter, to strapping the doors. This first part will get you ready.

The next tutorial walks you through the actual process of getting the fridge ready for moving. From unplugging and cleaning your refrigerator to measuring the dimensions of the door you will be moving it through. We want you to be ready for everything, whether your moving across town or to a different state.

We hope this helps. Many of the people we consult with about their move forget some of these basic tips and end up with dents in their doors, broken treys and worse. If you don’t want to do all the work yourself, feel free to contact Two Man Movers, Utah Movers who will help you with local and interstate moves. If you’re moving some other large piece of furniture, check out our post about moving furniture that requires extra care, such as a piano or stove.

Let us know if you have any tips about moving refrigerators! We’d love to hear your input. Add a comment below.

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