Monday, May 28, 2012

Moving Yourself



Do it yourself move.  If you have a truck, trailer, van, lots of able and willing friends and/or family. This is the least expensive way to go.  Have a Pizza Party Move", provide refreshments and expect your bathroom to be used.
Topic:  How to choose a truck and how to start the planning process
1.  Measure the size of the rooms in closest square foot.
2.  Count for furniture or rooms of furniture, try to keep the rooms together.
3. Carefully estimate how long you will need for pick up drop off and return to rental business.
4.  Pick a solid date to move.
5.  Carefully box and label all fragile equipment and breakables.
6.  Overnight or 3 days if personals for after the move, labeled.
7.  Cleaning equipment in a separate box with lids on  tight, label it.
8.  Pre-routed maps for everyone who is driving.
9.  Plan a schedule to correlate with helpers or other drivers.
10. Cell phones are a must.
11. Keep your sense of humor, it will be a long day.

Until Next Time,
Classic 1 Realty

Friday, May 11, 2012

Reputable Moving Companies

Stress and moving pretty much go hand in hand. When possible rent a moving truck and move everything yourself. Who else can you depend on?   Well in a perfect world that would be the way to go, as long as everyone is very careful, items are packed well and you have a strategy in place in case of vehicle mishaps, volunteers not showing up.  More on that next blog.
Credential checking:What is the moving crews status with the company? Back round checks?  Temporary Employees? What is the company's U.S. Department of transportation registration number.  Twenty-eight states require both state and U.S. DOT registration Florida is one of the twenty-eight states  that requires State and US DOT registration.

Remember if it sounds to good to be true it probably is.  Unrealistic price breaks, very low estimates probably indicate foul play.
It is difficult to trust a company with all of your belongings.  Moving company scams are definitely on the rise with more than 4,000 scams reported each year across the nation.  Read more on moving scam information  moving scams  and fox business.  

There are many sites that offer customer reviews  and company suggestions such as merchant circle, the better business bureau and angies list

Most moving companies are reliable, just do your research.
Until next time,
Classic 1 Realty

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Part 5 Last Of This Series - The Garage Sale Is Over

All the work is done!  Wait a minute, what about the left over stuff?  Don't bring it back in to your home.  It just defeats the purpose of the purge. 
Three choices A. Try one more time to sell it at a yard or garage sale, why not? you already have everything
B. Ebay or Craigs list or the local penny saver or classifieds.  C. My favorite Donate it.  There are so many wonderful charities that will come and pick your donation up or if you can deliver it.  Choose one of your favorites the following is an example list of tax deductible charities: Amvets , Salvation Army, ASPCA, just to name a few pick your favorite.   Help those in need, always a good thing.  

Check out the rest of this garage sale yard sale series:
Part 1 Part 2   Part3 Part 4

Thanks for reading Next week ..... Getting ready for the move
Until then have a great week!
Classic 1 Realty

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

The Successful Garage Sale Part 4 Organization

We have stuff? check!  We advertised online? check!   We have signs? check!  Ready, Set,                 ..... Hold on, not quite, yet.....
Garage sale curb appeal, the phrase of the day.  What that means is to have everything organized together in sections and looking attractive.  Small appliances with small appliances, clothes with clothes, jewelry with jewelry,  organize it!  Table tops with table cloths (or sheets) look great for display surfaces.  For easy closing, store boxes under the tables. 

The more attractive your display looks from the street the more likely the vehicle will stop.  Walk out to the street how does your place look?  Does it look organized and neat?  Or sloppy and cluttered?

Place your more expensive items towards the street or entry this will create intrigue and promote your sale.

  Price your stuff, remember be realistic, you can always go down,  people love to barter.

Necessary supplies - change, bags, boxes, pen paper dots for pricing

Fridays are always a busy day if you can, start your sale on a Friday morning, Saturday morning&Sundays after church.  Be Inviting!  Say hello and smile to every person that comes up you want them to feel comfortable.

Check out the rest of our series on Successful Garage sales
Part 1Part 2 Part 3

That's it for now stay tuned for the last part of the Garage Sale Series next week - Part 5  The Sale is Over 
Classic 1 Realty

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Successful Garage Sale Part 3 Signage

Garage/Yard Sale Signage
Studies show that the signs that stand out the most are red print on a white back round. Around ten signs on  White poster board  and  red markers are ideal, of course depending on the distance from the nearest main road.  Make sure that the words Yard Sale or Garage Sale are first, large and on the top, arrows are great!  
The address of your sale location must be prominently displayed.

Anything you can do to make your sign stand out, do it!  Balloons, big letters, some additional neon poster boards with black lettering.  
No time to make your signs?  Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart they all carry Garage sale signs.

Do not forget to advertise online!  So many free advertising sites, take advantage of it, especially if where you live prohibits signage.

Stay tuned.... up next Garage Sale Curb Appeal.....
Bye for now
Classic 1 Realty

Monday, April 2, 2012

Moving in Steps ... Step 2 Successful Garage sale


OK, going through all of your stuff make 3 piles: Keep, Sell or Donate and Toss it!
While trimming down think about the broken items that  you maybe able to sell on ebaycraigslist or amazon for parts.

Most important is advertising!  Cannot express this enough, if people do not know where you are it doesn't matter how great your stuff is.

Now let's talk about online FREE advertising my fave!  Craigslist FacebookTwittermyspacepennysaver, create your own site with details and photos on webs.com   Start your online advertising 10 days in advance, make sure you update every three days and the day before your sale.

Stay tuned.... up next signage....
Bye for now
Classic 1 Realty

Moving in steps : Step 2 Successful Garage or Yard Sale

OK, going through all of your stuff make 3 piles: Keep, Sell or Donate and Toss it!
While trimming down think about the broken items that  you maybe able to sell on ebay, craigslist or amazon for parts.

Most important is advertising!  Cannot express this enough, if people do not know where you are it doesn't matter how great your stuff is.

Now let's talk about online FREE advertising my fave!  Craigslist,  Facebook, Twitter, myspace, pennysaver, create your own site with details and photos on webs.com   Start your online advertising 10 days in advance, make sure you update every three days and the day before your sale.

Stay tuned.... up next signage....
Bye for now
Classic 1 Realty