How to Choose a Moving Company

How to Choose a Moving Company

By: Jennifer DiLemme

Key Associates

www.keyassociates.biz

Not many of us move often enough to be ‘experts’.  We’ve all heard our share of moving horrors and perhaps experienced a few of our own.  Before you start making calls to moving companies, consider the following:

1. Recommendations, recommendations - - from friends, from professionals, or from a list that many moving companies can give you.  Get several and check them out thoroughly. 

2. Make a list of what you need:

Where are you moving?  What are your preferred dates?

Do you need packing supplies?  Do you need help packing/unpacking?

Do you have ‘special’ items that may need to be put in a container?

Do you have a piano?  Do you have many glass items?

Will you need storage facilities?  How much insurance will you need?  (Check with your agent to see what your homeowners/renters policy covers.)

3. Visit your state’s Movers Association website.  Here in North Carolina, visit North Carolina Movers Association Inc. at http://www.ncmovers.org and look at the link Consumer Tips under Featured Content.  This site offers great information for those moving, including a list of Moving Companies that have a Certificate of Exemption from the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) and are able to operate legally within NC. 

4. Once you decide on a mover, be sure you clearly understand their contract and that it contains language detailing:  

Price:  What will your move cost?  Is the price set or will it be based on actual weight?  Could the price increase and why?  What if the move costs less than estimated?  If the movers must stay the night at a location, are their lodging & food costs within the price quote?  

Payment:  How and when do you pay?  

Storage:  Do you need to store your items during the move?  Where exactly will this be?  Will you be informed or better yet ‘asked’ about storing in a different location? 

Damage:  Who is responsible for damaged items and how will they be replaced? 

Insurance:  Exactly how much insurance comes with the move and what would additional insurance cost?

Pickup and Delivery Time-frames:  Is the loading date correct?  Is the delivery schedule or delivery span acceptable?  What are your options if delivery schedules aren’t met? 

5. If using a long-distance van line, will they be able to offload at the destination site or will they need to transfer your belongings to a smaller truck for shuttling.  Should you consider using a company at the location you will be moving?  Would it be helpful to deal with issues at the end of the move with a local company?

If you need help or are in doubt about who to use, talk with a local move management company.  Most move managers have worked with many local movers and can offer you recommendations.  They can also arrange your entire move from packing to unpacking and complete new-home set up. 

Jennifer DiLemme is Marketing Director for Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC.  Key Associates provides home management, move management, home staging and interior decorating services.  They specialize in working with seniors and those with special needs. 

August/2010

How to Sell Your Home in a Down Market

How to Sell Your Home in a Down Market 

By:  Luellen Kirchner

Key Associates

www.keyassociates.biz

Staging!  Staging!  Staging!   Now, as a professional home stager and interior decorator, why would I say anything else, right?  But, truth is, it’s exactly because of my training and experience in staging and my real estate background that I do know, beyond a doubt, that staging is vital to getting your home sold as quickly and profitably as possible - - especially in today’s economy.  

Everyone knows the current real estate market is pretty dismal.  There are an excessive number of homes on the market, yet buyer numbers are limited.  And, while falling real estate prices are an incentive for many buyers, more stringent lending practices make obtaining a mortgage far more difficult and time consuming than in past.  The current economy has added these and many other challenging dynamics to the real estate market.

So, what can you do to sell your home during these times?    

Well, first and foremost, before you list it, stage it!   While appropriate pricing is also critical, the advantages of preparing and staging your home are numerous.   All manner of statistics have been gathered by real estate organizations, staging associations and even the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that support home staging and its influence on increasing profits and decreasing market time.  

Staging is all about maximizing the positives and minimizing the negatives.  It’s about showing a property to its best possible advantage, thereby increasing its value.   

Professional staging usually begins with an in-home evaluation which encompasses a detailed review of a property - - from front curb to back fence and beyond.  While you may have to invest a few hundred dollars for a written evaluation, it will likely be the best investment you could make in terms of selling your home in today’s market.   Most evaluations will detail problem areas and provide recommendations on economically and practically eliminating or solving the problems and making your house appeal to a broad range of buyers.   Standard recommendations often include cleaning and decluttering; depersonalizing and removing the majority of family photographs, collections and excess furnishings; and insuring that any damages around the house have been repaired.  Additional advice may include such things as arranging furniture to maximize space and flow, refreshing paint or sprucing up an entry to make it more appealing, or adding colorful plantings to increase curb appeal.   

Sellers need to be aware they are facing a buyers market and today’s buyers are sophisticated.  They know there’s a huge selection of homes out there and they’re looking for value.   Following the advice of a home staging professional is the most practical and sure way of positioning your house to compete favorably with the competition.  Professional home stagers are familiar with local market conditions, they know what buyers in their area are looking for and they are trained and experienced in making the most of a property.   Seeking the advice of a professional stager or staging company is the best way to arm yourself against today’ economy and increase your chances of a speedy and profitable sale.   

Lue Kirchner is Executive Director of Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC.  Key Associates provides home management, move management, home staging and interior decorating services for residents of the Asheville & Greenville areas of the Carolinas. 

Simple Holiday Decorating Ideas

Simple Holiday Decorating Ideas

By:  Jennifer DiLemme

Key Associates

www.keyassociates.biz

 

Stressed over decorating for the holidays?  Don’t throw your hands up in despair and simply not decorate!  Take a deep breath and try some of these simple techniques for a quick and easy way to add a little glitz to your holiday season.

1. Welcome your friends and family to your home with a beautiful wreath on your front door.  Don’t worry about making it yourself or decorating one.  All that is needed is a simple, well made green wreath… the bow is optional. 

2. Add a little sparkle throughout your home with well placed decorated bowls.  We all have bowls stuffed in our cabinets.  Get them out and put them to use.   In one, place some white & ivory candles of varying sizes and add silver beads and shiny holiday balls for just the right glow.  In another, add various holiday decorations that compliment.  You could also add pine-cones and red berries to another.  Simple and easy décor for your tables. 

3. And the stockings were hung…  There are beautiful and inexpensive stockings and stocking holders at many stores.  A quick and easy way to decorate any mantle.

4. Fancy holiday candles can be expensive.  Make your own.  Simply take white or ivory candles and tie holiday ribbon or tack a string of holiday colored beads around the base of the candle.  Place alone, on candle holders, or among evergreen sprigs for a quick and elegant decoration.  If you plan on burning the candles, be sure to decorate with only non-flammable items. 

5. Do you have a talent at wrapping?  Wrap empty boxes of varying sizes and place around your home.

6. Add a touch of light to any room by filling a glass bowl with white Christmas lights.  Place so you can hide the cord. 

7. Dress up your table with a holiday table cloth and/or holiday place mats.

8. Add the scent of Christmas.  Tie cinnamon sticks in a bundle with a pretty ribbon and place around your home.  They not only smell festive, but they make a nice decoration.

9. A well-placed Poinsettia or other holiday plant can add holiday brightness.

10. And finally… the tree.  Does a picture of tangled lights, a tree that is lopsided, and boxes of decorations come to mind?  A simple fake or real 4 – 5 ft tree that has good symmetry and is wrapped with white lights makes a perfect tree.  If your tree lights are old and tangled or only half light, do yourself a favor and go buy new ones.  The new lights aren’t that expensive and should meet current safety standards. 

If you have children, take a deep breath.  You have no choice.  Dig in and take your time. 

Happy Holiday to YOU!

Does the idea of holiday decorating still leave you intimidated and exhausted?  If so, considering calling one of the many companies that offer personalized holiday decorating services.  Most companies will use either your existing decorations or will work within your budget to purchase new items specifically for you. 

Jennifer DiLemme is Marketing Director for Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC.  Key Associates’ Style Division provides personalized holiday and event decorating in the Western North Carolina area.

Budget-Friendly Decorating for Fall

Budget-Friendly Decorating for Fall

By:  Luellen Kirchner
Key Associates
www.keyassociates.biz

As the leaves fall from the trees and the temperatures  cool, many of us feel the need to begin “nesting.”  Unlike the hot months of summer when we wanted our homes to feel cool and open and fresh, now we sense it’s time to cozy things up and make our homes feel warm, snuggly and inviting.

It’s the perfect time for the warm colors of autumn, for soft and plush textures that bring comfort and for bringing the fall bounty into our homes.  Decorating for fall can be easy and inexpensive and can transform your home into a safe haven - - especially on those chilly, ever-darkening evenings when many of us arrive home from a long day of work or activity.

Here are some tips for inexpensively decorating your home for the season:

Bring out the pillows & throws, especially the soft, textured ones in warm colors.  Textures and soft,  luxurious fabrics in browns, golds, warm brown-greens, rusts and deep shades of red and claret add a wonderful richness to rooms.  Find the colors that work best with your overall color scheme and use them year-after-year incorporating minor changes here and there.   Fall is about layering - - not just our clothes, but our home accessories. 

Use what Mother Nature has provided.  Pumpkins, squash, bittersweet, knurly twigs and branches or many other things from your own yard make wonderful arrangements.  Try incorporating these colorful pieces of nature in your own arrangements on an entry table, a coffee table, in your dining room, etc.   Use books (an invitation to curl up & read), pottery and other items to create vignettes.  

One of the nicest floral arrangements I remember was one I made using a very large carnival squash which I carved out to be used as a vase then filled with exceptional rust-colored lilies.  It was inexpensive, easy and amazing!  A beautiful arrangement can be as easy as putting a few twigs of bittersweet in an old pottery pitcher or vase.  Note:  When making arrangements, remember to vary heights for interest.  If something isn’t looking balanced, consider using the 1/3 to 2/3’s rule of scale. 

Decorate your front door or entry.  Add an autumn-inspired wreath to the door or make a tall arrangement using corn stalks or a bale of hay and potted mums, varying sized pumpkins, etc.  Carved pumpkins are nice if you have children or for Halloween, but plain old pumpkins look great all the way through Thanksgiving.  If you generally use your backdoor, be sure to make it welcoming and special too! 

Use candles - - especially inside hurricane lamps.  Glass hurricanes just make candles more special.  Glass reflects light and makes even the smallest candles seem more significant.  To get the most impact from a candle, add a glass hurricane.  Note:  We tend to forget that candles can be dangerous and can also leave stains.  Never leave them unattended and never set them directly on furniture or fabrics. 

Consider a seasonal switch by replacing light-weight, light-colored window treatments or adding a second layer to your draperies.  While this may seem extravagant, it can actually be an energy saver.  Consider adding rich toned velvet panels over sheers or energy conserving roman shades in a heavily textured fabric in rooms where adjustments for light and/or privacy are frequent. 

Another simple tip for warming up spaces is to replace cool white light bulbs with light bulbs that give off warm light.  This might not work in areas dedicated to sewing, intricate crafts or studying, but is well-suited for living rooms, dining rooms and bedrooms. 

Remember:  When it comes to themes, don’t over do it!  Less is more and scale is important.  You don’t need fall-themed “arrangements” in every room.   A lovely autumn wreath on the doors and a wonderful arrangement on the dining room table can be enough.  Keep it simple - - keep it appropriate to your space - - and enjoy.  It’s time to sink into those pillows, curl up with a good book and sip a cup of hot cider.     

Lue Kirchner is Executive Director of Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC.  Key Associates provides home management, move management, home staging and interior decorating services for residents of the Asheville & Greenville areas of the Carolinas.  Key Associates’ Style Division also offers seasonal redesign and personalized decorating for the holidays and special events.   

Fall/2010

Guidelines to Help You Declutter

Guidelines to Help you Declutter
By: Lue Kirchner, CRTS
Key Associates
www.keyassociates.biz　

Often, the task of decluttering can seem daunting. Whether decluttering in preparation for moving or downsizing, or just wanting to take control of all the clutter, here are a few helpful hints to reclaiming your home from all that “stuff.”

1. Get prepared: Have some boxes and packing supplies on hand.
Garbage bags are essential. Don’t add   to the clutter by going out and buying storage bins, etc. Wait until you have finished the project and you know exactly what you need, if anything.

2. Start small: Start with the smallest room or most manageable area or closet in your home and work up to larger rooms and areas.

3. Start by dedicating several hours or a good portion of a day to the task at hand. If you’re a morning person and get sluggish in the afternoon, be sure to schedule to start in the morning when you’re fresh.

4. Don’t move on to another area until you have finished the room or area you started. This will give you a sense of accomplishment before tackling the next space.

5. Decide which options you’ll use for getting rid of the items you no longer want. Options include gifting to family or friends; selling via garage sale, consignment, auction, or the internet; and donating to the charity of your choice. Find out what items your charity will take and what the procedures are. If you’re donating or consigning items, find out who’ll provide pick up service.

6. Go through each area/room methodically. If a closet is included, start there and clear it out totally. Once empty, a quick cleaning prepares it for “restocking.” Put back only those items you use, need or love. If you haven’t used it or worn it in the last year, you probably don’t need it.

7. Don’t double your work by handling things twice. When you sort, put all items being donated in one box, all items being sold in another, etc., etc.

8. If you can’t make a decision about something, set it aside to consider when you’ve completed the task at hand. Don’t lose momentum or stall the process by agonizing over one or two items.

9. When boxing items to be kept, CLEARLY label them. “Christmas Decorations” isn’t specific, but “Christmas Wreaths & Swags” will get you to the right box the first time around.

10. Organizing is an important part of decluttering and organizing isn’t effective unless it’s efficient. If you find something in the wrong place, put it in the right place. The right place is the place where it would most likely be used or needed.

11. If you find it’s just too hard to make decisions about what to keep and what to let go, consider enlisting the help of either an experienced professional or someone you know well and trust completely. They can encourage you to make good decisions and help insure you don’t give or throw away something of value.

12. Finally, a good question to ask yourself when sorting and decluttering is:

“If it’s not being used and appreciated, what’s the point in having it?” 

Once you’ve decluttered your home, learn to keep it that way. It takes far less time to put something back after using it than to hunt it down the next time it’s needed. When you’ve read a magazine or book, pass it along for someone else to enjoy or donate it to your library or senior center. If you bring something new home, make a habit of releasing something old. Too much “stuff” zaps our energy and can create confusion and even chaos (Where are my favorite winter gloves? Where’s that bill that I know is due this week?).  Decluttering and organizing, no matter what the reason, can be a very freeing experience. A well-organized, clutter-free space not only makes life easier, but also enhances our sense of well being.
Stuff is just stuff, it’s not what defines us, so let it go, let it go, let it go!

Lue Kirchner is Executive Director of Key Associates, a service company located in Flat Rock, NC. Key Associates provides home management (including decluttering), move management, home staging and interior decorating services for residents of the Asheville & Greenville areas of the Carolinas. They specialize in working with seniors and those with special needs. 　

November/2010