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Planning Well in Advance Is the Right Move to Make This article is provided by local Realtors and the Ontario' Real Estate Association (OREA) for the benefit of consumers in the real estate market. market. Let's face it. Moving is a task we all love to hate. It's time-consuming, tiring and tedious. However, by planning planning ahead and taking your move one step at a time, it can be a lot less of a hassle and you may even have some fun. After all, it marks a new beginning beginning and if it's done properly it can be quite an exciting experience. Start Planning Early Procrastinators beware, the key to a stress-free move is to start planning as soon as you know your moving date. There are several tasks you can work on such as taking an inventory of your possessions. Divide this list into three categories: things you will be taking to your new home, things you will put into storage and things you will sell or give away. This will give you a clear idea of what will be moved and the size of the truck you will need. In an ideal world, the most stress- free move would be one Where movers movers arrive, pack all your belongings and move them to your new home. Unfortunately, hiring helpers is a very costly endeavor, so it's something something most of us can only dream about. For example, packing can cost between $10 to $50 per box,-depending box,-depending on the box size. Some companies charge by the hour. It usually takes about 10 hours to pack the contents of a two-bedroom home at a cost of between $40 to $70 per hour. The actual move costs between $65 to $100 per hour and can take approximately approximately eight hours for a two- bedroom home. Most moving companies companies also charge an additional hour for travelling time if you're moving within a city. If you plan to pack your own belongings belongings and then hire movers just to transport the goods, ask friends and family for recommendations to make sure you hire a reliable moving company. company. Book the movers as soon as possible and schedule the move for early in the morning. If you schedule it for later in the day, you run the risk of the movers arriving late due to earlier earlier moves that took longer than expected. expected. Many moving companies will also give you a lower rate if you move at an off time that is not at the end of the month. Truck Rental If you plan to handle the whole move on your own, but need to rent a moving truck, make sure you complete complete this task as early as possible. You should also ensure that you or another member of your family is familiar familiar with operating a truck. It's important important to thoroughly read over the rental agreement and confirm that you are adequately insured as well. When selecting a truck, make sure it's comfortable, safe and easy-to- use. Power steering is a definite bo- JOSIE DOXTATER** Associate Broker BUYING-SELLING - MORTGAGING Serving real estate needs on a full lime basis since 1974. Why not take advantage of my experience. Call 623-3393 623-9557 W. Frank Real Estate Limited Realtor nus and extra-long loading ramps also come in handy since they can be positioned for easy loading angles. Collecting boxes is another task you can get out of the way well in advance advance of your move;. Stop by supermarkets supermarkets or check your place of work for discarded boxes. Moving and truck rental companies also sell boxes. boxes. Make sure you have lots of them, so you don't run out and have to overstuff them. Heavy, bulky boxes can create unnecessary headaches on moving day. You should also stock up on newspapers, tape, bubble wrap and markers. It's imperative that you clearly label the contents of each box. It's also a good idea to write on the box which room it belongs to. This is particularly helpful if movers will be transporting the goods for you. They can put each box directly in the appropriate appropriate room, eliminating the hassle hassle of lugging boxes around your new home. Change of Address Notifying friends, family and appropriate appropriate organizations of your change of address is another task you can take care of before your move. Some of the organizations you should contact include the post office, financial financial institutions, insurance companies and distributors of magazines and periodicals. periodicals. Don't forget to get your driver's license updated with your new address after you have completed completed your move. You should begin packing at least two weeks before the move. Start by packing things you won't need such as books, knickknacks and out-of- season clothes. Make sure you write "fragile" on boxes which need to be handled with care. Whenever possible, pack small appliances in their factory boxes. If you have to disassemble furniture, use sandwich bags to keep the screws separate and use lables to identify the furniture they belong to. Clothing is always a nuisance to move, especially if you're a "shopha- holic" and have several closets full of just your own clothing. Instead of taking everything off hangers and packing them in boxes or suitcases, try using garbage bags as garment bags to cover several hangers of clothes. Tie them shut with twist ties so the clothes won't get dirty. Since the clothes are still in the hangers, you can transfer them directly to your new closets. Leave small garments in bureau drawers. If there is extra room in the drawers, fill them with small fragile items. Cover the drawers with a towel towel or blanket then tie them with rope. Avoid using tape since it can ruin the finish of the furniture. Wrap all dishes, glassware and kitchenware separately in bubble wrap or newspaper. To avoid dishwashing dishwashing when you unpack, put each piece in a plastic bag before wrapping wrapping with paper. Final Details As the moving date approaches, make sure you have arranged for final final readings of your water, hydro and gas meters and don't forget to get your phone disconnected. Also, make sure cable, gas, phone and other utilities utilities are hooked up in time for when you arrive at your new home. On the moving day, keep all valuables, valuables, medication and important documents documents with you. If you're moving in the winter, protect mattresses and couches with old sheets, plastic or furniture covers. By following these tips, your move should go smoothly and unpacking unpacking should be relatively painless. PLEASE r\ rv RECYCLE" THIS PAPER l Experts Advise Against Impulse Buying of Furniture for Homes This article is provided by local Realtors and the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) for the benefit of consumers in the real estate market. market. If you're in the market for some new furniture to enhance your home, you may have already envisioned exactly exactly what you want and now your only task is to find it - if you can. Or, if you're totally new to the home decorating decorating scene you may not have a clue where to start. Whether your tastes are contemporary contemporary or traditional, sophisticated or rustic, there's something for you out there - depending of course on your budget and space restrictions. You may prefer to acquire pieces one at a time, saving up for items in-between - or you may want to outfit an entire roojm all at once. , Regardless of which route you chtiose or what your personal preferences preferences are, make sure you decide what you absolutely need and what you want, so you don't find yourself getting getting carried away once you start shopping. Take Measurements It's very important to accurately measure the space you have to work with before you actually start shopping. shopping. After all, it's very disheartening to buy an item on impulse, have it delivered, delivered, and find out it's too big or too small or too short or too tall. Measure any doorways and staircases that you'll have to manoeuvre things through as well so you don't run into problems. Keep special features of the room you're buying furniture for in mind - such as the type and color of your woodwork and walls - and the size of your windows. You'll likely want pieces that complement these elements elements - not overshadow them and drown them out entirely. And, once you start to shop, don't necessarily buy the first thing that catches your eye - you might regret it later. Look around and compare prices prices and styles and fabrics. If you're investing investing in pieces that you want to last for a number of years, try to avoid items that are too trendy because chances are they'll look outdated in a couple of years. If you're into antiques, decide whether you want to refinish pieces yourself, or buy them already finished. finished. If you enjoy working with wood, you may find it more economical economical and rewarding to handle the refinishing refinishing yourself. Auctions are a fun way to acquire the right pieces - but be sure to examine the items carefully carefully before making any bids. Don't be Afraid to Try Things Out When buying furniture in stores, make sure you try items out to see if they're comfortable, functional and durable. Push down on sofa cushions to see how quickly they spring back. Try pushing chairs around to get a feel for their weight and ease of use. If you're buying a sofa with a pull-out bed, ask the sales staff to pull out the bed for you, so you can check the thickness of the mattress. And don't be too shy to lie down on it to sec how comfortable it really is. Take Lifestyle into Consideration If you have pets or young children, children, take their needs into consideration consideration as well before buying. It's a good idea to choose strong, heavy duty fabrics that will stand up to a lot of wear and tear. - You may want to have special protective fabric protector applied as well, to make cleaning easier. Most furniture stores offer this service for a nominal fee - and it's much easier and safer to have- it "done by professionals professionals before the piece is delivered, than trying to apply it yourself at home. If you have youngsters, you'll want to avoid pieces with sharp or rough edges and comers. Comer protectors protectors are a great way to get around this problem. Once you've made up your mind about what you want to buy, find out about delivery charges and if the items you want are in stock. Keep in mind that items can be custom-made to fit your particular space or color requirements - but you'll have to be willing to wait - and this will likely cost you more. UQENi Realty AMEŒR Wo COMMISSION* When the time comes to sell your home, then it's time to call Lucien Lambier, Broker 697-0992 Bowmanville * certain conditions apply 85 King St. W. Newcastle 987-4733 NATIONAL RtUtstMl <fK\l(l nrsëdvanrëàityItdP 214 King St. E. Bowmanville 623-4445 686-0477 I Call Us. |~~| Would you like to know what other homes are selling for in your neighborhood? Would you be interested in a noobligation noobligation evaluation of your home? FI Are you interested in selling your home? Fast? | | Are you interested in buying another home or property? Q Would you like us to deliver your copy of the NRS catalogue of Homes? For professional service concerning all your ! real estate needs - just call. Real Estate with Betty Smith THE R-2000 HOME I recently had clients ask me what an R-2000 home is as they had seen the term used in a Real Estate ad, I hope this information will help. The R-2000 home represents an advanced standard of new home construction in Canada. These homes are built with great attention to details siich as extra insulation and top quality windows and doors, all of which means fewer air leaks and drafts and very even temperatures from attics to basements. Due to the reduction of air leakage, heating costs arc dramatically reduced as are noise levels. All R-2000 homes arc equipped with . a continuously operating ventilation system that extracts stale indoor air and replaces it with fresh outdoor air. Before a home can be called an R- 2000 home it must be inspected, tested and certified by the Canadian Home Builders Association. Only builders who are specifically trained are eligible to become R-2000 builders and they must also be in good standing with the Ontario New Home Warranty Programme. A home may be built to R-2000 standards, but not necessarily certified. This certificate, however, is a valuable asset when buying or selling a home. For further information, check with the builders in your area. Your questions and comments are always welcome. If you're thinking of buying or selling this year, put my fourteen years of experience to work for you. List or sell with me in 1994 and you will be eligible to win our 1994 Grand Am. Call me for details. I can be reached at Clarington Realty 2000 Ltd. (soon to be, Family Realty 2000 Ltd.) 623-2000 (24 hour pager).