Some Packing Tips

• Make sure that none of your boxes are bending in or buckling out. Your boxes also should not rattle.
• Clearly label each box to show what is packed inside and what room it belongs in. This will help immensely when it comes time to unpack at your new property.
• Organization is the key to an easy and stress free move. If your box is going to be put in storage clearly mark the box to indicate this.
• Do not mix items from different rooms in your boxes. This will make unpacking later very confusing. Put only kitchen things in your kitchen box and only bedroom things in your bedroom box; pack things together that are supposed to be together.

Packing up your belongings to move to a new home can be very disruptive. To ensure as smooth a move as possible consider the following suggestions:

• Do not pack up things that you use on a daily basis right away. Instead start by packing up seasonal items and items that are not used very often. Your essentials should be the last things that are packed.
• Use common sense. Don’t pack breakables with heavy items.
• Never pack medicines, cleaners, polishes or soaps with food.
• Use corrugated boxes to pack your dishes and pack each one separately.
• Use wardrobe boxes for your clothing that needs to be hung up.
• Get some picture boxes to pack your pictures in.
• Remove all your light bulbs from any lamps before packing them up.

When you are packing up things that have many parts, such as curtain rods with screws, make sure that you pack all the parts together. This will make it easier to find them when you are unpacking and setting things up. A good way to do this is to place small items, such as screws or nails, into a plastic bag and tape the bag to the item that it belongs with. Also be careful when packing up electrical equipment. Carefully label all of your wires for easy assembly after you move.

Things Not To Pack

Some items should never be packed and sent off with a moving company. These include items such as money, jewelry, and valuable papers, such as deeds, wills, investments, stocks or bonds. Keep these items with you on your moving day.

You also will not want to pack up anything that is flammable, especially aerosols and anything that is perishable.

Property Options Australia
Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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Packing up your entire house can be a daunting task. You can choose to use a removalist company or you can do it yourself. If you plan on doing all of the packing yourself there are a few things that you will want to be aware of to make your move as hassle free as possible.

Using A Removalist

If you will be using a removalist ask them if packing is included in their price quote and if they will also unpack once your move to your new property is complete. If you have the time and determination you may want to do most of the packing yourself but it would be a good idea to leave the fragile and breakable items for the professionals to pack.

Doing It Yourself

If you will be doing some or all of the packing yourself you will want to check with your property insurance company to see if your coverage extends to the move and if it covers items that you pack up yourself. Some items, such as stereos, refrigerators, and computers require special skills in packing and must be handled and packed up very carefully.

Packing Guidelines

• Tape the bottom of every box that you pack before you begin placing anything in it. Once the box is full tape the top. Mark each box carefully to show which end is the top and which is the bottom

• You may need additional tape to reinforce and strengthen some boxes

• Use small boxes for items that are heavy such as books. Use large boxes for bulky or lightweight items such as pillows and clothing

• Use bubble wrap for breakable items and place a layer of cushioning between layers of items so they don’t rub against each other.

• Newspaper is handy for packing but it tends to be very dirty with the newsprint. For a cleaner move try using butcher paper instead.

• Fill your boxes to the top but do not over pack them and shove things down while trying to secure and tape the top of the box. You want all of your items to get to your new property in good condition. Fill in any gaps in your box with paper to keep items in place and prevent them from shifting during the move.

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Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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Here we will continue to look at the elements to consider when looking for a new property in Australia.

• Are there any restrictions? Some houses will have pre-existing covenants, conditions and restrictions.

• Where do you park? If you are buying a single family home does it have a garage? Where will you be parking your car if a garage is not part of the house. For multifamily homes, townhouses and condominiums it is important to know if parking is included.

• Does it have air? How will you stay cool in the warm months?

• What sort of heat does it use? Is there a fireplace or central heat? Does the home have a woodstove? Knowing how the home is heated is very important.

Some Other Things To Consider

In addition to the preceding items you may also want to consider if the property that you are interested in has any environmentally friendly features such as solar panels. Also find out if the carpet is new or older and see if the outside of the home looks good. Does it need a new coat of paint? Does it need some new siding?

You will also want to look at the property itself and where the home sits. Do you want a house on a corner lot? Would you rather have more privacy or a shorter driveway? You will also want to consider what type of a view you want. Do you want to be able to see the ocean, or is having a city light view important to you? Some people look for houses on a quiet street while others want to be right in the middle of the action. These are all important factors to consider when you are looking for a new home.

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Property Options Blog © 2006 - 2009

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So far we have looked at the pros and cons of purchasing a resale home. Today we will explore the option of buying a new property.

Buying A New Property

The Good

The good news with new homes is that everything is new. Really. If you like things neat and clean this will be a big selling point for you. Brand new sinks, showers and tubs that no one else has ever used. Brand new carpets and floors that no one has spilled anything on and no animals have ever relieved themselves on. Also, in many instances, if you are buying a new home and get in early enough you will be able to pick out what colors you want in your new home, so there will no painting in the future due to ugly color choices. And you may even be able to pick out what types of flooring you want and what sorts of cabinets or countertops you prefer. If you like the “new car smell” you get when you buy a new car than you are really going to appreciate that new home smell. Plus you get the satisfaction of knowing that no one else has ever lived in that property. It is yours and your alone.

The Bad

The first bad thing is that new homes are more expensive, there is no way around this one. Besides that fact that buying a new home typically will cost much more than buying a resale home, if you get into a new housing complex than you may have to put up with some inconveniences for awhile. If your home is in a new development and the construction is slated to last for a long time than you will have to deal with living in a construction zone with the noise pollution and aggravation that is involved with building houses. Also most new home prices do not include the cost of appliances such as a refrigerator, stove, dishwasher, washing machine and clothes dryer. These will all have to be out of pocket expenses.

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Another important component that you need to think about when you are looking for a property is what size yard you want. There are many property options available when it comes to yards and homes so you will want to sit down and determine what is the most important to you

What’s In A Yard?

Do you need to have a large yard? There are several reasons why having a large yard might be on your list of priorities. If you have children a nice yard is good to give them a place to run around and play. Another reason that you might want to have a large yard is if you have lots of pets. Pets can take up a lot of room and often need a good amount of space to run around and get some exercise. When you are looking at yards you will also want to consider if you want other out door features such as:

• A fence. Do you need a fence to keep your children or animals safe? If there is no fence and you really need one, are you willing to foot the bill to have one installed?

• A garden. Do you want to have a garden that is already going or would you rather start one from scratch? Maybe you don’t have time to deal with a garden and you would rather not have anything except grass?

• A pool. Pools can be great during the hot summer months, but are you ready to take on the work of caring for one? Is a pool a deal breaker for you? Do you have to have one, or do you absolutely not want one?

• A garage. Do you need a garage? If so how many cars do you want to be able to fit inside it?

If you take the time to make a list of what you want in a yard, it will help you to narrow down your search for a new property.

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