Moving can be incredibly stressful for us as humans, so I can’t even begin to imagine how scary it can be for our pets. Especially since they have no sense of control over what is happening. It is essential not to forget about your pets and the stress that they may be feeling. Hopefully, these tips will provide your pet with an easier transition to their new home and help you both settle in quicker! The following tips will prove that a stress-free move with your pets is possible! Make Sure Your Soon-to-be Home Meets Your Pets’ Needs Before purchasing a new home, make sure you have considered the needs of your pets. If you have feline friends or smaller-sized dogs, you may be able to get away with a smaller square footage home and smaller backyard. Although, you may want to make sure there is vertical room for cats that love climbing. If you have a large dog, you will want to consider a home with enough space and a large backyard for them to run and play. When a large backyard is not possible, make sure you buy a home that is easily accessible to take your dog for consistent walks or that your new home is near a dog park. If you bring a canine friend to your new home, it may be a good idea to take them on a walk around the neighborhood and get them familiar with the outdoor space and smells. Talk to Your Pet’s Veterinarian If your move is taking you away from your current Veterinarian, and you will need to find a new one, you should reach out and let them know. They will advise you of what you will need to do to transfer your pet’s medical records. It would be valuable to ask for your pet’s vaccination record if you don’t currently have it to ensure they don’t miss their vaccinations. You will also need to do some research to find a new Veterinarian for your pet once you have moved. You can ask your current Vet if they have any recommendations of a great Veterinarian in the area around your new home. The Packing Process Much like humans, many pets don’t like change. You will want to help ease the adjustment right away by trying to keep their stress levels low. Try to keep their daily routine as normal as possible during the moving process. If possible, pack the room that your animal frequents the most last. If you are looking for storage solutions in the process of moving, make sure to head over to our friends at Crate It Storage and check out all their fantastic storage options. On moving day, you will want to keep your pets in a quiet room with the door shut. Consider packing an easily accessible bag for your pet. A backpack with enough essentials for a few days includes food, toys, treats, kitty litter, blanket, etc. This bag will come in especially handy if your pet does need to hang out somewhere else during the moving process. On The Road Do be careful when transporting your pet to your new home because if they do happen to get scared and escape their kennel or leash, they could get lost quite quickly with all the new-to-them scenery and smells. Even the most docile or well-trained dogs can respond differently under stress or to new environments, so it is best not to assume their reactions for their safety. If your animal has not spent much time in a kennel or on a leash, it may be good to get your animal used to it before the move. You can do this in a few different ways: Place the kennel in their most-frequented space as soon as possible with the door open so that they have full access to observe it. Try placing their food inside the open crate. Once your animal is comfortable eating with the door open, then try closing the door and letting them eat with the door closed. You can try carrying them around the house in the kennel for a few minutes at a time. Always end any time in their kennel positively by rewarding them with treats or playtime. Pet-Proof Your New Home Before bringing your pet into your new home, it is a good idea to make sure you pet-proof your home. Make sure there have been no poisonous pest-control traps that have been left anywhere in the home. Especially if the home was vacant before you move in. Remove any toxic houseplants that could be harmful or potentially fatal to your animals. Check that all windows have secure screens, You may want to ensure that you place screen protectors on any screens that extend to ground level if you have an animal that may jump up and ruin it. Tuck away electrical cords if you have animals that like to chew or may get tangled in them. Block off any small spaces or nooks that your pet could get trapped. Home Sweet Home Upon arrival at your new home, it may seem easiest to let your cat or dog loose to explore the house. However, remember this is a new space, and it may be scary or intimidating for them. To try and alleviate that stress, you should let them adjust to one room at a time. The first room you let them explore should have their food and water dish, bed, toys, and treats. This space will be their main comfort space, and as their comfort level grows, you can gradually introduce them to other rooms as you see fit. Moving can be stressful, but it doesn’t have to be! Most importantly, be patient and provide reassurance by showing them lots of love and giving them extra attention through this time of change. With these tips your move with your pets can be as stress-free as your moving experience with Relocate Stress-Free Inc.!
How to Best Prepare Your Home for Sale
In 2020, Canadian home sales rose by 7.2% from November to December, cementing the yearly increase in sales for the year. The number of new listings naturally increased. And for the year, more than 550,000 homes were sold, over 12.6% that of the previous year. People are selling — and winning — with home sales in the nation. Even the average house price has gone up by 17% at $607,000. Will you be jumping on the bandwagon? To get in on this profitable real estate trend, it’s going to take preparation. When considering a home sale, you might feel overwhelmed. It’s a daunting task to get everything in order. But it doesn’t have to be. In just about a month — and with a little help from us — you can feel at ease knowing you’ve set yourself up for a successful home sale. First, Declutter Your Home Will your potential buyers go for a clean home or a dirty home? This is a no-brainer. Declutter your home and get that out of the way before anyone shows up to have a peek inside. Let There Be Light Now that your home is clean, make sure there’s a spotlight on it. This is especially crucial for photos you’ll be using to market your home online. Brighter homes with tons of lighting appear more spacious and inviting. Fix All the Things Do your due diligence and make sure your home is inspected prior to putting it on the market. Then fix what needs to be fixed. Even though it’s a one-time process for you, it’s a brand new start for your buyers’ life, so make it a positive experience for them and don’t leave any tasteless surprises. Revamp Your Curb Appeal Just as the inside matters, so does the outside of your home. First impressions are key. So be sure your exterior is as welcoming as the interior. You can enhance your curb appeal by placing flower pots outside, hiring a landscaper to clean your lawn, repainting peeling walls, and clearing your walkway. A colourful wreath can also give more life to your entrance. Have Focal Points Homebuyers are going to remember special areas of the home that catch their attention. So create those and draw them out using bright colours or accents. For example, you can add bright green throw pillows on your window seat, or place a bowl of fruit on your luxurious island. Go Natural To get the effect of focal points, you’re going to want to keep your colours as neutral as possible. Neutral does not mean boring. Quite the opposite. Softer colours are trending now — and for good reason. They help with the minimalist appeal which enhances how large a home appears. Plus, they relax your buyers. Get Rid of Smells Your house should not be a stinkfest when potential buyers arrive. That’s a given. However, you should further consider less noticeable (at least to you) scents that may be lingering around. Once you’ve taken care of the bad smells, what about the good ones? While it’s not necessary, you could put cookies out to have a “homey” baking smell around. This will create a connection with your kitchen. Mind Your Pet Not everyone is a pet lover like you are. In fact, some people are against it. So make sure you hide or place your pet’s things in less conspicuous locations around your home. Toys, beds, food bowls and the like should not be in the way when walking, nor should they be in the buyer’s direct line of eyesight. Rent a Storage Unit Since a minimalist approach is an ideal technique for home sales, you might need to store some furniture, artwork, or other large items. Renting out a storage unit will keep your items safe while you grant buyer’s more space to move around. Get a Professional Clean Don’t want to do the necessary cleaning yourself? Then consider hiring a cleaning company who will do the job right and increase your chances of getting that sale. Remove Personal Decor Remember, buyers walk into the house imagining themselves there in the future. It’s best to take down family photos or kids’ artwork before they stop by. This might not be easy for you, but it’s kind of a must-do if you want to get a sale. Place Plants Inside Bringing nature into your home is an easy way to increase positivity in your space. This applies when you’re ready to sell as well. It can be a vase filled with flowers, or a simple house plant. You can bring in one of your plants from outside and use it temporarily for your viewings as well. Ensure that the plants are thriving and have no bugs on them. Renovate Doing a faux renovation can do wonders for your buyers’ experience while viewing. Maybe your faucet or hinges need some changing. How about upgrading those curtains? Small renovations can make all the difference. Conclusion Your home sale preparation doesn’t have to be a headache. In fact, it can boost morale as you anticipate moving to your own new abode. Downsizing? Read our previous blog post on the three crucial steps you need to take for a successful downsize. There, we also talk about getting the most out of your sale. And don’t forget to reach out to us when you’re ready to make your move to your new home.
Our Top 5 Tips For Moving In The Fall
The fall is a busy time of the year. Getting back into a normal routine after the summer can be stressful and exhausting as it is, never mind if you’re trying to move too. Moving in the fall has its perks and its negatives just like any other time of the year. To make the most of your move in the fall and ensure a smooth transition, take a look at these tips. Declutter from the Summer You may have clothing items, swimwear, beach gear, outdoor furniture, toys and other items that are on their last legs. Instead of wasting space packing these items and moving them just to throw them away next year, discard them now. If there are items in good shape that you know you won’t use, donate them and ditch the items that are a little worse for wear. It’s always a good idea to thin your wardrobe at the end of each season. Donate items you or your family members never wore, or that you/they don’t like. It will save you a ton of time, space and money! Reconsider Storage Options When living in a place with challenging seasonal weather like we have here in Alberta, consider the benefits of putting some items in storage. Doing so during your move will help keep your moving truck clear of heavy or bulky items that you may not use until spring or summer again. Outdoor furniture, gardening tools, BBQ’s, lawnmowers and more are all common items you can place in storage. Placing items you know you don’t need in storage, saves you time during packing, saves space in the moving truck and makes the unpacking process easier. Pack by the Season Packing seasonal items together makes it easy to find everything you need when you’re on the other end of your move. If you move at the beginning of September you may be dealing with weather very similar to summer but by the time you get settled and totally unpacked it could be cool fall weather. Packing all your seasonal items ensures everything you need shortly after you move is easily accessible. Setup Utilities in Advance There is nothing worse than getting to your new home on a cool fall day to find that you still need to set up electricity and gas. Getting new accounts setup can take a few days, which is fine if the weather is warm but if not then it can be a chilly few days. Take a few minutes during your packing to make a call to your utility companies and let them know what day you move into your new home. Put Down Plastic When Moving When moving in and out during the fall it’s possible to track in wet leaves, dirt or mud depending on the weather. Setting down plastic in the place you’re moving out of will make the cleanup process easier, ensure that the new buyers are happy with the cleanliness of their new home upon possession, or if you’re renting, makes sure your damage deposit comes back to you. When you are moving to your new place, using plastic will save you clean up time too since unpacking is already so much work as it is. Moving in the fall doesn’t need to be a stressful situation. Relocate Stress Free is here to help if you need assistance packing, moving and unpacking too!
Tips on what to pack last
There’s nothing worse than unwrapping a neatly packed and sealed box after realizing that something in the box is still needed. A nice packing strategy is beginning with those items which won’t be needed before the day of moving. But which items should be packed last? Here’s a simple guide on that. What to start with Items that should start the packing process in preparation for the move include formal dining crockery, books, papers, shoes and off-season clothes. Items which are fragile should never be packed last. Breakables such as china cups and wine glasses are best surrounded by items that can act as padding. Items that can be sued as padding include pillows, towels or spare clothes. If all the clothes are packed already, the moving boxes with clothes may need to be unsealed to find pieces of cloth that can be used to surround the delicate glassware. What to end with Several empty moving boxes should be left to pack the clothes removed on moving day plus the towels. Wet towels should be wrapped in plastic bags. Other items to be packed last include are those needed during the journey before arriving to the new home. These include toiletries, phone chargers, tissue papers, snacks and drinks. They should be left outside till the last minute or in an open box and set aside. Additionally, items that will be needed right after arrival to the new home should be packed last. Everything needed after arrival will be easier to find when packed last. Some of these include clean clothes, towels, sheets and overnight necessities. They should be packed last and be put on top of the other boxes. Other items to pack last include: first aid kits medications tape measure work gloves scissors batteries flashlights extension cords eating utensils coffee makers sugar powdered milk snacks pet supplies light bulbs screwdriver hammer alarm clock They should kept in easy to access boxes, which can be left open or sealed lightly. Professional Calgary Moving Company and Relocate Stress Free can also offer assistance on what to pack last prior to moving day. As a result, this should make the journey to your new home easier and stress free.
What are the items most often forgotten during a move?
On the day of the move there are so many things to do. Relocate Stress Free will assist you to make sure you do not forget anything during your move. Additionally, these are some moving tips to help you for before your move and the day of your move. Before the Day of Your Move • Label all you boxes properly to help keep organization during the move. • Have a big box of big bags and keep them someplace handy. • Don’t pack all your cleaning supplies for the new house. Keep rags, towels, mops, and garbage cans and trash bags for the clean-up. • Don’t pack all your toilet paper. Ensure to keep a roll out for the old home and new home. • Remember to leave out some plates, cups, and paper towels for meals during the move. • Keep the coffee pot handy to bring to the new home! The Day of Your Big Move – items people forget • Clocks and small wall hangings. • Knick-knacks on window sills. • Items loaned to friends such as snow tires, power tools, and movies. • Items in crawlspaces – don’t forget the crawlspace! • Cellphones and computer charging cords. • Food in the fridge. Do a final check! • Toilet plunger. • Medicine in your medicine cabinets. • Items in your shred – lawn mower. • Outdoor decorative lights and solar-powered walkway lights. • The spare key outside. • The garage door opener from your car. In conclusion, the next time you move follow these tips and it will go as smoothly as possible. Relocate Stress Free is always here to make your move “stress free” in Calgary and surrounding areas. We offer decluttering services and downsizing services which are also beneficial when you are planning to move. More tips to follow.
Few Moving Tips To Ease Your Stress!
I have spoken to many people who have moved locally and long distance. They said moving was sometimes very stressful as they found the most complicated task was not knowing how to pack their valuables so they arrived safely at their home. Relocate Stress Free assisted the clients with a few tips and they have now learned from these mistakes and avoided the moving stresses. So if you are packing yourself here are a few pointers: Use smaller boxes for heavier items. Using a small box will cause less breakages as not many heavy items will fit in small boxes. Label your electronics for easy reassembly Using color-coded labels for the cords on your computer and also your electronics can save you time and hassle during reassembly. Some even recommend taking a picture before unplugging your electronics as a visual on how to put them back together. Be organized with your time and don’t wait until the last minute to pack. Begin packing several weeks in advance, if possible. That way you have time to go through your items properly without rushing. It is a great time to purge some unwanted items or put items in storage that don’t fit into your new home. Strategically pack. Using a label on each box with the room it will go to, and try to pack the items you’ll need right away last for easier access. Use red duct tape on boxes that have essentials in them so they are easy to locate and unpack first. Professional movers at Relocate Stress Free can also assist in packing your items and make your move easier from the very first box to the very last box! Stay tuned for more moving tips.