Planning a Move to Your New Millburn-Short Hills Home!

It's that time of year again! Leases will be expiring, homes are selling, and residents of Millburn-Short Hills  will soon be on the move! In fact, the peak season for moving runs from May through September, leading to higher demand for rental trucks, moving companies and storage facilities. I have some tips to help make your New Jersey move a success!

I'll start with a word of caution: there are unethical moving companies out there who prey on the unwary. This affects people who are moving households cross-country as well as in-state. Fortunately, there are ways you can screen professional movers to protect yourself. There is a great deal of information available on these websites:

• American Moving & Storage Association
• U.S. Department of Transportation
• The Better Business Bureau of New Jersey

If you plan to do-it-yourself and rent a moving truck, reserve your vehicle well in advance. Tip: when in doubt, go with a larger truck. It's more cost-effective than making multiple trips with a smaller truck. Also read over the rental contract carefully - there are plenty of hidden fees with some companies. There may be fees for exceeding a certain number of miles, or for returning the truck late. Helpful things like hand trucks/carts and furniture padding are usually available, but there may be an extra charge.

Tired of using cardboard boxes to pack your belongings? There's an alternative! Plastic, reusable moving boxes are available for rent. They are durable, stackable, and washable. It will cost a bit of money, but you may be dollars ahead over buying cardboard moving boxes - and if it rains, cardboard can be a disaster. You can learn more about reusable moving containers in this New York Times article.

Moving pods are another option. The pods are a transportable storage unit. They are delivered to your home by truck, dropped off, and left there for you to fill. When everything is loaded, you call the company and the pod is loaded up and delivered to your new residence. The appeal of moving pods is that you have more time to deal with loading and unloading - no rushing to return a truck.

I hope this information helps you get moving! And when you're ready to get moving by buying or selling a New Jersey home, I'll be happy to help you. As your Millburn-Short Hills real estate professional, I will provide the expert guidance you need for a success!

 Contact me today, and let my 18 years of experience be your advantage!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Save money on moving into your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home

Congratulations on closing on your Millburn-Short Hills, NJ home! Buying a new house is a very exciting part of life. Moving into the new home, however, can be frustrating and stressful. Most people are looking to save money at this time since they've just made such a large purchase. Follow these tips in order to save money on your move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ.

Move during an off-peak time


Most moves occur between March and October. If there is any way you can move during the off-peak season, you will save money on moving costs. Renting moving vans is often cheaper during this time. If you go with a moving company, don't hesitate to try and negotiate prices during off-peak times. If their business is slow, they might provide additional discounts off of listed prices. If you can't move during off-peak season, consider moving during the middle of the month. Even during peak moving months, most people move in either the very first few days or very last few days of the month. If you can move the second or third week you might be able to save money.

Move fewer things


Don't make the mistake of moving everything hurriedly and then sorting through your belongings after they're in the new space. It doesn't make sense to pay to move things that you don't plan on keeping! Moving is the ideal time to sort through your possessions one-by-one, asking yourself, Do I use this often enough to keep it? Do I really like it? Sell items of value on ebay or in a garage sale to make some spare cash. Donate or throw out the remaining items based on the condition they're in. Don't forget that donated items can be written off during tax time. Save receipts!

Do not buy boxes or packing materials


Depending on how much you have to move, moving materials can costs several hundred or even over one-thousand dollars. Save on those unnecessary costs by planning ahead and stocking up on cardboard boxes and packing materials ahead of time. Ask friends and neighbors to donate boxes they are not currently using. Stop by local grocery and retail stores and ask them to save cardboard boxes for you. (Be sure to tell them you only want ones that close.) Instead of buying packing peanuts, use newspaper. If you don't have a subscription, ask a friend or neighbor to hold onto theirs for a few weeks for you. You can also be creative about packing your fragile items. A bath towel or t-shirt can keep that china safe just as well as butcher paper sold by a moving agency.

Hopefully these tips help you save money on your upcoming move to Millburn-Short Hills, NJ. If you have any other questions about moving, buying or selling real estate, or the local community, do not hesitate to contact me. Welcome to the area!

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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Tips for moving into your Millburn-Short Hills home

You have found the perfect Millburn-Short Hills home and are incredibly excited about it...until you remember you haven't moved for years and aren't sure where to begin.  Moving can be an intimidating task beforehand and a frustrating process during if not approached correctly.  Here are some tips that will help you make the move into your Millburn-Short Hills home go as smoothly and worry-free as possible.

Start early
Moving is much harder when you wait until the very last minute to take care of all the details.  Start making preparations at least a month or two in advance.  Long before it is time to actually pack you can start collecting cardboard boxes from friends or local stores and creating a list of the accounts that need to be opened or closed when you move.  You can also research and book a moving agency, storage unit, or moving van.

Downsize
The more you have to move, the more expensive your moving costs will be, the longer time it will take, and the more energy involved.  Before moving is the time to go through all of your belongings and get rid of anything you no longer use.  Hold a garage sale and donate whatever doesn't sell to charity.  Grocery shop less that final week or two and use up all of the food in your kitchen before moving day.

Organize
If you pack without a plan, unpacking will be a mess.  Put similar items together in boxes, or organize boxes by room.  Clearly label each box so unpacking goes more smoothly.  Set aside a box, bag, or piece of luggage for each person and dedicate those to the items that will be needed the first few days after moving, before everything is unpacked.  (Think toiletries, undergarments, work- and school-related items, etc.)

Hopefully these tips help you create a easier move for yourself.  If you have any questions about moving, real estate, or the area, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Visit My Website
See My Listings
Become My Fan on Facebook
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Add Me to Your Circle
Contact Me