Take It, Don't Break It: How to Move a Refrigerator

One of the most difficult parts of your move is probably going to be lugging heavy items into your new home, and refrigerators require careful planning to avoid damage. If you are transporting heavy appliances to your new home, your best bet is to hire a moving company, but if you are doing it on your own, be sure to have at least one other strong-armed person to help maneuver large items, such as a fridge. Here are some tips for moving your refrigerator:

• If possible, refer to your fridge's instruction manual to find out what steps you need to take to move your fridge without damaging it.


• Hopefully you have planned your meals to empty your fridge, but if you still have food in the fridge and/or freezer, either eat it, give it away, or store it in a cooler with dry ice.


• Unplug the refrigerator for 48 hours before moving. The fridge and freezer must be fully dethawed prior to the move. Disconnect the ice maker if you have one.


• Clean the interior of the fridge and freezer with warm, soapy water, and remove any trays and other items that could shift during the move. Be sure the shelves and trays are completely dry before packing. Wrap any glass in bubble wrap and pack separately.


• Let the fridge and freezer air out for at least 24 hours before your move to prevent any moisture turning into mildew. Secure the doors open so that nothing (and no small child) gets trapped inside.


• Secure the fridge and freezer doors shut with bungee cords or ropes--tape may damage the finish. Cover the fridge with a blanket or other soft cover to protect it during the move.


• Use a dolly to help move the fridge onto your moving truck or vehicle.


• Be sure to move the fridge in an upright position. If you move a refrigerator by laying it on its side, you run the risk of oil running up the cooling tubes from the compressor. If possible, lay the refrigerator in the opposite direction of the discharge line. Consult your owner’s manual to determine what and where the discharge line is. Also, try propping up the “top” end so that one end is higher than the other, to keep oil from escaping into the cooling coils or discharge line.


• Load your refrigerator and any other large appliances into your moving truck first. Secure the fridge with straps if possible, and tightly pack other items around the fridge to keep it from shifting.


• At your new home, allow the fridge to sit upright for 24 hours before turning it on. This will allow time for the oil to settle, preventing damage to the compressor.


• If you have an icemaker and/or water dispenser, you'll want those connected to your water line by a professional.

Sunny Weekend? Have a Yard Sale!

If you are about to move or have moved recently, you probably have a few boxes (or tons) of things that you consider clutter. Sunny summer weekends are a great opportunity to hold a yard sale and make some extra cash off of things you can do without. Think yard sales are a thing of the past, now that eBay and Craigslist are popular? On the contrary, if you host a yard sale properly, you will be surprised how much traffic you'll get. Here are some tips for turning your trash into cash:

• Check the weather report in advance. For obvious reasons, your sale will be a much bigger success on a rain-free day. If you have a garage or a canopy, even better.


• Check with your local government to see if you need a permit to hold a yard sale.


• Clean the items you want to sell. No one is going to buy a dusty blender, no matter how new it is.


• Price every item or group items by price into labeled boxes. This will avoid confusion for both the customer and you.


• Spread out your stuff and organize it nicely. Give the appearance that you have a lot of nice items for sale and people will be more likely to stop and check it out.


• Don't sell broken items--give those away for free. You will be surprised how willing people will be to take free things off your hands.


• Advertise your sale the evening before. Place bright, easy-to-read signs around your neighborhood, and post a listing on Craigslist if possible. Be sure to include the hours of your sale. Place balloons in front of your home so you can't be missed.


• Make sure you have lots of small change, and plenty of grocery bags to bag up items. If you are selling breakables, have newspapers on hand to wrap them in. You'll also want an apron to put cash in and a calculator.


• Don't sell anything you will regret later, such as your children's toys. If you are having trouble letting go of a sentimental item, take a picture of it--a photo will take up far less space than those


• Make sure the area where you are having the sale is clean and free of any debris, such as dog doo, clumps of leaves, or glass.


• If you are selling clothing, remember that people won't be able to try anything on, so you will want to keep prices low. If you have nice clothes, you will be better off selling those at a consignment shop.

Moving with Kids: Breaking the News

It's the end of the school year, and many families choose this time to move to a new home, giving children the chance to close out the year before moving on to a new school. If you are planning a move with school-age children, here are some tips for breaking the news:

• Talk to your kids about each phase of the moving process. They will be less likely to feel anxious about the move if they are informed and know that you care about their feelings too.


• Get them excited about the details of the new home that will matter to them. Will they be getting their own room, or a new backyard? Will there be fun things to do nearby? Remember, if parents are anxious, kids will pick up on that and feel anxious too.


• Have them create an address book and/or a scrapbook to help them keep in touch with their old friends.


• Let them host a farewell party. This will help them accept that the move is really happening and leave them with warm memories.


• Read children's books about moving.


• On moving day, let children know it's ok to feel sad, but also reassure them that you are going through the transition as a family.

New Home Construction Up 17.2 Percent

Encouraging news broke this week signaling that the 18-months-long housing slump may have bottomed out. Construction of new homes and apartments jumped 17.2 percent in May, the largest increase in three months, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. The spike comes after construction fell in April to a record low of 454,000 units. May's seasonally adjusted rate of 532,000 was better than the 500,000 units economists had predicted.

Applications for building permits, seen as an indicator for future development, also rose in May. The increase includes a 7.5 percent rise in construction of single-family homes and a 61.7 percent increase in multi-family units. The West led the surge with a 28.6 percent increase, followed by an 11.1 percent increase in the Midwest. The South had a 6.8 percent increase; the Northeast only a gain of 2 percent.

Even with the promising news, analysts don't expect a quick rebound in housing, since the economy is still shedding jobs and home prices are falling in many places, making people hesitant to commit to buying a new home. Many economists say any sustained rebound isn't expected to take hold until next spring. That's partly due to the huge surplus of unsold homes and a record wave of mortgage foreclosures dumping more unsold homes on the market.

House-Hunting in the Digital Age

The days of circling house ads in the newspaper with a highlighter are a thing of the past—house-hunting has officially gone digital, making the search process both easier and quicker. Want to get with it, and make a more informed decision before buying? Here's a few places to start:

• Zillow.com: Type in the zip code you are seeking to easily access pricing information, photos, square footage and other details. If you have an iPhone, you can download Zillow's free application that uses your phone's GPS to find out which homes are for sale near you.


• InvestorLoft.com: Looking to invest in real estate during this affordable dip in the market? This website lets you search for properties near you that are listed below value or that offer a percentage of profit, for example.


• Trulia.com: This year, this online real estate search engine launched an option for users to search for bargains. Enter your city or zip code and reduced-price homes will pop up, and you can see how often the sellers have dropped the price—an important consideration when negotiating an offer.


• YouTube.com: Real estate brokers are just starting to utilize this free video streaming site to offer visual tours of properties. Why look at static photos when you can watch a video of a house tour, narrated by the seller or broker?


• Cyberhomes.com: Wondering if the neighborhood your looking in will increase or decrease in value? This paid service ($9.99 for a full report) offers 12- and 24-month price forecasts per zip code, and compares that data with the surrounding area and state.

Money Watch: Hidden Moving Fees

Moving is often expensive, and even legitimate moving companies may have hidden costs that you don't know about. Speak up and ask questions to get a more accurate estimate of your total moving costs. Here are some potential additions to your moving bill:

• Packing or disconnection fees: If you are paying movers to do the packing for you, you may be charged extra for items that are more complicated than just putting them in a box. Ask your movers if they charge extra to disassemble furniture or disconnect gas lines. If you are packing on your own, the movers may charge extra if they decide your boxes need to be re-packed to make the trip trouble-free. Be wary that items you pack yourself may not be covered by moving insurance.


• Heavy items: Weighty items such as pianos, hot tubs, and gym equipment may require extra manpower or equipment. Ask if heavy lifting fees are included in your estimate.


• Inconvenient location: If you are moving into a six-floor walk-up, your movers may charge extra for all that additional exertion. Or, if your home is located on a narrow street or has other obstacles, there may be additional fees.


• Too much downtime: If you are not prepared before your movers arrive, they may add to the original estimate while they spend additional time boxing up your stuff. Also, if the movers arrive before you at your new home, they may bill you while they wait for you.


• Additional trips: If your moving truck is not big enough to hold all of your belongings and needs to make more than one trip, this will add to the cost of your move. Find out if the movers offer a larger truck at a reasonable price, as it may be less than the cost of multiple trips.


• Personal expenses: Most likely you will incur costs moving yourself and your family to your new home, so don't forget to add these expenses to your budget. Items such as refreshments for your family and for the movers are essential.

12 Tips to Make Moving Day Easier

After packing some initial boxes and lifting a few heavy items, you may be thinking to yourself, 'This move is a drag.' Well wipe off that sour expression and put some pep in your step. Got kids? Get them involved too to prevent anxiety. Here's some tips for making moving day as easy as possible:

• Hire movers. This might sound obvious, but professional movers can make all the difference in a stress-free move. Getting moving insurance will give you even more peace of mind.
• Make an upbeat playlist. Blast your favorite songs on a portable stereo to keep you in constant motion.
• Eat a big breakfast. You'll be burning a lot of calories today, so here's your excuse to load up on carbs! Pick up pastry and coffee from your local bakery--don't bother cooking.
• If your kids are old enough to pack their own things, let them do it--this will help give them closure and feel involved. One easy activity to make children feel useful is to give them color-coded stickers that they can put on boxes for each room. If they are too young to help, make sure you have someone to look after them while the work gets underway.
• Also, let the kids pack their favorite toys and games in backpacks for the trip to the new house.
• Have lunch and snacks prepared--such as pizza, sandwiches, and munchies for the kids. Don't forget to pack a cooler full of water, juice, and sports drinks--the last thing you need on moving day is an energy meltdown. Save the bulk of the beer for celebrating at the end of the move.
• At your new place, let children decide where they want to put their furniture. Even if you change it later, this will give them some feeling of control on moving day. Depending on their age, let them pick paint colors too.
• Tape floor plans where you want your furniture set up so that your movers can unload quicker.
• Have cash on hand to tip your movers before they leave.
• Have bedding readily accessible so that you are not spending your first night in your new home in a sleeping bag.
• Before you crash into bed in exhaustion, break out the beer, champagne, and other treats--it's time to toast a new beginning!
• Once you are settled, explore your new neighborhood. Start introducing yourself (and your little ones) to your new surroundings. Plan a housewarming party and celebrate all of your hard work.

Too Good to be True: Moving Cost Estimates

In researching moving companies to handle your move, did one company offer a far lower price than the rest? They might be setting you up for a scam. Some companies will lure you in at a low-ball price, only to charge you extra fees on moving day until you end up paying more than you should. Worse, a rogue mover could hold all of your goods hostage until he gets his money. Here are some tips for getting an accurate moving cost estimate:

• Don't take quotes over the phone. Estimators need to come to your home to give a realistic price quote.
• Get estimates from at least three different moving companies. Make sure they are licensed and insured.
• Try to schedule all of your estimators to come to your home on the day, spaced a few hours apart. An estimate normally takes an hour. You'll want to compare those discussions while they're still fresh in your mind.
• Be clear and thorough during the walk-through. Include attics, garages, basements, and storage spaces. Also, mention which items will not be coming with you.
• Ask as many questions as you can to determine whether or not the company is trustworthy.
• Be prepared to be flexible with dates if you are moving long-distance. If you are looking for guaranteed loading and unloading dates, you may have to pay a little more for quicker turnaround.
• Ask for a packing and unpacking estimate, even if you plan on doing that yourself. You might find that the movers offer a good deal on packing.
• Discuss what insurance options the moving company offers to determine whether you want insurance from a third party.
• Make sure you agree with everything in the written estimate before you sign the moving contract.

A Clear Picture: Know What You Are Buying

So, you think you have this moving insurance stuff figured out? Or perhaps you think your belongings are covered by your moving company and you don't need to buy insurance? Do you know what valuation is? Have you read the fine print? A recent National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) survey shows that while most Americans believe they understand insurance, on average, they could not answer basic insurance questions. So this means that people don't really know what they are buying.

For a similar example, look at what has been happening with the purchasing craze of HDTV sets. Customers bring their new tvs home and become furious when they plug them in and see that the picture is not the same quality as it was in the store. They complain to the store and are told that they must purchase a high-definition signal from their cable provider. According to a study by the Leichtman Research Group, 42 percent of HDTV owners aren’t actually watching any high-definition shows on them, but 18 percent of them think they are. Adding insult to injury is the fact that standard-definition broadcasts look worse on HDTV screens.

When moving, a lot is at stake. Valuation only covers a fraction of the value of your items, as little as 60 cents per pound per item. For example, if your mover lost or damaged a 10-pound stereo component valued at $1,000, you would only receive $6.00 in compensation (60 cents x 10 pounds). Be sure it's clear what you are getting into. We're happy to answer any questions you may have.