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How to Find Your Perfect Peaceful NJ Home

How to Find Your Perfect NJ Home

Maybe you’re ready to finally move out of an apartment and into your first home. Finding the perfect house for you can be a great feeling. However, it can also be fraught with problems, especially for first-time buyers. Since most people tend to live in their first home for around 5-10 years, you need to consider the time commitment and money that comes with owning a home. That means it’s important for you to take your time before making a decision.

Know Your Moving Budget

You can’t start shopping for homes until you know how much you can afford. When finding your maximum price range, determine the monthly payments you can reasonably afford on your mortgage. This number might be lower than you expect as there are a variety of bills you need to worry about when owning a home such as heating, water, homeowners insurance, taxes, HOA fees, and more.

Once you find your mortgage payment you can comfortably make on a monthly basis, work backwards from there to your purchase price. If you can’t put down the standard 20% for down payment, you can still purchase a house, you’ll just need to pay a private mortgage insurance (PMI) on top of your mortgage.

Once you’ve found your maximum purchase price, you’ll need to connect with a lender who will then tell you whether you will be approved at your price point. This process is known as pre-approval and make it much easier to pcan urchase a home once you’re ready.

After that, work with a real estate agent and let them know your hard upper limit. You might need to make some concessions in terms of location, rooms, etc. if you don’t have a large budget. Just make sure you know what you’re getting beforehand.

In addition to the price of your home, make sure to set aside money for moving expenses, closing costs, and renovations if necessary.

Choose the Right Location for a Better Living Experience

Location is right up there with budget when it comes to finding a home that meets your needs. If you’re moving due to a new job, you might not have as much flexibility as those who are moving  for a change of scenery. With that said, you’ll still want to be on the lookout for a good location.

What is a good location? It varies by person. For some it might be a place with a good school district, for others it might be a good commute to work, and others might be more interested in being close to a bustling downtown area with restaurants and shops. Figure out what is most important to you when moving. Luckily, New Jersey offers plenty of options whether you want to live in a city or small town.

Remember that there are pros and cons of each. If you want to live near a large city like NJ, then you’ll end up paying a lot more than if you lived in a small town. Conversely, living in the countryside means lots of space and nature, but it also means you won’t have a lot of variety when it comes to food, entertainment, and more. It’s up to you to decide what’s important.

Prepare a Comprehensive Checklist of Essential Features You Need

Every potential home buyer has a list of things they want their dream house to have. Unfortunately, most people aren’t able to get their dream home the first time they buy a house. While having a walk-in closet, several bathrooms, and large eat-in kitchen might be nice, is it necessary? Before you go house hunting, write down a list of absolute necessities your home should have. Not everyone has the same requirements, but some things to consider include:

  • Number of bedrooms and bathrooms – how many people are in the house currently? Are you expecting that number to increase within 5-10 years? Plan ahead!
  • Size of kitchen and appliances – look for up-to-date appliances in the new home
  • Separate dining room – while not necessary, if you entertain a lot, a separate dining room might be a good option
  • Heating and cooling system – oil, wood, etc? Also, do you need central air?
  • Water and sewage – are you okay with getting your water from a well and having your sewage go to a septic tank? Or do you prefer public water?
  • Yardage – if you have kids and/or dogs you’ll want a place with plenty of outdoor space to run around.
  • Parking – Do you need a garage? If so, how many cars will need to fit in there? If there aren’t any homes with a driveway or garage, is there street parking?

When creating your list, make sure to consider what you’ll need in the future. Even if you don’t drive now, you might want to get a car in the future. A well and septic tank might seem okay now, but if you lose power you won’t be able to get any water or flush the toilet so consider this especially if you plan on relocating to an area that gets hit by storms.

Once you’ve written up your list of must haves, create another list of nice-to-haves. When you’ve started your search, you can then focus on homes that have extra features on top of the essentials.

Plan Your Home Decoration in Advance

Decorating your home is very personal and you might not like what the previous homeowners had done. Think about what rooms you will use the most should you move in and what changes you would need to make. Focus on the walls and ceilings, windows, other accents like crown molding, floors, etc. and think how they fit in your aesthetic.

With all that said, don’t overestimate potential. It’s all too easy to fall in love with the idea of what a room could be, but unless you already know the ins and outs of home renovation, chances are you’ll have no idea how long or how much it will cost. Even seemingly small updates can end up ballooning in cost. And if you’re thinking of renovating the kitchen, forget it. Unless you plan on just replacing the cabinets or tabletops, a kitchen renovation means you won’t be able to cook meals for months.

Finally, check every room for things like electrical outlets, windows, locks, faucets, etc. Everything might look fine at first glance, but chances are you’ll need to do a bit of finagling to get things how you want. All of these little changes and purchases add up and can end up costing you a few thousand dollars!

Hire a Professional Home Inspector Before Moving

Yes, it might cost you more money, but a good inspector can uncover reasons why you shouldn’t buy the house. It’s all too easy to cover up issues with a new coat of paint, but experienced home inspectors will be able to spot major structural issues with the foundation, condition of the roof, insulation, etc. There’s nothing worse than moving into a place that requires a full gut renovation after already spending hundreds of thousands of dollars purchasing it.

Before you decide to sign the contract, let the seller and real estate know that your contract to buy the house is contingent upon a satisfactory home inspection. Once you receive the report, you can then decide whether to buy or not. If there are only small issues, you might still be able to renegotiate the price based on how much you think it would cost to repair these problems.

If you’re in a hot housing market, the sellers might not be interested in waiting for you to receive a home inspection report. While it’s still recommended to hire a home inspector, if you really love the house then it’s up to you to ask questions and look around. Check all the floors, walls, and ceilings for anything that might suggest problems such as water damage, termite damage, crumbling foundation, etc.

Shop Around

If you’ve never owned a home before, almost every home might seem amazing and many real estate agents might pressure you to buy as soon as possible. However, don’t feel pressured to buy something that doesn’t suit your needs. Don’t buy a condo because it’s cheaper than a home if you hate living with dozens of other people. Sure, you might need to make some compromises, but always keep your must-have list handy so you can refer to it while you’re shopping.

At the same time, be open to continuing your search until you find a house that matches your budget and needs. It might seem impossible, especially with how quickly houses are being snatched off the market, but you’ll be thankful you took the time to look for a place that is suitable for you. In order to find the perfect place, you’ll want to use an agent. Sure, it might be tempting to do it all yourself, but an agent knows much more about real estate than you and can negotiate on your behalf.

Find Your Perfect NJ Home

House hunting can be a grueling affair and it requires a lot of careful planning and consideration. At the same time, you don’t want to drag your feet too much as there might be someone else who will snatch up your house.

Fortunately, the tips below can help make the home-buying process a bit smoother. And once you’ve found your new home, make sure to call NJ movers to transport your belongings to your new place.

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General

How to Transport Your Garden Plants to Your New NJ Home

How to Move Your Garden Plants to Your New NJ Home

If you’re a garden enthusiast, chances are you’ve spent months or even years cultivating your garden. It’s not easy nor cheap so why should you leave your beloved plants behind when you move? The answer is that you don’t have to. While it’s always risky to try and move your garden, with some careful planning your plants can thrive in your new home, so long as you have the right conditions.

If you follow the tips below, you should be able to successfully move your garden plants to your new NJ home.

Build a Plan and Move Ahead Confidently

Are you moving out of a rented apartment or a home? If you’re renting, you will probably have to return the property to the same state as when you moved in. That means you can dig up and take everything you planted. Just make sure you don’t accidentally take anything that was there before you moved in!

If you’re selling your home, consider digging up all the plants that have sentimental value to you before the house is on the market. Of course, it’s all too easy to forget this step especially considering everything else you need to consider when moving homes. Should that happen, you should technically leave any trees and perennials in your hold home. After all, the buyer expects the main plants of the property when making the purchase.

Still, if you decide you do want to take some rose bushes or plants, tell the real estate agent and buyer as soon as possible. Chances are, they’ll be understanding. Just make sure to leave the garden tidy after you dig everything up. As far as your vegetables are concerned, you don’t have to notify the buyer as crops are considered personal property.

There might be some instances where you can’t take certain plants with you. Some states have restrictions on what plants you can bring from other areas. Always double check state guidelines beforehand! Another reason you might not be able to take your plants with you is because they are too well established. You might be able to get away with moving it during their dormant season, but if you’re moving during the summer, you might be out of luck as things like older lavender and rosemary plants won’t transport well during their growing phase.

Water Your Plants Before Uprooting Them

Dry plants will be at a major disadvantage when it comes to dealing with the stress of a move. You want to make sure the plant and roots have adequate moisture on moving day so make sure to give them a good soak the night before. That doesn’t mean drowning the plants in water, but you do want to water them more than you usually do.

If you know when you’re going to move, you should make it a habit to regularly deep soak your plants in the weeks leading up to your. After all, a once-a-week soak means healthier plants. When you finally uproot your plant, avoid exposing the roots to too much heat and direct sunlight. Ideally, you’ll want to move while the plants are dormant. However, if you need to move during the warmer months, you should make sure to dig them up earlier in the day when it’s cooler and make sure the roots are never left in full sunlight.

Plan Ahead: Mark Where Your Plants Will Go in Your New Garden

Hopefully you have access to your new home before moving day. Make sure to visit at least a couple of times to mark out the new location(s) for your garden. While there, be sure to have spots ready for each of your plants. The easiest way to do this is by labeling the different areas to avoid any confusion once you’re ready to replant.

To make the transfer even better, prepare the garden beforehand. That means removing any weeds, adding a nice layer of soil/compost/fertilizer, and digging out spots for your plants. You should also douse the new garden with some water before you transfer the plant to avoid your plant going into shock.

If you’re not sure where to put your plants, dig a few trenches and create a makeshift nursery. You can also move some of your smaller plants into a pot temporarily to see where in your yard they might thrive.

It’s Best to Move Your Garden Plants Yourself

Professional movers might be a great option for moving your furniture and boxes, but they’re not a great option for moving plants. Plants are too fragile and will likely suffer from damage during a move. Most movers will not be liable for any damages done to a plant during a move. Some won’t even allow them on their trucks. Always ask about their rules on plants before you hire a moving company so you’re not caught by surprise.

Even if movers do allow plants on their truck, it might make sense to move the plants yourself. Get some sturdy boxes and line them with plastic and place your plants inside. Stuff bubble wrap or other cushioning to remove any gaps between the pot and the box to ensure it doesn’t shift during the move. After that, bag or wrap the plants in plastic and poke a few holes in the bag so the plants can breathe.

Quickly Dig and Replant Your Plants the Right Way

To avoid placing any extra stress on your plant, it’s important to dig them up properly. Do not dig into the base of the plant as you could accidentally chop off healthy roots. Instead, use a small hand shovel and dig a ring around the main part of the plant that goes at least 2-3 inches deep for smaller plants and 6 inches deep for larger ones. Even if you give yourself a wide enough berth you’ll end up cutting some roots, but as long as they are clean cuts, it should be okay.

Once you’ve dug the ring, use a larger shovel to pop the plants out of place. Don’t shake off any soil as this will protect the plant during transport! Once you’ve removed all your plants, place them in a pot or sack for safe moving.

After you’ve uprooted your plants, you should get them into your new garden as soon as possible. Ideally, you should do this right after you’ve dug them up. If that’s not possible, place them in a temporary home, but don’t leave them out of the ground for too long as the longer the plant is out, the longer it will take to set. Once they are in the ground, top the roots off with some soil and then water the plants to reduce stress.

Even if you have plants that prefer full sun, you should provide some shade during the first few days as it will help the plant adapt to its new conditions. Keep an eye on the plants and see how the difference in soil, climate, etc. affect the plant’s health. If you see that they are not adjusting well, try and look for a local nursery for some help.

Create a Solid Plan for Moving Your Plants

Moving your favorite garden plants to your new NJ home is a challenge, but it could save you a lot of money and time if done properly. With that said, there’s still an element of luck to moving plants so even if you do everything right, your plants still might not thrive. However, the steps above can give you a better chance of success.

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Moving Tips

How to Organize Your Furniture in Your New Home After a NJ Move

How to Set Up Furniture in Your New NJ Home After Moving

So you’ve finally found your perfect NJ home and you’re ready to move. While moving can be stressful, it’s also exciting especially if you enjoy interior decorating. With a new place, you’re starting with a blank slate even if you decided to move furniture from your old place. Even if you don’t enjoy arranging and set up furniture, the helpful guide below can help you get your bearings and set everything up in no time.

Evaluate the Space: Create Room Patterns and Focal Points

A crucial step when planning the arrangement of furniture in your new place is to carefully assess what you’re working with. In order to do so you should:

  • Clear the space – remove everything from the room including boxes, scattered furniture, and other objects that will prevent you from seeing the true view of the area. While you might have seen the empty room when you were on the search, it’s all too easy to forget the exact dimensions and things like awkward corners and curved walls.
  • Think About the Room’s Purpose – Even if you’re living in a studio apartment, it’s important to understand the function of a specific area. You can easily use your furniture to set up boundaries to create ‘rooms.’ Of course, it’s easier if you live in a place that has more than one room! With that said, the process is the same. Before you start placing your furniture willy-nilly, you should think about the purpose and function of the room. This might be an obvious step, but it’s easy to lose sight especially after a big move.
  • Consider traffic patterns and focal points – A focal point is something that draws the eye and helps balance out the space. This could be a piece of furniture or some other kind of decor. For example, a fireplace acts as a natural focal point as do picture windows. If you don’t have a natural focal point, you can create your own by using drapes, artwork, or furniture. Also pay close attention to the location of doors, windows, and awkward areas. You definitely don’t want to block windows or the natural path between rooms.

Strategize with Furniture Layout Tools for Better Arrangements

Now that you’ve had a good look at each room, it’s time to consider different furniture arrangements. Rather than expend a ton of energy moving these bulky items multiple times, you can draft up potential ideas beforehand. This will require measuring the exact dimensions of each room as well as your furniture. Otherwise, you might decide to place a couch in the corner, but realize it won’t actually fit, wasting precious time.

If you took measurements beforehand you can leisurely plan each room’s layout weeks or months before your move. If you didn’t have the time, you can still do so after the move! Don’t skip this step as a good layout can change a room from being calming to stressful. If you need some help visualizing room placement you can:

  • Use free online tools  – Sites like Floor Planner allows you to place furniture, change the color scheme of the room, and more making it much easier to figure out a good layout.
  • Create paper replicas – If you have a difficult space to work with, you might want to experiment in the space with paper replicas of your furniture pieces. You don’t need to get anything fancy, plain brown paper or cardboard should do the trick. You will need measurements of each piece of furniture, which you can trace onto the paper and cut out. Label each paper and then start arranging. If you don’t want to waste all that brown paper, you can create a miniature version of your room and furniture. Just make sure everything is scaled properly!

Formulate a New Balanced Layout

Even if you’re not an expert home decorator, you’ve probably been to a house where something just doesn’t feel ‘right’ about a particular room. Maybe it’s too cramped or everything looks mismatched. Either way, if you follow the tips below you can achieve a practical and balanced layout:

  • If you have heavy furniture, balance it out with other large objects or groupings of smaller items.
  • Don’t put all the furniture against the wall. It might be tempting as it keeps it out of the way, but that leads to a large empty space in the middle of the room. Instead, place some in the middle area as it will create depth and interest
  • Consider the height of furniture pieces and arrange them to create multi-levels in the space. If you have a shorter piece, hang a large print wall to elongate the space. A large print will also encourage the eye to travel up making the room feel taller.
  • Don’t be afraid to play with color and patterns. Eye-catching colors can help turn a room from drab to fab. Just make sure you don’t overuse a particular color or pattern especially if they are very bright or loud. Instead, use them as accent pieces through throw pillows, curtains, or art.
  • Similar to the above, experiment with a variety of textures to add depth and interest to the room. Pillows, rugs, and drapes are all great ways to add textures. Mixing materials can also add interest. You can use marble, wood, and metal to ground the space while glass and light fabrics can give a room a ‘breezy’ feel.

Don’t Forget to Focus on Better Lighting

Setting up your furniture isn’t just about finding the right place for your tables, chairs, and sofas. Lighting also plays a key role in how to arrange the pieces in the room. So take a moment to actually look at the lighting you have in each room and how you use it to your advantage.

  • If you have a big heavy sofa or chest in the room, try to place it under your overhead lights or put a lamp on it to visually lighten them
  • Darker rooms tend to feel smaller than brighter rooms. While this might work for cozy living rooms, it might not be great for places like the dining room or kitchen as it can feel cramped. If you can’t change up the lights, consider reducing the amount of furniture in these rooms or investing in some floor lamps to brighten it up.
  • If you have end tables or stands, place them in ways that make sense for both the room’s flow and as potential light sources in case you need some more in the room
  • Consider using hue lighting as it can be used to set the mood. You can add some wall sconces for extra lighting and it doesn’t take up any real estate on a table or floor

Hire Professional NJ Movers

Setting up your new home can be an exciting and painstaking process. Even after you arrange your rooms when you move, you may end up going through multiple layouts throughout the years as your needs and moods change. Your tastes may also change so you’ll end up rearranging your house multiple times! These tips can help you layout your home whether you decide to change up your furniture or move to a new place.