Where to Find Affordable Furniture

Furnishing a home can be incredibly expensive. Shop at the below stores to keep your costs as low as possible:

Target and Walmart. Both Target and Walmart are great places to go when searching for affordable furniture. The benefit of these stores lies not only in their prices, but also in their prevalence throughout the U.S. This allows customers to see furniture first hand before buying it. It also makes for more convenient returns should one be necessary. Note that you will likely have to assemble furniture you buy from these stores.

IKEA. IKEA offers services that you won't find at Target or Walmart, such as delivery (starting at $59) and assembly (starting at $79), without charging substantially-high base prices. Also, its furniture selection is greater than Target's and Walmart's. 

Amazon.com. Amazon makes it easy to compare furniture based on price and customer reviews. Combine this with the free and quick shipping offered by Amazon Prime, and Amazon is definitely one of your most convenient options. 

Overstock.com and Wayfair.com Overstock.com and Wayfair.com have extensive online inventories, making these your go-to sites if you want to exhaust your options. They also have home decor, bed and bath products, and kitchenware. Frequently offering coupons and free shipping on top of already affordable prices, both sites are attractive options. 

Best Buy. Best Buy offers competitive prices on home essentials such as televisions, and often runs sales that make its prices better than those found online. Best Buy show rooms let you try out different electronics for yourself. The company also offers Geek Squad Protection Plans for some products (for an added expense) that covers your devise if something were to happen to it. College students are eligible for exclusive deals simply by entering their email addresses.

Home Goods. Home Goods sells furniture and home decor, and is able to offer low prices because it mostly sells items with minor defects (often unnoticeable). The store can be compared to Pottery Barn but for a fraction of the price! One perk of buying furniture from Home Goods is that is comes pre-assembled.

Finally, you can find great deals on used furniture on Craiglsist. Craigslist is especially useful for big ticket items such as sofas and dining room tables, which will be fairly expensive new even at the lowest-priced stores.

What it Costs to Move

When buying a home, it's easy to get caught up on a home's listing price and overlook some of the smaller expenses, such as closing costs and moving fees. Unfortunately, these charges can add up.

Moving Expenses. Moving is time consuming, exhausting work, which is reflected in the cost of packing, moving and storage services. The average move of household goods in 2012 cost $12,459, according to Worldwide ERC. Naturally, costs vary based on a number of factors. The primary factor that movers consider is distance. Other variables affecting price include the size of the home and the weight of the contents of the home. Make sure that the movers inspect your home prior to moving day and provide you with a weight estimate of your belongings. Calculate an estimate of your moving fees, here.

How to minimize moving expenses: The best way to keep moving costs low is to do as much of the packing and moving yourself. If you don't have access to a truck, consider renting a moving truck. U-Haul has trucks of all difference sizes that you can rent from one location and return at another. For a small extra fee, you can also rent protective mats to put furniture on. It's best to schedule ahead of time to ensure that the truck you need is available. If you are moving for work, you can request that your company cover relocation expenses, ideally before you accept the position or plans are finalized.

2014's Top U.S. Moving Destinations

For the second year in a row, Oregon has been named the top moving destination within the U.S. according to United Van Lines' 38th Annual Movers Survey. As the nation's largest household goods mover, the company tracks state-to-state migration patterns, and reports that 66% of Oregon moves were inbound in 2014 as opposed to outbound. South and North Carolina were close behind, each at 61%. Oregon is popular due to its outdoor recreation, culture, and arts and entertainment scene, among other factors. In fact, CNNMoney cites Portland as one of America's most innovative cities. It notes that Portland built a light rail in 1986 instead of a new highway, and commends the city's sustainability and high percentage of bicycle commuters thanks to a 1973 bicycle plan, urban trails, and short blocks.

This is part of a larger patten in which people are leaving the Northeast (with 1/4th citing retirement as the reason) to southern and western states, where housing costs tend to be lower, the weather is more temperate, and job growth is at or above the national average.

States with at least 55% of moves going into the state are considered "high inbound" (marked in blue), states with at least 55% of moves going out of the state are considered "high outbound" (marked in yellow),  and states with relatively equal inbound and outbound rates are considered "balanced" (marked in gray). The migration map below depicts which states fit into each of the above categories:

States with the highest outbound rates include New Jersey (65%), New York (64%), and Connecticut (57%). New this year, Ohio is on the outbound list, ranking sixth with an outbound rate of 59%. Thinking about moving to or from Central Ohio? Visit my website and contact me to see how I can help. I am a full time Realtor with a lifetime of experience serving sellers and buyers in Ohio. 

Making Moving Easy

Moving homes can be an exhausting process. Fortunately, you can do many relatively simple things to get through it as smoothly as possible. You have control over hiring the moving company. Do your research--are they licensed and insured? Do they have testimonials or client ratings posted online? You can also take referrals from neighbors and friends. Once you've hired a moving company, treat its crew well--they are the ones responsible for handing your items. Cold refreshments go a long way!


Before you pack, measure the width of the doors in your new home to ensure all furniture will fit. Examine tax laws on moving: some move-related items are tax deductible. Don't forget to change your address.

You can often come by boxes for free--ask a local store if it has spare boxes you may take. When you're packing, label all boxes with handling instructions ("this side up" / "fragile"), the contents of the box, and the room it's meant to go in. Pack heavy items in small boxes to make them easier to carry. Do not pack flammable, explosive, or corrosive materials--doing so is illegal! The image to the right can help you identify which products fit into these categories.

Finally, never lose sight of the bill of landing (the contract between you and the movers). It's an imperative document to have should problems arise.

For now, happy packing and safe travels!

Downsizing in 5 Steps

Downsizing can be an overwhelming process, especially if you've lived in the same home for many years. Following these five steps will help minimize the hassle of downsizing.

Step 1: Assess your needs. Differentiate between what you have and what you need (those items that play an active part in your daily lifestyle). When is the last time you used your treadmill? Would a pair of running shoes be more useful and easier to store? Get rid of things you have not used, or have seldom used, in the past year. This ensures you are giving weight to things you already use---not things you might use some day in the future. If you are torn between keeping an item or giving it away, compromise: if you don't use it within the next six months, toss it. Go through your belongings in storage as well. Discard those boxes that have not been touched since being placed in storage. You can donate items to friends and family, join a free cycle group, or sell items online. The amount of things you get rid of should correspond to the amount of storage space in your new home. On that note, be sure to note storage space in your new home before you move.

Step 2: Clear shelves, cabinets, and closets. Decluttering is an important step in downsizing. One good method to see what odds and ends you actually need  is to empty a cabinet or drawer, and only put back what you use over a period of time--perhaps two-four weeks. This can be used for clothing as well. Hang all of your clothes in one direction. When you wear something, hang it up in the other direction. This will help you identify what you do and do not wear, thus making it easy to determine what to keep and what to give away.

Step 3: Measure your furniture. Will your current furniture fit in your new home? Take measurements of your current furniture, and get a floor plan (or at least room dimensions) of your new home. Consider door, closet and window placement when determining how to arrange your furniture in advance. Better Homes and Gardens's free Arange-A-Room online software can help you generate a floor plan.

Step 4: Organize. When packing, label boxes by room. If you know something will end up in storage, go ahead and pack it in a decorative storage box than can simply be moved from one storage area to the next. This will keep your home from getting too cluttered by boxes.

Step 5: Move. Move large items first. This takes the most energy, and will help you determine where smaller items go.  Unpack bathroom and kitchen items next, since these items are likely to be needed soonest. Finally, organize space while unpacking, placing each moving box in its labeled room.

Questions about downsizing? Contact me. 

Time to Downsize?

Americans tend to think that “bigger is better.” However, this is not always the case. Downsizing has many benefits, such as minimal maintenance (which frees up your time and money!). Many people decide to downsize once their children move out of the family home. It’s common for adults 55+ to move out of single-family homes in the suburbs and into downtown condos and lofts. Downtown is appealing because many of the neighborhoods are within walking distance to shops, work, restaurants, and nightlife. Condos and lofts are attractive because they are low-maintenance and more eco-friendly. Still, downsizing is hard, because often we hold onto fond memories of living in a certain home.

There are a number of factors to consider before you decide to downsize. First of all, how important is home size? Do you really need his-and-her offices, or could you be perfectly happy with one home office? This is simply a matter of personal preference and needs.  It’s important that downsizing feels like a step forward. If it doesn’t, perhaps downsizing is not for you. Nonetheless it’s best to be prepared for a trade-off. You might get less space and sacrifice a few of the luxuries of a bigger home in exchange for a lawn that takes less time to mow and a home that is less expensive and easier to clean. Downsizing is all about prioritizing yours wants and needs and weighing the pros and cons of your options.

Also consider how future scenarios may affect your lifestyle. Is it possible one of your kids will move back in? Do you sometimes host guests that would require a separate quest bedroom or an in-law suite?

It’s essential to consider costs. Downsizing will save you money because you are buying a smaller home and likely selling a bigger, more expensive home. It will also save you money through smaller mortgage payments, less property taxes, and reduced utility bills. Still, moving always costs money.  You may need to buy smaller furniture: large furniture suffocates small spaces. Consider selling your too-big furniture and unneeded possessions at a yard sale or on EBay or Craigslist. You also may need to rent a storage unit, if your new home cannot properly store all of your family heirlooms.

Finally, ask yourself what type of property you are looking for when you downsize. I have mentioned that lofts and condos (“attached homes”) need the least amount of maintenance. However, expect to pay monthly Home Owners Association (HOA) fees, which go toward maintaining the building. Sometimes, buildings with HAOs impose rules on their residences. On the bright side, many come with amenities, such as a gym and/or pool. Some people may prefer a single family, detached home. This option is most attractive to people who want a larger yard, more garage space, and other features that condo living falls short on. For people who have spent a long amount of time in a rather large home, it may be too much of a sacrifice to move into a condo that will likely be much smaller. Either way, pay attention to the neighborhood or area you want to be in. Do you want to be close to downtown? Is it important to live in a walkable, bike-friendly neighborhood? Do you prefer to live in a neighborhood with fewer children—maybe a development removed from schools?

Once you decide what you are looking for in your new home, go ahead and hire a realtor to help you in your search. I have experience with clients who are downsizing; contact me to see how I can help.

If you are building a home, seek out builders who specialize in smaller homes. HGTV recommends building a ranch or bungalow for optimal low-key living. 

Cutting Moving Costs

An interstate move of at least 1,220 miles costs, on average $5,630. In state moves cost an average of $1,170, according to the American Moving and Storage Association. Buying and selling a home is the exciting part; moving is the necessary evil. Read about six ways to cut moving expenses, below:

1. Do it yourself. You can rent a truck and pack your belongings yourself. Not comfortable driving large moving vehicles? Some companies will let you pack and load your own moving truck, while providing drivers. You can also outsource some of the moving (larger items such as futons and big screen TVs cannot easily be personally transported) and do the rest yourself (smaller items such as clothes and kitchen supplies can be packed in boxes and transported in your own car).

2. Request price quotes. Contact at least three moving companies and inform them of the weight and number of items you need to move. Include the number of miles between your old and new home in order to get accurate quotes. Check resources such as Angie's List and Yelp to read reviews of various moving companies and value for price. Also look for coupons and discounts. For a quick quote, click here.

3. Schedule your move for a non-peak time, if you can. Most people move in the summer, at the beginning or end of the month. Moving at another time can lead to better deals. Be sure to thoroughly plan your move.

4. Check your insurance policy. Some homeowner's and renter's insurance policies cover your items during your move. If not, insurance to protect your belonging during your move can be purchased for an additional fee.

5. Save on moving materials. Go to big box stores, gas stations, and grocery stores and ask for their leftover shipping boxes. Ask family, friends, and coworkers for their spare boxes. There is no need to spend $20 on a specialty TV box! Use newspapers and T-shirts to safely pack you items.

6. Use tax deductions. People who move for work can be eligible to deduct moving expenses from their taxes, especially if moving 50 miles or more away. Get more information about moving-related tax deductions here.

What to Keep: Tips on Sorting Your Belongings

Cleaning out your home is a big job, and it's often tedious, time-consuming work. Below are some tips that will help you decide what you should keep and what should be put out by the curb.

First, go through your closets and other storage spaces in your home and throw out things that you have no desire to keep--things that are broken, have been replaced, or cannot be repurposed. This is called decluttering. Oprah's organizing guru, Peter Walsh, shares a few insightful tips on how to declutter your home and decide what to keep:

On kitchen drawers: Empty the contents of kitchen drawer(s) into a bin placed on your countertop. Over the next month, place what you use back in the drawer. By the end of the month, toss what's left in the bin--you don't need it if you don't use it.

On things you have many of: Apply the ratio rule. For every three or four books you keep, throw one out, until your items fit into the space where they belong. This tactic works well for magazines, DVDs, CDs, and books.

On clothes: Arrange your closet so that all hangers are facing the same direction. When you wear something, change the direction of the hanger when you hang it back up. After a month or so, donate the clothes that you have not worn (those with the hangers still facing the origional direction). Like the kitchen drawer method, this is designed to help you identify what you use and what you can do without. Click here for the full news clip on Peter Walsh. 

Second, keep in mind that your storage needs, along with the sentimental value of your belongings, change over time. If your kids are full grown, you can most likely throw out their summer camp arts-and-crafts projects. Or, you could tell your children you are cleaning out the house, and ask that they assume responsibly for their childhood mementos. If you struggle with giving away years of a child's art or schoolwork, keep a few of the most memorable items. You could also take picture of items that you need to throw away. That way, you have the memories and the space! Regardless, invovling family members in the process is a good idea. Children could go with you to donate their unused toys, which will help them part with their belongings. Another incentive for younger family members to get rid of some of their things is to hold a garage sale in which each family member gets to keep the money from the sale of his/her objects. If you are cleaning out the home alone, and wonder if one member of your family wants to keep something--ask. Many personal items are irreplaceable.

After your initial cleaning, and keeping in mind the criteria above, go through closets once more to determine what should be thrown out, repurposed, kept, and donated. Tackle one closet at a time, so as not to be overwhelmed. Once done, every item should have earned its place in your home. In other words, storage areas should not be places you carelessly place junk you've accumulated and will soon forget about. Items you are keeping should be neatly organized or proudly displayed.

It's a good idea to clean out your home regularly (think "spring cleaning"). If you have lived in a home for many years and are planning on selling, it's best to start cleaning way before you list your home. If your home sells quickly, or you find the perfect new home soon into your search, you want to be ready to go. It's amazing how much stuff can accumulate in a home over time!

August Home Sales Record High

Central Ohio home sales for summer 2013 stand at their highest point on record. Chris Pedon, Columbus board of REALTORS president, states that "home sales over the summer were off the charts." He notes that only one summer (2005--the height of the housing boom) even came close to seeing the same volume of home sales. Homes sold from January-August of this year exceed those that sold during the same time in 2012 by 23%, and also surpass those of any prior year. The 2,729 home sales in August of this year marks another record high, exceeding August 2012 home sales by 11%. School systems are noticing this trend, indicated by increased student enrollment in many major school systems such as Dublin, Olentangy, Hilliard and Westerville. While inventory is slowly increasing and home sales are slightly declining from earlier summer months such as July, demand still outnumbers supply. Pedon advises homeowners who have considered moving to move now, before demand further declines. Read the full housing report here.

Looking for an agent? Contact me to see what I can do for you.

Make Your Move Stress-Free

Packing and moving can be a huge ordeal. But with proper organization and a few key tips, you'll see that it doesn't actually have to be a long, overwhelming process.

Do as much as you can before moving day. Donate anything you don't want, and dump trash regularly. Ensure that movers can easily navigate your home by removing obstacles such as rugs, low hanging items, and anything surrounding the front door.

Organize. Mark all items you don't want loaded, and separate them from those that you do.  Make sure paperwork is not packed. Also mark special or fragile items, and point these out to movers. It's a good idea to have a few boxes containing items you'll need right away (perhaps kitchen and bathroom things)--instruct movers to unpack these items first, and mark the boxes accordingly. If you have kids, consider letting them pack a box of their favorite things, and ask that it be unpacked early on. Color code boxes by using a different color of masking tape for each room.

Ask questions.  Make sure that you understand all paperwork. If not, ask for clarification.  Give the driver your new address and contact information. Ask the mover:

• For his/her cell phone number
• For tracking information
• Whether your shipment is the last to be loaded (this will help you determine when the driver leaves for your new home)
• Whether your shipment is first to be unloaded
• For an estimated delivery date and time 

Take care of your movers. Movers often work long, tiring days. It's a nice gesture to pick up something for them to eat (pizza, anyone?) and to keep water and soda available. Show them where drinks are kept and which bathroom to use, so they don't have to worry about asking. It's your decision whether you want to tip the driver. Many people do, and the driver can then distribute some of the tip to his/her crew.

When sellers list their homes with me, I provide them with a number of resources, including a moving checklist and instructions on helping children cope with your move. Contact me if you're interested in selling your home--I can help! To learn a packing plan in only two minutes, watch the video below: