I had to come up with a plan. Here’s what I did. My friends at Bellhop Movers asked me to write this because they thought you may feel the same.

Create a Food Moving Plan

Your goal is to pack and move as little as possible to carry to your new home. Why you ask?

• The perishable food items may spoil and become hazardous.
• The weight of food items adds to moving costs.
• It can be time-consuming and expensive to deal with (lots of extra wrapping to do, plus cardboard and packing supplies).
• Some of the items are probably long-expired anyway.

Food Moving Strategies

Start early. It’s natural to procrastinate, particularly if you love your home ‘as is.’

Involve the Family and Best Friends: There is no rule that says one person must do it all. Kids can help find expired expiration dates on canned goods and cereal; turn it into a treasure hunt with a reward. Maybe offer a reward for each expired item found. Even small kids can learn to read the expiration dates. Invite friends over to help, but only the ones who can talk while working.

Plan it: If you have 8 sets of cabinets, plan to stretch it out. Tackle one at a time. Take on the canned goods, or condiments, or cereal.  Maybe whittle down the empty glass bottles.

Show It: Mark your progress around the kitchen with removable painter’s tape on the cabinets. Write notes on it. That tape gave me a sense of progress.

Break the big scary task down into micro-projects that can be handled in one or two hours. This helps with the inevitable panic that can come.

Learn from it: Looking at a pile of food waste like expired cereals, canned food may make you a better shopper and remind your family about food waste. We all adopted new habits during Covid. Maybe it’s time to drop some.

Seven Tips on What to Do with Food When Moving

1. Pre-Move – Break Old Food-Buying Habits

Stop Buying ‘Extra’ Food – Months before the Move

If you have two months of extra food in your pantry for that rainy day emergency like I did, stop buying two months before the moving date.

Breaking this routine is hard.

Stopping shopping it is harder than it sounds. But you have to. Use the extra time gained on the move or your family. Remember, this is temporary.

Don’t be tempted by discounts.  Stop thinking about the sale items. Forget about food for that rainy day. Stop stocking up.

Buy Only the ‘Easy’ Perishables

Switch the buying to a one-week horizon. The ‘usual’ suspects like milk and eggs, vegetables.

2. Keep Food Traditions Alive

Your family is likely to be stressed, kids particularly. Keep food routines going to show that life is going to be the same. Saturday mornings, my young daughters and I made pancakes together. We kept it up during the clean out, and it was what we made the first Saturday in our new home.

3. Use Up Your Perishables Before the Move

You can’t take perishables with you. The only real exception is a very short local move when frozen food items can be kept tightly sealed in an ice chest you carry in your car. Local food banks cannot accept frozen food.

Eat up what you have. Be like a bear in hibernation.

Find new recipes for what you have.

Engage the family. If they complain about the same old recipe, challenge them to use online apps to find new ways those pantry items. Apps like Supercook.com and My Fridge Food.

Limit Takeout Food

If Friday night was takeout night, think about cooking at home. Negotiate an extra night out after the move to get to know the new town.

4. Share. Throw a Party

Your friends will miss you. Throw a great dinner. Burgers and paper plates. Thank them. Make your ‘famous’ dishes. Maybe bake a pre-birthday cake for all the birthdays you’ll miss. Don’t make wild promises.

5. Give Away and Donate

You probably hate food waste as much as I do. Why not take them with me, you ask? Again, it’s worth repeating the three reasons.

• Each item must be handled (wrapped if in glass).
• They add to the cost of the move.
• Each item must be handled again at unpacking. (You may well be exhausted of unpacking by then; so, less is better.)

Food banks and other non-profit organizations cannot knowingly accept opened perishable food items. Set unopened items aside for donation.

Your moving company may be able to handle the donation drop-off for you. Many movers support Move for Hunger and can transport your donation free of charge.

Your friends may be glad to take that half-used box of oatmeal or other food items because they know you. This can be a bit risky. Maybe instead, bake up some oatmeal cookies and gift them.

Check your church, shelter or non-profit food bank. They may have food donation plans that meet local health requirements. For example if you cook up your food in their kitchen.

6. Recycle and Trash

Those outdated (expired) glass bottles of salad dressing and olive oil should go. Maybe all those little jars of spices. Rinse glass and recycle. Don’t argue with expiration dates.

7. Stock up on regional favorites you may not find in your new location

Buy and pack all-new items. Check the expirations too to keep from going crazy.

How to Pack Food for Moving | Tips

Your moving quote may include wrapping and packing. (Bellhop will be glad to provide a free moving quote). If so, you want to dispose of the perishable items before so the professional movers can be fast (and charge less).

Have pantry items separated for faster handling by the professional movers. We used painter’s tape on our countertops and cabinet shelves to separate spices and condiments from cereals and dry goods. Fragile items were separated too. This tape system eliminated questions and sped things up when packing.

Be sure to have extra supplies handy too. Packing paper, ziplock bags, bubble wrap, special cardboard boxes.

Put heavy items in small boxes: glass bottles of olive oil, glass jars and canned goods. Have a supply of carboard boxes handy, particularly small boxes for heavy glass containers.

Wrap glass bottles in bubble wrap.

Package dry goods like flour and sugar in sealable plastic bags.

Package likes with likes in the same box. Spices with spices, condiments with condiments. Don’t mix. It just makes unpacking more challenging.

Use blue painter’s tape to firmly seal cereals and other dry food goods like bags of walnuts or dried cranberries.

Label and number each cardboard box clearly. Or take a picture with your phone of the items in each box as you fill it. Mark the room name, summarize the contents, and number. Write on top and one side.

Create a packing list showing what’s in each box. Or create a shared photo album of all the photos everyone can reference.

With a longer-term moving plan, add disposable stuff to the weekly garbage pick up to whittle down the stuff going to the dump. This keeps costs down and frees up space to deal with the other items. Just seeing the pile will make you feel like you are making progress.

Have a Code: Blue painter’s tape sealing a box meant stuff could still be added. The clear professional movers wrapping tape meant the box was final-packed.

On Moving Day

Be kind to yourself. Maybe this is the time to get take-out food for you and the movers. Maybe drink less coffee. Drink more water with electrolytes. Now is the time to have recyclable plastic water bottles handy.

Calm the pets as best you can. Say goodbye to your vet, arrange to get the pet records, and maybe some calming meds.

Don’t forget to wheel out the trash bins as the final act!

Say Goodbye to the House: Gather everyone for a brief walkthrough and ceremony. Remember something memorable that happened. This place sheltered you, gave you room to grow.

During the Move

Cope, calm and stay hydrated. Now is the time for indulging in everyone’s favorite energy bars. If traveling with pets, remember their foods and allow for potty stops. If carrying perishable food in a sealed ice chest, this should be the first item unpacked.

After the move

Unpack the kitchen soon.

Make it a priority. Cook something. Fill the house with aromas of your families favorite meals. Paper plates, burgers on the grill will be ok. So much of our lives centers around food and food rituals. If the kids are used to cocoa at night, have it ready.

Thank the Movers!

The move can be stressful on them too.

Celebrate!

Congratulations you and your family have survived one of the biggest stressful life events imaginable. If you planned a special event like a cruise or trip to DIsneyland, you’ve earned it.

Meet the neighbors.

They will be curious.

Create new rituals and routines.

Before recreating old routines maybe try some new ones

Need More Help or Tips?

At Bellhop, there’s nothing we want more than for our customers to have a smooth move. We hope this article on how to pack food for the move saves you some time and worry. If you’re ready to get moving, their local and long-distance movers can be there in a jiffy. Give them a call, even if it’s just to ask how to pack olive oil. They can also tell you what packing supplies they carry and offer recommendations.

Bellhop offers a comprehensive set of articles on moving with tips and advice so you don’t have to reinvent how to move alone. Some are practical with titles like: When Should You Start Packing to Move? and THE Moving Checklist What to Check Off When You’re Moving. Others recognize the stress of the moment: Why Moving is So Stressful (And 3 Things You Can Do About It).

The post How to Pack Food for Moving appeared first on Bellhop.

How Do You Price Items for a Garage Sale?

Before you even start planning your garage sale, you might be wondering if it’ll be worth all the time and effort it’ll take. Can you make enough money from all your old stuff? If you price it right, you probably can make a pretty good profit, at least as long as you don’t set your expectations too high.

First-time garage sale planners often make the mistake of pricing their items above what people expect to pay for garage sale finds. A good rule of thumb is to price each item between 10% and 20% of its current retail value. If, for example, an item costs about $30 on today’s market, then you should price it between $3 and $6, depending on its condition.

Condition always makes a difference, too. If an item is well-used and rather worn, mark it down to the range of 10% of the retail price or even a bit below. If the item is in good condition or nearly new, you can price it higher. Just be consistent with your pricing. You might even check out a few other garage sales in your area to learn the going rates.

Remember, too, that garage sale shoppers are looking for deals. They aren’t going to pay high prices for any item most of the time (unless they have particular collections or really want something). You might think that you’re cheating yourself if you price too low, but really, you’re going to do better in the long run because people will be more willing to buy.

When Is the Best Time To Have a Garage Sale?

The best time to have a garage sale will depend partly on your schedule and partly on the typical garage sale seasons and days in your area. Most people choose to have their sales in the spring, summer, or early autumn, especially if they live in areas with cold winters. Watch the weather forecast, and try to select a day with moderate temperatures and sunshine. Choose an alternate date, too, in case the weather doesn’t cooperate.

Garage sales usually go better on weekends when people are off of work and have time to browse. You might schedule a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday sale to catch a wide variety of people. Start as early in the morning as you can. Even 7 or 8 a.m. is not too early, and you may find people lined up waiting for you to open, especially if you’ve publicized your sale well.

How Do You Publicize a Garage Sale?

This brings up another important garage sale consideration: publicizing your sale. You need to catch people’s attention and let them know what you have to offer. Start on Facebook with a public post advertising your sale. Give the dates and times you’ll be open and highlight some of the items for sale. You can list categories like toys, books, or clothing in various sizes, but also mention specifics like appliances or collectibles. Then ask your friends to share the post and keep it moving so that more people see it.

You can also publicize your sale by posting it on Craigslist and Nextdoor. And don’t hesitate to check out the other new garage sale apps popping up. You might attract a wider audience using several of these.

You may turn to more traditional advertising methods, too. Take out an ad in your local newspaper, for instance. You’ll have to pay for it, but many people still do watch for garage sales in this way. Put up a few posters around town as well, and never neglect good, old-fashioned word of mouth.

How Do You Make Garage Sale Signs?

In the few days before your garage sale, you should make signs directing shoppers to your sale. Use cardboard or heavy poster board and wide-tipped markers to create your signs. They don’t have to be fancy, but they should be clear, easy to read, and eye-catching.

Write “Garage Sale” or “Yard Sale” in large letters. Put your address underneath. You may also want to add the days and time of the sale. Make sure all this is legible, and add arrows based on the location of your home in relation to the signs.

As for posting your signs, you can use convenient light poles or attach metal or wooden yard stakes to your signs. Make sure you place them where people will be able to see them easily. Don’t ever put a sign on private property unless you ask for permission. Also, make one or two large signs for your own yard so that shoppers will know they’re at the right place.

What Are the Best Types of Objects to Sell at a Garage Sale?

You can actually sell nearly anything at a garage sale if you can find a person willing to buy, but some items do sell better than others. People expect things like clothing, household items, books, toys, DVDs, and furniture. You might offer collectibles or even antiques if you advertise well ahead of time and price them right.

Don’t, however, try to sell broken items, especially electronics or appliances, and don’t offer used beauty products or underclothing. Simply dispose of these. They likely won’t sell, and people might be turned off even looking at them. Make sure other items are at least in reasonably good condition.

How Do You Organize Clothes for a Garage Sale?

If you have a lot of clothes for sale, make sure they are clean. Then organize them by size and type. Separate women’s clothing, men’s clothing, and children’s clothing, and lay them out according to their styles. Hang up blouses and shirts together, and neatly fold pants and shorts. Make sure shoppers can easily see each piece. You might even want to make signs listing sizes for added convenience.

What Is the Most Essential Garage Sale Equipment?

Finally, in the days leading up to your sale, gather the essential equipment you’ll need to make it a success. Have enough tables to properly display your items, and include a card table and a chair for you to collect money. You’ll need a cash box and change as well as plastic shopping bags and newspaper and/or bubble wrap to protect fragile items.

Mark your items with price stickers, using a black marker for legibility. You can also use poster board to create price signs for groups of items. Watch out for price stickers, however. Sometimes they stick too well, so if you’re in doubt about whether they’ll come off easily, try tie-on tags instead.

Will Your Garage Sale Be a Success?

Your garage sale can certainly be a success if you plan carefully, offer quality items at reasonable prices, and provide a friendly atmosphere so that shoppers feel comfortable. Remember that you may not make huge amounts of money, but you’ll at least have more than you started, and you’ll be able to clean out your home’s nooks and crannies and get rid of stuff you don’t need so you can better enjoy what you have.

Getting Ready to Move? Let Us Help

If you’d like some help moving after your successful garage sale, let us help. We can help whether you’re looking to move long-distance, need some extra moving help, or are looking for a local move.

The post How To Organize Your First Garage Sale appeared first on Bellhop.

Yes, it’s true! While you may or may not have entered your crawl space before, there’s a good chance you have junk inside that needs to be removed before you move. 

The question is: how exactly do you do it? 

Below, we’re going to cover some FAQs about crawl space junk removal so that you know what steps to take. We hope it helps!

What is crawl space junk removal, and why is it important?

A crawl space is an area beneath your home that serves as a barrier to the ground. It can build up with all sorts of junk, such as ductwork, cables, insulation, plastic, leaves, and more. 

As a general rule, it’s best not to put household items in crawl spaces with vents since they are subject to damage from mold, water, and pests. However, closed crawl spaces help ward off water, mice, and other critters, making it sometimes a convenient solution for holding household items. That is, assuming there are no other entry points!

So, what is crawl space junk removal? It’s the process of cleaning out a crawl space and getting rid of any unwanted or damaged items. 

A junk removal company can go into your crawl space, take out any items that you want to remove, and properly dispose of them for you. The only thing to worry about is telling them what you want to get rid of, and they’ll handle the rest. That can make your move a whole lot simpler!

Is it worth it to clean a crawl space?

It is 100% worth it to clean your crawl space. It’s not an easy task, nor one that the average person wants to do. However, a crawl space that is left untouched for years can get infested with water, mold, and animals, which can pose a hazard to your home and your family. 

Cleaning your crawl space can help keep the moisture level to a minimum. If your crawl space is susceptible to water, meaning that you live in an area that rains a lot (e.g., the Pacific Northwest), hiring a crawl space cleaning company can help you keep tabs on this moisture so that it doesn’t have any long-lasting effects. 

Rain has a chance of going into the crawl space, which can build up moisture inside and lead to mold, mildew, and other problems. Cleaning your space (and making sure there’s a vapor barrier inside) is vital to control any water problems. 

Another reason to clean your crawl space is to get rid of any bad smells. If you find yourself lighting countless candles, using essential oils, and spraying air freshener around your house, your crawl space might be to blame. A thorough crawl space cleaning can help deter off-putting smells from things like pests.

Speaking of which, cleaning your crawl space can help keep animals and bugs out. Cleaning it can help you identify any problems with your crawl space, such as a damaged vapor barrier or insulation, which can let rodents and other pests inside your home. That can be dangerous for your health and family, which is why cleaning your crawl space is important. 

Crawl space cleanouts also promote energy efficiency. If there are any entry points in your crawl space for rodents and other pests, it can cause problems with your heating and cooling. That can make your electric bills skyrocket. If you want to save on electricity, cleaning your crawl space is a good place to start. 

How often should you clean a crawl space?

It is generally advised to get a crawl space inspection twice per year. This will tell you if you have any mold, water, or pest problems that need to be dealt with promptly. 

If you notice a lot of junk inside your crawl space, it’s not a bad idea to call a junk removal company. You can get a better look inside your crawl space when it’s clean, and there aren’t tons of wires and items hanging around.

Can you take dirt out from a crawl space?

Absolutely! Not only can you remove dirt from your crawl space, but you should. Just make sure to ask a professional for help.

Dirt and junk can make it challenging to get inside, which may cause you to miss problems with your crawl space, such as mold, water intrusion, frayed wires, damaged insulation, or mice. 

Aside from dirt, you can have professionals clean out any wood, nails, or broken glass. These items can be dangerous if left alone. If it turns out that there is any damage inside your crawl space from debris of any kind, you can have a crawl space repair company come in to handle things for you. 

Should I remove crawl space insulation?

It’s a common misconception that insulation shouldn’t be taken out of a crawl space. However, this is not exactly true. If your insulation is damaged or causing moisture to build up in the crawl space, it might need to be removed and replaced. 

There are many types of crawl space insulation you can use. Some of the insulations you should steer clear of or replace are spray foam insulation and fiberglass insulation. Fiberglass, in particular, is susceptible to water damage, which can result in mildew, mold, and other issues. 

If you need your insulation replaced, remember to contact a professional crawl space cleaning company. That way, you can make sure everything has been done properly for the security of your crawl space and the safety of your loved ones. 

What can I do about a crawl space under my house?

There are many things you can do about a crawl space beneath your house. For instance, it’s a good place for ductwork and wiring. Roomy crawl spaces can also make a great destination for a heating and cooling system. 

In addition, you can technically store items in your crawl space – as long as it’s closed off with a vapor barrier. Otherwise, you could risk small creatures climbing into the space and chewing on the insulation, wiring, and more. 

If you don’t want your items damaged by water, it’s best to store them somewhere else, like an attic, if the crawl space has vents that open up to the outside. You might also not want to store belongings in a crawl space if you like an area with high moisture levels. 

Water can seep into a crawl space, and if you don’t catch it in time, it can damage the items stored inside the crawl space. That can make you lose money and have to replace those items at the end of the day. 

Good luck with your crawl space cleanout 

Crawl space junk removal is helpful if you’re looking to move and need help to tackle this project. The good news is that you’re not in it alone. 

The right junk removal partner can help you take old or damaged insulation, wiring, household items, and more out of the crawl space. Also, if they can’t be recycled, they’ll make sure to get rid of them in the safest way possible for the environment. 

Contact us today to connect with our junk removal partner. We’re dedicated to getting you the right resources to help with your big move. 

The post All You Should Know About Crawl Space Junk Removal appeared first on Bellhop.

How to clean out an attic

Below is how to clean out an attic to prepare for your big move: 

Tip #1: Get the right equipment and supplies

If you’re going to clean out your attic, a shopping trip is in order. Don’t have all of these items listed below? Be sure to stop by the store. You’ll need ‘em! 

This list includes a vacuum, broom, dustpan, light, safety goggles, rubber or plastic gloves, paper towels, garbage bags, rags, a mask, and cleaning supplies (i.e., bleach, water, disinfectant, and Windex). 

Tip #2: Wear your safety goggles, gloves, and a face mask

Once you have your equipment and supplies, it’s time to bring everything upstairs into the attic. That way, it’s easier to access everything when you need it. 

Just be sure to wear your goggles, gloves, and face mask when you go up there. That way, if there’s mold or a rodent infestation, you can be protected. 

Tip #3: Move everything to a different room – for now

It’s difficult to clean when an attic is filled to the brim with boxes. Try to bring everything outside of the attic before cleaning starts so that you can inspect the area and make sure you don’t miss anything. 

One of the best parts about relocating the items is that you can inventory what you have. Does that old piano not bring you joy anymore? It’s time to get rid of it, whether you choose to donate it or sell it. Haven’t touched those old appliances in years? It’s time for them to go, too. 

It’s true that attics can accumulate a lot of junk over time. After all, you rarely go inside your attic unless you need something particular. So, cleaning your attic in preparation for your move is the perfect time to get rid of those items that have just been taking up space. 

A junk removal company can help you a ton with this process by taking the items out of the room for you. All you have to do is let them know what you’d like to declutter, and they’ll take care of everything else. 

If there are some items you want to keep, simply inspect the boxes to make sure they’re in good enough condition for the big move and won’t break. Otherwise, you might want to invest in some new moving boxes. 

Tip #4: Start deep-cleaning

One of the first things you’ll want to do is tackle the inevitable dust and dirt that has built up. A ladder may come in handy for this part. Dust off everything from ceiling fans to the baseboards, and be sure to switch out your rags as needed so that you don’t just move dust around. 

Done with dusting? It’s time to sweep the attic. Also, don’t forget the value of a good vacuum! Sweeping can catch large amounts of dirt before you take a swing at the leftovers with a vacuum. Once the space is debris-free, move onto the windows. Windex can do wonders for you!

Tip #5: Check for mold, rodents, and other issues

After your space is clean, it will be easier to find signs of rodents, mildew, mold, and water damage. If you do notice droppings, read on to learn about the decontamination process below. 

As for mold and mildew, talk to an expert to help clean that up for you. It’s possible to DIY it, but it’s easier to work with a professional!

How long does it take to clean out an attic?

Many things affect the timeline of how long it takes to deep-clean an attic (e.g., your attic’s square footage and the total amount of storage). 

Generally, you only need a day or so to clean most attics. However, if your attic is bigger than average or hasn’t been cleaned in a while, it may take longer than a day.

How do I decontaminate my attic after rats?

If you have signs of rodents in your attic, you might be tempted to sweep or vacuum the area, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest otherwise, noting, “These actions can cause tiny droplets containing viruses to get into the air.” 

Here are the steps to decontaminate your attic if you notice rat droppings or nests:

• Collect your supplies. To clean your attic, you’ll need plastic or rubber gloves, a mop, paper towels, as well as disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water. The CDC recommends a 1:9 ratio of bleach and water, made right before you start cleaning. That means, don’t let it sit for hours or days ahead of your attic cleanout. Otherwise, it could lose its effectiveness. 
• Get rid of any urine and fecal matter. First thing’s first, slap on your gloves. Next, use a heavy hand when applying the cleaning solution or disinfectant mentioned above to the affected area. Wait five minutes. Then, dry everything up with a paper towel. Toss the paper towels in a garbage can with a lid (an outside garbage can is best). Finally, mop up the space covered with urine or droppings using the disinfectant once again. Wash your hands with the gloves on, and wash them again after you have removed the gloves to prevent contamination. 

How often should you clean your attic?

As a general rule, it’s good to clean your attic once annually. That means removing unwanted items, getting rid of dust and debris, and sanitizing the space. 

It’s also not a bad idea to go through your attic each season. That way, you can keep it clutter-free and ultimately save yourself time when you do your annual cleaning. 

How do you clean soot out of an attic? 

If there’s soot in your attic from a fire, start by moving everything out of the attic, which you’ve likely done already if you’re cleaning your attic. The exact steps may vary based on the extent of the fire. However, as a general rule, it’s recommended to get rid of the insulation. 

Then, you can use a gentle hand and a sponge to take off thick layers of soot. If you can, contact a professional to help remove soot from an attic so that nothing is missed.  

Best of luck with your attic cleanout

We realize how challenging it can be to move when an attic is full of junk. That’s why it’s so helpful to know how to clean out an attic and get rid of things you no longer want. 

If you need a hand with this process, reach out to us today. We work with a quality junk removal partner who would love to help. 

The post Top 5 Tips: How to Clean Out an Attic appeared first on Bellhop.

Whether you’re cleaning up your basement to get ready to move, to get your basement clear for a sale or move-out, or are simply cleaning a basement for a property you’ve just purchased, we’ve got you covered. 

Let’s dive in and talk more about the steps in a basement cleanout and what you need to know.

Your basement’s a mess – here’s how to clean it

Basement cleanouts aren’t for the faint of heart. They can expose you to harmful chemicals, mold, mildew, sewage, standing water, and numerous other hazards. 

However, rest assured that if you’re looking to DIY water cleanup or handle minor flooding, as long as you have the correct tools and take precautions, you should be just fine. All it takes is some research and a little elbow grease to get your basement looking good as new and get your house ready for moving in or for sale in no time. 

As always, if you’re not sure if you want to take on the task of cleaning up water damage in your basement, the professionals are just a phone call away.

Tips for cleaning a basement

Here are some tips for your basement cleanout: 

#1: Flip the breaker

Water and electricity don’t mix. That’s why switching off the electricity and gas should be the first thing on your basement cleaning checklist. If you don’t know the location of the breaker, get in touch with your electrician right away. 

Generally, they can give you a few ideas on where to look, and if you still can’t find it, they can come to your home to turn off the power for you. 

#2: Let it dry before cleaning

Mold grows in less than two days, so drying out the basement should be a top priority after a flood or leak. 

You can utilize a wet/dry shop vacuum or a water pump if you have experience in how to use that. Fans and a dehumidifier will help it dry the rest of the way after the water is gone. 

#3: Clear out any damaged items

Flooding (whether it’s from sewage or another source) can be toxic and contaminate those cans of peaches, corn, and baked beans in your basement. There isn’t a safe way to clean them, so it’s best to discard them. 

You’ll also want to throw away any carpeting, flooring, wall materials, insulation, beds, and furniture immersed in water. (If there was only minor water damage, some of these items could be cleaned.)

#4: Disinfect – don’t just sanitize

Sanitizing your basement with an antibacterial spray can help kill harmful bacteria, but it won’t stop all organisms from growing after a flooding incident. Bleach can, though. 

It’s important to disinfect your basement thoroughly for your family and home’s safety (more on how to disinfect a basement below).  

#5: Don’t forget to scrub the walls

When you think about cleaning a basement, the first thing that comes to mind is usually the cement floor. However, you don’t want to overlook the walls. 

Like the floors, the walls can get affected by water. That’s why it’s important to clean nearly two feet up the wall from the floor and wherever there is damage to ensure that the walls are no longer contaminated. 

#6: Add a waterproof stain

Once the water is gone, consider a waterproof stain to help fight back against water damage in the future. This is extra beneficial if you live in an area at risk for flooding or have an older home that’s known for leaks. 

To apply the stain, you’ll first need to give the floor a good scrub using an alkaline cleaner and degreaser. Next, you’ll want to wash away the cleaner, add phosphoric acid, and scrub the floor once again for about 60 minutes. Leave the solution there for 20 minutes. Then, rinse the floor three times over. Finally, after it’s dry, you can apply the stain, which takes about a day to dry. 

#7: Take care of any necessary repairs

It’ll be easier to see the damage the water left behind after the basement is clean. That is your chance to schedule repairs or DIY the repairs yourself. 

These repairs may include tearing off the carpeting, painting the walls, or putting in new walls and insulation. No matter what the job entails, make sure to wear the proper gear to keep yourself safe.

How do I disinfect my basement?

First, you’ll need the right supplies. That includes chlorine bleach, scrubbers with long handles, washcloths, one or two buckets, a mop, latex or vinyl gloves, and safety goggles.

Next, you’ll want to make sure the basement floor, walls, and anywhere else affected are completely dry. If they’re not, you can move this process along by plugging in a handful of dehumidifiers and fans. 

After the area is dry, you’ll want to open the windows to help with the airflow. Then, add a tablespoon of chlorine bleach to a bucket of water. Dip your mop inside of the bucket until it’s fully wet. Then, mop the floors and walls until everything is covered. Wait for the area to dry, and mop it again. Use your scrubbers for more difficult areas. 

Tip: If the solution is not properly cleaning the floor after a flooring or sewage incident, up the bleach quantity to ¼ cup. 

How do I clean up water in the basement?

As we mentioned above, you can do one of two methods: vacuum the area with a wet/dry vacuum, such as this one by DEWALT. You can also use a water pump or sump pump to get the water out. Again, it is vital to dry the area before starting the cleaning process. 

What do you do with junk in the basement?

First, you’ll want to assess the water damage. If an item is beyond repair, you can throw it away or recycle it in some cases. If there are items you want to get rid of that were not affected by the water, you can sell, donate, or recycle these as well. (You can also have a company that offers basement cleaning and junk removal pick up your items for you.)

Ultimately, it comes down to how much time you have and whether the items are salvageable. Find more junk removal tips here. 

What if you can’t clean your basement alone?

Basement cleanouts are no easy task, and it gets even harder when there’s water damage. If you don’t have the right tools or time to clean your basement by yourself, contact a flooded basement cleanup company for assistance. 

They can ensure the job is handled professionally from square one, dry everything out, and limit the chance of mold and mildew growth. All you’ll have to do is show them where to go.

Best of luck with your basement cleanout

Once your basement cleanout is complete, it’s a great time to contact movers (such as your friends at Bellhop). We can help coordinate your move from start to finish, deliver your items to your new home, help you carry your items inside, and much more. Here is a bit more information on comparing moving company quotes as well.
Find movers near you today.

The post How to Clean Out a Basement appeared first on Bellhop.

Follow along for all of our best tips on appliance and furniture recycling.

Don’t want your furniture and appliances to end up in a landfill? Don’t worry. There are plenty of ethically sound ways to dispose of unwanted items in your home (beyond empty sauce jars, old mason jars, and moving boxes). Let’s talk about furniture recycling and what you need to know. 

Furniture recycling: what can you recycle?

• Futons
• Hide-a-beds
• Mattresses
• Certain couches and chairs
• And more

How do I get rid of furniture?

There are many ways to dispose of furniture. For instance, you can host a garage sale. If it’s summertime, you’re in the peak of moving season, which means that there’s probably a family or college student nearby looking to get pre-owned furniture at an affordable price. 

Don’t have time for a garage sale? Consider selling your furniture online on a platform like Facebook Marketplace instead. That can help you rehome your furniture to someone else who could use it during their own move.

Now, if you just want the furniture out, it never hurts to donate. Organizations such as the Furniture Bank, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, AMVETs, and Goodwill will find a good home for the furniture so that it doesn’t end up in a landfill.

Of course, if none of those options work for you, you can always take the furniture apart and drive it to a furniture recycling center. (Always call beforehand to see what they accept and if they have any requests for prepping the furniture for recycling.)

What can be the best option for furniture for recycling?

This depends on your goals. Ask yourself:

• Do I want extra cash and have time to spare? If so, selling your furniture will be your best bet. 
• Do I want this item out of my house? If so, we recommend donating or recycling the furniture.
• Am I just looking for an environmentally friendly way to get rid of furniture? If so, recycling, selling, and donating your furniture are all great options. 

What can you do with scrap furniture? 

The same steps apply as above. Instead of tossing your old, unwanted furniture, you can sell it, donate it to a person in need, or recycle it. Another thing you can do is restore it. (This is a great approach for wood furniture, which cannot usually be recycled.) 

To restore your furniture, you can check out Pinterest, Facebook groups, and furniture restoration blogs online to get DIY ideas. At the very least, you’ll want to add paint, material, brushes, and stain to your shopping list. Once you’ve restored the furniture, you can sell it (sometimes for a higher price than what you purchased it for). 

What can I do with old wooden furniture? 

Wood furniture is not easy to recycle. In case you didn’t know, your favorite coffee table and bookshelves have likely been treated, which is not safe for recycling. You can call around to wood recycling companies in your area (if available), restore and sell your wood furniture, donate it, or burn it. That way, it’s safe from landfills but still put to good use (even if that use is firewood). 

If there’s still a little life left in that table or shelf, consider finding a different place for it in your home. For instance, that old bench in your kitchen from when your kids were little could be brought outside to the garden. That old end table could be turned into a bedside table, jazzed up with some paint or stain, a nice plant, and a small basket. 

How do you recycle appliances and electronics?

Below is what you need to know about recycling appliances and electronic devices:

Appliances

You can recycle large appliances of all types, including freezers, fridges, air conditioners, dishwashers, stoves, washers, and dryers. Just make sure they’re unplugged and not warm before taking them to a recycling plant. (Plan for a couple of hours to a few days, depending on the item.)

The Best Buy recycling program takes care of appliances and electronics for free or for a small fee depending on the item and location. You can also reach out to your local garbage company or recycling company to see if they offer curbside pickup or furniture recycling drop-off. If these options don’t work out, you can return the item to the manufacturer (if it’s an option), sell it, donate it, or give it to a company that works with scrap metal. 

Electronics

When it comes to electronics, you can recycle TVs, cell phones, cameras, laptops, iPads, tablets, computers, desktop monitors, and keyboards. To recycle your electronics, remove your data, and wipe your hard drive. Take out any sim cards and batteries, and double-check that there’s no personal information on your devices. 

Next, contact the manufacturer to see if they accept returns or will buy the item back from you. (In the case of an old laptop, they might fix and refurbish it to sell down the line.) If that’s not an option, you can donate the item, sell it, or contact Best Buy or an electronic recycling company. 

Need help getting furniture, appliances, and electronics out of your home?

Hiring hourly labor movers might be a good solution. You can check out this guide on how to compare moving company quotes and services for insights on how to choose one. Of course you know Bellhop always has you covered! When you hire our labor-only movers, you can pay by the hour for help hauling things outside, moving around your garage, preparing for furniture recycling, and much more. 

Find movers near you today. 

The post How to Recycle Appliances, Furniture, and More appeared first on Bellhop.

Fast forward a couple of years later, and you may have noticed that the clutter has returned with a vengeance! If that’s the case, you’re not alone. But knowing that you may not have as much time on your hands to tackle the mess, we came up with three easy strategies to win your clutter battle one step at a time; better yet, each takes just 10 minutes or less.

Put a donation bag or basket in every space that needs an “edit”

Rather than facing the overwhelming task of making lots of choices at once, this strategy helps you pare down your stuff over time. Now, when you come across that ill-fitting sweater or uncover your collection of CDs from high school, you can simply toss them in the nearest donation pile.

Find a “home” for five things at a time

We often accumulate clutter because we don’t have designated places to store various items. Choose a problem area – e.g. your nightstand, kitchen surface, or entryway – and pick up five things. Rather than simply moving these items, think about where they can live permanently–and put them there. If you complete this exercise every day for a week, you might be surprised at the progress you can make in just a few minutes.

Create a basic filing system for papers.

It can be overwhelming and time consuming to sort through mail, mementos, and other documents. Instead of organizing your papers all at once, commit instead to three piles: trash, action, and save. The “action” pile is for papers like bills and RSVPs; the “save” pile is for things that need to be organized later, such as photos or letters you want to keep.

Finally, remember that it’s okay to ask for (or hire) help! Organizing and junk-hauling services are available virtually everywhere. And if you need a hand with some heavy lifting, Bellhop has you covered––check out our labor only service offering.

The post Strategies for Decluttering Your Home in 10 Minutes (or Less) appeared first on Bellhop.

In this article, we will share some valuable insight on how to declutter your home, that way (as Julia Cameron put it) you can make way for good, orderly direction.

Moving is a great chance to declutter. It’s like that old question: What would you grab if your house was on fire? But with moving, luckily, the fire is nice and slow. You have a few days, weeks or even months to grab everything you cherish and leave the rest. So, here a decluttering your home checklist for when you move (drawn largely from Marie Kondo’s amazing book).

Whether you’re preparing for a move or just paring down on your things, Bellhop can help. With over 300,000 moves under our belt, we’ve got this down to a science.

1. Set a Declutter Deadline:

When we are coaching people on preparing for a move, one thing we often say here at Bellhop is –– if it gets written down it gets done. So, if you seriously want to declutter your home, set a date and stick to it. In addition, incentivize yourself to follow through. Along with the deadline, write something along the lines of, “Declutter House by March 1st. Reward: Steak dinner at [fill in the blank restaurant].” This should be a fun process, not something you dread… so make a game out of it.

2. Start by Making it Worse:

Your first step is to lay all your clothes together on the floor. All of them. All at once. It’ll make a huge mess, but it’ll allow you to see all that you own. You’ll spot redundancies in your wardrobe and find all kinds of things you don’t need to keep. Then carefully organize what’s left. Move through all your possessions this way, starting with clothes, then books, “important” documents, and so on. It’ll look real bad at first, but it’ll feel real good real quick.

3. Apply the trash bag rule to effectively declutter your house.

Before diving into the toughest part of the decluttering process (getting rid of actual belongings), you should first throw away the trash in your home. Now, we are using the word trash pretty loosely here.

Magazines you’ve never read, shoe boxes, dated electronic chargers and cords, etc. These aren’t actual belongings, but rather stuff you’ve just never thrown away. Your goal here should be to fill at least one trash bag to the brim… if you can’t do this you aren’t throwing enough trash away. To declutter your home, first start by decluttering the trash. It’s much easier to let go of.

4. Keep Items that Spark Joy:

Letting go of things can be tough, so focus on what you want to keep. Identify and cherish the possessions that actively bring you joy, and get rid of the rest. If your hardback copy of Eat, Pray, Love doesn’t make you happy, maybe it will for someone else.

5. Keep the Emotion, Not the Gift:

When it comes to gifts, it’s not so much the thought, but the emotion that counts. A successful present makes you feel loved. Once that emotional gift is received, the object itself has done its job. No need to keep the graduation present from your aunty. Just remember she loves you, then you are free to send the snuggie to Goodwill.

6. Declutter, divide and conquer… and set a timer.

Declutter your home the same way you would tear off a band-aid. Don’t do it slowly. Do it quickly. It hurts less. As you are working to declutter your home, we recommend that you break it down by rooms and closets. In addition give yourself 30 minutes to declutter each room or closet. Nothing good will come out of staring at your 27 pairs of shoes for two hours hoping that one will fall off the shelf as a sign. The quicker you declutter your home the less stressful it will be and the less it will hurt.

7. The Ultimate Declutter Your Home Hack: The 12-12-12 Challenge

We mentioned earlier how important it is for you to play games as you work to declutter your house –– it makes this process fun and refreshing versus dreadful. One game you can play to make things fun and easy is the 12-12-12 challenge. The game works like this: as you go about decluttering each room you find 12 things to donate, 12 things to throw in the trash and 12 things to keep. Continue this process 2-3 times in each room until it is nice and tidy. You will be surprised at how quickly you can knock out entire sections of your house this way.

8. As you declutter your home, eliminate doubles, triples and quadruples.

How many pots and pans do you have? What about iPhone chargers? Old laptops? TV’s? Electronics? Can openers? Hair dryers? We will let you in on a little secret as you work to declutter your house… there is no reason for you to have three can openers and four hair dryers. Over the years, we tend to accumulate so much stuff that much of the stuff is the same stuff we already have. As you declutter your home and you come across doubles, triples and quadruples… don’t think twice just remove them.

9. Finish Tasks:

Launching five projects at once will leave your home in worse shape than when you began. Don’t get halfway through organizing your clothes and move on to your books just for fun. Muscle through one project, and then focus on what’s next. Finish what you start.

10. Pretend you have a smaller house with less storage.

We Americans tend to have more space than we know what to do with… and when we figure out a way to fill this space… we build more space we call storage units (that we rent out on a monthly basis). When you have that much space, it’s easy to think you have to fill it. So, just pretend you have less space. Pretend you have one less room in your house or one less closet or one less bathroom… how would you make everything fit? What would you choose to get rid of? What would you keep?

11. Set an earnings goal you want to achieve as you declutter your home.

Arguably the best part about decluttering your home is the money you can make as a result of it. Before you start painfully letting go of your belongings, we recommend you have an earnings goal in mind. And, remember to write it down –– see point number one if this still isn’t clear.  Anytime you are struggling with saying goodbye to something, think about the money you are trying to make… this will hopefully make things far less painful. With sites like Ebay, Bonanza, Craigslist, eBid and Letgo… you shouldn’t have any trouble finding a new home for your lightly used goods.

12. Watch Hoarding: Buried Alive on TLC

This one is kind of a joke… but kinda not. The addiction to keeping too much stuff is actually a psychological problem called hoarding disorder –– it is the persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them. Hoarding: Buried Alive is a show that is actually very sad to watch, but one that will at the very least motivate you to declutter your home. While most people don’t struggle to the extent that these people do in Hoarding: Buried Alive… it is still something we all can learn from.

Declutter Your Home –– Make Room For Good Orderly Direction

Good, you’ve made it to the end of this article which means you are serious about working to declutter your home. As you do so, remember what we mentioned towards the beginning of this article –– what would you grab if your house was on fire? While obviously, conditions aren’t this extreme, it definitely will get you thinking about which of your belongs matters most to you.

Good luck, and if you need some extra hands, book Bellhop. Give us a call at 1 (888) 836-3939. We love getting organized. Here is a guide on comparing moving company quotes if you would like additional information on movers and pricing. We hope this decluttering your home checklist helps!

The post Decluttering Your Home Checklist – Get Organized Before a Move appeared first on Bellhop.

Ryan originally set out to be a contractor, but after getting his license he realized the passion just wasn’t there. Unfortunately, he was $25,000 in debt and had a family of seven to support… so he had to figure out a way to make some dough quickly.

After talking with a few of his friends, he decided he was going to go all in on Craigslist and see if he couldn’t make a living by buying and selling goods on the platform.

Today, Ryan makes well over 6-figures by selling appliances like washers, dryers, ovens, and refrigerators on Craigslist. He’s doing pretty well considering the fact that he recently moved his entire family to Hawaii.

You can read more about his story and how he teaches people to make a living outside the box on his blog ReCraigslist. But today, we are using Ryan and his mad Craiglist skills to show you how to sell on Craigslist, making both money and room for your upcoming move!

What is Craigslist?

While it’s certainly not everyone’s goal to quit their job and become a full-time Craigslist hustler, there is still a lot to learn from Ryan’s story.
But before we get started, let’s answer a question you may or may not be wondering… what is Craigslist?

Unless you have been living under a rock for the past couple decades, there’s a good chance you’ve stumbled upon the website at some point or another.

But, for those who don’t know — Craigslist is an online classified advertising service that provides localized buying and selling markets. The word “localized” is what separates it from platforms like eBay… and it’s what makes Craigslist such a useful tool.

If you want to get rid of your microwave, you don’t have to FedEx it across the country, you can just sell it to someone on Craigslist that lives in your city.

With that said, this localization can be somewhat sketchy for buyers and sellers, so it’s important to be safe on the platform — you can read more about this towards the end of the article.

The Perfect Moving Tool

This localization is what makes Craigslist the perfect tool for individuals who are about to move. Take a look around your house, your garage, and your basement — what do you see?
Lots and lots of stuff… most of which you probably haven’t used in years.

Moving is a great experience because it forces people to lighten their load a bit and let go of all the hundreds of items they have hoarded over the years. Not to mention, letting go of these items can be pretty lucrative… putting some extra change in your pocket you can spend once you move to your new place.

If you’re considering moving, you might want to check out this blog on how tips for comparing moving company quotes.

In this article, we are going to tell you how to sell on Craigslist. Don’t get us wrong, Bellhop loves moving your precious belongings for you, but we are always looking for ways to help our customers save money — and, there is a lot of money to be made and saved on Craigslist!

How to make a Craigslist Account

Alright, so you are ready to start selling on Craigslist, but you aren’t sure how to make a Craigslist account. Fortunately, it’s a super-easy set-up. You can have an account up and running in less than 5 minutes.

Steps to opening up a Craigslist Account:

1. Visit this link and type in your email.
2. Immediately after submitting your email, Craiglist will send you a confirmation email and a link. Click the link to verify your account.
3. You will then be asked to create a password and accept the terms and conditions.

After completing these three easy steps, you will be ready to post your first item on Craigslist. Next up, we’ll teach you how to post on Craigslist along with what items are most sought after on the platform.

How to post on Craigslist

Our only qualm about Craigslist is its sub-par level of user-friendliness — posting on Craigslist can be a bit tricky, so be sure you are paying close attention to following steps.

Steps to posting on Craigslist:

1. Visit the Craigslist home page and choose which city you want to post in (ideally you want to post in your city or a city near you).
2. Click “Post to Classifieds” in the top left corner of the page. You will be asked which category you want to post in–choose the appropriate category.
3. You will now be asked to enter all the details for your post — price, description and the email you would like people to reply to. Once you have completed filling out this information, hit “Continue”.
4. Upload photos from your mobile phone or computer. Once you are happy with the images that have you’ve uploaded, hit “Done with images”. And, then hit “Publish”.
5. You will then receive an email with a confirmation link from Craigslist… click the confirmation link or copy and paste it in your browser. You should expect your Craigslist ad to go live about 15 minutes after confirmation.

5 Tips to Better Sell on Craigslist

Now for the fun part — customizing and hacking your Craigslist posts so that your products are more likely to sell. Here are 5 tips to help you better sell on Craigslist:

1. Take clear crisp photos. Shoppers are extremely visual, and if they are spending money on something they can’t touch and feel, they expect to be able to get a good look at the product, at the very least. Where a lot of Craigslist sellers go wrong is that they don’t provide high-quality images for their customers. Make sure the pictures you take of the items you sell look professional. That means no blurriness, no dirty laundry in the background and no nasty looking surfaces underneath the item you are taking a picture of. Turn the lights on to get nice lighting, clean up the item before posting it, and take a picture of the product on a pretty hardwood surface.
2. Write simple descriptions. Your product description should be easy enough for a 7th grader to understand. Don’t be fancy, just get what you are trying to say across to the customer in as few of words as possible. Also, this goes without saying, but make sure you don’t have a bunch of typos in your ad!
3. Write captivating titles. With that said, if you are going to get descriptive, the title is where it should be. Instead of writing, “Samsung T.V.”… you should be writing, “Awesome 42 inch Samsung LED TV”. As a customer, which are you more likely to click on?
4. Consider batching similar items. Let’s hypothetically say you are selling a dozen or so tools. Instead of listing each tool individually, batch them together in one ad for a bulk price. Someone who is looking for a hammer probably wouldn’t mind buying a screwdriver and a pair of pliers. It will allow you to sell your items more efficiently while making your customers feel like they are getting a great deal.
5. Set a deadline on your products. You need to be creating a sense of urgency in the buyers who are thinking about purchasing your product. That means don’t post an advertisement for an entire month — post it for 3-6 days. Make the people looking at it feel like they have to make a decision quickly before time runs out.

How to sell on Craigslist Safely

For the most part, Craiglist is an extremely safe site and community… but this doesn’t mean there isn’t room to be careful. Before letting you run off and make hundreds harnessing the power of this new knowledge, we want to give you just a few safety tips. Here is how to sell on Craigslist safely:

• Always meet in a public. Meet at a Starbucks, inside a Target or in the parking lot of a public bank. Just make sure you are meeting at a place where there are a lot of people.
• Your house is off limits. Never under any circumstance invite someone to your home or share your address with them.
• Use your spidey-senses. If something feels a little off about a buyer, just leave. There is no reason to put yourself in an uncomfortable situation. At the end of the day, it’s only money.
• Pack a cellphone or a friend. At the very least, you should bring along a cellphone with a good charge. And if you have a muscular friend bring him or her too.
• Be cautious with high priced items. People are more willing to commit a crime over a $500 iPhone than say a pair of socks (granted we don’t know why anyone would buy socks on Craigslist). Anyways, be extra careful if you are selling high-priced items.

A Few Final Thoughts on How to Sell on Craigslist

You now have everything you need to become a Craigslist tycoon. Before you know it, you will have some extra space and some extra change in your pocket for your upcoming move. And, who knows, you may find that you want to make Craigslist a full-time gig… which would mean you would have to move again… to Hawaii.

The post How to Sell on Craigslist: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Bellhop.