Moving into your new home? This can be a stressful time as you’re trying to juggle everything while maintaining your sanity. Organization and time management are important components when moving into a new home in order to set yourself up for success. The process can get overwhelming, especially if you don’t know where to start. These three simple steps will bring you clarity on what you should give your attention to while moving into your new home.

Try to donate clothes and things you no longer need! Be rational and realize that not everything you have holds sentimental value; more than likely it’s just taking up space. If you don’t organize your belongings, you will be bringing that mess into your new home. If you still feel like you have a lot of stuff left over and you have nowhere to put it try finding a storage facility. A storage facility is a great choice as you have more chances to lose items when you’re moving. Storage facilities are a great investment when you’re in need of extra space.

It’s important to do a thorough deep clean when moving into your new home. Why? It allows you to be confident in the cleanliness of everything in the house as you don’t know the homeowners who lived there before you. Cleaning will enable you to see what you’re working with it. If your walls are dirty and full of dust, you won’t know if you need to paint them or if cleaning will do the job. If your walls need a fresh coat of paint, it’s important to pick the right paint color. 

​Picking a paint color is one of the toughest decisions as it sets the tone of your living space and has a powerful effect on behavior. Color has the ability to transform the look of a room, making it seem larger or smaller, and can be the perfect backdrop for your furniture and décor. If you’re renting, ask your landlord’s permission before you start painting. This ensures no problems occur down the line.

This might be the last priority on your list. However, it’s important to pay attention to which month you’re going to be moving. The summer months are the busiest, as people take their vacation in order to move in peace. If you’re moving with children, book your long-distance movers as college students will also be moving in and out of dorms during the busy back to school season. If you can, try to book your movers ahead of time to avoid stress and further disappointments. 

​Even though moving can be a stressful time, it’s important to keep a cool head during this time. If you're moving and holding onto your previous property, consider property management! It’s a great way to increase your chances of finding high-quality tenants while also keeping your property in great condition.

The importance of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting is vital for protecting our homes and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. We're sharing our tips, resources, and information for cleaning during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Which products you will utilize to clean is one of the first things to consider. The American Chemistry Council shared a list of products that can be used to fight Coronavirus. Once you have determined the cleaning supplies you will use, have a look at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's website for a cleaning and disinfecting guide. 

​The American Cleaning Institute also has tips for cleaning in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. Some of the tips include frequent hand washing, disinfecting frequently touches surfaces such as light switches, handles, door knobs, and desks, wiping down shopping carts with antibacterial wipes, and washing reusable bags after arriving home from the grocery store. 

The CDC also recommends using disposable gloves while cleaning and disinfecting and to throw away the gloves afterwards. Diluted solutions with bleach, most common EPA-registered household disinfectants, and alcohol solutions with at least 70% alcohol are effective disinfectants, according to the CDC. You can make your own bleach disinfectant by mixing 1/3 cup of bleach per gallon of water. It is also recommended to launder clothing immediately after returning home, and to sanitize your laundry baskets and laundry areas. Consider laundering items on the warmest water allowed for the garment, too. 

Real estate professionals use their phone frequently, so remember to clean and disinfect your phone with something like a Clorox wipe that has at least 70% alcohol. We don't recommend using a product that contains bleach so you don't ruin your phone's surface. Whatever cleaner you decide to use, make sure it has time to sit and work in disinfecting before wiping it with an unused microfiber cloth. 

​If you're having a difficult time finding cleaning products, filling a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol can be an alternative to store-bought cleaning products. 

The situation with COVID-19 is continually changing, and it's safe to say everyone has a lot of questions. Because real estate transactions often utilize third-party service providers, each situation is different. Our aim is to provide resources and answer questions you may have with the information we have available at this time. 

Pennsylvania's Governor ordered all non-life sustaining businesses to shut down. Does that include real estate businesses?
All real estate sales and leasing businesses have been ordered to close their physical locations until further notice. The order does not apply to remote operations, as long as social distancing and other measures are followed. We understand this to mean that brokers and agents can conduct whatever activities they can from home, but should not be in an office, and should likely avoid conducting business in client's homes. Most third-party providers (inspectors, contractors, title companies, etc.) have been impacted by the Governor's mandate as well. 
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​Resources:
-Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
-World Health Organization
​-Business Closure Order
-Life Sustaining Business PDF
​-National Association of Realtors Coronavirus Guide
-COVID-19 Addendum to the Agreement of Sale 
-County Recorders of Deeds status in each county
-Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Coronavirus Information
​-Pennsylvania Association of Realtors Coronavirus Updates