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fixtures if they are present at the time the work is being done. Try to develop a
lighting plan 4-8 weeks in advance to leave yourself ample time and save money.
Moving in
Summer is far and away the most popular time to move, as families are anxious
to settle in before the school year and yamim tovim arrive. If you can
schedule your move for the off-season, you may be able to negotiate a better
price. Also, weekday moves tend to be cheaper — and easier to reserve — than
Sundays. Book as far in advance as you realistically can; although you want to
secure a good mover as soon as possible, remember that closings are often
delayed, so don’t be too optimistic about your timeframe.
• Label everything, and keep a list! The destination room and a number should
appear on the top and sides of each box. When it’s jammed into a stack of
identical boxes in your new home and you’re desperately looking for Shmuli’s
spaceship pajamas in box 43, you’ll thank yourself. Bonus points for colorcoding
each room’s boxes so the movers easily know where you want things.
• Get lots of supplies. Figure out how many boxes you expect to need, and
then get more — a lot more. People tend to underestimate how much space
their possessions take up. If you are buying from a moving supply store,
you can usually return unused supplies.
• Keep track of valuables — if possible, take expensive items and papers
with you in your car.
You’ve moved in, you love it — and now you want to maintain that fresh feel
and keep everything running in tip-top condition. Here are some pointers that
will help keep your house and its contents in good shape and save you money.
maintaining your home
• When moving to a new house, immediately locate your water shutoff
valve so you know where it is in case of emergency.
• Change your filters regularly. Monthly changes are recommended, but if
your family is small or usage low for any other reason, you can get away
with waiting 2-3 months. Use cheap filters, changed regularly, rather than
86 | 2017 Lakewood Home Buyer’s Guide