The 5 Best Online Design Services for Your New Home

In need of decorating help? Thanks to a number of available online design services, you can now design your dream home at the click of a button. These online decorating services allow homeowners to leverage the help and advice of professional interior designers without paying the high price-tag. While hiring an in-person interior designer can cost upwards of several thousand dollars, an e-design service may only cost a few hundreds bucks. This budget-friendly option makes it possible for homeowners in need of design help to transform their place into an ideal space. Here’s a look at several of the best e-design services available to customers.

Laurel & Wolf

Founded in 2014, Laurel & Wolf has helped thousands of people design the home of their dreams. Founder and interior designer Leura Fine created Laurel & Wolf in order to make interior design accessible to all.

How it works: The company’s interior design service is a four-step process. First, the service pairs you with a certified designer who matches your overall aesthetic and budget. Second, the designer creates a concept board with your input. Third, the designer sends you a curated shopping list. Finally, customers can purchase any curated items they like and place them in their homes to complete the look.

Pricing information: Laurel & Wolf offers three packages for purchase: the “Light Package,” which costs $79 per room and includes designer input on accessories and style; the “Classic Package,” which costs $149 per room and includes designer suggestions on furniture, room layouts and design; and the “Signature Package,” which costs $249 per room and includes two concepts from a designer, as well as layout suggestions, furniture recommendations and design advice.

Homepolish

Homepolish is a premium interior design service with locations throughout the U.S. The online design service connects customers with top interior designers, general contractors, a purchasing concierge and “end-to-end” interior design assistance.

How it works: Unlike many other e-design companies, Homepolish offers both in-person design services and online design services. If you live in a city where Homepolish is available, you can choose to have an interior designer come to your home. If not, you can choose to have a designer meet you via video. After you choose your design method, Homepolish asks customers to list out their design needs and budget. Finally, customers are matched with a designer who is capable of meeting their decorating and budget needs.

Pricing information: Homepolish customers pay by the hour. Rates start at $130 per hour and vary by designer. The design package includes a minimum of 10 hours with the option to purchase additional increments of five hours.

Havenly

With design packages starting at just $79, Havenly is an especially budget-friendly e-design option. Sisters Lee Mayer and Emily Motayed founded the company in 2014 out of a desire to make interior design affordable and easy.

How it works: When choosing a designer, customers have the option to either scroll through Havenly’s roster of 100 plus pros to see photos of their work or they can take Havenly’s style survey. The style survey will match homeowners with a designer who meets their style needs. After a designer is chosen, customers fill out a room profile to tell the designer what they want. The Havenly designer will then respond with an initial set of ideas, as well as a visual of the room and a floor plan recommendation. Finally, customers will receive a curated list of products to purchase for the home.

Pricing information: Havenly offers two different packages: a “Mini Design,” which costs $79 and includes three ideas, one design concept and up to two revisions; and a “Full Design,” which costs $199 and includes three ideas, one design concept, one revision, 3D room layout and a custom floorplan.

Modsy

Founded in 2013, Modsy is innovating the way homeowners decorate their spaces. The design service offers a “one stop digital catalogue” with 3D technology that allows customers to visualize their home with new furniture before they buy it.

How it works: Customers first tell Modsy about their project and the kind of decor they prefer. After taking a style quiz, they’ll build a room profile by uploading photos of the space. This will then be turned into a 3D model of the room. Afterwards, customers design their room with the help of Style Advisors. Once they’ve pictured the furniture and decor in the room, they can purchase all items directly through Modsy.

Pricing information: Modsy offers two packages: the “Modsy,” which costs $59 and includes a 3D model of the room, 360 degree visualization, two custom designs, unlimited design revisions, personal shopping and insider discounts; and the “Modsy Plus,” which costs $199 and includes all features from the first package plus one-on-one chats with a Style Advisor and personalized design tips, layout suggestions and product recommendations.

Decorilla

The e-design service Decorilla allows customers to design rooms using both traditional in-person interior design and online interior design. The design service also offers exclusive discount on top decor brands.

How it works: Similar to Homepolish, Decorilla offers in-home interior design services in select cities, as well as online design services nationwide. To design a space using Decorilla’s e-design technology, customers first choose a style preference as well as a store preference (examples include Crate and Barrel, Jonathan Adler, Design Within Reach, etc). They’ll then fill out a form with their budget and project needs. From there, customers can choose to either phone or video chat with a designer, or they can schedule an in-home consultation. Designers will produce 3D renderings of the customer’s room with all designs. This way, customers can picture what it will look like in real life before committing to the project.

Pricing information: Decorilla designers offer hourly help at $75 per hour. Customers can also choose from one their customized packages starting at $345 per hour.

for more information and moving information visit our website at

http://atlanticmovers.com

source: https://www.moving.com/tips/the-5-best-online-design-services-for-your-new-home/

The Most Epic Moving Checklist in the History of Moving

Let’s face it, moving is stressful. That’s why we’ve created an epic moving checklist to help you stay on track. We’re here to help you figure out exactly what you should be doing before, during, and even after your move. Moving all your belongings from one place to another is hard, and so is relocating your life in general. But, let’s not forget that moving to a new place is an exciting time! With some guidance and this 8-week guide to your upcoming move, you’ll be sure to have everything done between now and the big day, leaving you plenty of time to celebrate.

DOWNLOAD MOVING CHECKLIST

8 weeks before you move:

So, you’re 8 weeks out! Close, but not too close. It’s important for you to start planning ahead for every aspect of your move. The good news? We’ve got you covered. We’re not going to lie, there’s a lot to do to prepare. Yet, you’ll be thankful you started early and had this epic moving checklist to ensure you stay on top of your to-do list.

1. Create a “moving” file or folder on Google Drive to store quotes, receipts, and records related to your move. For example, how much is Dan the mover quoting you? Was that price for 10 or 15 boxes? You’re not going to be able to remember all of the details. So throw them in a document for easy reference.

2. Schedule in-home estimates with an Updater Certified Moving Company. Make sure you hire someone you feel you can trust.

3. Create a realistic budget for moving expenses. We know you want to hire professional movers, but that new sectional and that wine fridge, but priorities, right? 

4. Read over documents from your movers before signing anything. Don’t let contracts intimidate you by learning about the documents you’ll be receiving ahead of time. We can’t emphasize enough how important this is, there’s a reason it’s #4 on our list.

5. Request time off work for moving day. If you can, plan to take off and move on a Friday. That gives you the rest of the weekend to get yourself organized. Nice tip, right?

6. Choose a school for your kids. Need a little help in the research department? Great Schools can help you choose the best school in your area.  

7. Along the same vein, request transcripts for your kids from their old school for their new school. Regardless of how far you are moving, the new school your child attends will need these. Arrive prepared so your kid(s) don’t get left behind.

8.  Plan a garage sale. Then, donate anything left that you couldn’t sell.

9. Plan how to move fragile or unusual items, such as guns, pianos, fine art, pool tables or safes. The list goes on and on. The movers you hire may not be qualified to move some larger (or more expensive) items, so you may need to hire a specialty mover to do the job. Make sure you’re aware of exactly what the movers you hired will and will not move.

10. Confirm that your moving company is licensed and insured by verifying their Department of Transportation number (also referred to as a DOT number).

6 weeks before you move:

When you’re six weeks out from a move, it’s important to make sure you’re getting all your ducks in a row. If you’re moving out of town, you’ll need to do things like spend time with family and friends. Then of course, you need to begin to organize your belonging (and life in general). There are dozens of tasks that must be addressed in this time, so keep reading our epic moving checklist to discover all you need to do. Don’t worry, six weeks is plenty of time to get it all done.

11. Make time for friends and relatives before moving day. Squeeze in a few last memories is your current home by throwing a simple dinner party. It doesn’t have to be elaborate to do the trick.

12. Collect free boxes from restaurants liquor, grocery, and office supply stores. You can also pay a visit to your local bookstore. They have more boxes than they know what to do with and will be more than happy to hand them over for free.

13. Research packing hacks to make moving day easier.

14. Label your moving boxes using different colored stickers/tape for each room. This will make your life a ton easier when you’re all moved in and ready to start unpacking.

15. Create an inventory sheet of all your valuables before they go on the moving truck. Also, keep a private list of which boxes you packed your valuables in.

16. Mark moving boxes that are fragile. You don’t want textbooks stacked on top of your grandmother’s china.  

17. Take photos of all electronics before unplugging them. This will help jog your memory when you’re reconnecting things such as your TV and stereo.  

18. Put all your hardware in labeled baggies for easy furniture reassembly.

19. Gather socks, t-shirts, towels, and linens to use as free packing supplies. Wrapping water glasses in dish towels? Why didn’t we think of that!

20. If you’re moving into an apartment, find out if there are any moving day requirements.

21. Address minor home repairs before moving out. If you live in an apartment, this might be the difference between getting your security deposit back, or not.

22. If you’re moving cross country, have your vehicles serviced. The last thing you want is to deal with a breakdown mid-move!

23. If your move requires shipping your car, don’t leave anything in it! Spare tires and jacks might go missing.

24. Measure doorways, stairways, and elevators to make sure all your furniture will fit. Measure twice – move once!

25. Research your new community for points of interest. Find your new favorite hangout spot or restaurant! Yelp and Foursquare are great places to start.

26. Last but not least for this section, pack a little every day. You don’t want to find yourself packing all of your belongings the night before.

4 weeks before you move:

Four weeks out – you’ve officially hit the one-month mark! Now’s the time to start gathering important documents that you’ll need to bring with you to your new place. You should also start doing things like selling and donating items. It will be a lot easier to complete items on your moving checklist when you’re not bogged down in possession that you neither want nor need.

27. Purchase moving insurance to cover all your belongings during the move.

28. Confirm parking options for your moving truck – you may need a permit for moving day.

29. Use or donate items that you can’t pack or sell, such as frozen foods, bleach, and aerosol cans.

30. Gather all financial and legal records in one place.

31. Gather birth certificates and passports for everyone in your home. Then, carry important documents on your person during your move.

32. Find a landscaper and snow removal service in your new neighborhood.

33. Return your library books.

34. Return movie and video game rentals.

35. Pick up clothes from the dry cleaner.

36. Compile medical, dental, and optical records for everyone in your home.

37. If you’re moving out of town, find a new doctor, dentist, and vet in your new neighborhood.

38. Update your voter registration!

39. If you’re moving long distance, plan your route and book hotels.

40. Shop around for cable, internet, and phone bundles. Then, schedule installation and/or cancel your old services.

41. Make sure your pets have ID tags for their collars.

42. Request copies of vet records and get any necessary pet medication.

43. If you’re moving out of the country, make sure your pets have all necessary vaccinations.

44. Make a moving day playlist to enjoy while moving and unpacking.

2 weeks before you move:

The big day is almost here! You’re two weeks away from moving and it’s time to update your accounts and records for your new place and address. You also want to take these two weeks before your move to plan ahead packing, meals, medication, pets, and children. Moving day is a BUSY one. Make sure to have everything on your moving list checked off for this two-week point. Trust us, you’ll be glad you did!

45. Create a moving file to organize your moving-related receipts and bills. You’ll want to keep a list of moving-related expenses to claim as a deduction at tax time.

46. Recycle or dispose of corrosives, flammables, and poisonous items. Make sure you’re disposing of toxic items properly.  

47. Prep two-weeks worth of meals and use everything in the freezer. Check out some great meal prep ideas!

48. Return borrowed items from friends and family.

49. Back up your computer. If something goes awry during your move, you’ll be thankful you have everything saved in an alternate place.

50. Set up trash removal and recycling for your new home, and cancel your current service.

51. Remove light bulbs from all lamps you plan to move.

52. Moving far? Clean out your safe deposit box and any lockers you might have at a gym or community center.

53. Fill your prescriptions.

54. Prepare a list of emergency service technicians and preferred providers. You don’t want to be googling plumbers while your toilet is overflowing in your new home.

55. To keep little ones safe during a move, line up a babysitter or make arrangements for a play date.

56. Find somewhere safe for pets to go during your move. Look into doggy daycare or ask a friend to watch them for a day – who wouldn’t love to dog sit Fido, Fluffy or Muffin?

57.  Use Google Maps to find your way to work by car or public transportation.

58. Send out moving announcement. There are plenty of creative ways to share your new address.

59. Change your address with loan providers, credit cards, banks, and the payroll department at work. Also, remember to order new checks.

60. Forward your mail.

61. Change address for Social Security benefits within 10 days of moving. Make sure to notify government offices, including the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, and the IRS.

62. Transfer your homeowners or renters insurance to your new home. Here’s what happens to your homeowners insurance policy when you move.

63. Cancel or transfer your membership at the gym, yoga studio, Crossfit facility, etc.

64. Update your address for newspaper and magazine subscriptions.

65. Transfer your utilities including water, electric, and natural gas.

66. Update your driver’s license.

67. Update your address with Amazon and any monthly subscriptions boxes you receive.

68. Change your address for your auto insurance and car registration.

69. Clean outdoor furniture before it's moved.

70. Transfer your prescriptions to a new pharmacy, if necessary.

The week you move:

The week has come! It’s time to make sure you organize your belongings, finish packing, and clean your old home. Make sure everything’s squared away early. It’ll allow for a stress-free moving day – and who wouldn’t want that?

71. Donate unopened food by asking your moving company if they work with Move For Hunger.

72. Make sure you canceled and/or redirected scheduled deliveries. Remember that pair of shoes that was on backorder? Make sure they get shipped to correct address.

73. Clean your current home for the next resident.

74. Unplug your fridge and freezer to defrost the night before. Make sure you lay a towel in front of it to absorb any water that leaks.

75. Drain water hoses to your washing machine and ice maker.

76. Empty oil and gas from grills, heaters, lawn mowers, and snow blowers.

77. Leave a note or small gift for new residents.

78. Make sure nothing is hiding on shelves or in closet corners.

79. Before conducting a final walk through with your landlord, fill nail holes with a bar of soap. Check out some DIY tips here.

80. Watch the weather channel and prepare for rain or snow.

81. Pack an essentials box with everything you’ll need for your first 24 hours in your new home.

82. Make a worst-case scenario plan in case your movers run late.

83. Take photographs of your empty place to prove it’s in move-out condition.

84. Withdraw cash to tip your movers.

85. Clean your new place. A lot of times, the previous homeowners are only required to sweep their house or apartment. Don’t you want your new place to be in tip-top shape and sparkling from head to toe?

Moving day:

Moving day is here! All your moving prep has led you to this very moment. You’ve checked off almost 100 items on this moving checklist to get you to this point. On the day of your move, make sure you get an early start. Start the day off right and get moving. The earlier you move in, the more time you will have to start unpacking and settling into your new home.

86. Rise and shine! Set an alarm and get up early on moving day.

87. Protect your floors and carpets during the move.

88. They’ve worked hard for you all day, so tip your movers.

89. As soon as your movers leave, make your bed and unpack your shower curtain and toiletries. This makes a nap and a shower so much easier. And let’s face it, it’s the first thing you’ll want to do post move.

90. Get to know your neighbors!

91. Go grocery shopping. At this point, you’ve eaten enough take out. Having food in the house will also prevent you from unnecessary spending.

92. Don’t have curtains or shades yet? Cover your windows with sheets for privacy for your first night. This will help you sleep more comfortably, trust us.

93. Thank your real estate agent or broker. They’re the reason why you’ve moved into your beautiful new home. A simple thank you note goes a long way.

One week, post move:

You’re moved in! You’ve checked off almost everything on your moving checklist, but you’re not done yet. Now is the time to start making your new place yours. Unpack, decorate, and have fun personalizing your new home.

94. Leave a detailed review of your experience with your moving company.

95. Post leftover moving boxes or unwanted furniture on Craigslist. Or, give them to someone you know is moving.

96. Clean the carpets in your new home.

97. Sweep your chimney before you use it.

98. Make sure your home’s address is visible from the street.

99.  Install a new home security system.

100. Explore your new neighborhood – local shops, supermarkets, libraries, cafés, grocery stores, and restaurants.

101. Send thank you notes to friends and family who helped you move.

Two weeks, post move:

Finally, you’ve made it to the last two checkpoints on this epic moving checklist! Make sure you’ve completely settled in. Now that you’re comfortable, take a night off and call a babysitter!

102. Aim to unpack all your stuff within two weeks of moving in.

103. Last, but not least, make copies of your new keys for the babysitter, nanny, and dog walker.

 Phew! We're out of breath. But congrats, you survived!

We hope that our moving checklist has been the list to end all checklists. Was it helpful? Let us know. And as always, we love feedback. If we missed anything, let us know in the comments section below. Happy moving!'

source: http://www.updater.com/moving-tips/the-most-epic-moving-checklist-in-the-history-of-moving-checklists?rq=checklist

for more information or a moving quote, visit our website at 

http://atlanticmovers.com

Post-Move Organization Tips

Take a deep breath, you’ve finally won half the battle: the move is over. So, what happens next? Before the massive unpacking begins, follow these organization tips to help out.

The First 24: For the first 24 hours in your new home find the boxes containing your essential goods, such as bedding, toiletries, kitchenware and the coffee pot (this is a must). Getting organized in the first few days is essential to making the unpacking process as swift and as headache free as possible.

Unpacking the Truck: If you haven’t packed and moved your boxes yet, check out our November blog post, Packing Doesn’t Have to be a Pain, for more tips! Hopefully your boxes will be labeled, and the most important boxes would have been packed last in the moving truck or kept separate for easy retrieval. Start to open your essentials boxes and unpack those items to ensure a smooth transition into your new space. These boxes should contain important items such as toiletries, pillows, blankets, snacks, some utensils, medications, pj’s and clothes for the next day. This way you will feel comfortable in your new space and ready to tackle the entire unpacking process. (If you're unsure of what to pack in an essentials box, check out last month’s blog, Everything Essentials!)

When you’re ready to move onto the bigger part of unpacking, the first thing you want to do is unpack all of your belongings and place them in the correct rooms. Make sure bulkier pieces, such as china cabinets or tv stands are placed in their correct spots right away. Spend more time with your movers to make sure that the angle and desired placement of each bulky item is perfect. It’s better to be extra picky while the movers are there, in two months time, you’ll have more trouble moving that china cabinet.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: It’s time to start unpacking all of the boxes scattered throughout your new place, but remember don’t sweat the small stuff. It’s best to start unpacking all of your items from one room and scatter them out. It’s best to see what items and new storage you have, what boxes and cabinets are empty, before shoving items anywhere just to get them away. After analyzing the situation, start to choose what items will go where. Start to play around with one item and see if you like the placement of it. For example, do the kitchen plates look good in the second or third cabinet? Is it a good idea to have the utensils in that drawer or this one? What’s accessible and more realistic for my family? Although it may be more time consuming, being inquisitive during this stage will be worth it in the long run. Rearranging all of the cups and flatware will be much more aggravating after everything is unpacked and settled. Either way you do it, don’t sweat it because you can always change the position of a plate or desk.

Movers & Packers: If you’ve decided to pay your moving company to pack and unpack for you, keep the following tips in mind. We’ve asked our moving experts, Brian & Chris, about what you should and shouldn’t do when paying movers to pack and unpack for you!

What not to do: Don’t move your items out from the china cabinets or master bedroom closet, the movers will do this for you! You’re paying for a professional moving and packing service, so let the experts do their job. Leave all items exactly where they are and the packers will take their utmost care with packing them in labeled boxes accordingly. Once you’re in your new space, give the movers and packers their space. Let them know exactly where you want your items and/or boxes to go, but don’t breathe down their necks. You’ve paid for peace of mind while moving, so soak it in and enjoy the ride!

What to do: Move your essentials into a specific location or pack these items before the professionals get there. These boxes should contain the items that you will need to access right away and/or are important to you, such as cell phone chargers, clothes, toiletries, medications, jewelry, etc. Having it packed or closing off a room to the professionals keeps your important essential items from getting lost in the moving process. If you are feeling confused about what to pack in our essentials box, check out last month’s blog, Everything Essentials!