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Don’t Wait Until Spring to put Your Home on the Market in New Orleans

Most people move at the end of spring or beginning of summer, that way they can get their kids adjusted before the new school year starts. They will be looking at homes as early as winter if not right now so act quick and get your home on the market if you are trying to sell soon!

Here are some tips that will help your house shine in the spring:

Rake and trim

The first thing a buyer will see is your yard and shrubbery. To make a good impression, you want to have them in tip-top-shape. Cut your grass and trim your bushes regularly. If you do not already have any, plant some colorful flowers to spice up your front yard.

Prep your home in the winter to prepare for it to be ready in the spring time!

Any indoor cleaning and decluttering that can be done, get that over with in the winter. While it’s cold outside you won’t be prepping the exterior of your home or your yard, so get to work reorganizing inside.

Offer a welcoming front entrance

At the front door have a homely welcome mat outside, as well as a small carpet right inside the front door. You can also set up an umbrella stand or coat rack right inside as well.

Utilize colors

Accessorize your rooms with pretty throw pillows or carpets, tailoring the colors to be spring themed, such as light blue or pink.

Polish your windows

Give your house an extra sparkle by brightening the exterior of your house. It will make your house appear newer.

Need Storage While you are Selling your Home?

Zippy Shell of Louisiana makes decluttering easy and affordable. We’ll deliver a storage container directly to your door for you to pack then store it in our secure climate-controlled storage facility. Out of the eyes of buyers! After your home sells, we’ll deliver your storage container to your new home!

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The Benefit of Storing Your Stuff During a Home Renovation in Carrollton, TX

Renovating a home can be extremely inconvenient and time consuming.  While your home is being renovated, you will not have access to some of the rooms in your house, as well as the furniture in those rooms.  Having to find space to move your furniture to during a renovation is next to impossible and will make your home a clutter tornado.  Luckily, Zippy Shell onsite storage solutions help ease the inconvenience by helping you make renovating your home as hassle-free as possible. We provide the best access and security to your items you can get, while making it all an affordable option.

Zippy Shell will deliver an onsite storage container to your home. We can park where our competitors can’t. Whether you need us to park in the street, driveway, dirt, or grass there is no need to worry. Once the container is placed, you are all set to load your items for storage.

Texas weather can throw curveballs at you every day, and you want to make sure your items do not face any damage. Our onsite storage containers can guarantee your belongings will be safe and secure. Against all elements, your items are protected. Our onsite storage containers are sealed and weatherproof so you won’t find your items soaked in water.  If you are looking for storage in Carrollton, TX, Zippy Shell is here to help! Our onsite and in-facility storage options are the perfect solution for your next home renovation.

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What to Look for in a Home in the Piedmont Triad

When house hunting, there are a few important tips you need to make sure you recognize before purchasing a house. Use these pointers to help you find your perfect house.

Have high expectations

Every house that is on the market has been groomed to look it’s best. It won’t take long after you move in for the house to get cluttered and appear much worse than when you first saw it. Make sure the rooms are big enough to allow for some extra items to be added to them so that when you develop some clutter you will still have enough room to function.

Sniff it out

If a house has an extremely strong scent, indicating too much potpourri or candles were used, this may indicate that the house has an unpleasant odor deep down. Take a deep breath in each room to see if there is a pleasant, natural smell. Keep an eye out for mold, pet stains, and mildew in cracks and crevices of the home.

Seek parking options

Some questions about parking options need to come into consideration when choosing a house. Does this new house have a garage to fit as many cars as you need? If it is in an area that receives a lot of snow, will the driveway and walkways be easy to plow? Is there free street parking in front of your house for when you have guests over?

Inspect for signs of neglect

Keep an eye out to see if the previous home owner really did take care of their home. When forgotten about, routine maintenance work can detrimentally ruin the value and structure of the house.

Keep Location in Mind

If the potential home you are looking at is near any type of body of water, even as little as a creek, take that into consideration that your backyard, or even worse, your home, may flood at some point. Also make sure the home is not located on a busy street or intersection where you will get a lot of excess noise from nearby traffic.

Check out the flow

When touring the home, can you picture yourself enjoying your time here? Make sure the flow of the home matches your lifestyle; for example, having easy access in and out the back door if you enjoy going outside to grill or hang out on the patio.

The Piedmont Triad area has many beautiful homes that would be lucky to have you. Once you have found your new home in the Piedmont Triad area, have Zippy Shell move your items for you! We can ease your move by safely delivering and unloading all of your belongings into your new dream home.

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The Top 4 Reasons Why Millennials are Moving to the Piedmont Triad

In recent years, the Piedmont Triad is becoming an increasingly popular place for millennials to move to. But what is attracting them to the area?

Young Community: The Piedmont Triad is home to numerous universities like High Point, Elon University, Wake Forest University, and Winston-Salem State University creating a young and vibrant community.  Many recent graduates are choosing to stay in the area after graduation.

Great Location: The Piedmont Triad is surrounded by three major cities, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and High Point. Giving you access to explore all three places without ever leaving home. Take in the museums, restaurants, and lifestyles of all three! Not to mention, you are just a short drive to the beautiful North Carolina beaches in the summer.

Lots of Job Opportunity: Close proximity to three major cities give the Piedmont Triad plenty of job opportunity for recent graduates and young people looking to start their careers.

Affordable Living: Unlike a lot of the other cities on the East and West coast, the Piedmont Triad is a little more affordable making it the perfect place for young people to start their professional lives.

Are you moving to the Piedmont Triad?

Zippy Shell of the Piedmont Triad can help! Our high quality professional moving services will get you to your new home for less than the competition. Visit www.zippyshell.com today to learn more about the services we offer.

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Why You Should Store with Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois

Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois provides high-quality moving and storage services in the Northern Illinois area. As a member of the Zippy Shell franchise system, we benefit from the resources of a trusted national organization. So, why should store your belongings with us?

  1. We are Local: Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois is locally owned and operated. We live in the area and understand the best ways to maneuver around to make sure we are on time and efficient in servicing your moving or storage solution. Your items will be safely stored in our Lake Zurich storage facility. While Zippy Shell has all the resource of our national brand, you can rely on receiving our top-notch local service.
  2. At Home or In-Facility: Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois offers two storage solutions to fit your needs. The in-facility storage solution is provided by delivering a storage container to your home where it’s packed full of the items you want to place in storage. Next, the Zippy Shell team takes it back to our secure climate-controlled storage facility for the storage period. Our on-site storage solution starts with our team delivering a storage container to your home where we can place it wherever you need it on your property. The container will remain in that spot throughout the entire duration of storage. You’ll have easy 24-7 access to your items safely stored in our weatherproof container. So, which solution would work best for you?
  3. We can Move You: The Zippy Shell system is designed to provide storage and moving services seamlessly. We will safely store your items as long as you need during the middle of your move, then safely deliver them back to your new home when you are ready.
  4. Top Rated Customer Service: Our team is committed to providing you with the highest level of customer service possible. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help with your storage needs.

Want to learn more about Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois?

Visit www.zippyshell.com today or give us a call directly at 888-947-7974!

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How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent in Charlotte, NC

Picking the right real estate agent for you is a big decision, and a very important one.  Finding someone who is best for you and will help you find your perfect home helps make the moving process a lot easier.  Use these tips when deciding who to hire as your agent.

Check their references

Contact previous customer’s of a real estate agent to get a firsthand description of how the real estate agent handled other people looking for a home.  Review online to see if they have any comments about their service as well.   

Find a real estate agent with credentials specified towards you

Real estate agents have specialties, given to them based on taking classes in a certain area of real estate sales. Examples of titles listed after an agent’s name include CRS, ABR, and SRES which all give an agent additional training and skill in the subject of real estate.

Check their experience level

Obviously the longer the agent has been in the real estate game, the more knowledge they will have about real estate. Someone with more experience has greater knowledge of how to match you with the perfect house.  If possible, do not settle for a new agent.

Check their availability

Find out how many customer’s they are servicing.  Make sure it is enough to show that they are talented and have experience, but not so many that they will not be able to devote a proper amount of time to you.

Ask about awards

Research if they have been awarded with any special professional awards or prizes.  The National Association of Realtors lists some of the highest rated real estate agents in the country.

Mirror their listings with your preferences

See what types of homes the real estate agent helped people sell or buy to help find a similar match to your home you are selling or buying.  Compare the prices of their listings with the type of home you are looking to sell or buy. 

After finding your perfect real estate agent and your perfect home, use Zippy Shell of the Greater Charlotte area to help move your items for you! https://www.zippyshell.com/locations/north-carolina/charlotte-storage

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Top 10 Reasons to Move to the Buckhead Neighborhood

If you are planning a move, whether you are upgrading, downgrading, or just looking for a change of pace, consider moving to the Buckhead neighborhood in Atlanta, Georgia for these reasons.

  1. Sporting events

Home of the Atlanta Falcons, Braves, Hawks, and United FC, Atlanta has a team you can cheer on in almost any sport.  These stadiums are located right outside the Buckhead area, allowing for an easy commute to the games.

2. Historical significance

Atlanta has many historical landmarks that you can visit and learn about.  You can see the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr., the historic Oakland Cemetery, the Smith Plantation Home, and much more.

3. Beautiful homes

If you are considering moving to the Buckhead neighborhood, you will know that it is home to some of the most desirable homes in the country.  No matter what the size of the home you are looking for, Buckhead will have a gorgeous home suited for you.

4. Piedmont Park

Being one of the most amazing parks in the country, this is definitely a site to see.  Piedmont Park hosts hundreds of events each year including fitness activities, dog parks, farmer’s markets, and much more!

5. Restaurants

Downtown Atlanta has numerous trendy restaurants ranging from all types of foods to satisfy your cravings.  Whether you are in the mood for a fancy sit down meal, or a quick bite on the go, Buckhead has plenty of delicious options for you.

6. School District

Buckhead has plenty of good schools nearby to give your children a great education with many well qualified teachers.

7. Universities

The Atlanta area has multiple exceptional colleges for you or your children to attend, including Georgia Tech, Emory University, Georgia State, and many more.

8. Zoo Atlanta & the Georgia Aquarium

Being so close to Zoo Atlanta as well as the Georgia Aquarium provides for amazing opportunities for you and the whole family to go see a variety of magnificent animals.

9. Weather

Georgia gives you a nice range of temperatures, that don’t stray too high or too low.  Summers are hot; averaging in the 80’s (degrees Fahrenheit), while winter’s only drop down to the 50’s.  Spring and fall both are nice warm temperatures ranging from the 60’s-70’s.

10. Lenox Square

This upscale shopping mall is the perfect location to go to buy whatever you are in need of.  This mall contains almost 200 varying stores including Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, and Neiman Marcus.



When planning your move, have Zippy Shell of Atlanta 
https://www.zippyshell.com/locations/georgia/atlanta-storage help move your belongings or store your items for the duration of your move. 

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The Best Tips for Hosting an Open House During the Illinois Winter!

As we head into the heart of winter in Illinois, it’s hard to imagine wanting to do anything but cuddle up under a blanket and wait for spring. But for many homeowners, they are spending the winter trying to sell their home.

Winter can be a hard time of year to sell your home, but it’s absolutely not impossible. One of the key ways to get buyer interest in your home is by hosting a great open house! Winter poses a few special challenges for a successful open house, but follow along with these 5 tips and you’ll be just fine!

Manage Snow Removal
Winter often comes with snow and ice which can make the outside of your home look like a mess. Your snow removal and ice management need to be near perfection. Especially if you are hosting an open house. Make sure guests have a clear walkway and that any ice patches have been properly salted. Nothing leaves a worse first impression than slipping on their way up to your home.

Warm and Inviting
Even if you normally like to keep your thermostat on the lower side during winter, during an open house you should turn it up to a more comfortable level. You don’t want to give buyers the impression that your home is cold and drafty- because it might cause them to not want your home. If you have a fireplace in your home, Winter is the perfect time to show it off. Walking into a warm home with a fire lit in the fire place is a great first impression for a home buyer.

Cold Weather Snacks
Instead of just offering the normal array of snacks and coffee at your open house, why not throw in a few Winter classics? Adding in hot chocolate, apple cider, and other delicious seasonal items will be a welcome treat!

Make your Guests Comfortable
Don’t make home buyers walk around in snowy and heavy outerwear during their whole visit. Make a designated spot for them to leave their jackets and boots.

Brighten Your Home
It gets dark early during the winter, so make sure your home has enough light to look bright and cheery. A dark home will not show as well as well lit one.

Store Your Stuff with Zippy Shell
Clutter makes your home look smaller and can distract buyers from actually seeing the selling points of your home. Zippy Shell of Northern Illinois will safely store your items while you sell your home and then move them to your new home! You can learn more about our storage and moving services by visiting www.zippyshell.com.

Do you have any other ideas to help host the perfect winter open house? Let us know in the comments!

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How to Prepare for Winter

As winter is beginning it is important to make sure you are prepared to weather the storm.

Insurance

First and foremost, make sure your home is insured, that way if you happen to have a home emergency involving a plumbing leak or a roof caving in from snow, you will not have an immense cost to worry about. It is also important to make sure your car is insured as well to avoid any damages caused by icy or snowy roads.

Thermostat

Slowly lower your thermostat during the day, and night as well, to prevent your wallet from taking a beating in the cold winter months. Bringing the temperature down by one degree a week can make a huge difference. If this is too difficult you can always layer up to make the adjustment easier.

Prep your car

Your car will go through a lot during winter weather. To make your drive more pleasant, throw an extra blanket and sweatshirt in your car for the drive while your car is still heating up. Make sure you also have a little shovel, salt, and window scrappers to avoid any problems resulting from snow.

Stock up

Stock your house with extra food and water in case you happen to get snowed in for an extended period of time. Keep extra shovels and snow salt in your garage to avoid having your car snowed in and having no way of getting out onto the road. Make sure you also have extra firewood if you have a wood fireplace, or have an extra gas insert if you have a gas fireplace. Candles, flashlights, and batteries should be easily accessible in case of a power outage.

Visit your doctor

Get an annual check-up to make sure you are healthy going into the cold winter season. Get a flu shot to avoid being bedridden for up to a week. Always remember to wash your hands and avoid sharing food or drinks with sick people. Check that your prescriptions are up to date as well.

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Winter Activities for the Whole Family

Whether you are trying to stay warm inside or enjoy the snow outdoors, here are just a few activities your family can partake in this winter.

Go snow tubing
Visit your local ski resort to go snow tubing. The whole family can enjoy this thrilling snow activity without the risk or skill required for snowboarding or skiing.

Play board games
If it is too cold and windy outdoors, have a family game night indoors with your favorite board games!

Go bowling
Enjoy a day or evening at the bowling alley as a fun way to enjoy a cold winter day.

Go ice skating
Enjoy a fun winter activity that doesn’t require the weather to be a nice winter day at the ice rink!

Sledding
Once the snow falls, go enjoy a day of sledding outside. Make sure to stay safe and have fun!

Bake cookies
In order to stay warm from the cold outdoors, bake your favorite treats during this holiday season. Cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and more! You can even try making some homemade hot chocolate.

Arts and crafts
Enjoy some time inside by making snowflakes, snowmen, and other winter characters out of paper or cardboard.

Happy Holidays!