RELOCATION & MOVING HELP Moving is a PAIN!  But we will assist you with almost EVERYTHING! Please SEE the 'CUTTING DOWN ON THE COST OF MOVING' article.  It can be helpful. Then see the 'MOVING CHECKLIST'.  It works AND keeps you on track.	THE SCHMIDT TEAM Tim and Nancy Schmidt Real Estate Brokers    You will need all of the HELP you can get when buying or selling a home/property.  We are always THERE for you! BUT, wait until you see where you are moving!  Southern Oregon is a wonderful place with friendly people and gorgeous surroundings.  See the other pages of this website to learn more about this area of the state.  WELCOME TO GRANTS PASS!
Take Some of the Stress Out of Your Moving Day!   Ah, moving.  So much fun.  So much stress.  Just ask Ray Schall.   “I’m getting beat,” he said on Moving Day last month, even though a couple of hired hands were helping him and his wife move from their East Park Street home.   “They’re handling the big stuff I can’t handle,” Schall added.   Schall, 78, had rented a truck, but called Miracle Movers to provide extra manpower.  “A couple people told me they do pretty good work,” he said.   Jed Bowker and Tyler Armstrong of Miracle Movers used hand trucks to move the couple’s entertainment center, kitchen table top and other furniture.  The men wrapped up much of their cargo with pads – sort of heavy blanket – to protect surfaces.   Because summer is the season most people move, we looked at local options, which include hiring movers or doing it yourself.  Hiring others, of course, is more expensive, but it could save chiropractic bills for the homeowner who puts out his back.   Sandy Nelson at Franklin’s Moving and Storage, 1900 N. W. Washington Blvd., estimates it would cost $2100 to move the furnishings of a three-bedroom house in Grants Pass to Portland.  Compare that to an approximate $200 charge – plus gas – for a three-day rental of a 26-foot U-Haul truck, according to Mike Thomas of the South 40 Farm Store, 2475 Williams Highway.   There’s another option, too:  Hire a couple of big guys to do some, but not all, of the work.   Carrie Stromme of Moving Miracles of Grants Pass says her per-hour price for two experienced movers is $65 an hour with a three-hour minimum.  You rent the truck on your own.   Look in the telephone book for moving companies and truck rental agencies.  Stromme suggests movers that are licensed and insured, as her company is, by the Oregon Department of Transportation.     By Shaun Hall of the DAILY COURIER, 07/16/09 edition.	Cutting Down on the  Cost of Moving   Here are some cost-cutting tips:   De-Clutter Now is the time to clean out your closet and get rid of anything that you don’t need.  That old heavy desk in the corner that is not being used and the treadmill that doubles as a clothes hanger.  Having a garage sale or giving things to charity will help reduce the weight and cost of a move.   Get a ‘Binding Not-to-Exceed’ Estimate One of the costs contributing to a move is the weight of the shipment.  With this estimate if your actual weight’s more than the written estimate, you still pay for only the amount of the estimate.  But if your actual weight is less than the estimate then your costs can go down.   Get Full Replacement ‘Valuation’ Coverage When you move, things can get damaged.  This coverage is what will protect your goods in the event of any damage.   Do You Need Furniture Assembly & Reassembly? If you have a large desk, entertainment center, or table that has to be taken apart and put back together, do it yourself to cut down on costs.  If that is not possible, then make sure the company you use has these services so that you can take advantage of them.   Get a Reputable Mover It is important to use a mover that is going to provide the level of service promised to you.  Check out the better business bureau website to make sure they are what they say they are.   The Move Advocate is a no-cost service that helps clients when moving.  We provide a dedicated Coach to coordinate all aspects of the move, from getting estimates to settling into their new home.  Our company has been saving client’s money on their moves for over 20 years and we would love to help.   Please call Mickey Matteson, Account Executive for more information at 800-617-1918 or sign up today at www.moveadvocate.com/agent.
MOVING CHECKLIST Because moving to a "Dream Home" shouldn't seem like a "Nightmare". 1 month before: Make reservations for moving services and make a list of items to be moved. Notify friends, relatives, creditors, etc. of your move.  Begin submitting change of address forms to them and to your local post office. If you have children, be sure to request all of the necessary documents for transferring schools. Gather all important personal documents, medical/dental records, insurance policies, etc. Begin packaging seldom-used items.  Consider holding a garage sale for those items you won't be moving. Arrange connect/disconnect dates with telephone and utility companies. 2 weeks before: Clear up any outstanding accounts. Transfer checking and savings accounts to your new location. Arrange for pet travel, is necessary. Teach your children your new address.  Let them practice writing it on packed cartons. Return borrowed items including library books and retrieve loaned items. Cancel/transfer any membership fees or prescriptions (ask your doctor for assistance.). Service your car - especially if traveling a distance and/or moving to a new climate. Dispose of flammable liquids such as spray paints, solvents, and gas in lawn mowers. To avoid costly deposits, request "perfect payment record" letters from your utilities companies. If you're planning to stop overnight, make reservations for accommodations. 1 week before: Clean appliances - don't forget to clean the oven and defrost the refrigerator. Start packing clothes. Pick-up dry cleaning, if necessary. If moving into a pre-owned home, change the locks on all of the doors. Remember to prepare "arrival kits" of essential items you'll need when you get to your new home & take them with you, or have the moving company loan the boxes last.  What to pack:  snacks, instant coffee or teabags, soap, toilet paper, toothpaste & brushes, toiletry items (make sure caps are tightly secured), flashlight, screwdriver, pliers, can opener, paper plates, cups & utensils, a pan or two, paper towels, any other items your family can't do without. MOVING DAY: Double check all the shelves, closets and cabinets to make sure nothing is left behind.  Look through the garage, attic and basement. Turn off all lights, close and lock windows & doors. Leave the keys with your REALTOR®. At your new home, check the circuit breakers & pilots to make sure everything is on & make sure telephones are working. Whatever your destination, have a safe move and enjoy your new home! Courtesy of www.move2oregon.com and TOM MALET Real Estate, LLC.  Volume 12#5.	COPING WITH STRESS CHECKLIST!! Relocation and moving are two of the most stressful times in our lives.  Maybe this Stress Checklist will help you. Stress is a natural part of life.  You can feel physical stress when you have too much to do, or when you’ve had too little sleep, aren’t eating properly or have been ill.  Stress can also be emotional:    you can feel it when you worry about money, your job or a loved one’s illness, or when you experience a devastating life event, such as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job.  When stress is not addressed, it can affect many parts of your life, including your productivity and performance on the job.  In fact, workplace stress causes about 1 million U. S. employees to miss work each day.   The key to coping with stress is to determine your personal tolerance levels for stressful situations.  You must learn to accept or change stressful or tense situations whenever possible.  Some of the following suggestions may help immediately, but if your stress is constant, it may require more attention or even lifestyle changes.             Take One Thing At a Time.  Pick one urgent task and work on it.  When that’s done, move on to the next, and so on.             Be realistic.  If you’re overwhelmed at home or at work, learn to say, “No”.             Don’t try to be superman/superwoman.  No one is perfect, so don’t expect perfection from yourself.             Visualize.  Use your imagination to see how you can manage a stressful situation at work or home more effectively.             Meditate.  Five to ten minutes of quiet reflection can bring some relief.  If you’re having a stressful day at work, close your door and meditate or go for a quick walk to clear your mind.             Exercise.  Thirty minutes of physical activity per day helps both body and mind.  If you have an hour lunch break at the office, use half of it for a walk or a jog.  Make plans with a co-worker to do this a few times a week.              Hobbies.  Take a break and do something you enjoy.   Adopt a healthy lifestyle.  Get adequate rest, eat right, exercise, limit your use of caffeine and alcohol, and balance work and play.   Share your feelings.  Don’t try to cope alone.  Let friends and family provide support and guidance.   Be flexible!  Whether you’re at home or at work, arguing only increases stress.  If you feel you’re right, stand your ground, but do so calmly and rationally.  Be prepared to make allowances for other people’s opinions and to compromise.   Don’t be overly critical.  Remember, everyone is unique and has his or her own virtues and shortcomings.   You can ease stress by talking with friends or family.  But, if that isn’t enough, talk with your doctor, spiritual advisor or employee assistance professional (LAP).  They may suggest that you see a mental health professional to help you manage your stress or suggest other resources.  Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a healthy think to do.   For more information, contact your local Mental Health Association or the National Mental Health Association at 800-969-MNHA (6642), or visit www.nmha.org. Our doctor, Michael K. Petersen distributed this Stress Checklist to all of his patients just before he died.  It has helped us a lot.
RULES OF SAFETY FOR TRAVELERS Close and lock your door, whenever you are in your room. Always check sliding glass doors, windows and adjoining room doors and make sure that they are locked securely. Never answer the door without knowing who it is.  If someone knocks and claims to be an employee, always call the front desk and verify it, before opening the door. Never invite strangers into your room for any reason. Place any valuables you are traveling with in the hotel/motel's safe deposit box. Do not leave valuable in your vehicle. Be observant and cautious when leaving & entering your room and entering parking lots. Be careful with your room key.  Don't be careless and leave it where it can be stolen. Be observant and report any suspicious activity immediately to the main desk. from SO. Oregon REC put out by the Grants Pass DAILY COURIER each summer.	SAFETY TIP IDEA   Put your car keys beside your bed at night.  If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, just press the panic button for your car.  The alarm will be set off, and the horn will continue to sound for 30 seconds or until you turn it off.   This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.  Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this:  It’s a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation.  Test it.  It will go off from almost everywhere inside your house and will keep honking for 30 seconds or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain.  It works if you park in your driveway or garage.  If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar won’t stick around…after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won’t want that.  And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot.  The alarm can work the same way there.   From Roe Motors GM presents FRED’S FLYER, 100th edition, June 2007.  Fred Sheppard is a Sales & Leasing Consultant at Roe Motors in Grants Pass, Oregon.   THE NECESSARY DISCLAIMER! By using this website, you assent to the following terms of use: GrantsPassHomeSales.com or THE SCHMIDT TEAM, Tim and Nancy Schmidt are not responsible for the content available on any other internet sites linked in the GrantsPassHomeSales.com site. The inclusion of any link does not imply a recommendation or endorsement by GrantsPassHomeSales.com or THE SCHMIDT TEAM of the linked site. See OUR PRIVACY POLICY on the bottom of our HOME page. Thank you.