3 Tips for Moving

Are you planning on moving? Here are three tips to make the process smoother and less stressful.

Pack, Toss, Donate  If you don’t know where to start, try this tip. Make three piles: 1) pack 2) toss 3) donate. This will help keep you organized and allow you to take inventory of all your belongings. Decide which items you want to keep and take with you, and place those in the ‘pack’ pile. If you have items you no longer need, and if they are in good condition, consider donating them. Take them to your local shelter or gift them to friends and family. For things that are broken or no longer of use to you, toss or recycle them. No sense in taking anything with you if you are just going to tuck them away and take up storage space. The goal with dividing your things into piles is to expedite the packing process, help you de-clutter your stuff, and allow you to do some good (donating and/or recycling) while you’re at it. At the end of this, you will have all the items you want ready to be packed, and all the ones you don’t ready to be disposed of.

One Room at a Time  Packing an entire house, apartment or condo can seem like a daunting task. But, if you approach it one room at a time, you’ll find it to be much more doable. Pick a room in your home and implement the three-pile system mentioned above. Once you are done packing up the items in that room, move on to the next one, then the next, and so on. Start with whichever room you feel most comfortable packing first, whether that’s the bedroom, kitchen, garage, etc. I’ve found it most helpful to pack your bedroom last, since most of the items there (clothes, bedding) you would need access to right up until moving day. You could pack the kitchen first, so that you have a reason not to cook. :) By tackling one room at a time, you can pack without feeling overwhelmed, and feel good about the progress you are making after each room is done.

Hire Professionals  The most helpful tip I can provide is to hire professional movers to help with your move. Of course, you can absolutely do it yourself, by renting a large truck or van, or even making several trips in your own vehicle. However, movers will expedite this process by moving all of your furniture and boxes in one trip. And in some cases, they will even help pack your items for you. Moving yourself might take a day or two, but hiring professional movers will shorten that time to a few hours. They will also unload your furniture and other boxes into the rooms you designate, which means no heavy lugging for you and less time trying to figure out which box belongs in which room. Having your respective items already in their respective spaces will also help you unpack faster. The goal is to get settled in as quickly as possible and professional movers will be helpful in achieving that goal.

Happy moving!

3 SoCal Stay-cation Spots

Ready for a stay-cation? Whether you’ve been traveling all summer or busy working, we all wish summer would never end. Here are my top three places to visit in Southern California to keep you in summer vacation mode.

Ritz-Carlton Bacara in Santa Barbara (formerly The Bacara Resort & Spa). One of my absolute favorite places to go when I want to get away from LA and just relax and unwind for a couple days. Bacara is a 78-acre oceanfront resort with a private beach and nature trail, adjacent golf course, tennis courts, three pools, and a luxurious spa. You can go horseback riding, hiking, and swimming. Or, get pampered at the spa, go wine tasting in the Foley Tasting Room, and take a leisurely stroll on the beach. The resort’s two restaurants serve fresh and locally sourced California fare. And, the best part is that all of this can be experienced without ever having to leaving the grounds. Bacara is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway.

8301 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA 93117

Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is my next pick. What could be better than spending a couple days at the happiest place on Earth? The resort features three hotels (Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Disneyland Hotel, and Disney’s Paradise Pier), two theme parks (Disneyland and Disney California Adventure) and the Downtown Disney District. Grab a churro and frozen lemonade, enjoy a bowl of gumbo in New Orleans Square (thank me later), cruise with pirates, jungle animals and friends from all over the (small) world, visit Mickey’s house and a haunted mansion, catch one of many live shows and parades at either park, then cap off your night with a fireworks display. If you haven’t been to Disneyland since you were a child, it’s time for a visit.

1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, CA 92802

Riviera Palm Springs is my final pick. This unique hotel is inspired by old Las Vegas, with a retro vibe and mid-century design. The lobby is dimly lit and has lots charm and character. Outside, you’ll find two pools and a poolside café (the blueberry lemonade cocktail is a must-try). If the pool scene gets a little crowded, head over to the spa, shoot some pool in the lobby, or sit outside your balcony or terrace and soak it all in. Choose from five different dining options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The property is close enough to Downtown Palm Springs to access the strip, but removed enough to make it feel like you are in your own private oasis. Whether you’re looking for some fun in the sun, or a desert escape, you’ll find it here.

1600 N Indian Canyon Dr, Palm Springs, CA 92262

Where are your favorite stay-cation spots? 

3 Tips for Homebuyers

Are you in the market for a new home? Have you been searching for the perfect place? Here are three tips to get you started.

Budget Know your budget. Getting pre-approved by a lender is the first step in the home-buying process. Before you start browsing the Internet, meet with a lender to figure out how much you qualify to borrow. Choose a lender you trust or ask your real estate agent/broker for a recommendation. If you are paying cash for the home, you can skip this step altogether. Income and credit score are just a few of many factors in determining the amount you will be approved to borrow, which is why it’s important to get pre-approved and not just pre-qualified. Your agent/broker will be able to better identify properties that fit within your budget. This will allow for a realistic approach to your home search, as well as save you time when you are ready to make an offer (since you will already have a pre-approval letter). 

Neighborhood When browsing for homes, it’s important to also browse neighborhoods. The structure of a home is very important – number of bedrooms and bathrooms, amount of natural light, size of the yard, garage space, pool, adequate street parking, laundry accommodations, etc. The neighborhood is equally as important. Take a look at the surrounding blocks and any nearby areas of interest. You want to like the place where you live. Is it near your favorite coffee house, gym or retail store? Is it commutable from your work or kid’s school? Do you have friends or family nearby? Ask yourself what’s most important for you to have in a neighborhood, and then narrow your search down to the houses in those areas. That way, you get to live in the house you choose, in the neighborhood you love.

Easy Fixes Don’t let easy fixes become deal breakers. If you find a house that you really love, but are discouraged by a few of its’ aesthetic qualities, don’t give up on the house quite yet. Here are some examples. If you don’t like the current paint color, choose a different one and paint over it. If you don’t like the window treatments, switch them out. Doors, handles and knobs, counter tops, flooring, islands, appliances, small fences, and non-support walls and beams can all be removed and/or replaced. If the home is staged or occupied, furniture placement or room usage can be altered to suit your needs. Some of these fixes are minor, and some can be costly. However, it might be worth the cost and time involved if it means customizing your living space. No home is perfect, but you can make it perfect for you.

Share some of your favorite tips in the comments! 

Hi everyone. Welcome to my blog!

My name is Joanna and I’m a licensed Realtor in California. Born and raised in Los Angeles, I love all things SoCal - lifestyle, neighborhoods, and everything in between. Here, you’ll find posts about my favorite places, where to stay, eat, shop and play, real estate and interior design tips, and so much more. Every post will be in 3s (hence the name)! Follow me on Instagram (@realestatebyjoanna) for more lifestyle posts. And please let me know what content you’d like to see. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy!