Moving Tips

5 Tips for First-Time Alaskan Home Buyers

Are you ready to buy your first Alaskan home? There are many pivotal points in life that we consider part of ‘adulting’ and one of the main big purchases in our lives is our first home. There’s a lot that we aren’t taught growing up about buying our first home. This major milestone is full of benefits, but it’s important to get the facts and do your research first. Before you post your “First home” announcement on social media take the time to learn from those who came before you with a few tips.

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

What to Expect When Moving to Alaska

There is nothing quite like living in Alaska. If you’ve decided to make Alaska your home, or you’re considering a move you’re in for a treat. Everyone’s experience is different, but you won’t really know until you go. There are many things people have already heard about Alaska, or think they know, and some things that might surprise you. These are a few things we thought we would share.

You really can become a bush person
If it’s always been your dream to live off the grid, you can make it a reality. There are plenty of people that have moved to Alaska with the same ambitions, and they’ve made it work. It’s important to remember that Alaskan winters are unforgiving, and you will need to be prepared. It can get expensive to live off the grid. Be prepared to spend some money investing in a power system such as a wind turbine or solar panels and battery backup systems. You will also be forced to adjust to a short growing season.

Read More›
in Moving Tips

The Secret to Decluttering Items That You Love

We have all heard the value of decluttering and clearing our spaces. The term ‘sparks joy’ has become commonplace in many households when deciding what needs to go and when, but when it comes to sentimentality, we can find that many of us struggle to really let go of some items. If you’re looking to tidy your space and keep your home free of clutter, you must find a way to walk the emotional tightrope and let go.

What are some things that we struggle to let go of and what’s the answer? Here are just a few tips we’ve found that can help you on your decluttering journey.

Read More›
in Home Decoration / Moving Tips

Living a Smaller Life can be Beneficial – How?

Simplifying your life doesn’t have to be a ‘someday’ goal anymore. In years past many used to think that once the kids were grown, they could downsize. Today, a growing number of people are realizing that they can start living small now. Downsizing your home doesn’t mean you’re deprived, or have less, in fact it can mean that you actually gain more, but how?

Think Small

Owning a home, is the dream, but it may feel like it’ll never be feasible for you financially. It might be time to do a reality check and see if perhaps small-space living might be the solution for you. If you can be content with less space, you could make your dreams of owning a home a reality sooner than you may think. Many homeowners of tiny homes don’t have a high mortgage compared to other homeowners. While a tiny home may not be suited to everyone’s needs, could you eliminate or lower your mortgage by simply buying a smaller home? A smaller home will bring less upkeep, less utilities and less daily chores. What would you do with all that extra time? Maybe spend more time in our beautiful Alaskan outdoors?

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

How to Take the Stress Out of Moving out of State

Moving can be a dreaded process. There’s the overwhelm of getting ready to move, packing, and then travelling, and then unpacking! It’s hard enough moving within the same town, but a larger move, such as out of state can feel stressful. How can you reduce the stress and make the transition as easy as possible? The best thing to do when facing a move is to have a plan. With this simple checklist you’ll find moving is a breeze.

2 Months Before

Two months before you’re set to move you should kick the planning process into gear. This is the time to do your research and start the ball rolling.

Read More›
in Moving Tips

An Important Step to Making your Property Internet-Friendly

With an increased need for virtual sales and social distancing a new approach to home selling is needed, but you can still accomplish your selling to-do list and make your property screen friendly for the internet. Selling a home can often feel stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. Even though you have a to-do list to tackle, there are simple strategies that you can follow that will help you simplify the process, even if you’re forced to sell in a different way than you had expected.

If you’re in the position to move out before you sell, you can allow buyers to tour the property on their own, using smart lockboxes set with a one-time code. You would only need minimal furniture for staging and no small valuable items would be left behind, but for many sellers moving pre-sale isn’t an option economically.

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

Design trends perfect for Alaskan homes

As we enter a new year, and decade, many people have decided it’s time for a new fresh start! If you’re in the market to renovate or redecorate your home or are planning to spruce up a rental property you own in the Anchorage / Eagle River area, we gathered up a few quick ideas from what’s trending in home design and décor for inspiration. When it comes to design in the next decade, individuality will be extremely important.

This year’s trend works perfectly with our motto which is to stay true to your own sense of design and comfort. This is the best way to make sure your home looks great and feels even better.  Just have fun making the place your own, and don’t stress too much about it. A lot of what was popular last year and in the early aughts, such as accent walls and all-white kitchens won’t go away entirely but will continue to evolve with time.

Read More›
in Community News / Moving Tips
home buying tips for Alaska

Top home buying tips for Anchorage and Eagle River, Alaska

Buying a home in Alaska is a big move, no matter if it’s your first home, a vacation home or your dream retirement home. We have compiled some home buying tips for you. By selecting Anchorage, Eagle River, Wasilla or the Mat-Su Valley area for the location of your future home, you’ve chosen one of the most beautiful real estate markets in the country, a great choice for what is one of the most important investments in your future.

Choosing a home is about more than just putting a roof over your head, though, it’s about investing in a community and a lifestyle. It can be both challenging AND fun, as long as you have the right support and are prepared for the journey. To get you on the right path, here are a few home buying tips that can help you prepare for a successful home buying experience.

Read More›
in Community News / Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

Quiz: How to tell if you’ve outgrown your home

Spring is coming here in Alaska and the urge to get moving is kicking in. Sometimes that feeling can overflow to thoughts of moving to a new home. You love where you live, so is this feeling just cabin fever? Or is it really time to move on? Take a look at the questions below. If you answer yes to any of these, it might be time to give us a call.

YES or NO: You need more space

Ok, we know after the long winters here in Alaska that your home can start to feel like it’s shrinking. If you feel overwhelmed by all the “stuff” in your home (toys, pets, furniture, sports equipment, hobbies, etc.) take some time to declutter – maybe by cleaning out a lot of the old you’ll feel like you have room to breathe again.  After all, winter is the perfect time to declutter here in Alaska.

If you’re still feeling a bit crowded, wait until the weather breaks and you’re able to resume outdoor activities. If that cramped feeling wears off, you’re good to stay. If not, this may be a sign that you need to call us to help you look for your next home.

Read More›
in Community News / Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

What documents do I need to sell my home in Alaska?

If you’re getting ready to sell your home in Alaska, or any other state, it’s a good idea to prepare by gathering documents you might need when you list your home. Organizing your files will streamline the process for you, your Realtor, and everyone involved in the process, eliminating the stress of frantic last-minute searches for critical documents that are needed throughout the process.

Here’s a handy checklist we share with clients for home sales here in the Anchorage, Eagle River and Wasilla area that work as a great starter. However, be sure to check with your local Realtor, as exact files you need can vary by state and local real estate practices.

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

Creating modern homework spaces that kids will thrive in

In today’s high-tech world, helping kids find a productive space to do homework has definitely changed. While kitchen tables are still popular, the need for easy access to computers and smart devices for even the youngest of children have parents looking for new ideas to create tech-friendly, creativity-boosting spaces that kids can thrive in. Check out Pinterest and you’ll see thousands of ideas for creating modern homework spaces for kids.

If you’re thinking of creating a new space for your kids (or maybe even something that the parents can use too), here are a few ideas that might inspire you:

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

How to use apps to find a home for sale

Looking for a home to buy the old-fashioned way — cruising around looking for “For Sale” signs and checking local classifieds – can get pretty stressful. But it doesn’t have to be. Thanks to apps such as Zillow and Redfin, you can use your smart phone or computer to find homes that fit what you’re looking for faster and easier. Better yet? The ones we mention here are all free.

Read More›
in Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips

What do I need to help my pet when we move

When it’s time to move to a new home, the change of scenery can be stressful for everyone – including pets. Even though more than half of all households in America own a pet, many people forget to plan for how the move will affect this important member of the family. Take a pet from its normal surroundings, then surprise them with a new home, yard and neighborhood with strange animals, smells and sounds, and it’s no wonder they get stressed out. Or even worse, run away.

There are ways to help smooth the transition however, and just like helping children prepare for a move, you can set the stage for a smooth move for your pet. Here’s a checklist to give you a few ideas:

Read More›
in Community News / Moving Tips / Real Estate Tips
Helping Children Adjust to Moving to a New Home

Helping Children Adjust to a New Home

Moving Can Be Stressful

People move for many reasons. A new job, marriage, divorce, or just a desire for a change of scenery are a few of those reasons. Then there are military families, for whom moving is a necessary part of life. We’ve worked with many families buying and selling homes in the Eagle River and Anchorage, Alaska area.  We’ve seen firsthand how stressful moving can be for children, as much as for the parents. If your family is planning to relocate, here are some tips to help turn moving into a positive experience, especially helping children adjust to moving.

Take a tour

If possible, take your children to visit where you’re moving ahead of time. Check out the local restaurants.  Find the best places to get an ice cream cone. Drive by the schools, parks, malls or other places your kids would be interested in. This will help dissipate some of the fear of the unknown that children often have.

Read More›
in Moving Tips