How And When To Throw A Housewarming Party:

Moving into a new home, especially if you own it, is a big deal. After all the packing, hauling, and unpacking, it’s time to throw yourself a party! What’s the purpose of a housewarming party, though? How does one even start, and how long after moving in?

A Brief History of Housewarming Parties

Housewarming parties have been around for centuries. In the medieval times, the tradition was to give new homeowners wood to warm the home, or hot soups, to warm bellies. Some believed that heating a home could ward off evil spirits.

Today, you’re far more likely to get a plant than wood, but food is still a common housewarming gift, as are other things designed to turn a house into a home.

When to Throw a Housewarming Party

If you’re waiting for your friends to throw you a housewarming party, you’ll probably wait a very long time. This is one party you have to throw yourself, which means you can make it exactly what you want. It’s usually best to throw the party after you are finished unpacking, and after pictures are hung on the walls. Waiting more than a year makes it seem more like just another party, which is fine, but don’t expect as many gifts.

How to Throw a Housewarming Party

Decide whether you want to throw a BYOB potluck or a more sophisticated party, where you provide the food and the alcohol. To make it both simple and sophisticated, have the party catered and serve a signature cocktail.

About three weeks before the party, email invitations to your friends. It’s a great idea to hand deliver some invitations to your neighbors. Ask everyone to RSVP, so you can plan accordingly.

Clean your house from top to bottom. Remember that people are there to get the grand tour. Keeping them out of your bedroom or bonus room just seems weird.

If your home is small, or if you have some friends who prefer day to night (or vice versa), consider an open house format. Let your friends and neighbors come and go as they please.

If you’re serious about gifts, you could consider registering at a department store, or even a home improvement store. Choose items at all price points, and if your friends don’t fulfill all your wishes, make some new friends. Kidding, of course, but at least it’s a list for your own benefit.

If you want to give your friends a bit more leeway, throw a theme party. Are you a cook, and want to stock your kitchen? Perhaps you’re a gardener; gardening tools, seeds, and seedlings, are always appropriate. Maybe you simply want to stock your bar. Ask your guests to bring liquor or bar glasses (who doesn’t need a set of Moscow mule mugs or martini glasses?)

Plan games and music. It is still a party, after all.

Featured image via Pixabay

Estate Sales and Online Auctions

Stress-Free, Timely Liquidation.

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Losing a loved one can be emotional, overwhelming and sometimes unexpected. In the midst of a loss, families often find themselves in a position where personal belongings need to be sold or liquidated in a timely manner. This can not only be an emotional process, but also can consume a lot of time and energy on the part of family members.

Caring Transitions Silicon Valley keeps your family’s best interests at heart by acting as your on-site advocate, coordinating the liquidation of your loved one’s estate. We carefully manage the items in the home, treating them like our own, to ensure they’re sold or liquidated in a timely manner. As your family’s trusted partner, we manage the process efficiently and maximize returns. We give families peace of mind by minimizing the stress of estate sale planning.

Estate Sale Services:

• Professionally manage estate sale auctions or online auctions
• Appraise items to be sold
• Clean out and prepare the house for sale (including attics, garages, storage sheds, etc.)
• Arrange for painters or repairs
• Recycle and donate unwanted items
• Ship items to other family members
• Junk/trash removal
• Interview real estate agents for the sale of the property

11 Impressive Realtor Bios That Win Clients [Examples & Templates Included]

First impressions matter, and when potential clients find your real estate website, they'll be looking for information about you and your expertise. The best way to share these details is with a bio that provides background on your real estate experience.

Why is a bio so important? A study by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) found that 51% of home buyers found their home on the internet. And before they reach out about a listing, they'll want to know the qualifications and background of the realtor.

Let's take a look at the steps to create an excellent realtor bio and look at bio examples from realtors.

Unlock inspiring professional bio examples and free templates here.

How to Write a Realtor Bio

When you're writing your realtor bio, you'll want to include information about your personal background, real estate expertise, and involvement in the community. Adding facts, statistics, awards, and accreditations will boost your credibility. And you'll want to highlight the value you provide to each of your clients.

Here are a few key items to include in your realtor bio:

• Your real estate experience
• Connection to the area you're selling in
• Sales statistics
• Awards you've won
• Personal information
• The value you provide to customers

Below are some real estate agent bio examples that are truly outstanding.

11 Excellent Real Estate Agent Bio Examples

1. Rene Rodriguez

Rene's bio is comprehensive, and it provides detail about the value he provides to customers. He also includes impressive sales statistics to boost his credibility.

Favorite line: A high-touch broker known for his extensive market knowledge and his unmatched devotion to clients, Rene's success is based almost exclusively on positive referrals. He earns the respect of his clients by working tirelessly on their behalf and by always offering them candid advice.

2. Danielle Lazier

Danielle Lazier's bio is detailed and includes a high-quality photo of herself. She highlights her success as a real estate agent and keeps things light-hearted by including a few personal details about herself.

Favorite line: Reared in the Tri-State Area (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut) and Dallas, Texas, I have an effective combination of Southern charm and Northeastern tenacity. I like to win (for my clients) but do so with a calm demeanor and a smile.

3. Brendan Bartic

This bio is brief, but it includes all of the key information about this realtor. Not only does Brendan include an impressive sales statistic, he includes details about his prior experience in the army and about how he gives back to his community.

Favorite line: As a Colorado native, and a seasoned real estate professional, I recognize and value the trust my clients place in me and I strive every day to exceed their expectations. I have been a leading top producer for over 18 years. My sales consistently rank in the top 1% of all Keller Williams Teams Internationally.

4. Missy Stagers

Missy provides a quick overview of her experience and includes a link to a full bio page. The full bio page lists her accreditations, education, and memberships. And it goes more in-depth into her experiences.

Favorite line: She has dedicated over two decades helping clients buy and sell property with over 3400 transactions and $550 million in sales. In addition, she has served her industry by being San Antonio Board of Realtors Chairman, Women's Council of Realtors Chairman, and various chairman positions on committees at the Texas Associate of Realtors.

5. Paul Burrowes

His bio uses numbered points to emphasize key details. In this case, these points are the promises Paul makes to his clients and the important things he does for them.

Favorite line: Paul Burrowes brings fourteen years of experience in real estate, excellent customer service and a commitment to work hard, listen and follow through. He provides quality service to build relationships with clients and more importantly, maintain those relationships by communicating effectively.

6. Cyndie Gawain

Cyndie's bio is short and sweet. She details her experience and emphasizes the high-quality service she provides to clients. This excellent service results in repeat customers and referrals.

Favorite line: Her business is based on more than 80 percent referrals from satisfied clients. Most important to Gawain is providing the most excellent service to buyers and sellers in order to earn their trust, referrals, and repeat business.

7. Kaukaha "K" Watanabe

This agent bio is a longer example, and it lays out a timeline of K's personal and professional experience. And it highlights the awards that he and his partners have earned.

Favorite line: K has an extensive professional background in Sales and Management. He began his career in real estate in late 2007 and since then his real estate team has helped over 1,000 families purchase and sell their properties here in Tucson, Arizona.

8. Elizabeth Bain

Elizabeth tells a personal story in her bio that highlights her passion for real estate. She provides detail on her real estate background and personal interests. And Elizabeth makes it clear she's passionate about the customer.

Favorite line: As a Realtor, my first priority is to make my clients happy. I listen to my clients wants and needs to achieve the best outcome in every transaction and I strive to ensure that the home buying or selling process is fun, easy and stress-free. My clients can count on me any time of day when they have a question or concern.

9. Dionelle (Don) Davis

In Don's bio, he mentions the areas of real estate that he works in and the number of clients he's assisted. He includes a section to highlight how he trained and helped new realtors in his region, and this emphasizes his real estate expertise.

Favorite line: Throughout his real estate career, Don has trained and helped over 10 Texas Licensed Real Estate Agents to embrace real estate as a full-time career, experience ranging from six months to 35 years. Two of these agents have successfully started their own real estate companies. Don has owned and managed a real estate company and has a great appreciation for the work that it takes to be successful in the real estate industry.

10. Elizabeth Putnam

Elizabeth's bio builds credibility by emphasizing her experience as a native resident of the region she's working in. She tells a story that will grab prospects' attention.

Favorite line: As an Asheville native, I witnessed its great transformation – from a boarded up and desolate downtown into a bustling metropolitan city that retains its small-town feel. My intimate knowledge of this region, and my experiences of having lived here all of my life give me enthusiasm and a desire to make my home, your home.

11. Kevin Spina

Kevin's bio demonstrates the key traits he possesses that make him an excellent realtor. And he writes extensively about his community involvement and philanthropy.

Favorite line: Kevin Spina is conscientious Realtor who exudes credibility, commitment, and determination. Kevin's passion for real estate is apparent through his excellent communication skills and a warm and friendly approach.

Real Estate Agent Bio Templates

Whether you're an experienced agent or new to real estate, a bio can help set you apart from other realtors. Here are real estate bio templates you can use to create your own.

Experienced Real Estate Agent Bio

[Your name] has a passion for real estate, and helping clients achieve [X goals]. [He/she/they] have been a licensed realtor for [number of years] and a top-performing agent at [your agency].[Your name] has dedicated [number of years] helping clients buy and sell property with [insert sales statistics]. [He/she/they] have extensive knowledge and experience in [your region/market].

In [his/her/their] free time, [your name] participates in [club, society, volunteer group] and enjoys [your hobbies].

New Real Estate Agent Bio

I am [city/region] real estate agent who works with home [buyers/sellers]. After graduating from [your college], I had [X experience] and took [X courses] that inspired my passion for real estate. My enthusiasm for helping others and [your skills/characteristics] help me connect with clients and provide them with the best service possible.

When I'm not assisting my real estate clients, I enjoy [spending time with family, volunteering, participating in X hobby, etc.].

Creative Real Estate Agent Bio

Since the age of [your age at the time], I began to develop my love for real estate. I'd build homes out of Legos and practice my selling techniques with my Lego people. This passion has stuck with me from childhood through adulthood.

After graduating from [your college], I got my [realtor license or certification]. For the past [X years], I've assisted [number of clients]. I strive to provide high-quality, personalized service to each and every person I work with.

In my spare time, I enjoy [your hobbies]. And I participate in [volunteer group, club, etc.].

Feel free to elaborate on certain elements of each template. Is there an intriguing story you can tell? Or is there an interesting fact you can share?

With a well-written bio, clients will be eager to work with you. And if you're looking for more ways to improve your real estate business, check out these real estate marketing ideas next.

Why Americans Move; The Answer Might Not Be As Simple As You Think

When you in the midst of a move, it sometimes seems you are in it alone. Take heart, though, in knowing that more than 10 percent of the population either has moved or will move during the year.

The latest numbers from the census bureau are from 2016, but according to them, 11.2 percent of people moved that year. And people move for a variety of reasons:

• 42.2 percent of people moved because of housing
• 27.7 percent said they moved for family reasons
• 20.2 percent moved because of a job
• 10.2 percent cited other reasons for moving

According to them, “housing” generally means moving up in life. They are moving to larger digs, or buying instead of renting, or moving to better neighborhoods. I’d imagine that that might look different during bad housing markets.

Believe it or not, those numbers are low. In 1981, for example, nearly a quarter of all American residents moved.

[Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

Another survey revealed the most popular moving destinations over the last seven years. The top ten areas are:

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, with a population growth of 15.1%.
• Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX, with a population growth of 16.4%.
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, with a population growth of 10.6%.
• Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ, with a population growth of 13%.
• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, with a population growth of 11.3%.
• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL, with a population growth of 11.1%
• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, with a population growth of 17.6 percent.
• Austin-Round Rock, TX, with a population growth of 23.3%.
• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, with a population growth of 12.4%.
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA, with a population growth of 9%.

In most cases, people are moving from cold climates to warmer. Here’s a complete list of the top 50 moving destinations. 

Now that you know you’re not alone in dealing with the stress of moving, it’s time to get organized, but don’t forget to take time for self care. Get a massage, see a movie, go to a restaurant instead of doing takeout. If you don’t have the time, at least take an hour to sip a glass of wine.

Save Your Sanity With These Moving Day Tips

Is there anyone in the world who actually likes moving to a new home? Organizing and packing up years of accumulated stuff, keeping up with odds and ends, tripping over boxes—is there any way to make that sound fun?

While we may not be able to make moving an enjoyable experience, we have some tips to help relieve some of your stress. To start off, try not to think of moving to a new home as a single, overwhelming ordeal. Break the moving process down into easy-to-accomplish phases to keep you focused and motivated.

Here’s our suggestion for a four-phase move along with some interesting packing tips to make things easier.

Phase One: At Least Three Months Before Moving Day

1. Don’t waste time or space packing what you don’t use or need. Clear out closets, cabinets and any other random storage places and sell, toss or donate anything you haven’t used in more than a year. Have a pre-moving yard sale and make a little extra cash while you’re at it!

2. Start gathering sturdy boxes from grocery, furniture or electronics stores. It may take more time to get what you need, but they’ll be free!

3. Start pre-packing! If you’re selling your home, this will help you clear out clutter and make your home appear more spacious to prospective buyers. Pack up photos, knickknacks, rarely used dishes and cookware—almost anything you don’t use on a daily basis.

Packing Tips

—Label and/or color-code boxes to make unpacking easier. Place labels on the sides of boxes so you can see them when the boxes are stacked.

—For items that must be disassembled, keep screws, washers, and so forth in labeled plastic bags. Put all the bags in one box so they won’t get lost. Do the same with the cords from your electronics.

—Instead of wrapping each dish in newspaper or bubble wrap, separate your dishes with Styrofoam plates. Stack them in boxes vertically instead of flat. They’ll be less likely to break.

Phase Two: One Month Before Moving Day

1. Coordinate your moving dates with some overlap. Leave plenty of timebetween closing on your current home and the move-in date for your new home to paint or put in new flooring—whatever projects you have in mind—before you move in.

2. Go ahead and set up utilities and internet access at your new home and notify the post office of your new address.

3. Take measurements at your new home to make sure your current appliances and furniture will fit.

4. Keep packing!

Phase Three: One or Two Weeks Before Moving Day

1. Finish up the immediate updates to your new home.

2. Put up shower curtains at your new home and stock the bathroom with towels and soap so you can have a hot shower after a long day of moving. Have paper plates, disposable cups, paper towels and cleaning supplies at your new home so you don’t have to search for them the day of the move.

3. Pack a bag of essentials for each family member: medicines, toiletries and a change of clothes. Keep these handy so you’ll have everything you need for your first night in your new home without digging through boxes.

4. Nearly done packing!

More Packing Tips

—Take pictures of your electronic hookups so you have a guide to use when you get to your new home.

—Slip your hanging clothes into garbage bags while they’re still on the hanger. Simply transport them to your new closet and remove the bag.

Final Phase: Moving Day

1. All your prior hard work should make this day a simple matter of moving your things from one location to another. Make things even easier by having a friend watch your kids and/or pets so you can focus on the task at hand.

2. If you’re relying on volunteers to help you move, organize your teams in shifts so one group of friends helps you move out while the other helps you move in. That way no one has to give up a full day, and you get all the help you need.

Professional Movers Can Do the Heavy Lifting

If your budget allows, consider hiring professional movers who will take on much of the physical stress of packing and transporting your belongings. Remember, it’s your responsibility to keep things organized.

Look for companies that have a reputation for good customer service. Be sure you understand your responsibilities so you don’t end up paying more than you expect.

A Small Price to Pay for a Great New Home

Don’t let the task of moving keep you from finding a new home you and your family can enjoy. Take your time, think ahead, and keep your sense of humor!

If you think you’re ready to start shopping for a new home, we can put you in touch with a high-energy, high-octane real estate agent Dave recommends to help you make the home-buying process as smooth as your move.

9 Easily Overlooked Essentials You’ll Need on Moving Day

Packing for a move? Don’t forget your first day necessities– a.k.a. the easily overlooked essentials you’re going to need on day one in your new home. With all of the planning, packing and general craziness that comes along with the whole relocation process, it can be easy to forget a few small things that happen to make a big difference on moving day (and immediate days after). After all, your phone charger and toothbrush are the last things you want to be frantically searching for after a stressful moving day. So, without further ado, here are 9 easily overlooked essentials that we highly recommend bringing with you or purchasing as soon as you arrive in your new digs. Good luck!

Basic cleaning supplies – You’ve dreamed of that first, glorious moment inside your new home. The closets are spick-and-span, the floors are gleaming and the toilets are clean. Except, they aren’t. Chances are good that the home you’re moving into won’t be in tip-top shape when you arrive. Even if the previous owners had the place cleaned before you moved in, the home is still going to have a few dust bunnies hiding in the corners – not to mention, the floors are sure to get somewhat dirty during the move. After several relocations myself, I’ve learned the hard way that you need to have cleaning supplies on-hand during the first day of a move. Some supplies to bring with you, include:

• Paper towels
• Multi-purpose cleaning spray and clorox wipes to sanitize surfaces and the inside of the fridge
• Small vacuum or handheld vacuum
• Rags and sponges for dishes
• Dishwasher detergent
• Laundry detergent
• Broom and dustpan
• Toilet bowl cleaner

Corkscrew – Planning to pop open some vino on the first night in your home? If you’re looking to celebrate with a glass of wine, you’ll want to make sure you know where the corkscrew is located in the midst of all your things. Instead of packing this up inside your sea of boxes, I suggest throwing it in your purse or personal suitcase on moving day.

SEE ALSO: How To Prepare for the First Night in Your New Home

Clothing hangers – When packing your things, I suggest loading up all of the clothing hangers in a clear, plastic bin, so that you know exactly where they are in your new home. Otherwise, you could find yourself tearing through every one of your boxes in search of something (anything!) to hang your clothes on. After unpacking your kitchen and making your beds, put all of the hangers in your various closets. This way, you can hang your clothes as you unpack your clothing boxes, and you won’t waste hours every day looking for your garments.

Batteries – One of the most commonly overlooked items also happens to be one of the most important items when it comes to packing for a move: batteries! Trust me, you’re going to need them during the first week. Whether it’s a TV control that won’t work or a smoke detector that won’t stop beeping, not having batteries on-hand will drive you crazy that first few days and nights. If you’re not sure whether your power will be on during the first day/night, you’ll also need flashlights – and of course, more batteries.

Toothbrush – Make sure you know where your toothbrush is located (and your toothpaste, while you’re at it). Don’t forget to toss this very necessary, yet often forgotten, item in your all-important toiletry bag.

SEE ALSO: How to Start Unpacking & Organizing Your Home After a Move

Toolkit – Whatever you do, don’t forget your toolkit! If you pack it with your belongings, make sure you’ve clearly labeled the box. The chances of you needing a toolkit during the first day and week of living in a new home are very high. While you may not be hanging pictures on the wall yet, you will probably need simple tools, like measuring tape and a utility knife, on day one in your new home. Check to make sure your toolkit includes the following items before moving:

• Hammer
• Multiple-sized screwdrivers
• Measuring tape
• Pliers
• Utility knife (for opening boxes)

Fire Extinguisher – Safety first! If you plan to test out your kitchen by cooking dinner during the the first week in your new house, you’re going to need a fire extinguisher on standby. Whether you moved the fire extinguisher yourself or purchased a new one, it’s important to have this little guy nearby just in case that oven doesn’t work quite like you thought it would. Keeping a fire extinguisher in your kitchen will help you control any accidental small fires that could pop up after the move.

SEE ALSO: Your Moving Checklist at the Last Minute

Toilet paper – This one may be pretty self-explanatory, but you’d be surprised how many people forget to pack a few rolls of teepee in their “first night” moving bag. Save yourself a trip to the convenience store on an already-hectic moving day, and pack enough toilet paper to get your family through the first few days in your new home. Everyone in the house – including your movers – will thank you later.

Chargers – Finally, don’t forget your electronic chargers! These could easily end up getting tossed in a random box or (god forbid) left behind at the former house. Make sure to pack everyone’s phone charger, computer charger and any other important charging devices into a separate bag or box. After all, no one wants to spend the first week in their new house with a dead phone.

SEE ALSO: The Moving Checklist: A Timeline for Your Upcoming Move

If you’re not planning to personally bring these items with you on moving day, make sure to carefully pack and label everything in an easy-to-find box. Otherwise, you may be out of luck. While preparing for your move, make sure to also check out Moving.com’s handy Moving Planner Checklist to ensure you have a successful moving day. The planner provides a customizable moving checklist, personal tasks list, email reminders, and coupons to help you stay organized while you move.