Whether downsizing your own space or moving into another, sometimes the furniture or accessories you have simply won’t fit or won’t work in the new space.  There is a secondary market for finer furniture, home decor, artwork, rugs and even fine jewelry, and buyers are seeking well-made pieces that aren’t as expensive as buying new.  

But don’t confuse consignment with thrift shopping.  Many consignment shops are very savvy to today’s trends, and are particularly diligent  in what they will accept for resale.  

If you’re considering consigning your furniture or household decor  to a consignment shop, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Condition – Consignment shoppers are discriminating buyers, and consignment shop staff know this.  Your items must have minimal wear, have no tears or fading, are pet hair and stain free, and come from a non-smoking environment.  According to Tamara Smith, manager of Consignment Northwest in Beaverton, her shop looks for “like new condition, with no noticeable tears, discoloration or damage”.  
2. Style – While Danish modern has been holding steady for the last few years, modern contemporary and higher end traditional styles sell just as well.

When it comes to wrapping your household goods for a move, not all wrapping material is created equal.  When you’ve got a large stack of heirloom china plates before you that need to be safely transported on a moving truck, often the first instinct is to reach for the plastic bubble wrap. Those sheets of air may cushion our breakables well, (and sure are fun to pop later), but professional movers prefer to use sheets of undyed packing paper for smaller breakables, for several reasons.

•  Efficiency – paper sheets are thin yet durable in a move.  Wrapping each item tightly but separately in two sheets of paper inhibits contact between the items when placed in a box.  Because of the thinness of paper, more items can fit in a box, and the paper sheets can also be used to fill the corners of the boxes to lessen any jostling that could occur, keeping your delicates snug.

Moving trends are fairly static in the warmer months..  According to the American Moving and Storage Association (AMSA), over 40 million people will change residences on average per year, and summer remains the busiest time of year to move, with over 80% of moves taking place between April and September. The reasons for all these moves?  AMSA cites looking for a new and better place to live and to be near family as two of the top reasons that Americans uproot and move on.

While families with children are more likely to move in the summertime because of school breaks and vacation time off, seniors prefer to move in the summer to be settled into place before cold weather hits. .. Read the rest

Summer time is a wonderful time to appreciate the beauty of our plants, both indoor and outdoor.  But if you’re planning on moving during this time, the prospect of leaving behind those plants you’ve nurtured so well can be like saying goodbye to a cherished friend.

Moving potted plants is possible with some planning and a little effort.  If you are moving yourself or entrusting your household goods to a professional mover, there are a few legal guidelines you must follow if you wish to have your plants move with you.  Most licensed movers will not move your plants on their trucks due to federal and state regulations, so if you want to keep them, you should plan to move them yourself... Read the rest

Whether big or small, a move is seldom easy or free from anxiety. The moving process is filled with many tasks and decisions. If you’re relocating to a new place, it is important to know the steps to take that will make your move successful. You might simply need to hire a mover to get your belongings from Point A to B. For larger, more complicated moves, you may need a Move Manager to help you through the mental, emotional and physical aspects of the moving process.

Jennifer Campbell, Operations Manager for The Move Makers, knows all too well what an emotional toll moving can have on people... Read the rest