Time to Winterize Your Home

Do this before winter.

Be eco- and budget-friendly. Make your own cleaning supplies.

  Whether you’re looking for greener ways to clean your home or you just want to save money at the store, there are simple household cleaning products you can make on your own. Use the recipes, tips and precautions below to help you get started.  Read more….

Moving? Here are some things to think about

Moving day is looming in your near future. The stress is mounting. Well, if you plan well, your stress level will go down and the better you plan the smoother things will run. What are some things you should concern yourself with?

Should you pack yourself or use a professional?

While this may seem simple at first, there are pros and cons to take into consideration.

For many families hoping to save money on moving expenses, do-it-yourself home packing is the logical option.

Successful DIY house packing requires extensive preparation to take inventory of all your belongings and carefully pack and load the moving truck yourself. You will also be responsible for purchasing your own packaging materials for the move.

Self packing and moving will allow you to save a significant amount on your total moving budget. One disadvantage to this method of moving is that you will probably need to ask friends and family members to help move your boxes and load your furniture into the moving vehicle. You also need to find and rent an appropriate sized vehicle. Although you can pack at a leisurely pace, normally there is a last minute rush to get everything on the truck and get moving. And don’t forget to have help lined up to off-load the truck at the other end.

Using professional packers costs more than doing yourself.  But if you’re looking to relieve stress on your moving day, hiring professional movers is the way to go.

You will be able to turn over all of your boxes, furniture, and belongings to a moving service, who will pack, transport, and unload it for you.

And here is something to think about. You can save money by booking movers on weekdays instead of weekends and by moving in the middle of the month instead of at the end when most leases are up.

There is a middle of the road options out there that you can consider. You can rent a PODS Container and take your time packing and loading your belongings into it. The POD is delivered to your home, you pack it up, they come get it. And they will either store it for you or move it to your new home.

How soon should you start your move?

At a minimum, you should organize your belongings 6-8 weeks in advance. This gives you time to sort through your storage spaces and throw out or donate any items that you no longer need. The rest of your belongings should be packed into boxes and clearly labelled.

Start purchasing and gathering packing supplies at least 6 weeks in advance. There’s nothing worse than running out of boxes on the day of a move. You can purchase all of your packing materials from a moving supply company, or you can save money by gathering boxes from supermarkets, liquor stores, and retail shops.

If you’re moving across country, you may need to book temporary accommodation, flight and possibly even car rental as early as possible. Again, try to book your travel arrangements 6 weeks in advance. But even if you are moving from one neighbourhood to another, take the time to book your moving service far in advance to secure a lower rate. If at all possible, keep your travel arrangements flexible to account for any delays or cancellations.

In the month leading up to your big move, it is the perfect time to inform your change of address to organizations such as credit card companies, utility companies, insurance companies, banks and especially to friends and family. You should also notify the US Postal Service of your pending  move and provide them with the date you want them to start redirecting your mail.

Other Considerations

That will get your started. I’ll be giving your some tips on How best to pack boxes for moving, how to downsize if you are moving from a large to a smaller home or an apartment, how to reduce your moving costs, and provide a couple handy checklists. So watch for my nest posts.

And if you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section and I will do my very best to answer them!

Have a great week!

 

 

Moving Yourself? What do you need?

One of the frustrating parts of moving is… every time you get home from the store you realized you should have gotten.. yet another item you need to pack with and ran out of. Here is a list of items you need in order to pack as well as items that would be smart to keep out of the moving truck until the very last second.

Boxes

Packing Tape

Packing Paper

Bubble Wrap

Moving Blankets (you could also use old towels)- to wrap furniture or artwork and tape over the fabric; this creates extra layers of protection for your glass or delicate belongings.

Markers or Label maker-Label, Label, Label. You will not regret it.

String or Rope

Screw Drivers-sometimes you have to take doors off the hinges to get furniture through, or you have to take furniture apart

Cleaning supplies-clean as you go, it makes the process easier (broom, dustpan, vacuum, Clorox wipes, Windex, paper towels, etc.)

We know how fast moving tape is used, and depending on how many “movers” you have, you might want to invest a tape gun per mover, or have two people share one and label it. Have a designated spot to sit down your moving supplies so you are not constantly looking for what you need.

Hope this helps you in your DIY Move!

DIY Fall Wreath

Fall has arrived! If you haven’t already decorated for it, then you better hurry before all of your friends and family come over for Thanksgiving. We all know how fast the time flies by. There are so many creative home makers out there… and guess what?? Now you can be one of them!

The original article on this specific wreath was created by Kenarry Ideas for the Home-How to Make a Burlap Wreath with Accent Ribbon.

We all know that burlap is in style, but you can use any two of your favorite ribbons with any material for this fun decorative craft. This wreath is so easy to do, it takes no expertise in using any cloth or tools, so there is no reason to feel insecure in your creative capabilities, and a perfectionist can create it to be however they would like it to be. This is a fun, easy, and simple wreath that will be admired by all!