How to Move Home Stress Free

September 13, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Moving house is regularly considered to be one of the most stressful and frustrating events. The process involves buying packing materials, hiring a moving truck, making the actual move and arranging your belongings in your new home. With the many activities involved, failure to prepare and plan properly is bound to make the experience even more stressful.

Considering the frustration and challenges that come with such times, most people neglect their needs and health. However, moving home does not have to be stressful. By following the tips below, you will make the entire process manageable and stress-free.

Give yourself time

While sometimes you may be forced to move last minute, most of the time people plan before moving house. In order to make the process stress-free, it is important to plan ahead.

This means that you start preparing at least eight weeks before moving. Giving yourself ample time to plan and organize all activities will increase the chances of having a seamless process. Maybe a Transport Executive will help! 

Budget

Whether you hire a professional moving company or do it yourself, moving is likely to be a costly undertaking. You may also incur additional expenses that you had not planned for.

Since such unplanned expenses can be frustrating, you should come up with a budget well before the day of the move. It is also important to ensure that your budget is flexible enough to accommodate all the important costs.

Start packing early

Even the most organized person will have a lot more to do than they had anticipated. If you are to avoid a mad rush, you should start packing early.

This will not only help to ensure that everything is packed in an orderly manner, but will allow you time to rest in between the packing session. You will also have time to buy the necessary packing materials, depending on the shape and size of your belongings.

Get organized

Being organized will go a long way in ensuring that all the activities are done and completed in good time. Getting organized will involve making a list of all tasks to be done as well as the items to be packed. The different tasks should be divided into weeks so that you have an easy time tracking progress.

Depending on the distance to be covered, you may want to downsize. This will involve giving away or selling what you do not need.

Label all your boxes

Labeling all boxes before they are loaded onto the truck will offer you many advantages. When the boxes are well-labeled, it will be easy to track your stuff, a factor that will make the process stress free.

Proper labeling will also make it easy to arrange the boxes both when loading them onto the track and when you arrive at the new home. When you are able to identify what is contained in the different boxes, you will be in a better position to ensure that the process moves according to plan.

Be flexible

The reality of moving house is such that things will not always go to plan even with proper planning. If you want to keep your stress levels down, it would be important to be flexible. This will allow you to handle any obstacles that you will face in a calm and collected way. You should also consider having a backup plan just in case things go awfully wrong.

Ask for help

There are several people who have been through at least one move in their lives. Since such people understand the challenges and frustrations of the process, they may be in a position to advise you on how to prepare for a move. They will also offer tips on what to do and what to avoid so that you keep your stress levels down.

Hire a professional removal company

If you need help moving the bed, refrigerator, washing machine and other furniture, you should consider hiring a professional moving company. Professionals from a moving company will have the expertise and equipment required to move heavy stuff safely.

Staying healthy and happy will help you to deal with the pressure associated with moving. This is why it is important to eat well and get enough sleep before the moving day. Being healthy will keep you energized, helping you to achieve a stress-free move.

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How To Increase Your Home Value In 8 Easy Steps

September 5, 2017 by Leave a Comment

If you have plans of selling your home in the future, you really need to take care of the many details in your abode. You may need a little bit of makeover to boost its value.

The good news is, you don’t need to spend big bucks to sell your home at an expensive price. Small, but valuable improvements can make it worth more.

Check out the list on how you can improve your home’s value:

  1. Install new windows.

Windows are one part of the home that buyers often check when purchasing a property. The future home owners don’t want a home that has damaged windows, where nearly 30 percent of energy escapes based on research. Well maintain windows are one reason why they will be interested to purchase your home. Windows add a statement to a home.

  1. Upgrade your popcorn ceilings.

Do you still have popcorn ceilings? Removing them is one sure way to add value to your precious property. This kind of ceiling is obsolete and having them in your home may turn the buyers away. Replace them with modern ceilings because a contemporary style of home is more pricey.

  1. Add a new bathroom.

Does your home only have one bathroom? It’s time to add another one in a space that is unused for a long time. Consider the convenience when deciding to add another bathroom. Your home buyers will surely love to have a bathroom upstairs and downstairs, especially when they have guests.

  1. Take out the carpets and expose the hardwood floors.

Hardwood floors are more elegant and pricey to look at than floors with carpets over them. Of course, your buyers will be checking the quality of the floors. If you need to update it, replacing them just cost around $200.

  1. Remodel your kitchen cabinets.

The kitchen is one of the most important parts of the home. Upgrade the look of your cooking haven by remodeling the kitchen cabinets. You don’t need to spend plenty of cash to come up with a contemporary kitchen. Upgrade the paint and replace the drawer pulls for a new look.

  1. Install a steel entry door.

Increase your home safety and value by installing a steel entry door. It’s a one-time investment that wouldn’t cost you too much, but offers a big return. Replacing your old wooden door with a steel one is a good idea for added security. You only have to spend about $200 for it.

  1. Repaint your home’s interior and exterior.

The easiest way to improve the look and reselling price of your home is by repainting it. A new paint inside and outside doesn’t only give your home a fresh look, but it also gives it a fresh scent. You can now get eco-friendly paints that you can buy for $30 to $90 per gallon that are effective in absorbing and enhancing the air quality of your residence. Paint your home with neutral colors so it will be easy to resell.

  1. Maintain your home systems.

One of the reasons your buyers will purchase your home is after they’ve checked your HVAC system. Buyers would want to see that it has a yearly furnace inspection and certification. A record of your HVAC’s tune-up’s is a good thing to show to your possible buyers.

Marinell Miller has been giving home ideas, tips, advice and guides for homemakers and future buyers in the past 10 years. Aside from writing, she spends time in her own shop that sells various home accessories. Marinell is also a social media expert, resident life coach speaker at rehabcenters.com and a mother of two.

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Clean with Mean Green in 2017

August 4, 2017 by Leave a Comment

There are quite a few items in the Mean Green family of cleaning products, all of which help make your home cleaner- more quickly and easily.  2017 is going to add a few more items to its already robust line of products.  These are Heavy Duty Super Strength Wipes, Auto and Garage Cleaner and Degreaser, and the Car Wash.  All work great in the garage, outdoors, and so many other messes (even your car).  The wipes are a favorite, being so “ready to go” and remove grease, grime, oil, adhesives, and other gross stuff with little effort.   They an be used all over the home, from the garage to the kitchen to the bathroom and beyond.  I would of course use a different wipe for each room…

Use by spraying down the walls and crevices after you shower, and keep mildew from growing in your bathroom. Bonus? No scrubbing required.

The Car Wash is made to work into a  rich foam that removes dirt and grime, cleaning the exterior of your car easily.  We tried out out the auto and garage cleaner and degreaser.  This cleaning product is made specifically to cut through tough messes that gets on your car, like petroleum based grease, grime, and oil.  It works on concrete, metal, tools, outdoor furniture, grills, and pretty much all outdoor surfaces you can think of as well.  The Auto and Garage Cleaner definitely cuts through the grease quickly and easily, making quick work of spilled oil or fluids from a leaky car, or from a home auto repair job.  This also works well at cleaning up that “fix it” corner of your garage where paint is sometimes used (and spilled), and to clean up adhesives, or fuels.  This would normally take a lone time to clean, or with some special hack or trick, but now all you need is one cleaner to tame your yard and garage.  Boom, hack that.

Easy to use, and effective, Mean Green works well on sinks, floors, bathtubs- and beyond. Better yet? The first time.

The entire Mean Green line are great cleaners and work great for their specific specialties.  I would highly suggest grabbing a few at your local retailer.

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Top tips for saving water at home and reducing your bills

July 26, 2017 by 1 Comment

You may not think so, but the water we drink is actually a limited resource. This is why it’s important to conserve water as much as possible. An added consideration, when you waste water, is that you end up spending more on water bills. Household expenditure is often high, so anything you can do to reduce it is a good idea.

Hopefully, you can see the benefits of saving water in your home. But, how do you do it? We have put together ten tips on how to stop wasting water at home.

    1. Only use your dishwasher when you have a full load

Using a dishwasher can actually use less water than washing dishes by hand. But, you should wait until you have a full load to start the dishwasher as it uses the same amount of water whether it’s full or not.

    1. Do not pre wash dishes before you put them in the dishwasher

If you are using a dishwasher it’s not necessary to pre-wash dishes. All you need to do is scrape off food remnants. If you do pre-wash all you are doing is wasting water.

    1. Plan your clothes washing so you have a full load

Just as using a dishwasher with a reduced load wastes water, so does using your washing machine when it’s not full. Make sure that you plan your clothes washing so that the machine is full when you use it.

    1. Use cold water to wash clothes

It’s not necessary to use hot water to wash your clothes. They will be just as clean if you use cold water. Using cold water helps to preserve water, and also helps you save on your energy bills.

    1. Make sure leaks are fixed straight away

One of the most obvious ways of wasting water in the home is a water leak. It could be something as simple as a dripping tap, but you could be wasting gallons of water each day, if you ignore the problem. If you have a water leak in your home, and you cannot deal with it yourself, you should call experts such as Plumbing Detectives, for help.

    1. Use rain water in the garden

How many of you get out the garden hose when there is no rain about? It’s better to think ahead, when the rain falls, and preserve rainwater. You can these use it for watering the bushes and shrubs in your garden, during dry spells.

    1. Use mulch to reduce evaporation

Another tip for preserving water in the garden is to use mulch. This helps to stop water evaporating which means that plants get the full benefit of a rain shower, or of your watering.

    1. Save water to use on your plants

If you have water left when you finish cooking, you can use it to water your house plants. They do not care what it tastes like, and it’s a lot better to do this than simply pour the water down the drain.

    1. Take a shower instead of a bath

Every time you take a bath, you use 35 gallons of water, on average. Take a shower instead and you can save as much as 22 gallons of water; if you use a low flow shower head.

    1. Turn off the tap when you do not need water

You may be thinking that you would not have tap switched on unless you needed water. But, how many of you leave the tap on while you are brushing your teeth or shaving. Even switching a tap off for a few seconds can save a significant amount of water in the long term. This reduces the amount you pay in water bills.

Take a look at the tips we have provided, put them into action, and start saving water, and money, today.

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Great DIY Home Decorating Ideas and Tips

July 21, 2017 by 1 Comment

Do it yourself, or DIY is a goal oriented hobby initiated and done by an individual or groups. The fundamental prerequisite is that the person needs to learn quite fast and understand how to apply the skills to the important project, and then he does not need to hire other individuals to assist him. In the last few years, DIY home improvement and decoration has made an impact on TV and the hearts of interested professionals and homemakers. The idea of cultivating your home looks by the use of essential talent appeals to many individuals. If you want to begin the journey in do it yourself home improvement, you need to take several things into consideration for you to increase your rate of success in the projects.

Forming a plan

Planning is a vital aspect in home decoration so that you accomplish it successfully and more efficiently. It makes sure that you do not end up spending what you cannot afford or spending too much money on what you could otherwise avoid. Before writing the plan, you need to visualize how you would like your home to look. Settle on a particular colour style and theme that you would like to adopt and from there, you can start planning for the things needed to decorate your home. You need to generate a list of items you require and determine the ones that you can make by yourself from what you have and the things you need to purchase. Come up with a realistic budget for all expenses so that you avoid overspending.

Adopt a theme

Having a theme for your home will not make decoration easy but choosing a practical theme will help you save money and time. For example, you can get the right theme from Amantii fireplaces that will save you money because you will access great tropical decorative accessories for your home. You will get accessories like seashells, driftwood, starfish, corals, and leaves. You can also use what you have collected to create tropical wall hangings.

Related: 15 Best electric fireplace 2018 – Reviews & Comparison Chart 

Choose a color scheme

You need to do an in-depth research of the color scheme because you will notice that most decorating themes rely on particular color schemes that will help you get the desired results. These colors are standard to a specific theme. An example is the Asian decorating themes and styles dominated by dark blue, black, and red colors. The other example is the tropical decorating themes that rely on aqua, green, and red colors. Your theme of choice will follow the same basic pattern of a fixed palate of colors for the whole DIY project.

Choosing the use of each room

What will you do with the room that you are decorating? Just because the original purpose of the room you are redecorating do not mentally trap you to that room, it will be a waste of time. For example, it is pointless to decorate the dining area with accessories and dining table when most of your family’s meals are taken from the kitchen.

Skill

Acquiring DIY home decorating skills is self-placed and depends on your enthusiasm for the tasks at hand. In most cases, passion will translate to the willingness to learn and finish the tasks. If you are new to the DIY home improvement field, it is advisable to get stuck to small and doable projects that will make you enjoy. Possessing an interest is the most important aspect when improving your home by yourself. You need to ensure that the rooms of the house you are decorating do not make you desperate after several days.

Knowledge

You cannot assume particular things like cabinet designs and electrical systems. It is crucial to read about all you can before starting out. Limit yourself to the things that you can do. It is possible to make a table but replacing the large chandelier in your sitting room is not possible when doing it by yourself. You need to learn, have fun, and then proceed to the next task. This formula will help you become successful when implementing tips from Amantii fireplaces regarding home improvement.

Investing wisely

Just because you are operating on a budget does not mean that you purchase every cheap thing you come across. In most cases, spending will assist you in the long run. For example, if you want to paint your walls, it makes a lot of sense to procure high-quality paint that will last for long rather than go for cheap paint that has a low quality.

Be on the look for discounts

Discounted sales provide an opportunity of holding home accessories at low prices. Therefore, you need to be keen to watch out for such events while planning on a DIY decoration exercise. You can also check online stores because there are excellent deals that will help you find good quality and excellent products at a reasonable price.

The shopping list

Of all the items that appear on this list, paint is very crucial. Paint will form the foundation of all rooms, and if you rush this job, all other things that come afterwards will not work well. Buying the cheapest paint possible or available will prove to be a great mistake. You might save some money on the tin, but you will be hurting yourself as you will realise that you need more than three coats for the color to look presentable. It is never cost effective to purchase cheap paint because it never covers or finishes well compared to expensive paints. It is, therefore crucial to make a few allowances in your budget for preparatory materials, cleaning, and disposable overalls.

Conclusion

When doing home decoration, you might just have to organize. As a homeowner, you will have the delight of the additional space in the room for accessories like shelves and cabinets. You can use chest drawers to help in arranging and storing reading materials left scattered everywhere on the ground. Key holders and decorative coat racks help adorn and bring order to the rooms of your home. Even though you are working on a particular budget, your options of redecorating your home are unlimited.

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Home Security Tips and Advice to Avoid Burglary

July 21, 2017 by Leave a Comment

If you are a property owner, you will need to be proactive if you want to reduce the risk of being a victim of burglary. While crime rates are relatively stable, home invasions and robberies can occur at any time so it would be prudent to take proactive measures to remain safe.

  • Installing Fake Surveillance Cameras

If you have the budget to purchase a fully automated home security system then that would be the best option. Property owners that do not have the budget for a high-end security system should install fake surveillance cameras. These cameras act as a deterrent to prospective burglars so be sure to add it to your property.

  • Get Rid of Flyers and Newspapers

Criminals look for signs that you and your family are not around. One potential sign is a large number of newspapers or flyers building up on your driveway. You should remove them whenever you come home from work or cancel them completely. Most flyers are available online so you can find bargains while saving the environment. If you need to get the physical flyers ask a neighbor or someone you trust to pick them up while you are away.

  • Properly Landscaping Your Property

Regular lawn and garden maintenance does more than improve your home’s appearance, to burglars it indicates that the residents are home. An overgrown lawn is a clear sign to potential burglars that you are not around. If you are considering revamping your landscaping, there are many simple planting designs to keep potential criminals at bay as well as enhance your property value.

  • Upgrading the Locks on Your Doors

You should consider upgrading the locks on the doors throughout your home. A well-designed lock will reduce a burglar’s chance of gaining entry into your home. This is not a job you should attempt on your own but instead seek out a locksmith that specializes in burglary prevention. Make sure the locksmith you choose has a great reputation and has been active in the community for a considerable number of years. “Digital locks can be a great addition to your home and help improve the security of your belongings, ranging from a basic digital lock to a more advanced biometric fingerprint reader”  said a spokesperson from QuickPick locksmiths, a lock supplier and well established locksmith Newcastle company.

  • Install Timers on Your Indoor and Outdoor Lights

By having your property well-lit it will give off the impression you are home even when you are not. There are apps that will let you remotely control the lights of your home via the internet. If you are not willing to use these apps, having the lights on timers will help reduce the chances of being a victim of a burglary.

  • Keep Your Vacation Plans Off Social Media

While it’s natural to want to share your holiday pics, you should avoid talking about upcoming vacation plans on social media. Sharing holiday pics is fine, but while planning for, and away on, vacation hold off any public messaging until you are back home. There are criminals who surf social sites trying to find out your routine and if they find out you are going away on vacation they will target your home. By keeping your social media activities on the down-low you are less likely to be robbed.

If you implement all of these suggestions you should be able to reduce the risk of having your home robbed, so don’t delay following through with these suggestions.

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How To Save Money On Your Move To Your New House

July 10, 2017 by Leave a Comment

If you have finally found a new home to move to, you might be so excited that you forgot how daunting and expensive the process of moving can be. However, it really does not have to be that way if you take a few minutes to review the following suggestions. This way, it doesn’t have to be as stressful as it could be.

Getting The Right Kind Of Help

One of the very first things you are going to want to do is to work on finding the best moving companies in your area. When you hire a moving company to assist you with your move, you will not have to worry about loading a moving truck on your own, or even having to worry about driving that big thing. After all, unless you have a lot of experience driving those types of trucks, you might be in for a shock in regards to how different it is to turn them, back them up, or simply judge how close you are to going over the lines on the road so you will stay in the correct lane.

Now, even though you will have to pay for their services, you might find that hiring professional movers is a great way to save money. In the end, you will not have to take as long to move everything. Whether it is because they will come with a few people to carry all of your boxes and furniture, or because they can take everything in one load, you save time. Remember, time is money. The sooner you have everything in the new house, the sooner you can unpack and get back to work.

Checking Their Reputation

Of course, you will want to look for the most reputable moving company in your area. This way, you will not have to worry so much about any of your belongings coming up lost, damaged, or completely ruined. A good way to check the reputation of a moving company is to ask others about their experiences with them. If you do not personally know of anyone that has used them in the past, you can always turn to the internet. You might be able to find some reviews that were posted online about the moving company you are thinking of using.

Another thing you might want to do is to check with the Better Business Bureau. You can check with them to see if the moving company has any major complaints that should cause you to be alarmed. Just remember, since anyone can complain to the Better Business Bureau, or BBB, you will want to thoroughly read through any complaint that you find. It might have been a small issue or misunderstanding and you will be able to see how well the company resolved it.

Give The Kids A Job

If you have children, instead of paying a babysitter to watch them while you pack and move, you could always put them to work. Depending on their ages and physical abilities, they might be able to help pack up their own rooms and even carry some boxes out to the moving truck or to your personal vehicle if you are taking some things in that. This way, the kids are involved and you might not have to hire a friend or outside family member to help you.

There are a lot of ways to save money when you are moving. Just make sure that you are never putting quality of service over the cost of the help. When you take your time to plan your move, you should end up with a great moving company to help you and some friends and family to assist you as well.

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Snuggle-Pedic Pillow Review

June 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Memory Foam Pillow is a combination of two popular approaches to sleep comfort. This pillow comes with a bamboo outer cover that is removable for easy washing and a memory foam stuffing that is adjustable to make for the ideal level of support. Snuggle-Pedic has developed a perfect partnering of natural fibers and the technology that scientifically keeps your pillow from going flat.

Other memory foam pillows I have used have a solid center of foam which is a different sleeping experience. What I like about this pillow is the crushed filling makes resting your head more comfortable no matter what position you like to sleep in. I am all over the place at night, stomach, back, and side, so this versatility is very important.

I received the Snuggle-Pedic Bamboo Pillow around the time I purchased some cheaper bamboo pillows for around $10. These quickly lost shape and proved to me that the investment in a pillow that is durable and comfortable is worth every penny. It took a little bit of work finding the right level of softness and adjusting the filling, but now that I have it is the pillow I won’t share and travel with.

Another key portion to me with pillows is washability. The Snuggle-Pedic Pillow is completely washer and dryer safe. Yes, this is true of most pillows, but other products do not have the double layer. If I want an added pillow protection it is a separate purchase. This product has the removable bamboo cover which gives me two washing options, a plus for keeping clean.

These pillows and their mattress products are also completely Made in the USA with CertiPUR-US® certified foam that has been independently tested for quality. We spend hours every day with our face pressed against our pillows and and bodies to the bed, it is reassuring to know that all of the materials used have been checked and manufactured in America to meet the highest standards. The 90 Day Guarantee and 20 Year Warranty prove how confident Snuggle-Pedic is about their products.

The pillow has a very long and descriptive name, “Snuggle-Pedic Ultra-Luxury Bamboo Shredded Memory Foam Pillow Combination With Adjustable Fit and Zipper Removable Kool-Flow Micro-Vented Cover“. What it all comes down to is a product that will last using the newest innovation and customization for sleep comfort.

Find out more about Snuggle-Pedic and their products on their site – Snugglepedic.com – Twitter – Facebook

 

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