Interiors

Tips for Moving House Without Losing Your Sanity

It’s time. You’ve made the decision to move, and now the daunting task of packing up your entire life looms ahead of you. How do you pack everything without losing your mind in the process? We’re here to help! This blog post will share some tips for moving house that will make the process a little bit smoother.

Moving House Without Losing Your Sanity

1: Make a plan

One of the most important things you can do when preparing to move is to make a plan. This will help you stay organised and on track throughout the packing process. Decide what needs to be packed first, create a packing schedule, and make sure to label all of your boxes, so you know where everything is going.

2: Declutter before you pack

Now is the perfect time to get rid of anything you don’t need or use anymore. Go through your belongings and donate or sell anything that you don’t want to bring with you to your new home. This will lighten your load and make packing easier.

3: Pack an essentials bag

Pack a bag with all of the items you’ll need during the first few days in your new home. This should include items like toiletries, a change of clothes, medications, and any other essentials you may need. This will make the transition to your new home much easier.

4: Hire professional movers

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the thought of packing everything up yourself, hire professional movers to do it for you. This will take a lot of the stress out of moving and allow you to focus on other things. Just be sure to get quotes from multiple companies before making a decision.

5: Take your time

Don’t try to rush through the packing process. Take your time and do it right so that everything arrives at your new home safely. This is one situation where it’s better to be slow and steady.

6: Storage units can be your friend

If you’re not ready to part with some of your belongings but don’t have room for them in your new home, consider using convenient storage units. This will give you a place to keep things until you’re ready to deal with them.

7: Have a garage sale

If you need to get rid of some items but don’t want to donate or store them, have a garage sale! This is a great way to make some extra money and clear out unwanted items at the same time.

8: Don’t forget about your pets

Don’t forget about your furry friends when you’re moving! Make sure to have a plan for how you’ll care for them during the move and have everything you need for them in your new home.

Moving can be a stressful time, but following these tips can help make the process a little bit easier. Just take your time, stay organised, and focus on one task at a time. Soon enough, you’ll be all moved into your new home with minimal stress.

 

A Guide to Moving or Extending Your Home

Home is where the heart is, as they say. But what happens when your heart’s desire is to live in a bigger or different home? You may find yourself considering either moving or extending your current home. 

Moving or extending your home is a huge decision. It’s not something you can just do on a whim – it takes careful planning, research and preparation. There are many things to consider when you’re considering moving or extending your home. Do you really need the extra space? Can you afford it? What will the impact be on your lifestyle? Moving or extending your home is a big financial commitment, so it’s important to get it right.

Guide to Moving or Extending Your Home

If you choose to move: 

Moving homes can be an exciting time. Unfortunately, it can also be a very stressful time. There are many things to consider and organise when moving homes. Here is a list of things you need to do when you’re moving homes.

  • Give notice to your landlord or estate agent if you’re renting
  • Start packing early. You will be surprised how long it takes to pack up your whole life!
  • Book a removal company or van. Again, start this process early as they can get booked up quickly.
  • Notify everyone of your change of address – banks, doctors, DVLA etc.
  • Forward your post – the Royal Mail offers a Redirection Service which will forward your post for up to 12 months.
  • Pack an ‘essential’ bag with everything you need for the first few days in your new home – toiletries, change of clothes, phone charger etc.
  • On the day of the move, double-check that everything has been packed and loaded onto the removal van.

Once you’re in your new home, start unpacking straight away. The sooner you unpack, the sooner you will feel settled in your new home.

If you choose to extend: 

Extending your home can be a great way to add value to your property as well as give you extra space. But it is also a big project to undertake, and there are a few things you need to think about before starting any work. So here are a few things to consider before extending your home:

Do your research: 

Look at similar properties in your area and see if there have been any recent extensions. This will give you an idea of what is possible and what might add value to your home.

Talk to your neighbours: 

They might be affected by the work you’re planning, so it’s best to let them know early on.

Get planning permission: 

Depending on the work you want to carry out, you might need planning permission from your local authority.

Choose a reputable builder: 

This is one of the most important things to consider when extending your home, as they will be responsible for carrying out the work. 

Choose what you want to extend: 

Do you want to build an upper floor? Do you wish for a granny flat? Or do you just want to build an extra living space? It is important to decide what you want to extend as this will affect the outcome of your decision. 

Set a budget: 

Extending your home can be costly, so it’s important to set a budget and stick to it. For example, if you decide on a granny flat, contact granny flats builders to get an estimated amount for your budget. 

There are many things to consider whether you choose to move or extend your home. But with some planning, it can be an exciting and rewarding experience.

 

How to Make Your Home’s Exterior More Secure

If you want to make sure that your home’s exterior is always as secure as it can be, it makes sense to take action today. You never know when something might go wrong or when your home might be judged as an easy target by criminals. That’s not what you want to happen, so it’s worth thinking about what you can do today to protect your outdoor space and how exterior better. Read on to find out more.

Make Your Home’s Exterior More Secure

Secure the Perimeter

The first thing you should focus on is the perimeter around your land. If you want to make sure your home is secure as it can be, you first need to ensure the garden at the back is secured with a fence or maybe tall hedges. Once that’s fully secured, you can be confident that burglars aren’t going to be able to access your home through the back. You can secure the entrance to the rear space with the use of a locking gate.

Check the Roof for Damage Regularly

Checking the roof for damage might be a good idea if you want to ensure you don’t have to deal with leaks and pest problems in the attic later on. If you don’t want to get up there to check it yourself, you can hire professional roofing contractors to do that work for you. They’ll be able to make sure it’s done in the safe and proper way.

Remove Overhanging Tree Branches

If you have trees that hang over the roof of your home, that’s something that you’ll probably want to do something about. It might be a good idea to contact a local tree surgeon and find out what it takes to deal with those trees and remove the threat they pose to your home. If you allow the branches to overhang for too long, they’ll cause you problems if and when a storm hits your area.

Install Motion-Sensor Lights

If you want to ensure maximum security around the home at night, it makes sense to install motion-sensor lights. You can use these at the front, sides and back of the property. And that way, if anyone attempts to approach the home under the cover of dark, they’ll immediately have a light thrown on them.

Don’t Leave a Spare Key Lying Around

Finally, you need to make sure you’re not being too relaxed and complacent when it comes to the security of your home. Lots of people hide a spare key somewhere outside the home in case they forget to take a key with them. It might help with convenience, but it also makes the job of burglars easy too.

As you can see, there are lots of things to pay attention to when it comes to making your home’s exterior safer and more secure. It’s in your best interest to make the most of each of the tips outlined here. Once you’ve ticked all those boxes, your home will be more secure against criminals and natural threats.