Moving day is not a fun day for everyone. While it might be exciting starting your new life in your brand new home, it can be extremely stressful, and many people wish that they could avoid the experience entirely. Of course, if you are not happy with your property then moving day is necessary and so you need to think about how you can go about making this process as easy as possible for your family.

In this article, we are going to give you some of our best tips to help you have a stress-free moving day. Keep reading to hear what these are.

Start Packing Early

One of the best things that you can do when you are moving home is to start packing as early as possible. The moving day deadline can come at you very fast and if you are not prepared on the day then you might find that it becomes even more stressful than before. The last thing you want is to be tired on the moving day because you spent the night before packing up your home before the moving van came. Try to be as prepared as possible and pack in a logical way. Plan out your packing and put everything into boxes that make sense. Put kitchen items together and make sure that priority items are at the top of boxes. Don’t have labels? It might be time to invest in some to make this whole moving experience more manageable. Whether you are moving from Queens to the Bronx or halfway across the country, you need to pack early to avoid stress.

Taking Less With You

Have you ever thought about the fact that you might not need to bring everything with you to your new home? No one wants to have to sit and pack items that they aren’t planning on using in their new home until the next year and this is where self-storage units come in. This Bronx storage facility exactly what you should be looking for – they’re based in the Bronx which is perfect if you’re in that borough, but if not then you should still be able to find another unit in your local area.

With secure self storage from a company such as Safestore storage units milton keynes, or similar in your area, you can put some of your items away and collect them later on. This will reduce the stress of packing and fitting everything in the moving van on the day. You won’t need to worry about leaving anything behind because you will be taking less with you to the new property in the first place. This kind of storage is available in many different areas so make sure to find the right solution for you.

Get Some Help

Our next tip for those who want to have a stress-free moving day is to get as much help as you can. If you have very young kids then this can be very tricky but, otherwise, you can get some help from your family members. Make sure that everyone is pitching in and moving things to the van. You should also make sure that everyone is involved in packing their own things to ensure they know where to find them and ease the stress a little.

Most moving companies will help you get everything to the van, but it doesn’t hurt to get some extra hands on the job. Ask your friends and family members if they are willing to help out and you might find that this eases the stress of moving quite a lot.

Hire A Reputable Moving Company

Finally, to make your moving day much less stressful, you should aim to hire a reputable moving company. There are many moving companies that you can choose from, but which is the best for you? Make sure to consider the benefits of using each company and consider the customer service that is offered. You might also want to take a look at the prices and compare these to other companies in the area. When choosing a moving company, you should definitely spend some time looking at the reviews. If you have a friend that has had a positive experience recently then this might be the best company for you. Finding the right moving company can help out a lot. It is also worth remembering, however, that you can choose to move without the assistance of a removal company, and can instead hire a van from a reputable dealer such as hirefleet.co.uk. Doing the heavy lifting yourself can be a way to save some money throughout the moving process.

Conclusion

If you want to have a moving day that is fun and not full of stress, then you should make sure to take on board all of the advice that we have given you here in this article. Think about getting some help from your family and planning out your packing as well as you can. If you can place some of your items in storage, then this will help you out a lot along the way. Make sure to follow some of our tips and tricks and you should have a stress-free moving day.

Some people dream of the day that they will finally be able to own their own home while it sounds like an absolute nightmare for others at the thought of everything else they will have to put away money for when it comes to additional home expenses. There are several benefits as well as disadvantages to buying your own home, and below is a guide that will delve into both so you can make a more informed decision as to whether homeownership is the right choice for you or not.

You can have more privacy

If you are a private person that does not want neighbors so close to you that that they can see into your windows if they are not closed and hear what you are doing in your home if you are too loud, then owning a house may be the right choice for you. Let’s face it, apartments can be great especially if you are not in need of too much space, but there is very little privacy when you rent an apartment. Your neighbors know when you leave the house and come home, they can see straight into your home if the blinds are open, they can overhear conversations you have that are supposed to be private; again, this may not bother you but if you prefer your privacy then homeownership may be the way to go.

You can put custom touches on a house that you own When you own your own house, you can customize it to your own tastes and make it into something that you really love and that matches your style. When you rent a home or apartment, there is only so much that you can do to make it your own. You can’t drill stuff or hang things on the walls as you can in your own home. If you want a truly customized home that fits your style, then buying a home would be your best bet.

However, you can put whatever you want in your own home. The furniture and decorations are yours to choose from. Make a good choice when you pick out your mattress. You might have wondered about a Nectar vs Purple mattress. Though both are great mattresses, the Purple mattress is becoming a favorite very quickly. Do your homework and find out why.

You can pay down a house

If you own your own home, there will come a day where you will be able to say that your home is paid for and you no longer have to pay your monthly mortgage! Then you can use the money you were paying for your home to do anything you want to do with it! Whether it now be fun money or money you can use to invest in something else, that money is back in your pockets once again. When you rent a home or apartment, then the fact is that you will never be able to pay those payments down. You will always have those payments you owe which could hinder you from doing other things with your money.

There are some disadvantages to owning your own home as well and it is not all sunshine and daisies. Some of the disadvantages of owning your own home are as follows.

A house comes with extra costs

When you own your own home you don’t have a landlord or a rental company who is going to come, pay for, and fix any maintenance issues that arise. Anything that happens to your own home will have to be paid for out of your own wallet, and those kinds of expenses can add up quickly. You have to be ready to save up for and pay for those types of expenses, which is a definite drawback.

There are a lot of upfront costs in buying a house

When you buy a house, you are not just going to be paying for the costs of your mortgage payments that come every month. You will also have to save up money for the initial costs that go into buying your home such as an appraisal, exterminator fees, down payments, getting utilities turned on, a home inspection, and any repairs that need to be made, etc. When you start thinking about buying a house, you will need to set aside money for these costs and plan accordingly so you can pay for them.

There are a lot of advantages and disadvantages that come from buying a home whether it be your first home or your tenth. Before pulling the trigger and buying a house or renting one, think through all of the facts and figure out whether or not you can afford it.

Nowadays, many people want to improve the value of their home for one reason or another. They may be considering selling it further on in the future, or they simply might want the price of their house to increase after a renovation. Improving the value of your home is always a good idea – as it can increase the curb appeal of the house, while also making the investment more worthwhile.

However, not everybody knows exactly how to improve the value of their house without entirely breaking the bank. Here are a few simple ways that you can climb the property ladder without spending a fortune.

Check And Fix The Structure

One of the biggest issues that will lower the value of your home is structural problems. Before you start doing any extra interior design work or renovations, you want to make sure that the structure of your home is sound. That being said, checking and fixing the structure of your property should be the first thing on your list.

If you happen to notice a leaking roof or structural cracks to the walls, you need to take action and make sure that these are corrected as soon as possible. The best way to do this is to consult a professional builder or engineer, as they’ll know exactly how to put the issue right.

Add A HVAC Filter Or Upgrade Your Own

Without even knowing it, we introduce so many different pollutants and chemicals into our households. Toxic chemicals are continuously brought in by cleaning products, and other contaminants such as pollen can be tracked in on clothing after a day outside.

A HVAC filter can work to ensure that your household’s atmosphere is as clean as it possibly can be by catching and filtering out these types of pollutants. If your property already has a HVAC filter, consider changing out the filter with a new one to ensure it’s working as efficiently as possible. Making sure your A/C and furnace filter is the right size for your system can prolong the life of your system and can guarantee that it’s operating to its full potential.

Redecorate Your Rooms

If you are looking to sell your house in the near-future, one of the easier ways to improve the value of the property is to redecorate your rooms. While this won’t add a huge amount of value, it’ll make the house stand out to potential buyers and prompt their interest.

If your home has walls with peeling paint, squeaking taps, or broken locks, it’s highly unlikely that you’re going to be able to sell your house for the best price. Therefore,

it’s a good idea to redecorate your rooms and fix these small issues so that you know your property is in the best condition.

Make Sure It’s Ready For Weather Changes

Our homes go through a lot of weather changes throughout the period of an entire year. While this can potentially cause structural issues – such as missing roof tiles – it also means that you need to make sure your home is ready to face these different weather conditions.

Older houses are more likely to need new and improved heating systems, which will help improve the house’s efficiency and, in turn, also its value. Likewise, some older properties will have windows without double glazing, which indicates that these windows need to be replaced for ones of a better, more efficient standard.

Repurpose Extra Rooms

Do you happen to have a property with extra rooms that have become make-shift storage facilities? If so, one of the best ways to add value to your property is to give those rooms a real purpose so that potential future residents can fully enjoy them.

If you have a lot of extra space, adding a new bedroom is a sure-fire way to improve the value of your home. The more bedrooms a home has, the higher the typical sale price will be. You could also add a home office or another lounge area. All of these options will help make your home more appealing and improve the overall value.

All in all, there are so many good ways how you can improve the value of your home without spending too much money. If you’re lost for where to start, use this guide to get the ball rolling.

Whether it’s your first attempt or you are a party hosting boss, throwing a successful party takes some seriously hard work. With a few hints, tips and some patience, you’ll be able to toss a fantastic party everyone will enjoy. So get your pen, a piece of paper, and get ready to soak in all the after-party praise.

Before the Party Even Starts

Right off the bat, you’ll need to decide on a venue in which to have your shindig. If you’re going to have it at home, the party can either be inside or, if you have the luxury of some outdoor space, it can possibly be located in the backyard. If you choose the backyard route, be sure that there’s enough space to accommodate all of your guests. Next, make sure the space is clean and free of pests. If your not comfortable handling such jobs yourself, the professionals at places like Joshua’s Pest Control can treat your property to prevent fleas, ticks, spiders, wasps, and cockroaches from infesting your surroundings. This way, you and your guests can enjoy a pest-free party.

Party Food and Drink Options

Probably one of the most important options to take seriously is the food. Guests coming over to your home will expect to be fed while at the party unless you specifically stated otherwise. And come on now, who does that? If you aren’t sure what kind of food to offer, that’s okay. Let’s take some time to consider your options.

First, you can set out fresh vegetable platters with tasty dips to get the festivities underway and build to more delectable fair. Secondly, bold dishes including an Italian pasta salad or an avocado pasta salad will get everybody hungry and wanting a taste. Next, if your party is taking place outside, maybe you or someone you know can handle grill duty and cook up chicken, burgers and sausages.

If you don’t want to have anything to do with food, you can hire a service.  When hiring an event caterer, there are some things to consider. Food options, cost of services, and reputable reviews are all important.

Last but not least are the beverages. Typically offering beer (to the adults) that has been chilled in coolers alongside soda and water as backup options are all fine. For the kids, you can have juice boxes or pouches that will give them something tasty to drink.

Entertainment

This is an area that can be as minor or major as you’re willing to have it. Entertainment can really send a party to the next level when done properly. That being said, having some music playing in the background from your streaming service of choice while guests eat and mingle is a simple solution. If you’d rather put a guest in charge of the music than handle it yourself, use this app to let guests DJ your party. It can be a risky proposition but some interesting choices might be made and the party can go from fun to awesome with just a few bars of music.

Every outdoor party should have some games for guests to play. Granted, some games require more space than others. Choose a few that will add to your festivities, not subtract from them. Being able to engage in some friendly competition in a bean toss or game of horseshoes will add to the appeal of your party. It’s also a good idea to have separate options with games for adults to play and games for the kids to enjoy as well. Let your imagination be your guide and set up some fun activities for your guests.

When the time does come to wrap up your party, you’ll want people to have had a good time and to thank you for their invitation. If you take these tips to heart, your party should be pretty great. Hey, you might even do such a great job that people will encourage you to do it annually!

Anxiety riddles millions of people, of all ages, from all walks of life, and with some structure in place and exercises to implement when it gets to be too much, can be something of the past, or at least a very small part of life instead of an all-encompassing part it feels like. When it rears its ugly head, it can bring about intense feelings of overwhelm, lack of control, panic, fear, and the walls closing in. Thankfully, there are a number of exercises, resources, structures and things to put into place to take control of your own life, and your own anxiety. Learning to use it as a tool of good and productivity, instead of letting it control every piece of your life is something strived for and achieved by many that put forth the time, energy and effort. Consider these options and benefits for yourself:

Identifying triggers and root causes. While this seems quite challenging to many, it can be explored from a variety of angles and perspectives, to identify and name root causes and triggers of your anxiety. It can be something simple like dirty dishes in the sink – this is something that’s easy to remedy and prevent. Triggers can also be as complex as a certain sound heard in various situations, like a certain type of voice or words. These are more challenging because they are more out of our control. At its base, anxiety is simply a lack of perceived control over something or a lot of things. Identifying these can give you parameters and a sense of control over your environment and your feelings, as well as putting structure into place for yourself.

1. Putting structure into place. As mentioned above, anxiety in its simplest form is a perceived lack of control, so putting structure into place, whether routines and habits into place or more physical forms such as keeping your space tidy and clean, can help keep anxiety well under control. Identifying daily tasks and routines that work for you, keeping life organized and flow in the way that makes you feel good, happy and healthy, productive and in control, helps keep yourself on track. Coping with stress doesn’t have to be stressful, it can be quite normal and planned, to get ahead of it instead of reacting to it. When anxious feelings start to bubble up, you can take pause and assess what is undone and out of the ordinary. Putting good habits and routines in place for yourself can benefit your life in a number of other ways. Having a clean home, exercising regularly and being responsible in your daily life provides a great foundation and structure.

2. Consider going to therapy. Therapists are educated and trained to provide in-depth conversation and techniques to help with the anxiety of all forms. From anxiety therapy in San Diego to find a therapist in your own local area, there are therapy options nearly everywhere. Working through the causes of anxiety can open up more possibilities of healing other areas of your life, too.

No matter the causes and triggers of anxiety in your life, there are a number of treatment options, habits, structures and accountability systems you can put into place for yourself, and work through what is a good solution for you and your life. Anxiety doesn’t have to be this perceived controlling monster but can be a tool for good, if understood and used well. 

You may be excited about moving into your new home or apartment but the process of getting there is stressful. There are a lot of things going on at once and it’s up to you to make sure nothing is forgotten. While most people remember things like finding a moving company, purging, and color-coordinated packing methods, there are some things that are overlooked. Neglecting these things, however, can make transitioning into your new place a bit more difficult.

What could you possibly be overlooking during a move? Here’s a list below:

Turning on Utilities

Unless you want to show up in your new house without any electricity or water, you need to remember to have your utility services shut on. Ideally, you can contact your utility provider in advance and schedule a day to have the services turned on. Try scheduling for a day or two before your actual move to leave room for error.

Forwarding Your Mail

Another step you don’t want to forget in a move is forwarding your mail. It can be very difficult to try to retrieve important items from a residence you no longer live in. You can save yourself the headache by reaching out to the United States Postal Service and letting them know of your forwarding address. This way, all packages, and mail are forwarded to your address until you’ve had time to notify the senders of the change.

Talking With the Kids

Whether you realize this or not moving can have a significant impact on your child’s mental health. This is especially true if you’re moving far away from their friends and family. Teenagers especially can have a hard time but often guard their feelings. As a parent, it is important to try and make this transition easier for them by talking to them. Discuss why you’re moving, talk about the perks of the neighborhood, allow them to say good-bye to those closest to them, and listen to what they have to say.

Preparing Your Pets

Your children aren’t the only ones who can have a hard time relocating. Dogs, particularly, are very territorial and can become anxious or even depressed when they’re moved beyond what they’re familiar with. Give your pet extra attention, be sure you’ve packed all their belongings, and once you’ve arrived at the new place, create a space that is special for your pet. If necessary, look into solutions for soothing symptoms of dog anxiety.

Setting Up Security

Movers are easy targets for suspicious characters looking to steal things. They pay attention to what you’re bringing into the home, watching your patterns, and looking for a way to access the property. You can safeguard yourself and your home against this issue by setting up security. Have a home security system installed in your home. You can also take precautions like moving at night or covering things of value so it’s not easy for those nearby to see what’s inside.

Packing an Overnight Bag

Unless you’ve paid for a luxury full-service moving company that will pack, unpack, arrange, and install everything during the move, there’s no way you’re going to get settled into your new place in a day. Do yourself a favor and pack a bag or box with things you and your family will need over the next few days. This should include clothes, shoes, underwear, toiletries, medications, pet products, and whatever else you’ll need. That way, you don’t have to tear up boxes and mess up your new place scrambling to find what you need.

Breathing

Just about everyone forgets this small bit of advice when moving – just breathe. Yes, there’s a lot going on, a lot to remember, and time isn’t on your side, but don’t overwhelm yourself. Anytime you feel yourself getting too overwhelmed with everything going on, stop, take a few deep breaths, and then continue with your day. It makes a world of difference. Using practical tips like decluttering, purging, using a checklist, and sticking to a moving plan can also help reduce your stress so you can breathe easy.

There’s so much going on during a move that it can be easy to forget about some of the things discussed above. However, imagine moving into your new place with no utilities, packages at your old place, children and pets struggling emotionally, zero protections in place, and stress up to your ears. As no one wants their fresh start to begin that way it’s ideal to make sure that you’ve covered the tasks accordingly.

Modern family life is complicated. Busy schedules and mounting responsibilities make it an increasingly challenging task for parents to keep a close eye on their children. Technology contributes to our more complex lifestyles, but it can also offer a solution. You can gain peace of mind by turning to a smart wireless alarm system to help keep tabs on your kids.

The hectic pace of life forces us to leave our kids on their own, or with child-care professionals, for large chunks of time. Don’t feel bad about making that decision, though. Statistics show it’s a common fact of contemporary parenting. Data reported by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shows that about 40% of kids spend some time unsupervised.

Meanwhile, the lives of children have become more complex as well, creating a generation that’s harder to keep track of. Usually, we think of modern dangers coming from the Internet (like the 69% of teens who have been contacted by a stranger online and don’t tell their parents about it).

However, leaving kids alone brings up concerns about old-fashioned physical danger as well. Just like looking into your child’s Internet use, you have to make sure that they are safe and secure in the home, especially when you aren’t there to watch over them personally.

Smart alarms offer a solution. They allow you to monitor your house remotely, check in on your kids as needed, and feel secure that everything is going well – even when you are busy outside the home.

Here are some of the specific benefits you can get from a smart alarm system:

#1: Smartphone Access

You want to stay plugged into your kids’ activities, even when you have to be away. Luckily, we live in an age when remote access has become a regular feature of life.

Smart alarms connect directly with your smartphone. The feature allows you easy, convenient access to the system. In effect, the security system provides you with a constant connection to your kids through your phone.

#2: Access to Personalized Codes

In the old days, each alarm system had a single code. Every member of the family would enter the same password to arm and disarm the program, making it difficult to know who was doing what.

Modern smart alarms are much more finely-tuned. Each family member now gets a personalized code. You can track who logs in and when. It lets you know when your latch-key kid (or latch-code kid, as it more often is these days) has arrived home from school. The technology allows you to track, quickly and easily, if everyone is on schedule.

#3: Constant Video Monitoring

As kids grow, you want to give them increasing levels of responsibility, allowing them to develop a sense of independence. However, they’re still kids. You want to keep an eye on them as well. Video monitoring allows you to check in on your kids, without having to hover over them or intervene in every situation. You can make sure they are safe and secure, while still letting them nurture a feeling of self-reliance.

#4: Mobile Alerts

Even though you have a smart security system in place, you don’t plan to sit around, constantly watching a live video stream of your kids playing Fortnight. You’re out of the house for a reason. You just want to make sure nothing goes wrong.

Smart alarms offer mobile alerts, eliminating the need for constant monitoring. You can set these up to alert you of any change or security activity you select. You’ll know instantly if anything out of the ordinary takes place.

#5: Two-Way Audio/Video

All kids, no matter how old, want a cell phone. However, granting your kids access to a phone of their own isn’t always advisable. Meanwhile, it’s sometimes difficult to get them to answer, even when they have one.

Whatever the situation, you need a reliable way to communicate with your kids when you aren’t home, especially in an emergency. Smart alarm systems come equipped with two-way communication, allowing you to use the system for communication, in situations where your kids don’t have access to a phone.

#6: Video Doorbell

Safety isn’t just about what goes on inside the house. You have to keep track of the area around your home as well. Meanwhile, it’s imperative to know who’s coming to the door, and to protect your kids against unwanted visitors.

A video doorbell lets you know everyone who comes to your door while you are out. It also offers two-way communication with any visitor, letting you interact with any strangers (through your smartphone). That way, they won’t be able to speak directly with your kids inside.

#7: Home Automation

Smart house alarms systems also let you plug into other household features. Turn lights on and off remotely, change the temperature settings, or lock or unlock the doors.

It gives you some control over your kids’ environment. It also prevents them from accidently causing trouble by making unwanted changes to these aspects of your home.

#8: Increased Security Features

Of course, a smart alarm system doesn’t just keep tabs on your kids. It also protects them while they are in your house.

Children alone in a house can act as an invitation to thieves and other intruders. A smart alarm’s first role is as a security system. It can keep your kids safe from potential outside threats while you’re away.

#9: Easy to Alert Authorities

Imagine your kids find themselves in a dangerous situation while you were out of the house. All the monitoring in the world wouldn’t help. You’d know about the problem, but would be left powerless to intervene.

Smart alarms solve this problem as well. Not only can you keep track of what your kids are doing, you can intervene quickly to keep them safe. The technology allows for instant alerting of authorities if a dangerous situation develops. Police, ambulance, and fire officials can be dispatched within moments.

Author Bio: Heather Cowart is the Brand Manager for Brinks Home Security systems, where she specializes in a deep understanding of smart-home products and thoughtful design. She is passionate about developing personal customer experiences and educating about home security.

Custom t-shirts are all the rave in the last few years. From basketball t-shirts, to football t-shirts, family reunion products, anime items and so on; there are lots of different motifs to choose from.

Although some people love them, there are also a lot of those who don’t know anything about custom items. Some people are late adopters and while they love fashion, they still haven’t decided to try one of these products.

No matter what you think about custom clothing, they are a whole new world to explore. These products are wild, innovative and they let you loose. Here are some of the main things you have to know about them.

You don’t have to be an artist to create one

Most people think that you need some special drawing skills in order to create a custom printed t-shirt. Wrong!

There are lots of images you can download straight from the internet and use for this purpose. Keep in mind that there is a vast numerous of incredible themes online and no matter what type of a thing you’re into, there will be some cool stuff you can use for your t-shirt.

The process is very simple: just browse a certain topic, find the appropriate pic and save it. Send the image (or the web address) to a t-shirt printing company (Mato & Hash Custom T-Shirts are great for those who are looking for a diverse color range) and they will take it from there. There won’t be anything to fret about as these guys have a lot of similar orders and they know precisely what to do. In return, you will get an amazing printed clothing item that you can show off around.

Of course, there is also an option of drawing your own picture. This is especially great for all those who want to showcase their skills or simply have something different in mind. Needless to say, this is completely different from your traditional, default products that you can find in shops.

Don’t be too hasty

People tend to be hasty or overwhelmed by these items.

Given that there are so many options at our disposal, sometimes it is hard to find the right one. People want to create a custom t-shirt but perhaps they haven’t figured out what kind of an image they want to use. Sometimes they will use a certain theme only to discover they don’t like it after buying the product.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that you’re doing this for the process itself; not necessarily the t-shirt. Creating custom item is a journey by itself so it should be a pleasant experience. Don’t think too much about but instead give yourself some time. Also, don’t get ahead of yourself with intricate designs but go with an image that will work for you creating something that you’ll wear for years to come.

Consider the size and the sex

While custom clothing companies give you a lot of options, you will have to be attentive in terms of the size and sex. As they don’t know who’s buying the shirt (and for whom they are buying it), they won’t know if this is for a man or a woman. As such, you might receive an item that doesn’t suit you.

The same goes for size. It is something you need to mention beforehand. If there is no such option on a particular site, you need to abandon shopping no matter what. We don’t have to tell you how important the size is so if you can’t choose a product that is proper for your body, you will just get something that you will need to return.