Save a Small Fortune when Moving House with This Top Guide

July 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

If you want to save money when moving house, then you need to take your time and consider every cost possible. If you try and work out everything in advance then you will be much more likely to factor in every expense and you may even find that you won’t end up having to spend money on things that you might have forgotten about at the last minute. If you want some more helpful tips then simply look below.

Declutter

Before you even attempt to pack up all of your items, you need to make sure that you declutter everything, If you try and pack up items that you are not even sure you still want anymore, then this will make your packing up way more stressful. Decluttering your stuff will make things way easier when it comes to packing and it will make the cost of your removal way cheaper too. At the end of the day, the price of your home removal will ultimately depend on how many items you are taking with you.

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Compare Moving Services

The next thing that you need to do is ensure that you are using comparison sites to find a good moving company. When you do, you will soon find that the move becomes way less stressful and that you can also save yourself a lot of time as well. At the end of the day, you should be really comparing quotes as this will help you to make sure that you are saving money all across the board. If you want some help moving then North American Van Lines can help you out.

Book an Off-Peak Move

It goes without saying that you have to book your removal company, long in advance. Companies may be able to offer you some special deals if you book enough in advance. Of course, the summer months tend to be the most popular time for you to move and this is because the days are brighter, and you also have longer days too. The problem with this is that moving companies will often put up their prices so that they can compete with the demand. If you are able to, then try and delay the move until after the summer holidays so that you can move in the autumn.

Book the Cheapest Day

Another thing that you need to do is try and book the cheapest day to move house. If you book your moving company in plenty of time then this will help you to get a better deal. It can also mean that you are not going to be blindsided by added costs that might not have been expected. If you are on a budget then the best time for you to book your move would be on Sunday. Friday tends to be the most popular day for people to move as it gives them the weekend to settle in, but moving companies will often put up their prices so that they can accommodate the higher demand if you do this, so keep that in mind.

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5 Benefits Of Buying A Smaller Home

May 7, 2020 Leave a Comment

When you are buying a new home, space is probably one of your biggest priorities. Most people are aiming to get the most space that they can for their money, which makes sense. But have you ever considered downsizing and moving into a smaller home? Living in a smaller home is becoming quite popular among single people as well as families because there are actually a lot of benefits. There are some space issues, of course, but if you can learn to adapt to a smaller home and use space more efficiently, there are a lot of positive aspects. These are some of the benefits of buying a smaller home. 

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It’s Cheaper To Buy 

This is the most obvious benefit of buying a smaller home. If you can make do with less space, you can find a much cheaper property. That means that you can afford to put down a bigger down payment and you will be able to pay your mortgage off a lot quicker. In many cases, buying a smaller property also means that you can afford to look for quality. If you are looking for a 4 bedroom house, for example, you are limited by your budget and you may have to buy a house that needs a lot of work. But for the same price, you can get a smaller property that is ready to move in right away and doesn’t need any renovation. 

Your Bills Are Lower 

Energy bills are the biggest monthly expense for most people, but if you live in a smaller home, they will be a lot more manageable. The energy costs in an apartment or a condo, for example, are far lower than they are in a big house because you simply have less space to heat. Not only does this save you money, but it’s also a lot better for the environment because you are not wasting as much energy. This is one of the main reasons that a lot of people are choosing to downsize their homes. 

Maintenance Is Cheaper 

A big house is great and you have plenty of space, but as a homeowner, you are responsible for the upkeep. It’s important that you look after your home, and that is far more expensive in a bigger property. Buying a small property that is already in good condition means that you have less maintenance to pay for when you first move in. You will not experience as many issues in the future either, so the cost of keeping your home in good shape is far lower. It is also a lot quicker to clean a small home, so you have more free time to spend doing things that you enjoy, instead of spending an entire day of your weekend keeping the place clean. 

It Forces You To Declutter 

In a big home, it can still feel like you are short on space because people have a tendency to fill the space that they are in. When you live in a big house with lots of rooms, the chances are that at least one of those rooms will be a storage space for junk that you don’t really need. When your home is filled with clutter, it can make the space frustrating to be in, and it may even have an impact on your mental health. But when you live in a small home, you are far less likely to fill it with clutter. You know that you have limited space, so every time you come to buy something, you will stop to think about whether you really need it or not. This means that you will stop buying things you don’t really need and save a lot of money. 

It Encourages Family Bonding 

It’s important that everybody has their own space at home, but it’s also important that you spend quality time together. In a smaller home, everybody is more inclined to spend time together in the same room, so it encourages family bonding. You can still make sure that everybody has their own space if they want to spend time on their own, but you will find that your family is closer when you live in a smaller home. 

 

Moving into a smaller home is a bit of an adjustment and it may take you a while to get used to it. But if you find creative ways to maximize the space, you will soon start to notice all of the benefits, like saving money and reduced cleaning time.

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Planning Your Spring Clean

February 20, 2020 Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year when most of us are starting to think about a spring clean. Hopefully, the weather will be improving soon, and early spring is a great time to throw the windows open, let some fresh air in and start on those big cleaning jobs that only seem to get done once a year. 

 

There’s something about the fresh air and bright colors of springtime that makes us want to clean up at home. We’re eager to get rid of dust and dirt, and air out our soft furnishings. We want our houses to feel clean and the air to be light and pleasant. We want our houses to smell fresh when they welcome us home. We want our homes to feel as bright and fresh as those gorgeous spring landscapes, and it’s the perfect time to get stuck into some big chores that you might have been putting off. 

 

Tackle Those Big Jobs

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Start by thinking about any big jobs. Both things that get done once a year, and tasks that you might not always need at all, that you suddenly do, such as the help of a Pest Control Service. Think about what you can do yourself, and what you need help with, and make appointments with service providers and other helpers. 

 

Some of the big jobs that you might want to take on include window cleaning, cleaning the oven and washing machine, cleaning appliances like the kettle and dishwasher, cleaning your kitchen cupboards and behind shelving and vacuuming underneath sofas, beds and other furniture. 

 

This can also be a great time to get your boiler serviced, and anything else looked at if it needs it. 

 

Don’t Forget the Small Stuff

 

During a spring clean, when you are busy cleaning hard to reach areas and moving furniture around, it’s easy to forget the smaller jobs that you typically do every week. You might want to leave your usual cleaning until after the bigger jobs are done, as you are likely to make more mess, but don’t forget them. 

 

Build a Schedule

 

If spring cleaning gets a bit much, stop doing it. Instead of being overwhelmed by cleaning your whole house in a few weeks, or disgusted by areas that haven’t been looked at for a year, change how you clean. Build a spreadsheet with deep cleaning jobs, and moving forward, try to do one a month on a rotation, instead of everything in one go. 

 

Write Lists

 

When it comes to a big clean, lists are key. Write down everything that you need to do and tick jobs off when they are complete. 

 

Stock Up On Supplies

 

Make sure that you’ve got everything that you need before you get started. Stock up on cleaning supplies and materials and make sure you’ve got enough to complete the job so that you don’t need to stop halfway through. 

 

Declutter as You Go

A big clean is a great chance to declutter as you go. Get rid of old junk, tidy up and make sure everything has a home. Donate what you can, sell things online if you could make some extra cash, and only throw away items that you can’t recycle, reuse, sell or donate.

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Simple Changes For A Healthier Home

October 30, 2019 Leave a Comment

Add a house plant (Pixabay Licence)

We spend most of our time indoors, so we do need to consider its impact on our health and wellbeing. If we are feeling unwell because of the home we live in, then a few changes are necessary.

 

We have listed a few below, so take a look. Then, if it is appropriate for you to do so, make the necessary changes to your home.

#1: A change to your home decor

 

For the sake of your mental health, a change to your home decor might be in order. Especially if you are bored of your surroundings, or if certain rooms in your home are overly cluttered, you do need to consider your options.

 

So, you might freshen up your home’s interior with a lick of paint, perhaps in colors that evoke a calm and peaceful state. You might also follow our simple decluttering guide as, if you are living within a messy environment, it won’t do much for your mental state if you are forever faced with untidiness within your living space.

 

#2: A change to your air quality

 

You know the air outside of your home is polluted, but did you know the air inside could be as well? Because of the chemical products you use for cleaning, and perhaps because of habits such as smoking, the air of your home won’t be as clean as you want it to be.

 

So, when keeping your home clean and hygienic, try to avoid those products that contain a lot of toxic chemicals. Many stores sell greener products now, so look for those labels that suggest they are eco-friendly. Alternatively, household items such as baking soda, vinegar, and lemons can all be used to keep your home clean, so research DIY recipes online. 

 

To further improve your air quality, you might also add a houseplant or two. These act as natural air purifiers, and filter out the pollutants in your home. Be sure to keep them near sources of sunlight, of course, or purchase a Haus Bright grow light to both grow your plants and to maximize the air-filtering potential. 

 

#3: A change to your refrigerator

 

Your refrigerator isn’t to blame for ill health, of course, unless you have done little to clean it in a while. Rather, it is the items in your refrigerator that could be a problem, especially if it is overloaded with chocolate items, fizzy drinks, microwave meals, and any other foodstuffs that you already know aren’t particularly good for you.

 

Instead, make a change to your family’s eating habits by replacing any unhealthy items with healthier alternatives. So, you might include natural fruit drinks, bottles of water, homemade foods, and healthy snack items that are safer items to reach for when feeling the urge to eat between meals. 

So, do you need to make any changes in your home? For the health of you and your family, you should consider doing so if you have related to anything within this article.

 

Take care, and thanks for reading!

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