Moving Spaces

Unpacking hints

Bea — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:08:13 +0000

Congratulations, you are half-way through the moving process. Now comes the fun part – unpacking! Set aside some time in advance to unpack. This time should be dedicated solely to unpacking and organizing your new home. If you are moving with a family, it can be fun to make unpacking a family activity. However, if you have young children, finding a babysitter ahead of time, will undoubtedly make the unpacking process easier.

Remember that the refrigerator in your new home will be empty. If possible, en route to your new home, pick up some snacks, imperishable foods, cold drinks, a cooler and some ice to keep the drinks cold. Every hard worker can appreciate a break and a good snack.

Before unpacking anything it makes more sense to clean up the space before you put things into their respective places. It will be much harder to go back to do the cleaning after all the unpacking is done. If you used an inventory system, it should be easy to locate your “last minute items.” These will be the essential items you need to get through until you’ve unpacked.

Create an unpacking agenda. Keep in mind that it will take you more than a day to get organized. Prioritize the items that need to be unpacked first. Any furniture that requires assembly should be a priority. Furniture such as: beds, dressers, night-stands, entertainment centers, computer desks, etc. Once these items are standing sturdily it will give you room to move on to unpack other things.

Your fragile items such as lamps, fine art, picture frames, should be given their own designated area to avoid breakage. Bedrooms closets are usually a good place to tuck these items away until you need them.

It helps to make a list of the rooms in the house and decide which rooms will be organized first. You will want to put the kitchen and bathrooms at the top of that list as they usually do not require any major furnishings to be assembled. Keep in mind that as you unpack the boxes, either stack them neatly in a corner or throw them away. The empty boxes will only confuse you and maybe even give the impression that there is more to unpack than there really is.

Once your furniture is assembled, you will want to begin to hook up your large appliances such as refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, televisions, computers, microwave and stereos where they belong. Then you will want to start unpacking items that belong on shelves that are already in place. These include: books, videos/dvd’s, cd’s and video games.

Unpacking and organizing the bedrooms will take some time and therefore should not be on the top of the priority list. Organizing your closet alone can take a significant amount of time. If you have children, depending on their ages, delegate different tasks for them to help arrange their bedrooms. If they are younger, maybe ask them to put their shoes away. If they are older, you can ask them to unpack the boxes and put items away that go to their rooms.

Your inventory system will come in handy now. Make sure everyone who is helping with the unpacking has a copy. As each person unpacks, be sure to have him check off the items on the list. This is a good way to keep track of things and make sure nothing was lost or left behind.

Since there’s a good chance all the rooms will not be unpacked by the end of the night, locate the boxes containing your blankets, sheets and pillows and make it a fun night of indoor camping! Within the next few days it should be progressively easier to unpack.

Millions more Americans move to new states

Bea — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 02:48:43 +0000

Americans are on the go again, moving across state lines at the highest rate since the early 1990s, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Census data.
Demographers say the jump is fueled largely by two highly mobile segments of the population:
STATE-BY-STATE: Americans on the move
• Immigrants who have left traditional gateway states and fanned out across the USA in search of jobs and lower living costs.
• A larger generation of 20-somethings, an age group more likely than others to move as they attend college, launch their careers or leave their childhood homes. The number of people in their 20s dropped from 40.5 million in 1990 to 38.3 million in 2000 but rebounded to almost 42 million in 2006.
“When immigrants come to the U.S., they go one place, and they move to another place,” says William Frey, a demographer at the Brooking’s Institution. “They’re more likely to be renters. They’re more likely to follow jobs. … They’re used to moving.”

The percentage of Americans who say they moved from another state the previous year has risen every year this decade. At 2.2% in 2003, it reached 2.5% in 2005 and 2.7% in 2006, the first year that the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey counted people in dormitories, prisons and other group settings.

The increase in movers from 2003 to 2006 amounts to an extra 1.5 million people moving to another state every year or a total of 8 million in 2006. Mobility is a good barometer of changing demographics and economic conditions nationwide.

Learn more: usatoday.com

How to Set Up a Living Area Outdoors

Sherill — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 12:35:59 +0000

First, you have to start with your furniture. Although most balconies are covered, and you don’t have to worry about the effects of sun and rain, the wind can still do some damage. So try to put pieces made from hardy materials, but at the same time, make it comfortable to lie down or sit on. You may want to include different pieces such as chairs, hammocks or swings. Don’t forget to choose a nice outdoor table for some snacking or outdoor eating ideas.

Add some decorative touches that go well with your furniture. Also include flowers and plants to complement the outdoor feel.

www.kauaivacationrentals.com

How to Create an Outdoor Landscape

Sherill — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:38:52 +0000

There are only three parts to creating an outdoor haven:
1. Have a plan – this is the road map of a gardener or landscape

Cooking in a small kitchen can be stressful. You feel cramped, and you get bothered by the fact that there’s never enough counter space and nothing seems to fit inside the cupboards. You might even be spending more time organizing your things than preparing and cooking meals.

If you really think your kitchen is way too small for you, consider doing renovations to expand the space. However, if you are renting, you have no choice but to work with what you have. Here’s how you can do that.

Downsize. If you have utensils that you don’t use regularly, throw them away or store them somewhere else. There are many kitchen items that are too big to keep in the little space you have. Use that space for items you use daily.

Once you’re done clearing out your space, install storage systems that will help you maximize your working area. For instance, a pot rack will free up space under the counter and is perfect if you have many pots that you always use. A pot rack will also give you easy access to the pots while you cook. Place wire shelves at the back of the door to hold pasta boxes and soup cans. Finally, get a multi-layered spice rack that will allow you to see your spices better.

You’d be amazed at how these small changes will help you maximize the space of your small kitchen.

Maximizing Bedroom Space

Sherill — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:38:01 +0000

Your bedroom’s size determines what you can do in terms of decorating and furniture. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a large bedroom. If you’re a bit cramped for room, you’re gonna need to do a little creative thinking to maximize your bedroom space.

First, evaluate the size if your bed. If your king or queen sized bed is taking up a huge chunk of your room, downsize to a queen or double bed. The added space you’ll get from downsizing your bed will dramatically change the look and flow of your bedroom. You’ll have options for other furniture pieces like an upholstered chair or a small futon. The key is to use whatever space you have to its fullest potential. Measure out your room and write your plans down before you kill your back trying to make a huge bed fit.

Space – Something that is never enough

Bea — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:25:06 +0000

For everybody as a matter of fact, which is why people are advised to get rid of clutter once a year in the ever present Spring cleaning. Before a move, you’d have to decide which stuff to move and which not to for there are sure a lot of stuff you do not use anymore and would only eat up precious space as you settle in to your new home. If you have a bigger home with lots of storage, why not. But if you are moving because you have to settle for something smaller than you used to have, then getting rid of clutter is a way to save on having to hire a separate storage facility as you deal with the move and get on with your already disrupted life.

Packing Fragile Objects

Bea — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 10:06:34 +0000

Most who opt to hire movers do so because they do want less strain on their move. This makes the move utterly stress free though that is rarely the case due to reality which presents us with all types of challenges during such a traumatic process as a move. Rare stuff are always the most critical when it comes to packaging materials such as old vases and crystal ware that can be easily wrapped with bubble wrap. Should you want to save on insurance and have your precious heirlooms always in sight, keep them with you in organized boxes so they are not in danger of damage from the process of moving which tends to be quite hard on most furniture and fragile objects. There are a lot of wrapping options such as bubble wrap, plastic bubbles and the ever present foam peanuts. There are eve some dedicated packaging materials that can be purchased from specialist moving products providers who sell them to the public, to handle those precious bottles of wine and other more fragile antiques and trinkets.

Peace of Mind – During the Move

Bea — Mon, 04 May 2009 01:54:16 +0000

There is a form of insurance that covers precious items that may be part of the move, the certified antique china cabinet or the vintage collection of plates and other trinkets to help cover for any damage should the mover fail to take necessary precautions. From handling, loading, securing, unloading and you signing the release of the said item the process is quite trivial but if you’re not careful you will get some rotten eggs. Try to talk with the mover and arrange a representative to check the item (may include an insurance agent or inspector) before packing, and then while un-packing to make sure any damage is documented. Want an easy reference of their condition, take photos on your digital camera then store them onto your laptop, for reference later. Small trinkets and valuables should of course be taken with you and secured as you leave and when you arrive.
If you have to yet establish a safe place to store your valuables, try to get hold of your bank if they have a nearby branch so you can rent a safety deposit box where you can leave them securely as you worry more about the moving in process. If not, try to get in hold with the nearest bank and arrange for such services, you may have to open an account before you get to use their facilities. The prices of these vary according to your needs and the sizs of the bank. Though mostly available for annual rental, you can arrange for some short term deals as you explain your predicament. That way, your passports, land titles, bank passbooks and other valuables such as jewelry are secure and you get the peace of mind you need to focus more on the task ahead.