How to Protect your Home While Away
We’ve all been there. We go on vacation or just away for the weekend yet we worry about our home security. As your Nelson Movers we felt that everyone should have the knowledge to protect their homes and forget about the stress. So we brainstormed and scoured the internet for additional suggestions to compile a list of the top 5 recommendations for protecting your home while away.
5 Tips for Protecting your Home
Volunteer to Watch your Neighbor’s Home
If you’re a bit hesitant to ask your neighbors to watch over your home while you are away there is a way around. Volunteer to watch over your neighbor’s home before they ask and this make them more likely to reciprocate the favor. When you watch over their home, ensure you’re doing a first class job by collecting mail, feeding any pets and keeping an eye on any activity.
Never Hide your Keys Outside
Even though you think the hiding spot under the big rock beside the BBQ is an ingenious and incognito spot – it’s not worth the gamble. Leave your keys with a trusted neighbor, friends or a family member that lives close by.
Maintain a Tidy Front Yard
Another sign that nobody’s home is to leave your yard unkempt. Hire your neighbor’s kid to take care of the lawn, shoveling or raking while you’re away. This will give any person passing by the impression that somebody’s home and they really appreciate a well-kept yard.
Find the perfect balance with Blinds and curtains
Many of us believe that if you’re not home you should keep all the blinds and curtains closed. But this is a loud signal that says, “Hey strangers, I’m not at home!” The best way to avoid this is by balancing the mixture of open curtains, blinds and lighting. Keeping the odd light on or asking your neighbors to turn on the odd light in the evenings is a good way to give the impression that somebody is home.
Tell your Post Office
One of the best ways to advertise that no one is home is to let your mail pile up. Avoid this by asking your post office to hold your mail while you are away or by asking your neighbor to collect it while watching your home.
For longer vacations it’s also handy to have a storage locker for valuable possessions and any recreational equipment. We proudly provide Nelson moving and storage services for short or long term needs. For more information on our storage facilities please contact us today.
Nelson Movers Tips for Creative Packing
Even though we sell packing supplies we also understand that a lot of people like to make use of what they already have in their homes. There’s very good reason to this as using items from your home is efficient and it will also help with the loading and unloading process. As Nelson Movers, we see a lot of creative ideas in regards to packing and we thought we should offer some of the best tips for saving space, time and a little bit of money too.
Unexpected Items for Creative Packing
1. Blankets, Sheets and Towels – Use these to provide as extra cushioning in your next move. With the extra padding there will be less movement within the box and less chances of possessions breaking. Plus it eliminates a box or two that would normally be filled with linens.
2. Old T-shirts and Socks – Old t-shirts and socks can even be used to cut out the wiggle room in boxes of electronics or knick knacks.
3. Old Plastic Bags – While most of try to cut down on the amount of plastic bags we accrue from the grocery store, there’s usually a stash somewhere under the kitchen sink. These plastic bags can be used for providing extra padding or for separating cutlery, kitchen utensils, bathroom supplies or loose items from drawers.
4. Books and Magazines – Because of their sturdy nature, books and magazines can make excellent padding in the bottom of a box. This will ensure for a weighed down box which will prevent any chances of tipping. Rolling a magazine and stuffing it in the corner of a box will also prevent movement in the box.
5. Luggage, Backpacks and Gym Bags – For the items that don’t necessarily need to be packed in a wardrobe box, using your luggage or other bags is a great substitute. We often pack empty suitcases, luggage and backpacks. Some people even put empty backpacks in boxes. This also works great if you are moving long distance and you would like a specific suitcase for your clothes for the next couple of days.
We hope that these tips help you lighten the load and pack more efficiently. Of course, some items just don’t work in backpacks or surrounded by blankets and old t-shirts. But, as Nelson Movers we offer a full line of packing supplies to ensure your move is organized and packed right. Please contact us for more information on our storage facilities and moving services.
Nelson Movers 5 Tips for Preparing to Move
Even though you may not be planning a move this month or even next, but we recommend following the suggested activities to ensure your move goes as smooth as possible. Moving can happen unexpectedly and for that reason we want to make sure you can accomplish everything you need to. So even if you’re moving in a year here arte 5 tips for all of you that like to plan ahead.
5 Tips for Preparing to Move
Avoid the Seasonal Build Up
As every seasonal holiday approaches we dig out our decorations to proudly display in our windows or on our lawns. When the holiday comes to an end we recommend taking an objective look at what decorations should stay and which ones should be donated, recycled or trashed. This process can be repeated for seasonal clothing as well as recreational equipment.
Out with the Old
After you reassess your seasonal belongings you may want to have a look at some of your old possessions that are rarely used nowadays. A lot of people come up with this idea only a couple of weeks before the move and end of taking bad deals for their once loved possessions. Avoid this frustration and plan ahead. Advertise your old furniture, guitars, or camping gear months ahead so you have the luxury of making a deal that works for both parties.
Friends Help Friends Move
Chances are that you know a friend, family member or coworker that needs an extra hand making their next move. Offer to help out and the favor will be returned when it’s time for you to make your move. Besides the possibility of the favor being returned, it’s always nice to lend a helping hand.
Don’t Put off Difficult Cleaning Projects
If you have some spare hours on the weekend roll up your sleeves and champion a difficult cleaning project. By slowly chipping away at the major cleaning projects you can save some time for packing, planning and of course, relaxing.
Schedule your Nelson Movers
We recommend calling a few weeks in advance to schedule your movers and any needed storage. Planning ahead allows you to take your time finding the best fit for you and your budget. It allows you to review the company’s testimonials, reviews, and services without feeling pressured from a lack of time.
Kootenai Moving has built their reputation on great service and putting the interest of their customers first. For ensuring your move goes as smooth as possible we recommend considering our tips mentioned above. Of course, feel free to contact Kootenai Moving if you have any questions regarding our relocation and storage services.
Nelson Moving and Storage Company Tips on at Home Storage
Our Nelson moving company is not just the Kootenay BC region’s most reliable local and long distance relocation company, we are also sought out by residents and businesses for our Nelson storage service. In particular, our offering of safe, secure, and affordable storage provides households with the peace of mind needed when they are moving to a new home with less square footage (and thus excess personal “inventory”) or if they simply need a temporary holding place for possessions when in the middle of a large scale relocation. However, we of course recognize that there are many items that serve your day to day home life by being kept within immediate reach even if they are not used day to day. In an effort to provide or readers with some easy-to-follow advice on the moving and storage process we thought we’d launch our new blog with a few pointers on home storage.
5 Easy to Follow Home Storage Solutions
1. Store It Where You Use It
This tip certainly seems like common sense but all too often people keep their household excess stored in one spot within the home. When they need to retrieve something they end up unearthing boxes and piles of possessions to get to the one thing they actually need – which is ALWAYS at the bottom of it all! Instead of following this inefficient method, start fresh by storing the items within close proximity to where they will actually be used. Keep portable kitchen appliances near the kitchen, keep all linens near the bedroom, keep outdoor recreational equipment near the point of exit (garage, etc…) and so forth.
2. Books, Magazines, & Periodicals
First of all, take a proper accounting of your bookshelf and be honest with yourself as to what you will ever read again, and then donate the ones you won’t (about 50%) to your local public library. Second, come to terms with the fact that scrapbooking is not just for teenage girls and fans of Martha Stewart. You’ve likely hoarded a stack of magazines/periodicals because each contained one article or series of photos you cannot live without (yet you can). Cut these articles/images out and create a scrapbook that can continue to grow with subsequent magazine purchases yet pale in comparison to the periodical pile that has formed in the bedroom, attic, and/or bathroom.
3. Vacuum Sealing Your Seasonal Clothing
Visit your nearest house & home retailer and hunt down a vacuum sealing kit for your seasonal clothes and linens. This is one of the most closet space saving solutions around and it’s actually kind of fun watching a vacuum suck the buoyant life out of your parkas and quilts.
4. Display, Don’t Hide, Your Collectibles
We all collect some sort of personal treasure that makes us happy. Be it souvenirs from one’s travels, antiques, curio, or vintage decor (etc…) we have a collection yet all too often these items have been relegated to the dark corners of the home, stored in boxes for safe keeping yet not fulfilling their destiny to be admired, all the while consuming storage space. Be proud of your collections and display them somewhere within the home that “ties the room together” (or whatever). Most items can be displayed on walls and tall shelving units thus negating the need to take up storage space on the floors of closets, basements, and attics.
5. Above Ground Attack on Children’s Toys
Stepping and tripping on toys is an activity that every household with children counted into its census can relate to. Toys need to be stored not just for cleanliness but for personal safety as well. Store your kids’ toys above ground for optimal efficiency. Buy or build a tall shelving unit so as to not take up width in their room (thus maintaining a more spacious environment) and store toys in a top to bottom hierarchy leaving only the educational playthings within their short reach. By keeping the fun stuff out of arm’s length they depend upon you to take them down, which you will happily do when they’ve first returned the one that they were playing with previously. Another option for storing your children’s toys out of sight (but conveniently located) when their room can contain no more is to use decorative steamer trunks to serve as inconspicuous toy chests that can be placed in the living room and tucked into hallway corners. Just keep a lock on the trunks and follow the same play & put back program mentioned above.
We hope these easy-to-follow home storage ideas contribute to your household space saving solutions. If you are still in need of local Nelson storage service please feel free to contact Kootenai Moving anytime.