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How to Manage Moving Stress in November & December

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Moving is among the top life stressors, along with divorce, the death of a loved one, and losing your job. Add to that the stress of planning a move during the busiest time of the year, and you have a recipe for disaster. The holiday season happens to fall during the off-peak time for packing and moving companies, which can mean lower rates and will make finding movers easier. However, poor weather conditions often make it more difficult for movers to access buildings, navigate streets, and load and unload items. It also makes it less likely your friends and family will be available to help you move. Understandably, many people want to be settled into their new homes before the holiday season starts so they can prepare for guests and festivities. So, to avoid turning into a Grinch when moving home, try these tips for managing moving stress during November and December. Planning is Key Getting a head start is the easiest and best way to avoid a stressful move. You can often begin to plan your move weeks in advance by booking your movers early, packing non-essential items, and organizing to have your utilities shut off. Since the weather can be slightly unpredictable, you may need to add an extra week or two to your moving calendar and have a contingency plan in place, such as a temporary place to stay or a storage unit. Don’t forget to include a budget in your planning to ensure there aren’t any unexpected costs that might derail your holiday plans. Minimize Clutter is a major stressor in any home, so why take it with you when you move? Going through your home and purging unnecessary items room by room will not only help you to take the stress out of your move, but it can also free up space for new items you may acquire during the holidays. As a bonus, if you have a yard sale or sell your unwanted items online, you will have ...


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November 20th, 2019

Spring is here!

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Now that spring has arrived, it’s time to investigate the condition of your home’s exterior, including everything from the roof, gutters, siding, and foundation, to the lawn, shrubs, trees, and garden. The chore isn’t so bad, and with a plan—and the right tools—you can make short work of many of these common tasks: Inspecting — Spring is a good time to see what damage winter storms, snow, and ice may have done to the exterior of your home  Take this time to inspect the roof; you can do it easily and safely from the ground with a pair of binoculars. Look for loose, curled, or missing shingles and any bent or damaged flashing around chimneys, skylights, or points where the roof makes contact with the house. Note where repairs are in order and make sure to get them done. Next, clean out your gutters and downspouts. With those spring showers on the way, you definitely want to make sure your gutters are clear of debris so that they function properly. Also use this time to inspect your home’s foundation and chimney; repair any cracks or crumbles. Small fixes now could save you money and headaches later. Pruning — Your trees and bushes will look and grow a lot better if you remove dead, damaged, or overhanging branches. The main thing to remember here is to cut the entire branch off at the branch collar, which is the point where the branch connects to the trunk or another branch. Don’t leave little half branches or big stubs. You’ll get the best results using a handsaw or hand pruner, and it’s well worth investing in an extendable pruning saw with clippers if you have some branches that are just out of reach. Be sure to wear safety glasses and a hard hat if you are cutting branches directly overhead. Cleaning — There’s certainly no shortage of things to clean outside when the spring season hits. Clean siding, windows, foundations, decks, gutters, patio furniture, grills, driveways, pool areas, fences, mowers, and more.  Touch-up ...


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March 20th, 2019

When is a good time to start spring cleaning?

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How can I tell if I should spring clean my home? Even if you clean your home on a regular basis, a thorough cleaning is often needed at least once per year, as very few individuals regularly clean their homes from top to bottom. For many, this process is known as spring cleaning. However, knowing when to spring clean a home is difficult if you do not experience long winters or you live in a region without changing seasons. Additionally, some families may need to spring clean their homes earlier in the year than others, especially if any household members suffer from seasonal allergies or live with pets. To explore the various telltale signs of needing to clean your home from top to bottom, review the following sections. #1 – Your kitchen is filled with empty or expired food items Spring cleaning involves more than simply vacuuming underneath couches and washing floors. During the process of spring cleaning your home, going through your kitchen cupboards, recycling empty boxes and tossing any expired foods or spices is just as important. In addition, if you find unexpired food items that you no longer want or need, you can donate them to a food shelf or homeless shelter. #2 – Your refrigerator is filled with spoiled foods or reusable food containers After a busy winter or a long year, you may forget to clean out your refrigerator and toss out any expired foods. If you run out of reusable food containers because they are all holding expired food in your refrigerator, this is another important sign that you need to spring clean your home and reorganize your kitchen. #3 – Your drains are clogged If your shower drain is filled with hair, or your kitchen or bathroom sinks suddenly take longer than usual to drain, this is often a telltale sign that it is time to spring clean your home. By cleaning your drains, the water will drain more quickly, and unsanitary water will not stand in the ...


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March 6th, 2019