How to Welcome a New Neighbor (and Possibly Make a New Friend)

Moving really is no fun at all. Most people can relate to how unpleasant any move can be. So next time when you see a new neighbor moving in perhaps you can give them a friendly hand. Sometimes just going over to say "hi, welcome to the neighborhood" can be enough to make the person feel less alienated in their new home. If you want to go the extra mile to make your new neighbor feel welcome, the following items can really help a person who is new in the neighborhood out. Who knows, you may even make a new friend if you are looking for new contacts in the area.

Emergency Card

One way to help a neighbor out is by creating a list of all the must-know numbers we all need. Numbers to the fire department, police, animal control, local pizza place, etc. You can even put your neighbor on there as a friendly reminder that you are available. 

Gift Card

When most people move, they are going to be spending at least a couple meals ordering a carry out. If you don't want to make them a meal yourself then you can just get them a gift card to a restaurant in the area. This can also be a good chance to support any local businesses in the areas that offer gift cards. 

Play-Date or Babysitting? 

Moving when you have kids can be a real big challenge. If you have kids, it can be a great idea to offer a play date or to baby-sit for even just a couple hours. Finding distractions for kids can be a challenge while moving, so just about any parent would appreciate a little break from their little one when they are unpacking. Don't be offended if they say no, some people are weird about allowing "strangers" watch their kids. 

Invite Over for Dinner 

If you really want to make someone welcome, why not welcome them into your own home? This can give you a chance to get to know your neighbors. This also gives the new neighbors a fun social distraction and a free meal, and that is something most of us would appreciate when going through the atrocities of a move. 

Baked Goods 

Yummy snacks of any sorts can be a good option as a gift. Fruit or baked goods are especially a good idea to help your neighbor out. Most people don't care if the baked goods are from your kitchen or the local bakery, so if you suck at baking or don't have time, buying something can be a great option.  

Should I Rent a Steam Cleaner or Just Buy a Steam Cleaner?

Pets, kids and spouses can all do some serious damage to carpets. Whether you are getting ready to move out or just want your home to look clean again, steam cleaning is an effective way to make your carpet look almost like new. You might even get used to this whole having your carpet look clean thing. This is when you may start to wonder what are the benefits of buying versus just renting.

I'm going to go through some of the pros and cons of buying a steam cleaner versus owning a steam cleaner. I have person experience renting and buying steam cleanings, but I eventually opted to buy a steam cleaner for my home after renting one a couple times. At the bottom of the page you can check out different types of steam cleaners to consider for purchase. 

Pros of Renting a Steam Cleaner 

• It usually only costs around 30 bucks to rent a steam cleaner for the day. There are lots of different locations that you can rent steam cleaners from including Rug Doctor, Home Depot, Lowe's and various moving companies. I highly recommend Rug Doctor, because they usually have a plethora of convenient locations in most areas.  
• If you have extremely messy carpets this is usually the way to go, because when you rent a steam cleaner you get a professional grade quality steam cleaner. This means that any tough stains you have will actually come up. You can actually buy a professional grade steam cleaner, but it will cost you around 500 dollars when you include tax. 
• You don't have to worry about repairs or replacement parts. All appliances eventually break, steam cleaners are no exception. 
• If you only plan on using the steam cleaner once, there is no real reason to buy one.

Cons of Renting a Steam Cleaner 

• Picking up and dropping of a steam cleaner can be a pain. Between gas, squeezing it in your vehicle and time spent, sometimes it is just better to cut your losses and buy one. 
• If new stains up you have to go rent a steam cleaner again. For people who want to keep their carpets looking new and stain free after they give it a deep cleaning, this can be a deal breaker. 
• For those wanting to give their carpets a deep clean more than once a year you'll end up spending about half of what it costs to get a low grade steam cleaner.

Pros of Buying a Steam Cleaner 

• It is available for you whenever you want it. Next time the cat, kids or whoever makes a mess, you can easily get rid of the stain. 
• If you give your carpets a deep clean once or twice a year, it keeps your carpets looking fairly new. This can be great news for people who may plan on selling soon, or if you simply don't want to play for replacement carpets for a long time. 
• Cleaning your carpet regularly is great for people with allergies. I personally have mild cat allergies and three cats. Deep cleaning the carpets is one of the many ways I can actually keep the allergies at bay. 
• You don't have to pick up or drop of the steam cleaner ever again. 
• You can lend the steam cleaner to your friends, family or neighbors as a favor. 

Cons of Buying a Steam Cleaner 

• Buying a really cheap steam cleaner will just not work as well. You may find that your purchase is a waste since it won't get out the tough stains. 
• It can be a high up front cost to get a good steam cleaner. It can be tempting to invest that money in other parts of your home. 
• Steam cleaners do eventually break. The cost of repairs and replacement parts can quickly add up. 
• If you end up never using the steam cleaner despite all your plans for clean carpets it can end up being a waste of money. Make sure to set up a schedule to deep clean the carpets, so your steam cleaner doesn't gather moth balls in the closet. 

Different Steam Cleaners for Your Consideration

Below are pictures of different types of steam cleaners for you consideration. Left click on the picture to get details about the different products.

The Dissel Upright Cleaner is a great option for people who have lots of semi-tough stains they want to address in their home. Dissel offers lots of different upgrades and versions, but this one costs a reasonable $169.99 at Best Buy.

The Portable Deep Cleaner is a great option for people who only have a couple of tough stains they want to address. This is also a great option if you want to clean out any stains in your car. You can find it at Best Buy for just $149.99.

The Rug Doctor is a professional grade cleaner that you would actually rent from most Rug Doctor locations. If you want a serious cleaner for some serious messes this is your steam cleaner, but it comes in steep at $400 for Lowe's.

Tips on How to Dress for Moving Day

When it comes time to move the stress may make you want to put on your pajamas and take a long nap till this ordeal is over. Unfortunately, as the responsible grown-ups in the situation some manual labor is more than likely going to be involved (unless you hire movers to handle every last thing). Even with movers, more than likely you are probably going to end up with at least some work.

The best way to get prepared for the job is dressing properly for it.  The following are some tips on the what to wear if you are moving. We also picked out an outfit for the guys and gals at the bottom of the page in case you don't have anything proper to wear for moving day.

1. Wear jeans. It is a good idea, especially if you are moving heavier items, to wear pants with heavy duty material like jeans. The material of a good pair of jeans avoids rips in the pants, getting caught on items and sustaining scrapes on your legs. Make sure it is a pair of jeans that give you full mobility for bending over and navigating. So skip any skinny or stretch jeans for moves unless you want everyone looking at your butt crack all day long.

2. The shirt. When choosing a shirt make sure that you fit one that is not too snug or too loose. You want to be able to comfortably move around, but you don't want excess material to get stuck on any furniture, boxes, etc. Ideally also skip any buttons or pockets which can just create problems by pressing uncomfortably against your skin or getting caught on different items.

3. The weather. When you move it is important to check the forecast. Dress for whatever the weather may be, but make sure to keep in mind that all of the physical activity will warm you up. Maybe keep a jacket handy for when you start to cool down after hitting the road.

4. Boots. Make sure to have a sturdy pair of shoes to wear for the move, but work boots are highly preferable. Work boots give you traction to make sure you don't slip. They also protect your feet if anything gets dropped on your foot. This also will help you avoid any rolled ankles which can make moving worse than it is already.

5. A baseball cap or hat. During a move a hate is an invaluable resource. It keeps your hair tamed (if you still have any after the stress of the move). A hat also will catch any sweat that may roll down your forehead. There is nothing worse than trying to move some furniture while sweat stings your eyes.

6. Gloves. Cardboard is especially rough on the hands. Lifting heavy objects can also cause really painful blisters. Make sure to protect your hands with some work gloves.

Moving Day Outfits 

The following are shortcuts to any of the accessories you may need for moving day. For details on the product left click on the pictures.

For the Ladies:

For the fellas:

10 Ways Movers Calculate Bids

When you are pricing around the cost of a move with different moving companies, it may come as a surprise the large differences in bids. No two moving companies have the same exact formula, but it can come in handy to know exactly what the moving company employees are considering when giving you an estimate. The following are the main things movers consider when calculating bids for different moves. 

1. Distance: How far away you are moving will be a large part of determining the cost of your move. Some companies charge by the mile while others give a flat rate for moves in the area. This cost is especially vital if you plan on moving a long distance.

2. Time:  Most movers can estimate about how a long a move will take, because they move stuff everyday. How the moving company charges for the amount of time a move will take varies largely between houses. Some moving companies charge by the hour, some charge by the day. To cut down on this cost you can have everything packed and ready, because the less time they spend the lower the cost.

3. Weight: This is where moving companies will try to add on additional fees. Some moving companies will look at your items then give you a low estimate on the weight of your items, so they get your business by giving you a low bid. When they get the items on the truck and weigh them they will add on fees. To avoid this unexpected cost make the company give you a binding agreement on the original quote at least for the charge of weight of your items.

4. Access: If either your old or new residence is not easily accessed due to no parking, narrow streets or long hanging branches, most moving companies will charge you more. The charge is due to the extra labor from shuttling all of your items a greater distance from the home to the truck.

5. Don't be a Jerk: Like most things in life, a good attitude will get you a long way. The chances are if you rude or unpleasant to employees of moving companies, they may just round up your bid or add on extra fees. Movers are used to dealing with stressed out and crazy people during the move, but they figure if you are crazy even before the move has begun you'll more than likely go nuts on moving day.  

6. Lots of Delicate Items: If you have a lot of breakable and delicate items with specific instructions, the movers charge for the extra time it'll take to pack and move these items. You can pack up your delicate items yourself to lower the cost charged by the movers. It is surprisingly easy to package art, electronics and the like when you get the right supplies to do so.

7. Uncertainty: Make sure that you let movers what you will expect them to do or not to do. If you seem a bit wishy-washy about what will be pack and what will not be packed, they are going to add on extra just in case they end up with a lot of extra work.

8. The Season: If you move during peak moving season during the summer, the movers will just charge more. The reason for this is they usually have more business than they can actually handle. Moving off season is a great way to get a lower bid, because the moving companies usually get a little more desperate for business.

9. Holidays: It is understandable to want to move on a holiday, but movers are people too. If they have to skip their celebration with their families and friends, they are going to want to get a little bonus working on a holiday. Wouldn't you?

10. Ask questions: Make sure that you know what you are and are not paying for on the bid. Get the company to give you a detailed list of how the estimate is broken down. If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask. Being thorough in your understanding of the cost can save you a lot of time, money and trouble in the future.

3 Ways PODS are Great for People that are Moving

Moving is a tedious process for anyone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. While most people simply use PODS to store belongings that they don’t need, there is much more that can be done through PODS. In fact, it’s the premiere choice for many people that are on the move because it can be a one stop solution to all of their needs. Here are 3 facts that you didn’t know about how PODS can help you move.

1. PODS Will Move for You

Whether you are a residential or business mover, you can use PODS to get your belongings from one location to the next. You can move across the town or the entire country with PODS, and you can unload at your own pace because the units will be stored for you. When you move with PODS, you simply pick the unit you want, fill it up, and then send it back with moving directions. After that, all you have to do is travel to your home. This also frees up people so that you don’t need multiple drivers or have to make return trips. Don’t spend all of your time worrying about how your things are doing or opening yourself up to a moving horror story. Drive across the country and enjoy the sights or fly to where you will be staying and take the stress out of moving. Why use a moving company when you can get everything done at once with PODS?

2. Choose to Pack Your POD (or not)

One of the biggest headaches with moving is not the actual moving process, but getting everything packed up. It takes a lot of time and energy to pack everything up and keep it organized. While you have the option to pack everything yourself, PODS gives you another alternative by partnering with a variety of packing and loading services. This gives you the freedom to let others safely pack your items in a fast and professional manner. Regardless of if you don’t have the time, manpower, or confidence that you can pack up everything in time, you’ll be able to mark one more thing off your list by getting it all done with PODS.

3. PODS has Moving Supplies

If you do choose to pack up your things yourself, PODS can still help you. PODS actually sells moving supplies for you to use. You can shop for boxes, tie downs, bubble wrap, tape, and even mattress bags. If you need to pack it, PODS can give you the tools to get it done safely. What’s even better is the fact that many of these supplies can be purchased in kits, providing you with the right number of supplies to pack everything and not have to figure out how many boxes you will need. Because PODS specializes in the safe storage of people’s personal belongings, you can rest assured that you are getting the highest quality products for the jobs. Best of all, PODS provides free shipping and next day delivery for all orders.

Tip: Save up to $100 by using a Pods promo code when you reserve your unit. Find the latest at podspromocode.tumblr.com.

How to Move Artwork

Moving artwork is a task that requires close attention to small details. Any mistake in the moving process can lead to permanently damaged artwork, and unlike other items, valuable artwork can't be as easily replaced or replaced at all. It may be a good idea to consider hiring movers to relocate artwork, or if the artwork is extremely valuable to hire a moving company that specializes in just moving art. Moving companies and art packing specialists both have the extra materials and experience needed to thoroughly pack your artwork.

If you don't want to bother with a mover or simply can't afford it, you can pack the artwork yourself. It will just take some time and attention to complete the process effectively. Before you know it you'll be hanging up your treasured items up in their spots in your new home. The following tips will help you pack your artwork to ship to its next destination.

Tips for Packing Framed Paintings 

• To pack framed artwork you'll need to get strong packing boxes. There are boxes available on market that are made just for mirrors and framed paintings, so it should not be difficult to find this item. 
• You will also need bubble wrap, masking tape and lots of newspaper, tissue paper, linens or any other items that could work as cushioning. 
• If you painting is covered in glass, you will need to secure the glass to ensure it doesn't break. You can do this by using the masking tape to make an 'x' across the front of the painting. This will avoid the glass from sliding around during the move. 
• You will need to wrap your artwork by using bubble wrap. Make sure every corner is thoroughly covered with bubble wrap. 
• Secure the bubble wrap with masking tape. 
• In order to provide cushion for the painting in the box first put down extra filler on the bottoms of the box. Then put in the painting. 
• Next fill any extra space in the box with filler. 
• After you close the box tape all of the edges to make the box extra secure for moving. 

Tips for Moving Unframed Paintings 

• You will need flat pieces of cardboard, paper, masking tape and corrugated cardboard.  
• It is best not to roll fine art work. There is chance the corners could get bent. The artwork also could get creased permanently damaging the image.
• With paper create triangles that will fit around corners of cardboard.  
• Place painting artwork between two piece of cardboard that covers the entire artwork. 
• Tape triangles onto all four corners of the cardboard. 
• Tape all four sides of the cardboard. 
• Place between two pieces of corrugated cardboard then tape the corrugated cardboard together. If corrugated cardboard is not available, you can use a mirror box instead. 

Tips for Transporting Artwork 

• Make sure to have this side up arrows and fragile marked on all boxes containing artwork. 
• Never lay artwork flat with the image exposed. This could easily lead to damage if heavy objects are placed on top.
• Supervise and instruct movers when they are moving the artwork. 
• If you are moving yourself, make sure to place painting in a safe place. Shielding the boxes with artworks behind a mattress or cushions is a safe method.  

Packing and Unpacking Services

Are you sick of packing? Have you not even got started packing yet? Do you just have no time to pack? When you are moving or considering putting stuff in self storage, there is a great option to avoid some or all of the packing that needs to be done. These miracle workers called unpacking and packing services will actually do all of the work for you.

These type of services will come in and pack and unpack all of your items in your house. Even if you have packed some of your stuff, they will still come do a partial pack of what is left. What is even better at the end of the move they'll unpack and organize everything for you, if you so desire. Good services will know how to organize your house probably even better than you do, this is what they do for a living after all.

The cost of this service varies from company to company, but most charge hourly for the service. Most good companies will give you an in-home estimate to give you an idea of how much it will exactly cost to hire the packing service. It is a good idea to price around and research different packing and unpacking services to choose the best one for your move. Just as a tip: you can minimize the price by actually doing some of the packing yourself.

If you can afford it, I highly recommend these services to save some of the head ache of moving. It is a great option for people who just can't take the time off work to pack and unpack everything. Or for people just don't want to deal with trauma of moving at all.

Happy moving!

Packing and Unpacking Services Can Take Some of the Stress Out of Moving!