So, you've found a place to live! Congratulations on your new house! Now, you need to make the house your home! With everything packed (and labeled?) and ready to go, make sure you've got your moving checklist and have everything sorted by room. It's time to turn that house into a home, little by little.
What can you do today? First, make sure the movers have all the boxes! Don't let them leave without all of your belongings! We posted before about the missing teddy bear. Don't let this trauma happen to your family too!
First, only fill your home with the stuff you really want to be there (or need). Everything that won't fit, doesn't match, is worn out or you just don't feel anymore, it's better to get rid of it now instead of later. Sell, give, or throw them away! Why move them just to move them out again?
The first night is so hard, so make sure you're prepared! Hopefully you've prepared a move-in box, with everything you'll need for the first night. This should include toiletries, bedding, and anything else that you or children or other family members might need (like the dog). Also, make sure you have enough dishes (or paper goods) to eat dinner the first night. Let's be honest, unless you're Wolfgang Puck, you're not cooking the first night!
Now, starting on your second day, it's time to get serious about unpacking. For starters, since you have all that you need to survive a few days, take your time! Unpack boxes one at a time, one room a t a time. When packing, you've hopefully planned unpacking at the same time. Take it easy, and try to put everything in the right spot. Try to unpack art, photos, and decorations early to decorate and hep give your house a homey feeling.
Don't try to do everything at once! Pace yourself, and don't be afraid to ask for help from your new neighbors or your children! Why not let the little ones unpack and decorate how they want? Also, they maybe can't wait for you to get around to unpacking the toy or game they really want to play with next, so this keeps them occupied while you set up the rest of the house! Involving your new neighbors lets them get to know you and maybe find things in common.
Finally, remember to be flexible with your decorating and your time. Don't stress out or strain yourself trying to get everything perfect the first time, or all at once. Take some time to learn about your new neighborhood, and explore and find all the fun things there are to do!
When you're done unpacking, call us, and we'll come pick up the boxes and packaging you got from us at no extra fee! Let us help you with that clean-up!
Our Fleet Of Trucks
Think Of Moving, Think Of Us.
Thursday 27 August 2015
Tuesday 25 August 2015
Making a house a home, the thrifty way!
Moving can be expensive! DIY moves are the cheapest financially, but may be the most expensive physically. Even a DIY move can break the bank over long distances. At KNT, we do our best to be kind to your pocketbook, but some times there are just too many things for you to move, or too many new things for you to buy. How can you transform that empty, stark house into your warm and comfortable home? Let us provide some tips for you!
For starters, to prevent damage to your recently moved in items, make sure you do any painting and renovations prior to moving in your stuff. It's a pain to make all the trips, but it will save you a lot of heartache later.
Next, find and shop the used, thrift, or second hand stores in the area. Some of the items you'll find will surprise you in a bad way, but some of them will surprise you in a good way! It's amazing the things I've found in thrift shop; from brand new electronics to antique electrics that make great conversation pieces. Consider flowers from the dollar store to help add color and brightness to your otherwise boring spaces. Many of the items I have found to decorate our house have been unique, handmade crafts that really liven up your home.
For starters, to prevent damage to your recently moved in items, make sure you do any painting and renovations prior to moving in your stuff. It's a pain to make all the trips, but it will save you a lot of heartache later.
Next, find and shop the used, thrift, or second hand stores in the area. Some of the items you'll find will surprise you in a bad way, but some of them will surprise you in a good way! It's amazing the things I've found in thrift shop; from brand new electronics to antique electrics that make great conversation pieces. Consider flowers from the dollar store to help add color and brightness to your otherwise boring spaces. Many of the items I have found to decorate our house have been unique, handmade crafts that really liven up your home.
Speaking of unique, handmade crafts, why not make some of your own? Recruit the family to help out! These items are a sign of a warm, loving home, and can add color and contrast to an otherwise drab living space. Even if you can't decorate the whole room, adding an accent to the usual space can go a long way to warming up the room.
Have a spare white wall? Why not track your children's growth? Measure them, and make a line as they grow, adding their initials and the date. This is a cute, fun way to add a conversation piece to your home, and the cost is only a permanent marker.
Are you trying to use your old furniture in your new house, but something just seems off? Well, like the saying goes, you can't put a round peg in a square hole! Why not sell these items and use the money to buy something that works better? If nothing else, that space could be used for a play area, a storage area, or a workout area! Don't limit your possibilities!
We mentioned before accent or contrast items. If you have a space that you can't afford to decorate now, why not just put a single, eye-attracting adornment there to distract from the rest of the room? Later, as the budget allows, decorate the rest of the room, or fill the space with family photos or cheaper decorations.
Last, remember that you don't need to decorate everything the day you move in. Do what you can at first, but, remember that it takes time to make a a house a home. Decorate as much as your budget and time allow, and build the rest of your home over time, as any warm home should be. You can't rush perfection!
Have a spare white wall? Why not track your children's growth? Measure them, and make a line as they grow, adding their initials and the date. This is a cute, fun way to add a conversation piece to your home, and the cost is only a permanent marker.
Are you trying to use your old furniture in your new house, but something just seems off? Well, like the saying goes, you can't put a round peg in a square hole! Why not sell these items and use the money to buy something that works better? If nothing else, that space could be used for a play area, a storage area, or a workout area! Don't limit your possibilities!
We mentioned before accent or contrast items. If you have a space that you can't afford to decorate now, why not just put a single, eye-attracting adornment there to distract from the rest of the room? Later, as the budget allows, decorate the rest of the room, or fill the space with family photos or cheaper decorations.
Last, remember that you don't need to decorate everything the day you move in. Do what you can at first, but, remember that it takes time to make a a house a home. Decorate as much as your budget and time allow, and build the rest of your home over time, as any warm home should be. You can't rush perfection!
Storage Options
Whether you're looking to downsize your home, tidy up the clutter, on a temporary relocation for work, or any number of other reasons, storage is often a great, low cost option! In order to mitigate costs and get the best deal, it's important to know just how small of a storage unit you can get away with. In order to know that, you need to properly assess the items you need to store! Here are a few tips to help you properly plan and pack your items.
First, make a list! What do you need to store? Everything? Something? A few things? Just the furniture? Write it all down, and get it sorted. Also, you might use a larger sheet of paper for this, and leave some room here for notes like dimensions and so forth. Now, do you have your list? Look it over again. Which of these things are you really going to use again? Which of these things will it be better to replace or just eliminate entirely? Every extra item you can eliminate saves you money in the long run!
Now, take the edited list, and, measure the big stuff. How large is the sofa? How tall? How wide? How broad? Which items are fragile and need special care? Which items are sensitive and need to be sealed air tight? Anything need mothballing? All of these things need to be taken into consideration!
Now, you need to get your packing materials: packing paper, moving blankets, moving pads, and strong cardboard boxes of various sizes. You may also need to acquire tools to dismantle appliances and furniture if needed. Don't forget air tight sealing and mothballs! When choosing boxes, make sure they're strong enough to stack! The best way to save space is to use stackable boxes. If you're storing fragile items, try using dishpack boxes to save you from worrying about breakage during transportation, and can help make sure your wine glasses weather the storage time carefully.
For clothing, wardrobe boxes can help prevent wrinkles and other frustrations that often occur in a move or long term storage. Having to repress work clothing or rewash items after moving is a serious chore. Remember to pack heavier items in smaller boxes to balance the weight, and lighter items in somewhat larger boxes to reduce the amount of packaging required!
We offer packaging at a great rate as well, and we can even pick it up for free after you've moved with us!
After procuring your storage facility, you can plan how to use the space. First, stacking the boxes. Large, heavier items must be placed first; i.e. appliances and boxes of your college textbooks. The heavier boxes also need to go towards the bottom, with the lighter boxes obviously being placed on top. Keep in mind what you might need to have easy access to during storage time, or things you might need to put your hands on quickly to help unpack or reassemble other items that are in the storage facility.
If you're storing anything with drawers or shelving, use this space to store smaller and lighter items like clothing and pillows. Whatever you're storing, make sure to pack it in a storage back to keep pesky bugs and dust out.
Large furniture like sofas and love seats can be turned on their end and stored against a wall to reduce the amount of floor space they require. If you're storing appliances, remember that your fridge and freezer were recently damp or moist on the inside, so no matter how long you've let them defrost or air, leave the doors open a crack to make sure they don't mold.
And, as always, make sure to label every box with its contents. Keep your packing so that you know what you’ve locked up in storage. It's always frustrating to search for the stuff you're missing, only to find out after you've bought a new one that it was in your storage unit!
If you're looking for great rates on storage, make sure you call us at KNT! We have great rates and clean, dry facilities to protect all your items! Our customer service specialists are standing by at 6747-6636.
First, make a list! What do you need to store? Everything? Something? A few things? Just the furniture? Write it all down, and get it sorted. Also, you might use a larger sheet of paper for this, and leave some room here for notes like dimensions and so forth. Now, do you have your list? Look it over again. Which of these things are you really going to use again? Which of these things will it be better to replace or just eliminate entirely? Every extra item you can eliminate saves you money in the long run!
Now, take the edited list, and, measure the big stuff. How large is the sofa? How tall? How wide? How broad? Which items are fragile and need special care? Which items are sensitive and need to be sealed air tight? Anything need mothballing? All of these things need to be taken into consideration!
Now, you need to get your packing materials: packing paper, moving blankets, moving pads, and strong cardboard boxes of various sizes. You may also need to acquire tools to dismantle appliances and furniture if needed. Don't forget air tight sealing and mothballs! When choosing boxes, make sure they're strong enough to stack! The best way to save space is to use stackable boxes. If you're storing fragile items, try using dishpack boxes to save you from worrying about breakage during transportation, and can help make sure your wine glasses weather the storage time carefully.
For clothing, wardrobe boxes can help prevent wrinkles and other frustrations that often occur in a move or long term storage. Having to repress work clothing or rewash items after moving is a serious chore. Remember to pack heavier items in smaller boxes to balance the weight, and lighter items in somewhat larger boxes to reduce the amount of packaging required!
We offer packaging at a great rate as well, and we can even pick it up for free after you've moved with us!
After procuring your storage facility, you can plan how to use the space. First, stacking the boxes. Large, heavier items must be placed first; i.e. appliances and boxes of your college textbooks. The heavier boxes also need to go towards the bottom, with the lighter boxes obviously being placed on top. Keep in mind what you might need to have easy access to during storage time, or things you might need to put your hands on quickly to help unpack or reassemble other items that are in the storage facility.
If you're storing anything with drawers or shelving, use this space to store smaller and lighter items like clothing and pillows. Whatever you're storing, make sure to pack it in a storage back to keep pesky bugs and dust out.
Large furniture like sofas and love seats can be turned on their end and stored against a wall to reduce the amount of floor space they require. If you're storing appliances, remember that your fridge and freezer were recently damp or moist on the inside, so no matter how long you've let them defrost or air, leave the doors open a crack to make sure they don't mold.
And, as always, make sure to label every box with its contents. Keep your packing so that you know what you’ve locked up in storage. It's always frustrating to search for the stuff you're missing, only to find out after you've bought a new one that it was in your storage unit!
If you're looking for great rates on storage, make sure you call us at KNT! We have great rates and clean, dry facilities to protect all your items! Our customer service specialists are standing by at 6747-6636.
Monday 24 August 2015
Healthy Relocations
There are so many things that are potential health risks in a move. Injuries can come from pulled muscles, dropped items, thrown out backs, dehydration, heat exhaustion, overexertion... any number of things! Let's go over a few things, and how to prevent them.
The first step to ensuring a safe move starts before the movers arrive. Proper packing will save toes and backs! Balance the weight out in each box. No box should be heavier than about 25 kilograms. If the boxes are too heavy, they will be more difficult to take up and down any stairs, and may cause back strain! Also, know the approximate dimensions of your new home. If the passageways are too narrow, pick packaging that is appropriate! Big boxes or items won't fit down narrow hallways, so make a plan of how to get these items into your new home safely and undamaged. Also, make sure to clear the path to the truck both the old and new homes.
Back injuries are all too common when moving heavy items. Be careful and be prepared! Some simple things can be done to help avoid these painful injuries. First, make sure everyone stretches properly before starting moving. It seems silly, but it can go a long way to helping prevent back trauma. Also, consider investing in a few back braces for the heavy lifters. These are useful all the time, not just for moving times!
Which brings up another point: dress appropriately. Loose fitting clothing and close toed shoes are a must. Sandals lead to broken toes, slips and falls. Make sure to have shoes with a non-slip sole, and good ankle support. Also, while loose fitting clothing is important, try to avoid any clothing that may get caught between objects or in doors.
If you're doing the moving on your own, or with your friends and family, please be considerate to them, and rent the right equipment. Dollies, gloves, back braces and furniture sliders are all incredibly useful. Gloves both protect your fingers and give extra grip on all things. Dollies and furniture sliders can transform the chore of moving heavy furniture and appliances into a breeze as they slide or roll right out of the house and into the moving truck. We've already mentioned back braces, but they're worth mentioning again!
Just like clearing the path to the truck, be on the lookout for dangers! A common problem: leaky appliances that drip water when being moved and rainy days. Keep the floors dry at all times, and figure out a way to keep the rain outside, not in. Also, make sure to keep the paths of egress clear for anyone moving in and out of the house, especially those carrying heavy objects! Make sure to keep in mind obstacles like low branches, uneven sidewalks, etc. Make sure to point these out to your helpers! Children and pets can also be obstacles, so make sure they are properly entertained and out of the way!
Also, it's probably a good idea to have a first aid kit on standby just in case. Bandages, wraps, pain killers, first aid creams, etc. Much better to be over-prepared and have no emergency than to have an emergency and no way to handle it!
While you may have opted for a DIY move, sometimes it's still a good idea to hire movers for large, heavy objects. These items are much more risky and difficult to get moved in and out of houses. Appliances and furniture may need to be broken down, disconnected, and then reassembled in the new home. Especially with wiring, the experts might be your best friend!
Lastly, keep in mind other weather considerations. Hot days will require more hydration and break times. Cold days will require proper attire and care. Have some extras on hand for your helpers to make sure they don't get heat exhaustion or other injuries! And, don't forget to feed them!
Remember, if you need help with your move, give us a call at 6747-6636 for a free quote! We can provide everything from packaging to pain-free relocations!
The first step to ensuring a safe move starts before the movers arrive. Proper packing will save toes and backs! Balance the weight out in each box. No box should be heavier than about 25 kilograms. If the boxes are too heavy, they will be more difficult to take up and down any stairs, and may cause back strain! Also, know the approximate dimensions of your new home. If the passageways are too narrow, pick packaging that is appropriate! Big boxes or items won't fit down narrow hallways, so make a plan of how to get these items into your new home safely and undamaged. Also, make sure to clear the path to the truck both the old and new homes.
Back injuries are all too common when moving heavy items. Be careful and be prepared! Some simple things can be done to help avoid these painful injuries. First, make sure everyone stretches properly before starting moving. It seems silly, but it can go a long way to helping prevent back trauma. Also, consider investing in a few back braces for the heavy lifters. These are useful all the time, not just for moving times!
Which brings up another point: dress appropriately. Loose fitting clothing and close toed shoes are a must. Sandals lead to broken toes, slips and falls. Make sure to have shoes with a non-slip sole, and good ankle support. Also, while loose fitting clothing is important, try to avoid any clothing that may get caught between objects or in doors.
If you're doing the moving on your own, or with your friends and family, please be considerate to them, and rent the right equipment. Dollies, gloves, back braces and furniture sliders are all incredibly useful. Gloves both protect your fingers and give extra grip on all things. Dollies and furniture sliders can transform the chore of moving heavy furniture and appliances into a breeze as they slide or roll right out of the house and into the moving truck. We've already mentioned back braces, but they're worth mentioning again!
Just like clearing the path to the truck, be on the lookout for dangers! A common problem: leaky appliances that drip water when being moved and rainy days. Keep the floors dry at all times, and figure out a way to keep the rain outside, not in. Also, make sure to keep the paths of egress clear for anyone moving in and out of the house, especially those carrying heavy objects! Make sure to keep in mind obstacles like low branches, uneven sidewalks, etc. Make sure to point these out to your helpers! Children and pets can also be obstacles, so make sure they are properly entertained and out of the way!
Also, it's probably a good idea to have a first aid kit on standby just in case. Bandages, wraps, pain killers, first aid creams, etc. Much better to be over-prepared and have no emergency than to have an emergency and no way to handle it!
While you may have opted for a DIY move, sometimes it's still a good idea to hire movers for large, heavy objects. These items are much more risky and difficult to get moved in and out of houses. Appliances and furniture may need to be broken down, disconnected, and then reassembled in the new home. Especially with wiring, the experts might be your best friend!
Lastly, keep in mind other weather considerations. Hot days will require more hydration and break times. Cold days will require proper attire and care. Have some extras on hand for your helpers to make sure they don't get heat exhaustion or other injuries! And, don't forget to feed them!
Remember, if you need help with your move, give us a call at 6747-6636 for a free quote! We can provide everything from packaging to pain-free relocations!
Saturday 22 August 2015
Where do I want to live?
So, you've chosen a city to live in! Congratulations! Now, you'll need to pick a good neighborhood for yourself, your family, and/or any small, furry family members you may have. Here's another list of common tips from around the web to think about to help pick the very best neighborhood for you!
1. If possible, pay a visit to the neighborhood before deciding it's right for you.
2. Figure out how much time it will take to commute to work, to school, to extracurricular activities, etc. If it's too much, then you'll know.3. Sight isn't the only sense, so don't forget to check out the audible environment too. Do you hear shouting? Sirens in the distance? Lawnmowers, construction, trains at odd hours? This can spoil a house just as much as any eyesore!
4. Try to talk to any potential neighbors if possible. Try to figure out what sort of people your neighbors might be.
5. If children are, or will be,in the picture, make sure to check out schools, bus routes, and activities in the area that they can take part in.
6. Make sure to check out the local hot spots; theatres, restaurants, perks and other bonuses each neighborhood has.
7. When visiting neighborhoods, pay attention to small details, like yards, lawns, driveways, decorations, etc. Are they clean, tidy, homely, snobby?
8. Factor in the nearest hospitals, airports, and major highways.
9. Narrow and refine your search to include specific things about the house you care about, such as extra bathrooms for more children, a bigger backyard for the garden, etc.
10. Make sure to find out what the local ordinances for yards, pets, etc. This may make your decision for you.
11. It's never a bad idea to check the crime rate and/or any locally registered criminal offenders in the area. It's better to be safe than sorry!
12. Make a pros/cons spreadsheet to rank your choices in neighborhoods in one easy to see place.
13. If it's too far away to visit, consider using Google Earth to check out the neighborhood before you move/visit.
14. Make sure you know what kind of neighborhood suits you and your family best, the quiet, peaceful neighborhood or the hoppin, busy, energetic neighborhood.
15. Try to find maps of the traffic patterns to know how it will effect your daily lives.
16. Check out local/national realtor websites to get their raw data on the local area and see what properties might be available in your neighborhood of interest.
And when you've chosen your new neighborhood, don't forget to let us help you do the heavy lifting! We can move you across the street, across the city, across the country, or even across the globe! Jst give us a call to let our customer service professionals take care of you today!
1. If possible, pay a visit to the neighborhood before deciding it's right for you.
2. Figure out how much time it will take to commute to work, to school, to extracurricular activities, etc. If it's too much, then you'll know.3. Sight isn't the only sense, so don't forget to check out the audible environment too. Do you hear shouting? Sirens in the distance? Lawnmowers, construction, trains at odd hours? This can spoil a house just as much as any eyesore!
4. Try to talk to any potential neighbors if possible. Try to figure out what sort of people your neighbors might be.
5. If children are, or will be,in the picture, make sure to check out schools, bus routes, and activities in the area that they can take part in.
6. Make sure to check out the local hot spots; theatres, restaurants, perks and other bonuses each neighborhood has.
7. When visiting neighborhoods, pay attention to small details, like yards, lawns, driveways, decorations, etc. Are they clean, tidy, homely, snobby?
8. Factor in the nearest hospitals, airports, and major highways.
9. Narrow and refine your search to include specific things about the house you care about, such as extra bathrooms for more children, a bigger backyard for the garden, etc.
10. Make sure to find out what the local ordinances for yards, pets, etc. This may make your decision for you.
11. It's never a bad idea to check the crime rate and/or any locally registered criminal offenders in the area. It's better to be safe than sorry!
12. Make a pros/cons spreadsheet to rank your choices in neighborhoods in one easy to see place.
13. If it's too far away to visit, consider using Google Earth to check out the neighborhood before you move/visit.
14. Make sure you know what kind of neighborhood suits you and your family best, the quiet, peaceful neighborhood or the hoppin, busy, energetic neighborhood.
15. Try to find maps of the traffic patterns to know how it will effect your daily lives.
16. Check out local/national realtor websites to get their raw data on the local area and see what properties might be available in your neighborhood of interest.
And when you've chosen your new neighborhood, don't forget to let us help you do the heavy lifting! We can move you across the street, across the city, across the country, or even across the globe! Jst give us a call to let our customer service professionals take care of you today!
Tips to Start a Move!
In the modern world, people are relocating constantly. As much as 75% of any country relocates every 5 years. From the time we are born, until the time we die, we will live in, on average, more than 10 homes! That's a lot of moving and shaking! A home is such an important part of our lives, for ourselves, our pets, and our children. Be smart about when and where you move. The first step to finding and moving into a new place is to do research. Thankfully, in the information age, there's an infinite amount of knowledge, experiences, and data just hiding inside your computer. Here are a few common tips on researching a new home:
1. Go to Google for raw data and basic research -- but that's only a first step.
2. Use research to define and refine your parameters for finding a new home.
3. Factor restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and other convenience-based choices into your research.
4. Narrow the focus of your research: urban, suburban, or rural? Town or city?
5. Check out date on school rating sites, city sites, and crime statistics.
6. The best school districts also tend to be the best places to live.
7. Find, join and read Facebook groups or forums related to your potential new hometown.
8. Prioritize your criteria for moving: schools, recreation, safety, amenities, cost of living, employment, etc.
9. View government and city websites along with the local chamber of commerce.
10. Check out local tourism sites and blogs.
11. Find and talk to as many people from the area as you can via any means available.
12. Don't forget to research (and prepare for) the weather in your new home!
13. Don't be afraid to ask your realtor for advice and resources.
14. Just like the Facebook groups, read local blogs and personal travel sites to find out more about your target area.
15. Poll friends and family (and maybe even strangers in the area) on Facebook about the area you're thinking of relocating to, to get first-hand experience and advice.
16. When looking at houses, check out the surrounding neighborhood, online or in person.
17. Take all anecdotes and personal stories with a grain of salt; not everyone's experience or stories are representative of the area, just like any other aspect of life.
18. Realize that research can only do so much! Sometimes it pays to get your boots on the ground!
Once you've found your new location, start figuring out how you will be able to transport all of your things there; if you can do it on your own, with your friends, or maybe if you need some friendly and professional movers to help you out! Don't forget to give us a call! We will keep that move down to the least amount of hassle a move can be!
1. Go to Google for raw data and basic research -- but that's only a first step.
2. Use research to define and refine your parameters for finding a new home.
3. Factor restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, and other convenience-based choices into your research.
4. Narrow the focus of your research: urban, suburban, or rural? Town or city?
5. Check out date on school rating sites, city sites, and crime statistics.
6. The best school districts also tend to be the best places to live.
7. Find, join and read Facebook groups or forums related to your potential new hometown.
8. Prioritize your criteria for moving: schools, recreation, safety, amenities, cost of living, employment, etc.
9. View government and city websites along with the local chamber of commerce.
10. Check out local tourism sites and blogs.
11. Find and talk to as many people from the area as you can via any means available.
12. Don't forget to research (and prepare for) the weather in your new home!
13. Don't be afraid to ask your realtor for advice and resources.
14. Just like the Facebook groups, read local blogs and personal travel sites to find out more about your target area.
15. Poll friends and family (and maybe even strangers in the area) on Facebook about the area you're thinking of relocating to, to get first-hand experience and advice.
16. When looking at houses, check out the surrounding neighborhood, online or in person.
17. Take all anecdotes and personal stories with a grain of salt; not everyone's experience or stories are representative of the area, just like any other aspect of life.
18. Realize that research can only do so much! Sometimes it pays to get your boots on the ground!
Once you've found your new location, start figuring out how you will be able to transport all of your things there; if you can do it on your own, with your friends, or maybe if you need some friendly and professional movers to help you out! Don't forget to give us a call! We will keep that move down to the least amount of hassle a move can be!
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