Wardrobe moving boxes can make it easy to move your clothes without wrinkles and snags ruining some of your items. The obvious first step is to hang anything that you don’t want to fold from the metal bars inside the wardrobe boxes. Jackets, dresses and blouses should be first. Make sure you use every inch available so the hangers don’t have space to slide back and forth. This will prevent things from falling off. Bags, ties and similar items can be placed on the hangers as well –Simply put them on top of the clothing. Don’t be afraid of hanging several items on the same hanger. Simply stock them carefully, making sure the smallest one are at the bottom (so they don’t stretch).

Items that you don’t mind folding should be placed in large shopping bags and put at the bottom of the moving boxes. Try placing similar items together, so you end up with bags of sweaters, t-shirts and jeans. Purses can also be placed in bags and at the bottom of the wardrobe boxes , but make sure not to squash them. Pack the moving boxes as tightly as possible to prevent shifting.

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You don’t need to spend a fortune to completely redo the look and feel of your yard. A few accessories here and there can make a world of difference and give you a yard the whole family can enjoy.

1. Create separate spaces tied together by a team. Whether you’re going for country, modern or romantic, you can easily create a theme by planting the same type of plants (roses for formal, fruit trees for country-like) around the yard, as well as by using accessories (anything from hammocks to fish ponds would work). Dedicate a small area to build a patio, where you can place a small table and chairs for a quick breakfast, resting or having a BBQ.

2. Bring the indoors out. Accessories that you would normally think of as “indoor only” can completely change the feel of a yard. Think cushions, candles, rugs and blankets. You can either shop for weather-resistant products or bring them back inside at night or during rainy days.

3. Start a garden. Nothing makes a yard come alive as having a garden. Whether you want to grow vegetables or try your hand at flowers and shrubs, select a section of the yard and get it ready for planting. Choose hardy plants if you’re new to gardening and want a stress-free experience.

4. Invite wildlife into your harden by hanging up birdhouses, setting up a pond or placing a fountain near the trees and flowers.

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Moving can be dangerous to your possessions. Unless you plan carefully and pack your moving boxes well, you risk things breaking or becoming damaging in the process. To make the moving easier and protect your valuables at the same time, keep these three things in mind:

1. Don’t pack anything that it’s on the banned list. Most moving companies have a list of things that are not covered by insurance and that they won’t put any special care on. These include personal papers, DVDs and CDs, photo albums, laptops, antiques, collectibles and jewelry. Anything that is not protected by the warranty should be taken with you instead of packed into cardboard boxes.

2. Wrap and cushion anything that can be chipped, scratched or dented with moving supplies. Make sure all mirrors and glass objects are properly packed and surrounded by pellets and bubble wrap, so they don’t break due to movement. Also, protect valuable furniture (especially upholstered pieces) by wrapping them with moving blankets or plastic wrap. This will prevent cuts and dents, as well as stains.

3. Buy extra insurance for special items such as pool tables and pianos, or contract a separate company that specializes in moving this type of objects.

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While building a home addition or completely remodeling your home may be your ultimate dream, that may not be a practical option if you are on a tight budget or planning on selling and moving soon. Still, there are plenty of things you can do to increase the value of your home without putting too much time or money into the project. Some of the these changes will significantly increase the value of your home as well, so you’ll get more for your property once you’re ready to sell.

• Make the most of your yard. No matter how small it is, there’s always space for a great lawn and at least a single lawn chair. If you can afford the space for flower beds, go ahead and build them around the edges. Otherwise, get a few large potted plants and group them in a couple of areas around the yard.
• Repaint the rooms. Get rid of white and beige walls, which are often the staple of a rental house. Instead, choose pastel colors such as yellows, blues and pinks that give the rooms personality and warm. Avoid crazy colors and patterns, as this can play against you when trying to sell a home. Before painting, patch any holes and sandpaper the walls if necessary.
• Declutter the house. It makes rooms appear larger and cleaner and gives potential buyers the feeling that the house is big enough to fit anything.
• Clean the carpets and rugs and wash the curtains. If you can afford it, replace them. This is especially important if colors are faded or material is stained.
• Refinish kitchen cabinets if you can’t do anything else. Paint the doors a light color or replace them to change the look of the whole room without any major changes.

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Bamboo flooring has become popular over the last two decades and with good reason. Bamboo is more efficient than any other wood, providing more wood by the meter than any other plant. It is also a great alternative to hardwoods because of its durability and look. Here are a few good reasons to choose bamboo:

• It’s as strong as oak and lasts at least as long. However, it doesn’t contract and expand as much as other woods, so it’s better for hot humid conditions where hardwood floors would normally not do well.
• It has a unique look. Because of its stripped appearance and even grain, bamboo catches the eye more than any other type of wood floor.
• Bamboo doesn’t dent, scratch, warp or bend as easily as other woods.
• It’s easier to install bamboo flooring than most other materials, as the wood can be glued, stapled, nailed or floated on the floor.
• Bamboo doesn’t stain and it’s resistant to water, making it a great choice for bathrooms and kitchens. To clean it, it can simply be mopped with water once a week. It requires no special products or treatments.

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Before you finish packing those moving boxes for your move, you will need to deal with utilities in two ways: by turning off the ones in your old home and turning on the ones in the house waiting for you. While this may seem like a simple endeavor, it’s important to keep some things in mind during the process.

1. Arrange with the utility companies for a day to turn utilities off. Give them an approximate time of day (morning or evening) and make sure to call back a couple of days in advance to verify the appointment. You will either need to transfer the account you have with the companies (if you’re moving within the same city) or open a new account.

2. Start with the essentials: electricity, water and gas.

3. Move on to other bills and services, including cable/satellite, Internet and trash pickup. If you have subscription to special neighborhood services, such as security or renter’s insurance, you will also need to deal with those.

4. Don’t forget to file a notice with the post office to have your mail forwarded to the new address.

5. If you have kids in school, you should start the registration process early, even if you’re moving during summer vacation. You will need paperwork from the previous school and you should talk to the new school to find out if there are any specific forms they need in advance.

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When packing boxes to move, it makes sense to put aside a few items that you will need during the process. A survival cardboard box should contain items that you will need right before you’re leaving and after everything else has been packed, as well as items to be used as soon as you arrive to your new home and before you start unpacking. Examples of things to put in these such moving boxes include:

· A couple of sheets or large towels. You can use one to cover yourself and one to cover the window in the bedroom, so the light doesn’t bother you in the morning. This is especially important if the curtains are still not up in your new home.

· Toilet paper, toothpaste, soap and toothbrush.

· Any medications you need to take on a daily basis.

· A couple of light bulbs, in case there aren’t any already there. You want to make sure you have lights on your first night there.

· Cleaning supplies, including garbage bags, paper towels, small broom (take the handle off so it fits in the box), a multipurpose spray cleaner, bleach and a few rags.

· Basic kitchen utensils, such as knives and forks, a couple of plates and cups and instant coffee or tea bags. You should also research in advance for local food delivery shops and write down their phone numbers in a piece of paper, so you can get pizza or Chinese food (instead of cooking) on your first night.

· Small tools to assemble furniture or fix doorknobs and other essentials on your first day.

· Pet food and their dishes.

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Keeping things organized during the holiday season may prove to be a big challenge. With presents to wrap, cards to send and packing to be done before visiting friends and family, you may find yourself under a pile of papers even before Christmas gets even close.

· Make a list of everybody who’s getting either a card or a present. Write down the name, address and type of present to be given. Those that need to be sent should be bought and prepared first. If you are planning on buying cardboard boxes for the presents, do so well in advance, so you have a chance to get the packages to the post office before the holiday rush starts.

· Label cardboard boxes that contain holiday decorations. Do this before you start taking anything out. This way you’ll know where everything goes when it’s time to put it back.

· Create a wrapping center. Designate a corner of your desk, a drawer or a box to put all the wrapping paper, tape and gift tags.

· Dig on your old boxes before buying anything new to decorate the house, the tree or the porch. Chances are you don’t remember what’s in there.

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As you prepare to pack and move, you probably are keeping track of the big things, such as buying moving boxes, contracting the moving company and getting your stuff packed. In the chaos of the move, however, it’s easier to forget the smaller things. Things that can make the move a lot less painful and the start of your new life a lot easier.

1. Let everybody know you’re moving. This includes the post office (so they can forward your email), magazines you subscribe to, friends and family members, and bill collectors and credit card companies.

2. Talk to your insurance company to inform them about your new address and to ensure coverage continues without interruption.

3. Call companies to schedule turning off your utilities at your old home and turning them on at your new address. You can arrange this in advance and simply give them a date and time (morning, mid-afternoon or end of the day).

4. Find out in advance if you need special paperwork to move your pets with you. If you are planning on stopping en route and sleeping in a hotel, make sure to call in advance and find out if they accept pets. Make a reservation if possible.

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While there are many articles everywhere on how to deal with clutter, few address a more important issue: How to prevent clutter from happening in the first place. By taking care of your possessions and making sure you don’t buy more than you need, you can deal with excess and prevent chaos from taking over your home.

Here are five ways to get you started:

1. Ask yourself a series of questions before you buy something. Do you really need it? Is there something you already own that can serve the same purpose? Do you have the space for it? Can you get rid of something to make space for the new item? How long are you going to use it? If this is something you will only use once or twice, can you rent it or borrow it instead of buying it?

2. Determine where the item is going to be placed. Not the general room or area of the house, but the specific location, such as “second shelf of the living room bookcase.” If you can’t find a specific location for it, it should be considered clutter.

3. Have a place to store it. If you’re buying Christmas decorations, cleaning supplies and products or a new set of china, make sure you have enough cabinet space or drawers to put these items away when not in use. Moving boxes make great for storing stuff you don’t use often.

4. Have a designated place for things you deal with regularly. Have a tray near the main door where you can dump mail as soon as it comes in. Or place a container near the entrance where you can put umbrellas, or a small wood rack where you can store shoes.

5. Get into the habit of donating things you no longer use or need. Don’t wait until they pile up so high that it will take you days to get through them. Go through your closet, your bookshelf and your garage once a week and make a bag of things you can give away. Drive the bags to the nearest thrift store at least once a month.

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