If you run a business from home or have your own office, you will need to move it with you when you relocate. Bringing your office along can be complicated if you don’t plan well and in advance.

Before you do anything else, make sure you hire a shipping company that has any experience moving office. Sometimes known as “office removal specialists,” these people will know what should be packed in cardboard boxes and what shouldn’t, how to protect valuable equipment and how to dismantle and reassemble office furniture.

If you have electronic equipment, make sure it gets boxed using padding material and thick cardboard moving boxes. Always seal moving boxes with quality packing tape so there’s not risk of contents getting spilled or shift around.

Aside from moving the actual office equipment, you will need to move the logistics of the business. This means getting new business cards, renting a new office, changing your business address and making sure your clients can find you. If you can’t provide services at a distance, you will need to plan on finding new clients upon arrival.

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Wood pellets stoves arte one of the most efficient heating sources you can have in a room. While they can’t warm up the whole house, they will keep a single room quite nicely and without a big expense. While wood pellet stoves burn wood, they don’t burn logs. You will need to buy special wood shavings or sawdust to burn in them.  They do have the advantage of costing less and taking less space to store than logs and larger-size wood pieces.

When it comes to choosing a wood pellet stove, keep in mind:

• Do you already have a fireplace? If so, you can install a special model of wood pellet stove right into it. If not, you can buy a freestanding model (more expensive).

• How much work do you want to do? Cheaper models are more manual-oriented, while more expensive options are completely automated. This means you don’t have to feed the pellets into the stove but only fill up the hopper (a special holding compartment) and the pellets will be released into the fire as needed.

• Check what the contract and service agreement provide and for how long. Because wood pellet stoves have moving parts, chances are you will to have it serviced at some point, which can be expensive if you have to pay out of pocket.

• Finally, choose a size that is big enough to heat the whole room, or you’ll end up wasting energy. You’ll need 25 to 30 BTU per each square foot of room.

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Mirrors can do a lot more than serve as a beauty aid. Placed in the right corner or area of your house, they can become a cheap and original way to change the look and feel of a room. Here are some good ideas on how to use mirrors:

• Place a mirror on top of a side table or coffee table and place a series of candles on top. The mirror will double the light and reflect it in unusual and fun ways, depending on what other lights you have on in the room.
• Hang a large mirror on the wall of a small room to make it appear larger.
• Hang a mirror next to window so the light from outside bounces on it and multiplies, making the room appear lighter and brighter. This is an ideal solution for rooms that are naturally dark or cave-like.
• Make a collective display using small mirrors as both decoration and as a trick to increase room size. Choose several mirrors of the same format but different sizes or mix and vice versa. Making sure all mirrors have something in common (size, form, frame or frameless, etc.) will create a more uniform display. This works well on bathroom or dining room wall or on the wall next to a staircase.
• Cover a plain wood tray with a mirror. You can use super glue or craft glue to secure it in place. You can then place the table on a dresser or a window ledge and use it to store perfumes, small knick knacks or jewelry.

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No matter how you look at it –Moving it’s expensive. While you can’t move for free, chances are you can save quite a bit of money if you plan the move with time and are willing to make some changes and sacrifices in order to reduce costs.

The first thing to do to get you started is to prepare a moving budget. Write down your expected expenses, including the truck fee, items like cardboard boxes and bubble wrap, insurance, extra services such as packing, equipment rental and lodging (if you are driving the moving truck yourself and need to stop along the way).

Add to the list a breakdown of expenses connected to your first few days in your new location. Think of connection fees for utilities, new cell phone contract, small fixes in your new place (anything from bulbs to an extra set of keys) and even take out for the first few days, when your kitchen is still unpacked.

Next, discuss fees with the moving company and see if you can save money by doing some things yourself. For example, offer to buy your own moving supplies, including your own cardboard boxes, for cheaper prices. You might also save money by buying the most basic insurance. This is an especially good idea if you already have home insurance, as this will most likely cover your items during the move.

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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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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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While major home problems will require the help of a professional, there are many around-the-house problems that can be fixed by anybody with just a few tools and a few spare minutes. Problems in windows are a clear example: they happen often but rarely require the help of an outsider.

Cracks in the glass can be temporarily fixed with masking tape place on both the inside and the outside of the house. Always make sure the crack is completely covered so it can’t chip and extend. Larger cracks that can be dangerous if left alone can be fixed by removing the entire pane of glass and placing a piece of clear hard plastic in the its place. A heavy-duty garbage bag also works in a cinch. Tiny holes and cracks can be fixed with clear nail polish. If they’re not big enough to compromise the whole glass, you may not even need to replace the pane at all.

Windows that can’t open can be caused by a series of reasons. If you recently painted the frame, the paint may have stuck on the side railings, causing the window to seal in place. To fix this, simply run a thin blade or piece of metal where the panel and the frame meet to remove any dry paint or debris. If the reason the window is not opening is humidity, try using a hair dryer to warm up the wood, then lubricate the channel so the window can slide back and forth without effort.

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Moving out of a rental place is a lot different than selling your house and moving. For starters, moving dates are usually not flexible. This means you will have to much of the prep work in advance and ensure that everything is packed in moving boxes and out the door by the time you’re meant to turn the keys in. Not doing so could result in penalties or problems with the landlord. Depending on your lease contract, you may need to give advance notice about the move. The requirement is usually 30 or 60 days and you may have to forgo the security deposit if you’re moving before your lease is officially over.

When packing household items in boxes, keep your camera out. It’s always a good idea to take photos of any damage you caused, so they are properly documented in case of a disagreement. This is especially important if you had previous run-ins with the landlord and have a reason to believe he may try to keep the deposit. If possible, arrange for the landlord to tour the place with you after you’ve finished packing all your boxes. That way there’s no mistake about what’s going and what’s staying.

Before the tour, make sure you clean the apartment. You don’t have to shine the floors or shampoo the rugs, but make the place presentable. And always place all the cardboard boxes (already sealed with tape) in a single room, so you can move around freely and inspect every corner.

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Ultimately, what your kid’s room will look like depends on personal taste (yours and eventually your child’s), although there are some basics to keep in mind when designing and decorating one:

Choose colors, furniture and décor that will grow with the child. If you go overboard with the cutesy designs, things will have to be changed as the kid becomes a toddler or a pre-teen. A way around this is to paint the room itself a neutral tone and then use bedding, curtains and rugs to provide personality and details.

Pick materials that are durable. Washable fabrics are a must, as are darker colors (whites and beiges will get dirty too quickly). Low-maintenance that are machine washable and will withstand wear and tear will make your life a lot easier.

Get plenty of storage at kids’ eye level. Trunks, large drawers and bins are great to help kids get organized. At the end of the day, if you don’t feel like picking up things, they can just be thrown into containers to be sorted out later. If you want the kids to do the organizing themselves, don’t choose furniture with high drawers or pegs they can’t reach or open.

Provide plenty of insulation. If you have hardwood floors, cover them with thick rugs or rubber mats, to prevent injuries when kids fall or play on the floor.

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