When moving, self-storage units are a great solution to keeping your belongings safe and organized. It can be a daunting time, otherwise, when we just have so much to move. There can be cumbersome items that take longer to move and valuable heirlooms we would rather take care of ourselves. A self storage facility can keep them secure and at the right temperature that they like.

Here are four reasons why a self-storage unit can be helpful during and before the process of moving:

Cost-Effective Way to Move

Self-storage is more affordable than hiring a professional moving company. If you do not have all that many items because you move frequently, then you could gradually move by directing many of your items into a nearby self-storage unit in preparation. This would save paying a moving firm and mean that you could have time to sort yourself out.

Good Security

Self-storage units are more secure than leaving your belongings in the care of strangers. This is because the units will come with added security by way of surveillance cameras and restricted access. You can have the peace of mind that your precious items are being protected as well as they can be.

24/7 monitoring exists with many storage facilities and so goes beyond someone only reacting when there is a crime committed. This is preventing crime and keeping everyone’s items much safer. It is too late once something has happened. It is a good deterrent for thieves who will observe the cameras, and sometimes security guards on duty as well.

Flexibility With Storage Time

You can store your belongings for as long or as short a time as you need, meaning you don’t have to rush the decision over where they are best placed. You can control what is kept where and for how long. This allows time for us to decide if there are things we just do not need to keep anymore.

It would be awful to dispose of something that we then need just because we could not immediately see a place for it within our new home. Keeping it in a storage unit means that we do not make a snap decision on whether to keep, sell, donate, or give to a friend or family member, that we later come to regret. Two of the options, of course, mean that the item is lost forever should we have a change of mind.

Decluttering Solution

Self-storage is a great way to declutter your home before putting it on the market.

Decluttering is key when it comes to selling your home. To make your home as appealing as possible to potential buyers, you need to remove all the unnecessary clutter and make the space look as spacious as possible. This can be a daunting task, but it’s worth it in the end.

It can raise suspicion to have too many objects that could be masking something you do not want the buyer to see. They might not, after all, believe that someone could be so untidy.

A house looks better without clutter and can straightaway put a buyer in the right mood. They can now visualize how things might be should they buy the house. If there are not too many objects to have to imagine not being there it can be problematic for them, and so put them off.

If you’re having trouble deciding what to do with all your belongings, self-storage is a great solution. It’s a cost-effective and flexible way to move your belongings without having to worry about them being damaged or stolen. So, if you’re moving house soon, be sure to consider self-storage as an option. Not just as you move but to sell your house in the first place, as nobody wants to see clutter.

 

People often think of their home as a place of comfort – a haven from the outside world. It’s where we relax after a long day, spend time with our loved ones, and recharge for the next one. But if your home is uncomfortable, it can have the opposite effect. You may find yourself constantly fighting against your environment, which can lead to stress and anxiety.

Luckily, there are a few simple ways to make your home more comfortable and inviting. These include renting, for example, a 10×10 storage unit. This will be sufficient for many to accommodate their surplus possessions to free up home space.

Decluttering

One of the quickest and easiest ways to improve your home’s comfort level is by decluttering. If your space is cluttered, it can feel cramped and overwhelming. By getting rid of superfluous items and organizing what’s left, you can immediately make your home feel more open and inviting. If you don’t have the time or energy to declutter on your own, you can always hire a professional organizer to do it for you.

Self-Storage

Another way to ensure a comfortable living space is to use self-storage. If you have items that you love but don’t necessarily need on a day-to-day basis, self-storage is a great way to keep them out of your way. This can be especially helpful if you live in a small space. By storing seasonal items or infrequently used belongings, you can free up valuable space in your home.

Self-storage units offer a variety of services such as vehicle storage, boat storage, and RV storage. They also provide a secure place to store your belongings, whether you are moving or just need extra space.

The advantages of self-storage units include:

Enhanced security

Self-storage units provide a great way to secure your belongings while making more space in your home. There are a few different kinds of security measures that self-storage units have:

The first is surveillance. All self-storage units have security cameras installed to keep an eye on the property at all times. This helps to deter any potential burglars from breaking into the units.

In addition, most self-storage units have alarmed units. Having the right Alarms for Home and Business installed means that if someone tries to break into your unit, an alarm will sound, alerting the security guards on site.

The last type of security measure is gate access. Most self-storage facilities have a gate with a keypad or card reader. This allows only authorized people to enter the facility.

Climate control

Another advantage of self-storage units is that they offer climate control. This means that your belongings will be protected from extreme temperatures, whether it’s hot or cold outside. Climate-controlled units are especially helpful for storing items that are sensitive to temperature changes, such as electronics, musical instruments, and photographs.

Accessibility

Many units have drive-in ground-level options so that vehicles can either be driven in for storage or can drop off heavy items. This can be 24/7. If you decide last-minute that you need that extra chair for a dinner party you can easily retrieve it in time for the celebrations.

Flexible payment options

Most storage units offer flexible payment options. This means that you can choose a plan that fits your budget and needs. You can also choose to pay for your unit on a month-to-month basis, so you’re not locked into a long-term contract.

Improve Ventilation

Finally, it’s important to make sure that your home is well-ventilated. Poor ventilation can lead to stuffiness and a build-up of harmful toxins. In addition to making your home uncomfortable, this can also be dangerous for your health. To ensure proper ventilation, open windows regularly and consider installing a whole-house fan or HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) System.

By following these simple tips, you can make your home a more comfortable and inviting place to be.

 

If you’re thinking of extending your home, you’ve probably got a few things on your wishlist that you’d like to add. Extending your house is all about creating more space, so if you need another bedroom, an extra bathroom or just a bigger kitchen, it’s a great way of giving you some breathing room without having to completely relocate. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that building an extension can create a lot of disruption to yourself and your family. You’ll have to live with dust and noise for a few months, and that’s just the start of it.

Before you get started on your extension, there are a few things you need to do to get ready. A comprehensive plan ensures your project is completed exactly how you envisioned it. Good preparation also helps to avoid hiccups and bumps in the road.

Take a look below for some tips on how to prepare for the loud and dusty days ahead:

Remove Valuable Items

Extending a house can get pretty messy, which means your belongings are going to get covered in dust. Unfortunately, some of your belongings may also get damaged or even go missing, so it’s a good idea to clear the area being extended of valuable items. This might mean moving ornaments to other rooms in the house, or it might mean using self-storage units to pack large furniture away for the duration of the construction work. These storage units prices might be useful to know if you’re considering this option.

Warn the neighbours

Your neighbours should have been notified when you were granted planning permission for your extension, but you should also give plenty of notice before construction work actually begins. This gives your neighbours the chance to plan around the disruption the builders will cause. To show that you’re sorry for the dust that will make its way into their home, you could also offer to pay for a professional cleaning service to clean your neighbour’s house once everything is over.

Declutter

Building an extension offers a great opportunity to remove clutter and rubbish from your house. The fewer things you have, the fewer things there will be to get in the way of the construction work. Make your way through wardrobes, cupboards and drawers and give the garage and loft a good sort. Once you’ve removed everything you don’t need or want, you will find you’ll have a lot more space to breathe as the building work surrounds you on all sides. This will help to reduce stress and also helps to keep the house tidy, even when it seems like your whole house has been turned upside down.

Make Provisions for Kids and Pets

A building site can be dangerous, and you’re going to be living in the middle of one. If you have children or pets, you need to make sure there are safe spaces for them to escape to. Consider installing baby gates to make sure they can’t access parts of the house that are hazardous and keep the garden fence intact so that if a wild toddler or hell-bent puppy tries to run for it, they’re still safely enclosed.

Try to keep some areas of the house exactly as they always have been too. Kids and animals like routine, but if their favourite room is completely changed, they may struggle to adapt. If you’re having a kitchen extension, for example, keep the living room as it is so that they can still snuggle up on the sofa.

Pick a Suitable Season

The time of year can have a big impact on the preparations you need to make to your home before construction begins. For example, if you’re starting your extension during the winter, it might be a good idea to get your boiler serviced to ensure your home stays warm even when windows and doors are left open and holes are being made in the roof and walls. You should also consider how muddy things might get, so if you experience a monsoon season during the summer, you might need to lay plastic sheeting on carpets to ensure mud doesn’t get trodden through the house by builders.

Wrapping Up

Building an extension is an exciting project to take on board. There are plenty of things you need to think about, but hopefully some of these tips will help to keep your project moving smoothly.

Nashville is a major city in the southeastern United States and is home to over 650,000 people. If you’re one of those looking to sell your house fast, it’s important to price it right.

Prices for homes in Nashville vary greatly based on location. For example, a downtown condo will sell for much more than a suburban home.

There are some general tips that you can follow when pricing your home. In this blog post, we’ll give you five tips on the price of your home in Nashville! Keep reading to learn more.

Know Your Market

Research what other homes in your area are being priced at and how you can compete. You’ll want to research what other homes in your area are selling for before putting a price on the market.

You should know precisely where and when this house will be available so home buyers can find it easily!

That gives them more of an idea about whether or not they’re interested at all, which means less guesswork from both parties involved and happier customers overall.

Set Your Price A Little Lower Than The Average

When you set your price just below the average, buyers think that they’re getting a good deal. It also makes your home more competitive with other homes in the area.

If you price your home too high, it might stay on the market for a long time, and you might have to lower the price later on.

Think About Recent Sales In Your Area

If you’re unsure what to price your home at, take a look at recent sales in your area. It will give you an idea of what people are willing to pay for a home like yours.

Remember that just because a home is sold for a specific price doesn’t mean that your home will sell for the same amount.

Factor In Renovations

If you’ve made any recent renovations to your home, factor those in when pricing it. Homes that have been recently renovated will likely sell for more than homes that haven’t been updated. If you’re unsure about how much the cost of your renovation is, ask a real estate agent for help.

Companies That Buy Properties In Cash

Find companies that buy houses for cash knowledgeable about the Nashville market, and can give you an accurate estimate of your home’s value.

The company that buys houses for cash is a welcome relief to most homeowners. The process can be stressful, especially if you’ve never done it before and don’t know what your expected return on investment will look like at the end of each month or year.

Not knowing where else to turn sometimes feels even worse!

Many homeowners choose to sell their homes through a real estate agent. If you’re interested in this, be sure to interview multiple agents before choosing one.

Keep in mind that not all real estate agents are the same. Some specialize in working with people who buy houses, while others specialize in working with sellers.

Some agents work only with people selling their homes through traditional methods, while others work with people who are selling their homes for cash.

It’s essential to find an agent knowledgeable about the Nashville market who can give you an accurate estimate of your home’s value.

Will Renovating Your Home Affect Its Price?

Factor in repairs that may need to be made before putting your home on the market. When you’re ready to list your home, make sure there’s nothing wrong with it that would stop potential buyers.

These repairs could include fixing up the exterior or addressing any problems in a convenient location (such as putting away clutter).

If you’ve recently renovated your home, factor those renovations in when pricing your home.

Pricing Your Home Higher Or Lower

Don’t price your home too high or too low – find a price that will generate interest from buyers without reducing the value of your home.

When you’re ready to sell your home, it’s essential to find a price that will generate interest from buyers without reducing the value of your home. If you price your home too high, it might stay on the market for a long time, and you might have to lower the price later on.

If you price your home too low, you might not get as much money for it when you sell.

Take a look at recent sales in your area. You can do this to get an idea of what people are willing to pay for a home like yours. Remember that just because a home is sold for a specific price doesn’t mean that your home will sell for the same amount.

If you’ve made any recent renovations to your home, factor those in when pricing it.

Be Prepared To Negotiate With Potential Buyers

Negotiating is part of the process. You may be able to save some money by finding out what buyers are willing to settle for early on in negotiations, so it’s worth putting together a little list before you start talking with them about price.

No matter what, be prepared to negotiate with potential buyers. You may be able to save some money by finding out what they’re willing to settle for early on in negotiations, so it’s worth putting together a little list before you start talking with them about price.

If some specific features or areas interest you, then mention these first; it’ll give you a better idea of how much wiggle room the buyer has. It doesn’t always mean they’ll be willing to meet you in the middle, but it’s a good starting point for negotiations.

Stay Patient And Don’t Rush Into A Sale

Nashville is a hot housing market, and you want to make sure that you price your home correctly if you’re going to sell it promptly. Don’t hesitate to contact companies that buy homes for cash.

Our team of experts has analyzed the data and can give you an accurate estimate of what you should price your home at to get the most ROI. If you’re curious about how much your house is worth, contact us today – we would be happy to help!

Image Credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/lavender-flowers-blue-blossoms-1469757/

Wildfire. That’s a scary word because wildfires can wreak enormous damage and can spread so rapidly. Unfortunately, according to rff.org, wildfires have become increasingly destructive in recent years.

A major contributor is a continuing “megadrought” in western U.S. states. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, California experienced 40 percent of the burned areas in 2021 and had the most properties at risk of wildfire damage.

There are several ways that one’s home and property can be exposed to the effects of a wildfire. First, by direct flames from the fire itself or from a burning neighboring structure. Second, by radiant heat from nearby burning vegetation or a nearby burning structure. And third, from flying embers which can reach homes up to a mile away. This is the most destructive source of damage.

In all these cases, the old expression is spot-on, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Some General Fire Prevention Principles

First, be prepared. That means having water hoses and fire extinguishers ready and having an exit plan.

Second, clean up. Make sure you consistently remove dead trees and limbs, shrubs, and plants and keep the grassy areas mowed and watered.

Third, properly landscape your home. Remove tree branches that are below six feet from the ground. Plant fire-resistant plants in your yard and keep them watered.

Fourth, create firebreaks using hardscape materials. This can include pathways and stone walls.

Sixth, create a defensible space around your home.

What is a Defensible Space?

A California bill, passed into law in 2020 requires 100 feet of defensible space around a home. A defensible space is a buffer area between a building and the trees, shrubs, or any surrounding wildland area. This area helps protect a home by slowing or stopping the spread of wildfire. There are two primary zones defined by this law.

Zone 1 is the area extending from the perimeter of a building out 30 feet, or to your property line. In this zone, it is important to consistently remove dead or dry grass or pine needles and keep the rain gutters clean and free-flowing. Remove any tree branches that overhang your roof and trim any branches 10 feet away from a chimney. Also, keep branches from separate trees trimmed so they are 10 feet apart. Remove all vegetation under balconies, decks, and stairs.

Zone 2 is the area from 30 feet to 100 feet out from any building perimeter. In this zone, keep the grass mowed to a maximum height of 4 inches. Any wood piles should have a maximum clearance of 10 feet in all directions and should be on bare soil. Keep some horizontal space between trees and shrubs. And keep some vertical space between trees and shrubs on slopes.

Use Fire-resistant Plants and Landscaping

Select fire-resistant plants that help resist ignition. These can include species like French Lavender, Red Monkey Flower, California Lila, Ornamental Strawberry, and others. Choose fire-resistant shrubs including sumac, shrub apples, cotoneaster, and others. Plant hardwood trees like maple and poplar instead of the more flammable pine and fir.  

Closing Thoughts

It will take some effort to be prepared, but no one wants to have their home or property damaged by wildfire.

Many choices made at the beginning of a decade are not around by the end of it, and it gets harder and harder to keep personal tastes satisfied. When people decide on their flooring options, how many choose something that will be around after a decade that does not lose its style and appeal?

Luxury vinyl flooring  is viewed as the solution to see them through the decades without losing any appeal or style. The benefits compared to other flooring options are plentiful and offer a longer-lasting life span, with the option in ease of switching flooring should your tastes change over the years ahead.

Assemble

Laying a luxury vinyl floor such as the Quick-Step luxury vinyl is not an overly complicated task.

With either the glue-down or click-together options you probably will be surprised to learn that the process of installation is equally simple and does not require the price tag associated with a professional to do the work. If you are a dab hand at a spot of DIY in the home, you can find yourself dedicating one afternoon to laying this new flooring yourself.

With the ease of assembly also comes ease of uninstalling the flooring when needing to replace sections or the entire floor if you choose to go with a different style – saving you pounds, time and stress in the process.

Easiest

Being manufactured in factories to a very high standard, all vinyl flooring brands have a scratch-proof, stain-free, moisture-resistant design under your feet that is built to last.

Wear and tear, discolouration and staining can ruin all other types of flooring or be extremely expensive to fix, but vinyl brings added levels of safeguards ensuring that your subfloor is shielded and you won’t be moving furniture around to hide an embarrassing scratch or scuff on the design layer.

The durable quality and cushioned layers ensure that vinyl will outlast any other carpet, wood or laminate flooring that suffers from a daily dose of abuse.

Creative

One of the most endearing qualities that the multiple vinyl brands offer is the volume of creative avenues it opens up within the home.

If you have adjoining rooms with different feels, you can install dark wood to stone – or even ceramic styles to give a personalised touch. You can even use vinyl in the bathroom due to its anti-moisture safeguards, protection from water and any tendency to rise with temperature changes.

Children’s bedrooms are an area with a lot of heavy activity so you could give them a look and feel of their own that will last much longer than a carpet.

Luxury vinyl flooring is the easy option for people who love a long-lasting style, security and protection in their home.

If you love technology but can do with a bit of assistance when it comes to managing tech in your home, there’s no need to worry. Simply continue reading to discover a wide variety of technology tips for your home, that will make your everyday life a little easier.

Use a beauty filter for your video calls:

If you run a busy household and also find yourself taking video calls for work from home on a frequent basis, you may worry about looking your best, when you’re exhausted from running after your kids. One way to ensure that you don’t look haggard on your video calls is to use a simple beauty filter. Which was erase eye bags from underneath your eyes and will give your skin a healthy, radiant glow.

Make sure that your internet package isn’t capped:

Today unlimited internet from providers like hughesnet internet is essential, especially if you want to stream shows with applications such as Netflix, DIsney+ Hulu, and Amazon Prime. Streaming or downloading TV shows or movies churns through data.

Be careful about letting young children access social media sites:

Ideally, your kids shouldn’t have a social media presence until they turn 13-15 as unfortunately social media sites attract child predators and can cause children to stress as they may worry about their popularity and how many likes and followers they have. For this reason, it’s a smart idea to keep your kids away from social media until they’re old enough to understand how to use social media safely and how to use it without it taking over their lives. Remember, that a child’s sense of self-esteem should never come from their online popularity.

Always have extra charging cables on hand:

As you never know when your smartphone cable or laptop adaptor may stop working, it’s always a wise idea to have extra charging cables on hand. Especially as they’ll also come in handy if a visitor wants to charge one of their smart devices or you accidentally misplace an important charger. Particularly as most people rely on their phone and laptop to manage their day-to-day life.

Share your smartphone screen with your smart television to share photos with your friends and family members:

As an example after a whirlwind trip, you may want to look through all of your photos as a family by mirroring your smartphone screen with your smart TV. As it’s a much better idea to share your photos on a large, flat-screen, HD TV than to huddle around a tiny smartphone screen. You can also use this technique to watch videos that you took on your smartphone with friends or family members. Just ensure that there aren’t any private photos on your smartphone’s reel that you don’t want other people to see before you decide to mirror your phone’s screen to your smart TV.

So if you love tech but are always interested in tech tips that will help you better manage tech in your home, hopefully, you found the tips listed above useful!

Even if you lead a hectic lifestyle and spend a lot of time at work, there’s still time to complete a few home DIY projects for your family. For example, you may want to create a custom-made toy chest for your kids. To discover a handful of creative DIY projects that are suitable for busy dads, simply continue reading on.

Homemade toy chest:

If you have woodworking skills, it’s well worth building a homemade toy box for your kids to store all of their favorite toys. For example, you may want to create a toy box that is shaped like a giant treasure chest or a rocket ship. If you don’t have carpentry skills, you can repurchase a wooden box to serve as a toy box, which you can paint for your kids instead. For example, you may want to paint your kids’ names on the sides of your tox box. You could even get your kids to help you paint your toy box with you as a fun family bonding exercise.

Take a pottery case to learn how to make a vase for your partner:

Part of being an exemplary dad is being a great partner to your spouse or your boyfriend or girlfriend. If you want to surprise your partner for an upcoming special occasion such as a birthday or anniversary, it’s a great idea to take a short pottery class where you’ll learn to make simple pottery pieces. Such as a simple vase which you can use to display beautiful flowers in your home. Just think, once you’ve gifted your partner with a handmade vase, you’ll be able to surprise them with store brought or garden-picked flowers for future gifts.

Put up floating shelves around your home:

One fuss-free DIY project that you’ll be able to complete in no time at all is putting up floating shelves around your home. For example, you may want to hang up floating shelves in your children’s rooms to display toys or books or you may want to hang up floating shelves which are also known as invisible shelves in your living room in order to properly display family photos.

Hang up handy hooks in your kitchen and in the foyer of your home:

If you hang up hooks in your kitchen, for example over your kitchen island, you’ll be able to hang up bulky kitchen items such as pots and pans from your ceiling. Which will free up a lot more additional room in your kitchen. This DIY project will be a breeze and is easy to complete during a lazy weekend at home and is suitable for all skillsets. You can also hang up hooks in the entrance of your home for your kids to hang their school backpacks and to hang up their coats in winter.

So even if you are the busiest of fathers, if you enjoy completing fun DIY home projects in your limited free time, it’s a great idea to complete a few of the projects that are listed above.