So, you just moved to your new gorgeous home, and of course you want everything to look and be perfect.  This is a great way to start your new life, organizing everything so that your home, and your life along with it, doesn’t become a complete mess.

Organization is a science that demands discipline, and nothing shows how disciplined you are more than your closets.  Closets are where everyone dumps what is not used and wants to be forgotten.  Tell us… are your closets organized 365 days a year?  How about 182 days?  How about 91 days? How about a month a year?

Yes, we know how difficult it is, however, if you want to honor your new life and start it with the right foot and right attitude, you have to learn a method to keep your closets organized and user-friendly.  If you achieve this, you can be sure the rest of your house will be everyone’s envy and your biggest pride.

And without further ado, let’s show you this magic method:

1.    Assign a purpose for every closet
Before unpacking a single piece of clothing, think if the closet will be for storing linens and towels, coats and boots, or your everyday wardrobe.  Check it to see if it has all the rods, racks, and shelves you need to give it the best use.

2.    Prepare the closet to work for you
Get wire shelving or wheeled storage bins for items that need to breathe.  Consider the options that could help you get organized and uncluttered:

-    Shelving.  There are many permanent and portable units available.  Just make sure they fit your needs before buying.

-    Rods and bars.  You could add a second bar below the main one to add hanging space.  Take precise measures to make sure that what you buy will fit.

-    Storage containers.  These come in many sizes, shapes and materials.  The see-through type is very practical to store underwear, sweaters, accessories and sports gear.

-    Shoe racks.  Everyone knows women love shoes.  Shoe racks are great at holding lots of shoes out of sight, be it behind the closet door or on the floor, without having to swim through hundreds of boxes to find the ones you would like to wear that day.

-    Closet organizer system.  It offers many extra features, so make sure you know exactly what you need before going out to buy one.  These systems range from inexpensive to very sophisticated ones, so you have an ample variety to choose from.

-    Wire or wicker baskets.  You should go for baskets with a labeling system so that you can identify the content.  Wire baskets let clothes breathe, and wicker ones offer a neat look.  In order to give your closets a visually clean look, use the same kind of material in all of them.

-    Hangers and hooks.  Stay away from wire hangers!  These damage your clothes and they look horrible.  Invest in wooden hangers that look very nice, get some rubber ones that prevent slipping for delicate pieces, and look for special hangers for suits.  Hooks are great for belts, neckties and scarves.  A great tip: install a hook behind a closet door to hang the clothes for the next day, it will save you around 20 minutes in the morning.

3.    Unpack
Take this opportunity to sort out your clothes based on what you use, how often you use it, or even if you will use it again.  Next, if necessary, separate clothes by season, and within each season, sort by professional, leisure, at home, sports, etc.  You can even sort by colors and type of clothing, for example, shirts, pants, blazers, etc.  If you do this, you will never have to suffer again while getting dressed!

Being organized in every area of your life will come in very handy when moving.  It can really help your local mover in Seattle do a better job at helping you get your valuables safely and efficiently to your new place, and it will truly make you enjoy the process of moving!

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Not feeling that homey feeling yet because your new place is loaded with boxes and empty walls?  Do not despair!  There is a way to get there easily: you just have to unpack! (Ughhh…)

When seeing a lot of boxes piled up and a mess everywhere, most people’s first reaction is to open all the boxes and get everything out and in place just to get the work done and start enjoying their new home ASAP.  However, there are two things you must consider before rushing into unpacking and in order to keep your sanity and everyone else’s:

-    It is not necessary to unpack everything in a day.
-    Unpacking can be a lot of fun if you see it as the end of a great adventure.

In order to start unpacking in an intelligent and fun way, think of your family’s basic needs, which are eating, bathing, and resting, and get to the task following that order and centering on one room at a time.  Aim to get those areas operational so that you can take care of the details later without a sense of urgency.

Of course, we are assuming when you packed, you labeled all the boxes and know exactly which ones belong to what room.  You did that, right?

1.    Unpacking the kitchen
Commonly, the kitchen is the heart of the home.  Once it is a little organized, everyone will start meeting there.  Do not rush to organize it perfectly immediately though, start with the most important things and leave items that you do not need on a daily basis in the boxes until you decide where to store them.

2.    Unpacking the bathrooms
After the kitchen is ready, move to the bathroom.  Unpack your toiletries and put them where they belong.  Very important! Make sure everything is working correctly in every bathroom and that they’re properly supplied with fresh towels.

3.    Unpacking the bedroom
Bedrooms don’t really need to be ready for the first night.  You can sleep with the mattresses on the floor and make it a fun first night.  Assemble the beds and organize heavy furniture together, but let the bedroom owner take care of the rest on his or her own.

4.    Unpacking the living room
Finally, center your efforts on the family room or living room.  Do not just start moving furniture around, it is much better to draw a plan of the room showing where you would like to put the furniture pieces based on how you want the space to look.  In this way, pieces that have to be assembled can be put together where they belong.  You will save lots of energy, muscle ache, scratches, and probably even broken items.

Leave the garage for last; nothing in there is urgent, so take the time to think of the best way to organize it and keep it clear before taking things out of the boxes.

Once the basic stuff is ready, take some time to enjoy your new home, and work on the details for a few hours every day.

Believe it, unpacking can be a great activity, even a relaxing and meditative one, if you just don’t obsess over it.

To make it even easier, request the help of your local movers in Seattle; nothing beats the help of a professional!

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Whatever the type of move, be it a residential or office move, be it a small or big one, in order to ensure that everything is handled correctly and safely, you must hire a professional moving company to help you.

But read this carefully: do not hire just ANY company.  Prior to selecting the best one for your needs, make sure you research thoroughly among Seattle moving companies.

In order to help you make an informed decision, here we present you 8 important questions that you should ask any company that you are considering seriously:

1.    Are you a broker or a company employee?
The broker’s job is to help people find moving companies; nevertheless, he cannot provide an obligatory estimate and is not responsible for losses and damages.

2.    Do you offer obligatory estimates?
Movers or brokers may give you an estimate over the phone, but it is not an obligatory one.  Prior to giving you such an estimate, the mover must check your valuables in person.

3.    Are any extra charges included in the estimate?
Charges like, long-carry, appliances, parking, storage, fuel, and special furniture, among others, are examples of costs that may or may not be included within a moving estimate.  You must let the moving company know about special furniture pieces you own or other special conditions about your move ahead of time so that they can include them in the estimate.

4.    What kind of equipment do you have?
It is important to know if the movers have equipment for heavy tasks and to handle special furniture pieces professionally.  It is an important part of ensuring you are getting the best help for your needs.

5.    Is there any transfer required?
Depending on the distance between your old home and the new one, your valuables may have to be transferred from one vehicle to another.  This increases damage risk, so you must know about it.

6.    What payment options do you offer and what are the conditions?
Try to stay away from movers that only take cash.  Be clear on how much you have to give as deposit and if it is refundable, and how much you have to pay upon delivery of your valuables.

7.    What type of insurance are you offering me, and what other types are available?
Normally, there is a basic coverage fee that can be upgraded at a very sensible price.  You can also research the option of third party insurance providers to cover your move.  In any case, investigate all your options in order to make an informed decision.

8.    How do you handle damages and loses? What is your level of responsibility?
When asking this, the answer must leave no doubt as to who is responsible for what.  If you are packing your belongings, the moving company may not pay for damages due to poor packing, for example, but they will most certainly teach you how to pack appropriately if you ask them to.  Just get a clear picture in advance.

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Well, sometimes there is no choice.  You have been relocated or someone put an offer on your home and you just have to move even if Christmas time is near.  The good news is that regardless of the craziness this season brings, it is possible to move in an organized way and still have time to enjoy your favorite time of year.

Probably, the hardest thing about moving close to Christmas time is that you will have to leave your friends and family behind.  This is something you have to accept and do not let it take control of you and your sanity.  The truth is that you are not really losing anyone, just moving a little farther away.  In order to help you feel more at home, put up your Christmas tree as soon as you move in, it will give you a homey feeling since it is something you brought from your previous place.  Also, as soon as you’re settled, or even some weeks before, if possible, try to get to know some neighbors, volunteer at events happening around the holidays or go and knock on some doors to introduce yourself and your family.

So, you are the Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner host every year?  It would be good if you could ask someone else to do it this year so that you can pack and enjoy the activity at the same time without the added stress.  This could be a great time to say goodbye to many friends and family, and you should be fresh and happy to enjoy it fully.

Do not worry so much about Christmas shopping.  The best gift you can give your loved ones is for them to see you happy and accomplished, thus, choose to spend quality time with them instead before you leave. Your time and happiness will be the most valuable gift.

One thing you must do, though, is pay attention to your kids.  Every move is a traumatic experience for them and it could be even worse if it happens around Christmas.  Take the time to talk to them about their worries, like: will Santa know the new address?

Do not just sit on your b… look for activities to stay entertained during the holidays at your new place and spend valuable time getting your home the way you like it. In this way, after the holidays, you can start inviting new friends to your beautiful home.

You will take a big weight off your shoulders if you hire professional help to handle your move.  Make sure you contact a Seattle moving company capable of handling everything in an organized and safe manner, so that you know your valuables are taken care of in the best way possible.

In the end, it is all about putting things into perspective.  There is always a way to do everything in a calm and organized way while enjoying your traditions and loved ones.  And the best part is, next year you will have the opportunity to enjoy new traditions, with new and old friends, with your family, and with the feeling of accomplishment that brings moving ahead in your life.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source).

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A move is seen, by child development professionals, as one of the most unsettling happenings in a kid’s life.  The manner in which a child responds to changing homes depends on several aspects, like personality, closeness to friends, and the reasons for the move.  Several studies have shown that the parents are in the best place to offer the needed support to help their children be happy regardless of any move.

The approach of the parents to the move normally affects the child.  If the parents are sad about it, the child’s reaction will be a negative one.  On the contrary, if the parents are happy about it and talk about great expectations, the child will too.  Normally, younger children are better at accepting big changes; children in their teens will have a rough time because the identity crisis that they normally experience during these years is deepened by the loss of their friends.

In order to make it easier on everyone, but especially on your children, talk openly to them about the move.  Tell them what they can expect, what their new neighborhood is like and how to make new friends.  If possible, take them there before moving, so that they can experience the place for themselves and feel like an important part of the decision.  You can let your children choose their bedrooms and think of how they are going to decorate them, give them packing and labeling responsibilities, and let them meet the movers in Seattle, so that they feel useful.

After you move, pay attention to your children’s games and playing routines, these will help you identify their needs.  If they are talking to friends, pets or dolls, they could be worried or fearful, thus, assure them that their normal activities will still be there and open the doors for communication.

Look for similarities between the old place and the new one, not only between the houses, but also between neighborhood and town.  Go to the child’s new school with him or her before the first day.  Go into the classroom and meet the teacher, encourage your child to play with a classmate before starting school and do not create false expectations about how cool the new school is.  Let your child experience it for himself, but always show optimism and encouragement.

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It is not only you who is moving this year.  Thousands or even millions of people who change homes or offices every year join you, and thus, it is only logical to try to reduce waste as much as possible when moving.

It has been determined that each person produces around 1580 pounds of waste per year, most of it, some 602 pounds, are in the form of paper and paperboard, 149 pounds are plastic, 58 pounds are textiles, and 82 pounds are wood.

Even though it is believed that America is recycling almost 30% of the waste produced, the amount of waste generated is increasing every single year, and, although recycling has grown in general, there is a marked growth of the recycling of certain materials like paper, plastic soft drink bottles, aluminum cans, steel packaging and major appliances.

In order to help the growing and crucial recycling efforts, here are several ideas to help you reduce waste when moving to a new home or office:

1.    Avoid buying new boxes, and instead, save old ones.  Find leftover boxes from local shops or neighbors.

2.    If you can’t find old boxes, use corrugated ones made out of recycled materials.

3.    Recycle every box after you have used it.

4.    Use your luggage and handbags to pack your clothes, linens, and bathroom items.

5.    Ask the movers in Seattle about renting reusable storage crates.  These last many years and are recyclable.

6.    Wrap up fragile things in old newspapers.

7.    Select eco-friendly packing materials like cushioning peanuts made of biodegradable cornstarch and bubble wrap containing recycled plastic.  Always recycle these materials after utilizing them.

8.    Make sure you dispose appropriately of non-recyclable materials like cleaners, paints, and car supplies before you move.  Find the correct way to get rid of them.

9.    When possible, use recycled paint for house projects.

10.    Make a garage sale before you move to get rid of things you don’t need or want but are in good condition.

11.    Donate whatever you think can be used and appreciated by others.

After you move, find out about recycling programs in the community and join it.  Also, start buying only recyclable products and items that can be repaired and used for a long time.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source.

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Moving is a very stressful activity in itself, and if you still have to worry about whether your furniture and other valuables will arrive safely, or if they will arrive at all, you can bet a move is something you won’t want to repeat ever again.

Even though the majority of the more than 1.5 million moves a year happen without any problems, an important number does suffer in the hands of a cheating moving company.  More than 3,000 complaints are received by the U.S. Department of Transportation in regards to abuses performed by phony movers.

Imagine this scenario: a person surfs the web and hires a moving company that offers a low estimate.  As soon as the trucks are loaded, that estimate duplicates, triplicates or even quadruplicates, and the owners are told that either they pay or their goods will be auctioned.  This has happened in the past and is only one of the scams out there.  In other cases, the person’s belongings will never show up or show up damaged, and the company refuses to pay.  Some movers are not even real ones, and they steal from the weak who fall for it, old and ignorant people.

So, how can you prevent falling for a scam that could cost you thousands of dollars besides the anguish and despair of losing your valuable possessions?

Here are 14 tips provided by the professionals and the leaders in the moving business:

1.    Plan your move in advance.

2.    Check the companies against your local Better Business Bureau.

3.    Ask for at least three estimates, for example, from three Seattle moving companies.

4.    Tell each company about the destination and time for the move.

5.    Ask everything about the services offered, rates and extra charges that apply.

6.    Ask about their liability and claims protection for your belongings.

7.    Have everything in writing.

8.    Inquire how pickup and delivery will work.

9.    Ask them to explain the estimates in detail and give you copy.

10.    Non-binding estimates are not final; the real charges may be about 10% higher.

11.    Clearly specify the pickup and delivery dates in the service order.

12.    Read thoroughly the Bill of Lading; it is your contract.  Make sure you clarify any questions you may have.

13.    Be there every time the cargo is weighed, you can ask for it to be weighed more than once.

14.    Submit to arbitration any unresolved loss or damage claims.

Now you are very well-informed so, good luck with your move!

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There is great excitement when you are going to move to a new home.  Despite the crazyness of the packing and planning with the Seattle moving company, the idea of a new place or even a new life puts a smile in most faces and a shine in most hearts.  And it can get even better, because it can put good money in most pockets too!

Moving time is a great time for a garage sale.  It is the perfect time to get rid of what is not useful anymore, to make room for all the new that will be coming along with your new home.

If you are moving into a smaller place, a garage sale IS a necessity, as well as if you are a fan of season sales; there is only so much room between four walls.  So there you go. If you want to get rid of unused clothes, old toys, unecessary furniture, and other belongings that are truly in your way, think garage sale.  You can always buy new stuff with the money you make, or even better, you can save it!

Although there is endless information in books, magazines, the web, and even from experienced friends, on how to run a successful garage sale, here we show you the best tips to fill your pockets with money:

1.    Check with local authorities the restrictions for garage sales.

2.    Invest some money on advertising in local newspapers, ad bulletin boards, and shoppers guides.  Post it online also.

3.    Ask other neighbors to join you, you can share costs and attract more buyers due to the amount of items on sale.

4.    Mark the way with flashy signs with arrows showing the way to your house.

5.    Define sale hours and avoid holiday weekends, no one will be home.

6.    Be prepared for customers who arrive too early.

7.    Set attractive prices and be ready to bargain.

8.    Put a price tag on every item and group items by price.  You can also use colors to differentiate prices.

9.    Clean the items before the sale, to make them more desirable.

10.    Put the clothes on racks for easy viewing and check the pockets beforehand!

11.    Put similar items, or things that complement each other, together; it may get you more sales.

12.    Have plenty of change in hand.

13.    Be careful with the money; have it locked up in a box or wear a fanny pack.

14.    Offer bags for the customers who buy and paper to wrap the china.

15.    Remove all signs after the sale is over.

16.    Give to charity whatever is left; it will make you feel really good!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source.

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There is a very simple answer to that question:  there is never ‘too much’ when talking about safety after a move.  After the not-so-much-fun part of the move is over, and the movers in Seattle are gone, you just want to relax and enjoy your new home in the company of your family and friends, however, there is one more thing you must take care of, and it is to make sure your loved ones are completely safe in the new nest.

Keep them safe from what, you say?  How about potential fires, carbon monoxide poisoning and burglars?  Yes, believe it or not, these are more than common hazards that afflict thousands of moving families across America.  Fire alone, kills more than 3,000 people per year in their homes, and more than 350,000 residential fires are attended by fire departments.

So, first things first:

1.    As soon as you move, put new batteries in the smoke alarm devices and ensure they are working OK.  Monthly maintenance is key!

2.    Work on an evacuation plan after carefully studying the floor plan, and identify the safest areas.

3.    Install a carbon monoxide detector if there is none.  It is a great risk in the presence of furnaces, ranges, and water and room heaters.  Symptoms are similar to those associated with the common flu: headaches, fatigue, nausea, dizziness and difficulty breathing.

4.    Get someone to inspect the heating system for blockages, corrosion and disconnections.

5.    Install all appliances following the manufacturer’s instructions and local building codes.

6.    Make it a habit to lock all doors and windows while you are away and during the night.  Many, out of the more than a million burglaries that happen each year, are avoidable, but it has been confirmed that homeowners do not know how to keep their homes safe:

-    Do not place valuables in front of windows, where they will be seen by people walking by.

-    Ensure every door and window has a lock.  For doors, get deadbolt locks with a one-inch throw and reinforced strike plate.

-    Sliding doors should be secured with a metal rod in the track to prevent forced opening.

-    Always lock the attached garage.

-    Get a good outdoor lighting system.

-    Trim the shrubs near the entrance so that there is no place for burglars to hide.

-    Inquire if the neighborhood has a community watch program; if yes, join it; if not, encourage neighbors to start one.

-    Install an alarm; it has proven very useful to discourage crime and give peace of mind to homeowners.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source.

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While you are checking lists and packing to move to your dream home, you must remember to pay special attention to your desktop computer, and ensure the movers in Seattle do too.  If you fail to pack it appropriately, your computer may suffer mechanical failure or be damaged due to physical hits during transportation.  That’s something you don’t want to see happen if you depend on it for work or home organization activities.

In order to ensure your computer is moved safely, follow these tips:

-    Transfer copies of all of your files into an external hard drive.  Pack the hard drive safely into a computer case or other place where it will not be stepped on or hit.

-    Park the hard disk.  You must make sure nothing is working before you move the computer to avoid the possibility of shock.  The parking procedure works differently according to the type of computer, so make sure you find out how it is done for yours.  The hard disk will go back to work once you turn on the computer again.  Next, turn off the system and remove the cables from the back.  Write down which cable goes where.

-    If possible, pack the computer in the original package.  It is specially designed to hold it safely, but if you do not have it anymore, find a strong box that can fit it and get good packing materials.

-    Look after the printer.  Use the original box to pack it, if possible.  If it happens to be a laser printer, remove the ink cartridge to avoid spilling and contamination. If it is a pin printer, put a piece of paper in the platen to secure the head.

-    Cover the monitor very well with bubble wrap, cushions or cloth.  Since it is made out of glass, it can easily be scratched or broken.

-    Place the CPU standing up or on its side, with the motherboard flat on the bottom, otherwise, the interior cards will go loose and you will require technical assistance to make it work again.

-    If you have any doubts or questions about the best way to move your computer, contact the technical manufacturer’s department, browse the Internet to find the exact specifications to transport it, or simply consult your Seattle moving company.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.psmoving.com as the original source.

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