Security Checks for a New Neighbourhood

Places you have lived in for some time can feel secure to you because you are familiar with the area and know the faces that live in your vicinity. However, when searching for a new house to buy make sure you perform a security check of both the property and the neighbourhood before investing, as a safe environment is one of the most important elements for a new home.

In every city and town, there are particular areas where burglary and theft is more common. It’s worth checking out the statistics for crimes, as this will also affect your insurance premium, which could be high if the area is a high risk.

Before you make the major decision to buy a new home, make sure you take a good look at the local neighbourhood. Go for a drive or take a walk around the area after you have inspected the property and see if you have a good feeling about the place. It is a good idea to visit the area at different times of the week; the atmosphere will be very different on a Monday morning than a Saturday night for example, and go at night times too.

If you don't feel comfortable or safe then avoid it, even if it is relatively safe. You don’t want to live in a place that makes you feel nervous or edgy as moving house is a stressful enough, and expensive, venture and you don’t want to have to move again in the near future if you aren’t happy there.

Looking at your potential neighbours’ homes and yards will give you a good indication of what the people in the area are like. Avoid poorly maintained areas or places where there may be many graffiti and vandalism as this demonstrates that the community isn’t concerned with taking care of their surroundings or homes and this will affect the value of property in the area.

Check the property for good security features such as fences, spotlights and even alarm systems. 

Don’t let this deter you too much; however as extra security can always be added once the purchase has gone through.

Also check the local facilities and amenities to get a sense of community. A community should have a local shopping parade with convenience shops, grocers and bakers, a pub, and a post office for example. These are the kinds of places where the locals can meet and get to know who their neighbours are, and then they’re more likely to look out for one another and be friendly to the familiar faces they see around.

Change the locks, as you will never know for sure who might still have copies of the house keys. Arrange for a Master Locksmith to come and fit new locks to all the exterior doors just to be on the safe side.

You should take your time when considering a new area to move into, if you have to be out of the old premises before you are ready then put your belongings into a self storagefacility and stay somewhere temporary whilst you look around.

Declutter Your Home And You’ll Also Be Decluttering Your Life

Living in the same house for years can lead to a lot of clutter, and the odds are that a lot of it you never use, never look at and will never need again. Perhaps it’s time for a good clear out, set aside some time to organise yourself and your home and at the end of the decluttering project you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make to the house and your mood.

Is your home full of belongings and furniture collected and acquired over the years? If the house is starting to feel too small for the family and all their stuff, but you don’t have the money or the inclination to move into a larger property, then there is another solution. It’s time to declutter your home!

Most people have far too many bits and pieces and the key to a calm life and a calm home is to minimise how much of that stuff stays around. Now there’s no reason to start hyperventilating at the thought that you have to throw out treasured objects, sort through photos and other memorabilia and discard items that might seem old and worn to others but are precious to you. 

There is another option that can free up a lot of space in your home but still means you can hold on to everything you want to.

Self-storage units give you a place to store all those items not required on a daily basis, and they come in different sizes from smaller options that are suitable for documents or pieces of furniture to larger ones that can fit the contents of a 4 bedroom house in very easily. These are really great for those that have far too many belongings at home but don’t have the heart to throw, sell, or give it away. Accessible every day of the year they can be the solution to your storage problems and charges are very reasonable.

It can help to make a plan as this gives you a schedule to keep to and a system so you don’t get fazed when faced with a whole room that needs a lot of organization. Some people like to start from the top of the house and make their way down, whilst others will want to get cracking on the rooms they live in the most, generally the kitchen or living room, and worry about the rest later.

In your plan choose the room order you intend to sort out first and try to put some kind of time frame to it, it can be a fast process with a room completed every 3 days, or taken at a slower pace with a week allocated to each room. Then make a task list for each room and what needs to go where. Lists can help you stay focused and keep on track.

Consider what items you really don’t have a need for any longer, this could include toys that have been outgrown, clothes from the 70’s that are well out of fashion, mis-matched furniture that’s far too bulky for the room it’s in, and more, more, more! Once you have selected those things get rid of them straight away – give them to the needy or a local charity, give them away to family or friends, or have a car boot sale, whatever it is just get rid of them.

Now you already have some space and you’ve only accomplished the first step. Aren’t you feeling better already? The next part is to have an idea of what you want to achieve in terms of how your home will look. Are you after a minimalist look or something a bit cosier? Get some packing boxes sorted out and start going through all your possessions, this includes opening up drawers and wardrobes, cleaning out closets and tidying bookcases.

You have to be really motivated to go through with this process, there’s no point starting it with good intentions getting it half done and then abandoning the project from lack of motivation. We never said this was going to be easy but the end result will definitely be worth all the hard work involved.

Cameron Robertson writes about self storage solutions for Dee Why

How to make use of self storage facilities when running an online business

People are getting more comfortable with the thought of buying something online as online shops and services get safer and more common. If you are running an online business from home, one of the major problems is the sourcing of a cheap but spacious storage facility for your stock. This article shows the tips you might like to follow in sourcing for one.

You start an online shop from home and its business starts coming in. It starts off at a nice leisurely pace, a few orders here and there. You only needed a small space to store your stock. Then you decide to expand, and why not. Your customers seem eager to be able to order more stuff from you, some of them even writing in to request a brand that they might like. You don’t want to lose your loyal customers, so you order more stuff and before you know it, your room is filled with boxes upon boxes of stock.

It’s time to look for a storage space.

A look around your area shows a few places for rent. Some landlords dislike the idea of you storing goods in an office space. Some warehouses are way too expensive and don’t necessarily have the security or the right condition for your goods. One option many online shop owners go from being a self storage facility. The self storage facility has the following advantages:

1. Choice of size

The keyword is choice. You can rent a tiny unit for products that are not too big or you can go for a huge one - it’s entirely up to you. You can even start small and upgrade to a bigger space later or even rent a few units for different categories of items.

2. Security

Many of these facilities boast of good, high tech security to ensure safety.

3. Price

Many have a long-term rental discount so if you’re planning to rent for months or even years on end, it might actually be worth it.

4. Location

These facilities usually have branches in different areas so you could pick one that is most convenient for you.

5. Climate control

You can choose a unit that has climate control if your items can spoil.

With all these good factors in mind, you might want to consider renting a self storage facility. Of course, every shop’s needs are unique and may require different considerations. Do remember, when sourcing for a space, that you must cater for a possible expansion in the future. Many online shop owners, whilst happy they are doing well, find out the hard way they simply are not prepared for the overwhelming number of orders that an “out of stock” label becomes inevitable. An “out of stock” label placed too long will cause an exodus of your customers, so be very careful. Always plan ahead. Give time for stock to be delivered as wholesale delivery takes a while.

That being said, looking for a bigger space for your online shop should be considered a “happy problem” as this means you are doing well in this competition online shop global market.

Pitfalls to Avoid When You Are Working From Your Own Home

Intro: Working from home can be a bliss. There are fewer interruptions, less commuting time and more flexibility in your time management. But if you are not careful, you could fall into some horrible traps too. This article lets you know what exactly to avoid or watch out for when managing your work from home.

Does working from home sounds awesome to you? Well, it does to most people. The idea of not having to dress up and commute two hours each day to and from the office is what many people aspire to these days. While starting a business and working from your own home definitely has its many advantages, it may not be the right cup of tea for everyone. Here are some tips on the pitfalls you should avoid if you choose this path.

1. Lack of Motivation

Most people who work from home would tell you that discipline is the key to keeping your business going. Getting yourself motivated to work instead of watching television or playing Call Of Duty is very important. It is easy to lose your work regimen and productivity when you work alone. So, while working from home gives you some level of flexibility in your time, be sure to keep a fixed work schedule at the same time.

2. Distraction

Distraction is your number one enemy at home. Did you forget to buy milk this morning? Let’s run out to the grocery and get some now. Did you forget to walk the dog? I can do it quickly and get back in no time. Are your kids bored and knocking on your door? The list goes on…

3. Lack of Dedicated Working Space

 It is vital that you get your own dedicated work space; better still, your own office. The kitchen table or the couch just won’t do. I would suggest that you clear out the extra room, store your extra furniture and belongings in a self-storage facility and turn that room into your office. If your business needs inventory, it is also advisable to keep them in a self-storage facility too. The last thing you want is to have your dog digging into your boxes and helping itself with the bottles of wine or whatever else you are selling online!

4. Stress on Family Relationship

One of the main reasons why people wanted to work from home is that they think it will allow them to spend more time with their family. Yes that may be true, but there could be cases where you might spend too much time with your family so much as that they get tired of you. Think of it this way: your wife might already have gotten used to the idea of you working in your office daily and thus she might have plans of her own. If you are at home all day,  it adds stress to the relationship. The same goes with your kids.

5. Degradation of Social Skills

This is particularly so if your work is solidarity, such as writing, designing, programming, etc. When your interaction with people reduces, you may spiral into that vicious “I-don’t-like-to-meet-people-anymore” cycle.

Of course, there are many perks of working from home, so ultimately, you need to weigh the pros and cons and work out the best plan that suits you and your personality.