Declutter Your Home in 3 Simple Steps

Over the years it becomes easy to accumulate more than you need. Garages and basements soon become home to all kinds of unused items. Closets get overfilled and guest bedrooms become improvised storage areas. Clutter can be frustrating and can make tasks like moving, cleaning, and having company over into difficult situations. Luckily there's a very simple way to free up space. In order to reduce clutter, simply spend an afternoon sorting your possessions into three categories: items you can give away, items you can sell, and items that you can store.

Give away
Anything that you don't use and that has little value should be sorted into the “give away” group. Old clothes, books, toys, furniture, and gadgets can all be eliminated. Check with local charities and see if you can donate any of your old goods to them. Other items can be advertised for free on Craigslist. Giving away items is both beneficial to others and can save money by eliminating the need for special garbage pickups. If you do find yourself having to throw out items make sure that all of them are safe to be discarded. Certain products, like television sets and batteries, need to be taken to special recycling facilities.

Sell
If you have any unnecessary items that might be worth money you can sell them. Depending on what you have, it's possible to make quite a bit of money by doing this. There are numerous ways to sell off unwanted possessions. Traditional avenues like garage sales are great for people who like face-to-face interactions. While online marketplaces like eBay, Craigslist, and Amazon can all reach wider audiences. Whether you're selling at a garage sale or online, make sure to do a little research into how much each item is worth. A quick Google search can keep you from selling something valuable for very little.

Store
Items that are necessary but get used infrequently should be grouped together and placed in storage. Seasonal items like barbeque grills, skis, surf boards, camping equipment, and winter jackets should all be boxed up and placed someplace safe. There are plenty of cheap storage facilities that offer all kinds of amenities. Many offer storage services such as climate control, high end security, and various sized units to fit any need. In addition, most facilities offer both long and short term storage. This allows customers to pay low rates even if they are only storing items for a few months.
 
While excessive clutter is frustrating, it can be dealt with easily. By sorting through items a homeowner can reduce unnecessary possessions and create more free space. Eliminating low value and unneeded goods is an easy way to reduce clutter. Selling off more valuable items not only frees up space but can also be quite profitable. While needless goods are easy to get rid of there are certain things which are only used seasonally. These items are great for placing in storage, where they will remain out of the way until you wish to use them again.

Tidying Up Your New Home After Moving in

When you first move into your new home, you want to take the opportunity to set the stage for how tidy and organised it will be in the future. Being organized means you can be a lot more productive in life and have more time for doing the things that you enjoy.

Before you move make sure to purchase some storage boxes, ideally with separate compartments, to put all of your electronics and loose odds and ends in. Plastic storage boxes are stackable and inexpensive, so you can always buy more as you need them, and they come in all shapes and sizes and can be used to store all kinds of things. The best way to organize efficiently is to have a place for everything, this way you never have a growing pile of items that you will ‘sort out later’ but never do.

Keep instruction manuals and warranties stored away with your other paperwork, in a filing cabinet or even in a magazine box. The kitchen is always a good place to keep guarantees, etc. as many of them will be for the electrical appliances you use here, so keep them together in a particular drawer or box on a high shelf where they can easily be found when need be.

Ensure kitchen and laundry storage solutions are functional and easily accessible. Get someone in to fix shelving on the walls and hang hooks under them or on the backs of the doors so things can be hung up and stored out of the way but are still in your vision.

Hooks are great little inventions as they can be placed anywhere and everywhere, including the pantry. Organise the pantry according to different types of foods and keep unused cutlery, plates and other dishware stored away from your everyday use items.

Once you’ve moved in, regular spring cleans can help to avoid the inevitable build up of clutter and ensure your self storage solutions continue to fit your changing lifestyle needs. Make yourself a promise to spring clean every 3 months or so and stick to it.

One common time-waster is looking for the household or car keys, ‘Now, where did I put them?’ This is easily solved by having some hooks right next to the front door or a small basket in the hallway where they are always placed when not in use.

Consider the function each item has, if it is pens and pencils then why would you keep them in the hallway? The best place is the home office so make a place for them there. Get the whole family involved when organizing as otherwise you will be wasting your time trying to do it all yourself. Once they get the idea and know the places of things your home should be well-organised and run more efficiently as well as look nice and tidy!

How to Safely Move Your Boat into Storage

Moving a boat to a new location or into a storage facility needs to be carried out in an organized and efficient manner and there are precautions to be taken to ensure it’s done carefully, and safely. 

If you don’t move your boat in the correct way it could easily be damaged or even be a danger to other drivers during transportation. At the end of the day the proper preparation of the boat before it’s moved is down to you as the owner. Make sure you:

1. Check and clear out anything inside the boat that can move around. This includes fishing gear and anything that could fall out whilst it’s being towed as this can either result in these items being damaged or them falling around inside the cabin and causing damage or breakages.
2. Locker doors and hatches should all be closed and secured so they won’t open during the move.
3. Secure the outboard motor correctly or consider removing it to store it safely.
4. Disconnect the terminals on your batteries and double check that they are fastened correctly.
5. It is best not to move the boat with any fuel left in as this is flammable and could ignite. If there is some fuel remaining then consider siphoning it out.
6. Drain the boat of any excess water using the draining plug, especially if it has been sitting unattended in the yard for a while. There shouldn’t be any water during transportation.
7.  Make sure any attachments are removed and stored safely, especially if you are moving a sailboat or other bulky vessel. The transport company will hold you responsible for preparing the boat so if anything isn’t secured properly and gets shaken loose or falls off and breaks it’s entirely your fault.
8. All parts, including the radar, horns, antennas, propellers, flag masts, lights, anchor lights, and windshields have to be detached, packed firmly and stored inside. The carrier will not be accountable if they are broken or vibrate off. There is a possibility that canvas covers can get damaged or even cause damage if they get loose in the wind whilst the truck is transporting them so it’s advised they are removed.

Moving something so large as a boat takes a lot of attention, care and attentiveness because there are simply too many things that can go wrong. If you don’t have the correct equipment or the know-how to move the boat yourself then there are professional transport services that can help. 

They have specially adapted vehicles and do all the liaising with marinas or boatyards necessary. They’ll collect your boat from where it’s moored and transport it safely to the new location, even dealing with the police and traffic agencies if that’s what is called for. 

You could also store your boat for a while in a self storage facility until you decide where it is to be moored.

Storage services are very economical and work out cheaper then mooring the boat in some cases.

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.