Tag: organising

Moving house is always a difficult and stressful time but is even more demanding if you have children.

The key to moving successfully with children is to get them on board with the planning and preparation.

Here are our top tips

    • Talk to the children about the move and include them in discussions about moving day so they are prepared for the event
    • Visit the new house and in particular show them their bedroom and discuss how their things will be arranged in the room
    • Visit the local area to make everywhere more familiar
    • Go through their current bedroom with them and get rid of toys, books and games they no longer use and give to a charity shop.
    • Encourage the children, with your help, to pack up their own things, selecting just a few items to go in a special essentials box that can be kept handy to give them on removal day when you arrive at the new house.
    • Pack up an essentials kit for all the family to have easy access to on moving day. The essentials box should contain- snacks, drinks, spare clothes and toiletries.
    • On the day, arrange for the children to be looked after for at least part of the day so you can get on with the move more swiftly and efficiently.
    • To encourage the children to settle in their new home let them arrange and unpack their things in their bedroom. It maybe things are moved round at a later stage but it is important that the children feel safe and are surrounded by the things they treasure that first night.
    • When you introduce yourselves to the neighbours, take the children with you so they can meet other children.
    • Once you are settled, invite a few of the neighbour’s children round to play.

Of course, if you have the time and somewhere to stay temporarily, you could consider putting your belongings into storage for a few days following completion: this would give you time to clean, child-proof and even decorate your new home before moving in properly.

If you require storage during a move, get in touch with you nearest Spaces and Places today

More and more people are using self-storage units to keep items that are seasonal or only used occasionally safe and their homes free of clutter. However using a self-storage unit should be simple and hassle-free.

The following helpful tips should take the stress out of packing your self-storage unit so you can enjoy a clutter free home and know your belongings are safe.

Do:

  1. 1. Make a list of everything you need to store and collect together all the packing materials you require e.g. boxes, packing paper, bubble wrap, tape and marker pens.
  2. 2. Pack each box according to its contents; wrap fragile items individually in bubble wrap, pack books flat and clothes, bedding or curtains are best protected in vacuum bags. Photos and pictures should be placed between two pieces of card and then taped together to stop them curling.
  3. 3. Label all the boxes with a list of their contents, to make it easy to find items when you need them.
  4. 4. Place boxes on pallets to allow air to pass around and under items.
  5. 5. Larger items can be packed individually but to maximise the space in the unit remove legs from furniture and place tables and chests of drawers top-to-top. To protect and keep these items clean, cover with packing paper or dust sheets.
  6. 6. Clean and dry appliances like BBQ’s, lawn mowers and garden tools. Before storing wipe metal surfaces with a few drops of oil to prevent rust.
  7. 7. In the unit, position items you will use frequently at the front of the unit, and make a central aisle between all items for easy access to the rest.

Don’t:

  1. 1. Make boxes too heavy. No box should weigh more than 30 lbs.
  2. 2. Use plastic or newspaper to cover items. Plastic will encourage mildew and newsprint can mark and permanently damage items.
  3. 3. Store toxic or flammable substances like paint, oil or petrol as they are a fire hazard. Also ensure that petrol is drained from all small appliances like lawn mowers.

If you have any questions about using a storage unit, get in touch with your local Spaces and Places, where our friendly team will answer all your enquiries!

Last month we covered a few of the reasons why we are drawn to storing clutter and why we continue to do so.

If you missed part I, check it out here.

Read on for part II….

Parents Influence

Many children follow in their parent’s footsteps, with or without realising. If your home was always neat and tidy then you subconsciously adopt similar behaviours. However, if your parents were collectors, workaholics or had a creative flare then your home would be more busy and unorganised.

You may have adopted your parent’s habits or rebelled against then, either way, they have had an influence on how you choose to fill the space in your home.

Life changes

You may have moved into a smaller place than what you were used to or even used the spare room you once had to start a business; life changes affect the way we use our space. If you feel all your items are crowding your room and suffocating the way you live, it is time to make some changes.

Loneliness

When you are lonely, you tend to try and fill a void. Many people turn to food or shopping to keep themselves entertained. However, overconsumption can have consequences and before you know it, the space you once had is now full of new purchases.

Personality

If you are a creative person you may make a lot of impulsive buys. Coming across items you feel you can restore and sell due to the potential you see in them or even purchasing unique items as nobody else will have them will be a regular occurrence!

Letting go

Having emotional attachment to items makes them harder to throw away. You will feel guilty and suddenly miss the item once you make the decision to say goodbye. The same goes for items that you feel may come in handy one day. Old jeans that are too big/ too small, an outfit you have worn once and even magazines/books that you will not read again suddenly pile up and you have no intention of throwing away.

Whether you are looking for extra space to work on a project or you would like a safe and secure place to store your items, a storage unit is the answer. Business storage and personal storage are options available at Spaces and Places.

Get in touch and start making your home a peaceful and relaxing place to live in today.

When moving in with a friend or partner, you will be faced with a few responsibilities and realities that you are not used to, especially if you have lived with your parents the majority of your life.

For the most part – you will be filled with excitement and looking forward to this next chapter in your life, but to make your big move work, follow these tips and prepare yourself for what’s to come!

Add your own touch

When moving in to a new place, you have a blank canvas waiting for you to add a personal touch. With your new roommate, you can make decorating decisions together and decide how to create your dream home.

What’s your role?

When you move in together, one of the first things which should be on your to-do-list is figuring out who is responsible for which roles. Taking out the bins and household chores can cause arguments if you feel you are doing more than your roommate. Avoid an argument by deciding who does what and when the chores have to be completed.

Finances

There will be a few bills which have to be paid monthly and on time. Understanding how much each of you owe will avoid awkward/ touchy conversations further down the line.

Personality traits

When you live with somebody, you will learn a lot about them that you did not know before you moved in together. Whether they have a habit that irritates you, or you feel they are not pulling their weight, make sure to air these concerns. By talking and communicating you will prevent an argument brewing.

Space

You may end up with two of the same items, whether it be sofas, cutlery or chairs, having too many items can make your new place look cluttered and untidy.

Instead of using up your spare room or garage with these items, keep them safe and secure in a storage unit and use your new-found space to create something you both agree on – a spare bedroom, games room or a library are just a few inspirational ideas.

With 24/7 access to secure units throughout the North West, Spaces and Places make self-storage easy and affordable. Get in touch today.

Many people use storage units as a place to store items they don’t use very often or don’t have space or a use for in their own home. However after a few years the unit may become disorganised or cluttered.

Here are some tips on how to organise a storage unit and make the most of the space available.

  • Firstly, start with a good search through all the boxes and stuff you have and decide if there are things you no longer want to keep. This will take time but be determined to have a proper clear out. Remove the unwanted items from the unit and take to the skip or charity shop straight away. If there are items you now want to sell get them on to eBay sooner rather than later to free up space in the unit.
  • Now all the surplus items are removed you can organise your storage unit correctly to protect your possessions from damage, and maximise space.
  • Protect large items from dirt and damage with a plastic sheet, leaving a small gap in-between items to allow air to circulate
  • Store smaller items in boxes. Use plastic boxes that are the same size so you can stack the boxes safely, and save space .Wrap fragile items up in bubble-wrap and seal boxes with tape. Avoid using sealed plastic bags as they produce humidity which can cause a build-up of mould inside the bag.
  • Label your boxes stating specifically what is in them and number them. This will make it easier to find things when you want them. To stack the boxes safely, place the heaviest and tallest boxes at the bottom and work your way up to the lightest and smallest.
  • Make an inventory of all the items in your unit and how much it is worth, this will make it easier to assess your insurance requirements.
  • Organising the layout of the unit is important. Always leave a walkway so you can access boxes. The best place for storing valuables is hidden at the back of your unit, and items that you are most likely to use keep at the front. If possible make a plan of where your numbered boxes are within the unit so it is easier to find things.

Having reorganised your storage unit you may find you have more space than you thought!

If you are feeling overwhelmed by all the ‘stuff’ in your home it is probably time to have a good sort out and declutter. Process of decluttering is not only beneficial for your wellbeing but it can also be financially beneficial too.

As the May bank holiday approaches that extra day off could be the perfect time to start decluttering and making some extra cash.

The best way to declutter is to take one room at a time and sort things into four piles: to keep, to sell, to donate, and to bin.

If there are items you are  not sure about getting rid of, just consider whether you have used it in the last 12 months , if you haven’t you probably won’t use in the future, so get rid of it.

Once you have your piles you then need to work out the best ways to make money from your ‘sell’ pile.

  • Go to a car boot sale or nearly new sale with your items. There is usually a fixed price charged for hiring the pitch but if you have a lot of items to sell it is could be a cost effective option and it can be fun too
  • Use a second hand shop to sell your items for you. They will take a commission charge but if don’t’ like the idea of selling items yourself or are short on time it could a good solution to get some cash for your unwanted items
  • Selling online. Ebay is the most commonly used site but they will take 10% and you need to factor in things like postage. The royal mail can work out expensive so consider couriers like Hermes as an alternative or include the postage in the cost in the purchase price. Gumtree is an alternative on line site which is free and operates on a more local basis. Selling via Facebook is also becoming more popular
  • Recycling clothes for cash with stores like H&M
  • Selling unwanted items to online sites – Fatbrain will give you cash for your unwanted books, MusicMagpie will buy unwanted CD’s, DVD’s and games and Envirofone will give you cash for your old mobile phones.

If you are left with clutter that you don’t want to sell or throw away, why not keep it in self-storage to free up space in your home.

At Spaces and Places we have storage units of varying sizes and we offer safe, clean and highly affordable flexible storage options, with 24/7 access.  For more information, get in touch with one of our team.

Call: 0800 124 4363 or Email: hello@spaces-and-places.co.uk

It’s that time of year again! Once the harshest weather of the winter is over, the days are getting longer and the sun is brightening the sky, many of us start to feel the urge to give our homes a ‘spring clean.’ Traditionally spring cleaning was a way of getting rid of all the soot and dirt that had built up over the winter from open fires but today it tends to refer to sorting out the house, getting rid of unwanted items  and giving our home a deep clean.

Listed below are some great tips to help you spring clean your home:-

  1. 1. Declutter: start by getting rid of unwanted items. There is absolutely no point cleaning things you no longer want or need. Either take them to the tip, to the charity shop or store them to sell at a later date.
  2. 2. Tidy up: find a home for everything (there should be more room in the cupboards now you have decluttered). It is much easier to clean if you don’t have to keep moving things.
  3. 3. Pace yourself: Take one room or area at a time to avoid running out of time and energy, leaving you with unfinished jobs. You have greater satisfaction and will feel more motivated to continue if you complete cleaning one room rather than if you have several rooms partially cleaned.
  4. 4. Start at the top: when cleaning it is always best to start at the top of a room and work down, and similarly clean inside a cupboard before the outside. This will help to avoid things you have just cleaned getting dirty again. Also work round a room in one direction to avoid missing areas out.
  5. 5. Be prepared: have all your cleaning products together in a caddy to carry around with you as you clean.
  6. 6. Hand protection: invest in a good pair of rubber gloves to protect your skin and nails from harsh chemicals.
  7. 7. Freshen up: get the windows open and let fresh air circulate in the room.
  8. 8. Multitask: when spring cleaning a room, first take down curtains, remove cushion covers and other soft furnishings and get them into the washing machine so they can be washing while you are cleaning.
  9. 9. Repairs: carry out any repairs that need to be done as you come across them.
  10. 10. Look after yourself: wear comfy clothes and shoes when cleaning and give yourself a reward for all your hard work!

When you have finished your spring cleaning if you have items of furniture, household goods or clothes you do not want to throw away but need to store, why not think about using a self-storage unit. Get in touch with Spaces and Places for a secure and convenient way of storing these items.