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5 Ways to Make Moving Less Stressful

July 10, 2018 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

You’ve finally found the right house in the right neighborhood with the right schools, and the best mall in the state right next door. You navigated the mortgage minefields and managed to get a fairly decent interest rate on your loan without completely destroying your credit score. The negotiations were tough, but you finally got the seller to agree to fix the heat pump and the compressor and knock 15% off the price because of the roof that hadn’t been changed in 22-years. Now, you are ready to make the big move from apartment dweller to homeowner where instead of calling the landlord to fix the garbage disposal; you go to a big box store, buy an In-Sink-Erator and watch the YouTube how-to about 5 times before you finally call a plumber to install it. But, at long last, it’s time to move in.

1. MAKE A PLAN AND STICK TO IT

If you are moving locally, say within a 15-mile radius, you want to plan very carefully so that you get all of your ‘stuff’ out of one home, and into the other, within one day. This is definitely doable – if – you plan your day carefully and intelligently. This also means that all of the pre-packing of boxes, and labeling of said boxes, has been done beforehand. That way, you’ll be able to estimate pretty accurately how long it will take to pack the moving van. Unpacking it will take about one-third to one-half less time than packing because you aren’t mentally organizing the various objects to fit inside the truck.

But if your new home has narrow or complicated entryways and elevators to deal with – those impediments could increase unpacking time significantly. That’s why it’s a good idea to actually visit your new home, with a representative of the moving company, if possible, days before the actual move, so that you can both survey your new home’s location and pre-plan for any impediments that might be there.

2. KNOW WHERE YOU’RE GOING

Another benefit of surveying your home before your moving day would be to take the time and effort during this scout day to discover the very best route between your old house and your new home. That means driving the route at approximately the same time that your moving van will be doing so on your moving day so that you have some idea of what the traffic will be like. For example, it might be wiser to use surface streets for part of the drive, instead of a freeway because a factory near that freeway changes shifts at the time your van will be traversing that part of your route. Google Maps or Mapquest can be very helpful in your route planning because of their ability to help you change the route and offer alternatives.

3. PAINT BEFORE YOU MOVE IN

If scheduling allows, it is always a good idea to do repair, paint and remodeling tasks before you move into your new home. Also, paint takes many hours to dry completely and the odors and chemical residues during the drying process can be nauseating. But a good paint job is so important not only for the beauty of your home, but also for its durability.

If you are going to paint your home before your moving day, why not consult with a professional stylist to help coordinate your home’s colors to give it a coordinated look. The money you spend on a designer could be more than made up for if you end up changing your mind and re-painting several rooms multiple times.

4. WATCH OUT FOR THE HIDDEN COSTS

Different moving companies use all sorts of different methods for determining the costs of your move. Make sure you pin the company sales rep down on his/her estimate before your moving day commences. It is always a good idea to get an Outline of Moving Costs from any moving company that you involve in the bidding process for your move. You don’t want a big $urprise at the end of a day in which you have been going full-force for 12-to-14 hours and are, consequently, too tired and stressed to even consider haggling about prices.

5. BE PREPARED

In spite of all of your pre-planning, moving days, by their very nature, can be filled with unexpected disruptions. We can all certainly apply Murphy’s Law to any enterprise, like a moving day, that utilizes so many people and consists of so many moving parts. So, be prepared for the ‘wheels to come off’ some time during your moving day. If you’ve anticipated this, and planned prudently, you’ll be able to handle that disquiet with composure and poise so that it doesn’t spoil your day and you can eventually get back on track.

Judy Lees is a super-connector with Photographers In Islamabad who helps businesses find their audience online through outreach, partnerships, Photography, branding and networking. He frequently writes about the latest advancements in digital marketing, digital photography.

4 Tips for Making a Painting Studio in Your Home

July 14, 2017 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

Whether you’re a professional painter or a budding novice, setting up a painting studio in your home is a wonderful way to develop your skill and encourage more time with your hobby. Make your art space both functional and inspirational with these tips.

Set a Designated Space

You don’t need a large home to have a designated art studio. You simply need a specific corner you can devote to the task. Choose an area large enough to accommodate an easel and art cart, at a bare minimum. If you can set aside an entire room for this purpose, so much the better. Make sure you keep other items out of your art studio. Don’t let bills pile up on the desk or toys creep onto the floor. Be vigilant about keeping this area for one purpose only.

Keep it Organized

Organization is essential in your home painting studio. You don’t want to waste your time searching for the right brush or paint color when you’re feeling that invigorating spark of inspiration. Make sure your tools are always at the ready so you can get to work at a moment’s notice when you have a vision in your head.

For paints, consider using a tiered spice shelf or layered cupcake stand to keep several colors visible at once. If you use small squeeze bottles, glue a magnet to the bottom of each and mount a metal tray to the underside of a cabinet. You can then hang the bottles upside down so the paint is always ready to flow. Stick paintbrushes in a planter filled with marbles or hang them from rows of hooks mounted to the wall. Keep it all neat so you always know where everything is.

Include Inspiration

If you’re working in a stark, dreary space, you may find inspiration frustratingly elusive. Create a bright and beautiful area that entices your inner muse to come out and play. Fill your art studio with things that you love, whether these are vases of bright blossoms or sleek modern sculptures. Make this a place that invigorates and invites.

Control the Climate

Artwork prefers a stable climate with minimal fluctuations in temperature and humidity. If you’re storing finished pieces in your painting studio, you should make sure the temperature stays within a 20-degree range and humidity doesn’t vary more than 20 percent. Low humidity is best to keep your pieces safe and help new paintings dry in a reasonable amount of time.

You can control the climate in your art studio independently from the rest of your house with HVAC zoning. This enables you to set different conditions for each zone of the house. You can keep your art studio cool and maintain a lower humidity level by running the air conditioner regularly there, while setting a higher temperature in the rest of the house.

Your newly organized painting studio will give you everything you need to create masterpieces and store your art safely. All that’s left is to find some quiet time to create!

Prepping an Ottawa Home for New Paint

October 6, 2015 by Painter Mommy Leave a Comment

The best way to revitalize the look of a home is by having it painted by a professional. The older that a home gets, the harder it will be for the owner to maintain the luster that it should have. Taking the time to finding the right peintre a Gatineau will allow the homeowner to get the right results without having to put in any work. Before the painting can being, the homeowner will need to start thinking about how they are going to prepare. There are a variety of things that a homeowner can do to make the painter’s job a bit easier.

Covering All Furniture

Covering all of the furniture in a home is the best way to reduce the chance that any paint gets on it in during the process. Having the furniture in the home exposed to these elements will usually end in disaster and can cause a lot of damage due to pain droplets getting on it. Buying some thicker plastic and some double sided tape can do wonders when trying to get the right covering for the furniture in a home. Neglecting to do this type of prep work will usually lead to a homeowner regretting it.

Filling Holes on the Wall

Filling the nail holes left in a home will be the next thing that a homeowner will need to think about. Over time, a wall will have many different holes put in it due to the hanging of pictures and other things. By taking some putty and filling the holes, the homeowner will help to ensure that a smooth coat of new paint is put on. The work that is put into this process will be worth it considering the great finished product that it will help to produce.

Cleaning and Priming Walls

When trying to get the right results from a home painting job, the homeowner will need to take the time to wash and then prime their walls. By taking a sponge with soap and water to a home, the homeowner will be able to get a great finished product. Usually, the primer that needs to be used can be bought rather inexpensively at local hardware stores. The time that is spent putting this type of work into prepping a home for paint is worth it due to the great results that will happen.

The right painting company will be able to come and get the job done in a hurry. Taking the time to choose the right painters will make this process much easier.