Identifying the Right Location for your New Home

For some of us when we move home, researching the area we want to live in won’t be a problem. This is because lots of us move house but stay in the same town. However, there are many people (more and more these days) who are unhappy with their current scenery and want something more.

This, in my opinion should be commended. Looking for broader horizons and different challenges in life are just what we all need. Of course, there is no shame in being happy with your lot but that doesn’t work for everyone. 

The trouble is many of us have an idea of where we want to be, but we don’t have a clue on where or, how to start. I have lost count of the amount of times I’ve been on holiday and remarked that I could live in the place I’ve visited, and I’ll bet anyone-else reading this will agree they’ve done the same in the past.

However, living somewhere is very different to being on holiday there. For a start, you don’t need to really worry about how daily life will go. We also don’t tend to worry about what it would be like at any other time of the year than summer.

The point I’m trying to get across is that you can’t really choose a location for your home just by being on holiday. So, in the following words I intend to give you some information on how you can go about finding the right place to live.

Here are some questions you should ask yourself:

• Do you visit the same place often?

•  Do you shop in the local supermarkets when you’re there?

•  Do you know anything about the local culture and how it works?

•  Do you visit at different times of the year?

If you can answer yes to a lot, and preferably all of the questions above this could be a sign it’s the place you can spend the rest of your days.

Once You’ve Decided

When you’re happy that you’ve found the right area, it’s time to start thinking about the location you want your home to be in. Personal circumstances count for a lot in this respect. For example, if you need regular medical attention you will need to make sure you’re near a hospital, or doctor’s surgery that’s easy to get to.

If you don’t intend to own a car public transport should be close by, and you should also be able to get to the local shops within a short walk. Even if you have a car you should think about how easy it is for you to reach the local amenities you’ll need.

There’s no point in being bowled over by that lovely country house if you can’t get the kids to school, or it’s near impossible for you to use the emergency services should you need them.

In Conclusion

If you take some of the advice and think about the questions asked above, you’ll be on the right track to finding the right location for your new home. Just make sure you do your research thoroughly, and take as much time as you need over the final decision. 

If you’re looking for more information about moving abroad or just about anything-else to do with moving, take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/

De-Clutter Your Home Before You Move!

Moving home is difficult enough without having to pack a large amount of items you really don’t need. This can be hard for people who are “natural hoarders”, but now is the time to get rid of all those things you don’t use anymore.  If you have a loft, start there. This is the one place people tend to store items they can’t bring themselves to throw away.

Rules on Clearing out your Loft

If something has a thick layer of dust on it, make a beeline for this first. I’m not advising you to throw away family heirlooms or precious photos that date back several generations because these are of sentimental value to you. What you should do is decide what items have been sitting in your loft for years and are never used.

If you find yourself thinking “blimey, I forgot I had this” it’s likely there is no place for it in your life. If you come across anything that’s simply not useable, throw it away! It will take up space in the removal van, and this will cost you more money. 

Go into your loft armed with large plastic bags, and be prepared to fill them. Believe me, the satisfaction you’ll get when you’ve managed to reduce the amount of items in your loft by at least half will put a smile on your face.

 Wardrobes

Clothes are heavy when they’re all packed together, and this will also cost more money with the removal company. Be ruthless with your clothes. Anything you haven’t worn for a year or more should go to the local charity shop. There’s no use in hanging on to a top that doesn’t fit anymore simply because you like the colour!

Books and Papers

Again, books are heavy and if you’re an avid reader, the chances are you’ll have a pretty large collection. Take a look at the books you have and donate any that you’re not going to read again to a local library or charity organisation. DO NOT keep a book just because you think you “might” read it again. These days, it’s relatively inexpensive to download digital books, and this will cost you less than it will to move the books you have now.

Everyone keeps important papers such as bank statements, mortgage papers, and information on credit cards, and all sorts of other things in the home. If you can, scan these into your computer and keep them on an external hard-drive. MAKE SURE you password any information that’s sensitive and shred what you now have on your hard-drive. You’ll be amazed at the amount of space this will save, and it will also amaze you that it can be kept on something that fits in a handbag.

The Rest of Your Home

We all have things stored away in cupboards, so this should be your next move. If you find objects stuffed in the back of a cupboard that hasn’t seen the light of day for a while, get rid of it. This is also true of items you have on show. If you find yourself looking at an ornament and thinking “you know, I really don’t like that”, give it away. 

A Few Final Words

Reading this might have stressed you out to the max, but honestly, when you’ve finished de-cluttering your home before you move, you’ll feel 10lbs lighter! It will also make packing much easier for you and, as said will save you money because you’ll have less to move.

Once you’ve managed to de-clutter and you’re ready to look for a removal company, take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/ for a really easy way of finding a professional outfit to help you.

Just Moved Home with a Cat – They Need Some Help Settling In

Anyone who has a cat will know there is nothing more soothing than that sound of a contented purr. However, if you’ve just moved home the chances are this is the last thing your kitty has been doing lately! We all know that moving house can be an incredibly stressful experience, and when you throw animals or children into the mix this can make things way more complicated.
 

You see it’s much easier (sorry if that sounds harsh) for you to feel more settled because you know what makes you feel comfortable. It could be putting out a few familiar pictures, adding some of your favourite scatter cushions on your sofa or bed. It could even be as simple as lighting one of your favourite scented candles.

Now, that’s where I want to start – Scent!

Cats and Smells

A great deal of a cat’s life and how comfortable he feels is based on the smells around him (and that doesn’t include the litter tray)! When you first move home, there will be nothing and I mean nothing! In the way of familiar smells (namely their own scent) in the house and it will take a little time for your pet to be confident enough to go about marking their territory. 

Cats have scent glands around their faces and when you see them rubbing various bits of furniture or door frames, they’re actually leaving a little bit of themselves behind. Of course, you may not see this happen right away which is where you can help. 

Try taking a dry, soft cloth and gently rubbing it around your cat’s face. If you get lucky, they might just give it a good old rub anyway. You can then wipe the cloth at cat height on parts of your furniture and entrances to your home. You can also buy various “pheromones” from your local vet if you don’t like the idea of taking a cloth to your cat’s face.

Outdoor Cats

It won’t be long before your furry friend decides he has made enough of a mark on his new home, and wants to extend his territory to the great outdoors. But, (and this is particularly important if you’ve only moved a short distance away from your previous house) you can run the risk of them picking up their own scent from a previous haunt.

It might not be easy, but attempt to keep your pet indoors for at least one week (especially boys because they wander more). When you’re happy to let them take that leap, keep trips into the garden supervised and only for a short time. You can also use food as a way of keeping your cat close for the time being. Little and often helps and if you can, also get them used to the sound of a fork being tapped on a dish or a bag of biscuits being shaken.

In Summary

The above information is based on the fact you have moved home with a pet in your own country. If you would like to find out more information on moving abroad with pets, feel free to take a look at this link: http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/post/2013/04/19/Moving-Your-Pets-to-a-New-Country.aspx

Moving With Your Cat? Here’s What To Do Before The Big Day

Whenever you look on the internet for advice about moving home, you will ALWAYS be told first and foremost this is one of the most stressful things anyone can do. However, if you have cats take a moment to imagine what it must be like for them!

Cats are curious creatures (which is possibly why they’re such popular pets), and if you don’t already know it’s not actually the “material” things in life that make them feel comfortable. In fact, you may have noticed that if something doesn’t smell the way it should your cat will head straight out the cat flap!

So, if you’re about to move home and you have a cat there are a few things you should consider. OK, this will add to your stress levels but then you have a pet because you love animals so making sure their moves goes as smoothly as possible kind of goes with the territory.

When it All Get’s Going

You may have noticed (depending on how seasoned a cat owner you are), that if you move even the smallest piece of furniture in your home to a new place your cat will immediately give it the “once over”. This is because they map out the area in which they live, or as they would probably term it “their territory”. The minute this changes in any way it sparks a sign that all may not be well with the map (so to speak).

What’s the first thing that happens when you start to move home? That’s right, you move stuff! There are items coming out of cupboards your furry friend may not have encountered before. Boxes, packing tape and bubble wrap are all over the place: In short, you’ve REALLY messed up your cats comfortable surroundings. 

Your Cat’s Reaction

This will depend on your cat’s personality. After all, every cat is different and they will all react in their own way. However, there are a few universal signs to look out for. Males especially will probably treat all the upheaval with nothing more than disdain, and just head for the great outdoors for a while.

If you have a young cat, they may not have developed their “homing” signals yet and will just get under your feet, or create a fair few laughs by getting tangled up in the packaging or hiding in boxes and cupboards. Still yet another reaction is the one of impending disaster! Every time you look down at your little furry friend, you’re met with a stare that really doesn’t need verbalising and makes you feel incredibly guilty. 

How to Make It Easier

If you can, make sure you leave their favourite places to sleep untouched. If this isn’t possible, at least move that cushion your cat cannot do without when taking a nap to the new place they’ve decided it’s safe to go.

Toys are also important (even if there are a lot of other things around to play with right now).

The place where your cat normally eats should also be left untouched wherever possible. The trick is to make sure you at least don’t disturb the most important things to your cat before you move which are: Sleep, eat and play. If you have a dog, and want to know more take a look here http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/post/2013/08/23/Tips-on-Moving-With-Dogs.aspx Oh, and don’t forget all that extra fussing!

Ways to Make Your New House Feel Just Like Home

So, it’s finally over! You’ve at last come out the other side of moving home and hopefully there isn’t any lasting psychological damage to deal with! In fact, you should be prepared because now you face a new hurdle and that’s settling into your new surroundings.

Even if you’ve bought a brand new house that no-one has lived in before, it can still feel like it’s not yours. So, to help you along with what can be a difficult transition I have some tips below to help make your new place really feel like yours.

Get Cooking!

For many families, the kitchen is the hub of the home. This is the place where everyone meets at meal-times to discuss just exactly what went “bump in the night” or what sort of day they’ve had. As soon as you can, get that kitchen unpacked!

If you like to cook, you’ll be amazed at the difference just by having all the appliances that are familiar to you at hand. It’s hard to believe but there is a link between what we smell and how we feel. Think about what the smell of candy-floss reminds you of or freshly baked bread? I’ll bet there is a memory somewhere in your head!

If you cook your family’s favourite meal, the house will immediately be filled with the smells of home and this will do wonders to help everyone settle in.

Make Your Own Stamp

Sticking with scents (sorry, but they do play a big part), you should think about other places in the home. The lounge for instance might be the cosy part room everyone relaxes in during the evening. Try adding some lightly scented potpourri or plug-in air fresheners you used in your last home. In fact, you can do this in whatever part of the house you like.

Once you’re all unpacked think about starting a DIY project. You’ll be surprised at what a lick of paint can do, and this will also help to do away with any smells from previous owners or that sort of “newness” scent you get with a place that hasn’t been lived in before.

Unpack Your Favourite Knick-Knacks

It doesn’t matter if you have family portraits, framed holiday snaps or that vase that Grandma gave you. When it comes to putting your ornaments out start with the ones that are most dear to you, this will probably send you on a trip down memory lane but at the same-time you’ll gradually start to feel like you’re at home.

Finally – Have a House Warming!

The minute you’re all unpacked and everything (well, almost everything) is in its place, have a house warming. This can be whatever you like. Invite a few friends and family round for a quiet dinner, or if it “floats your boat” go wild and have a good old knees up.

The fact is it will take time for you to feel like you’ve finally moved into a home and not just a house but if you take some of the steps above, you could make this happen much quicker.

For more useful tips on moving home, visit http://www.theroadahead.co.uk/blog/