Month: October 2020

The kitchen is truly the heart of the home. It is where you prepare meals that nourishes your body, a place to get together with your family and friends, and basically reflects the personality and lifestyle of the people living at home. Because the kitchen has a lot of functions and it is a high-use area, there is no doubt that this is the most difficult room in the house when it comes to packing for a home move. It is usually full of heavy, strangely shaped, and fragile items, vay of which are quite expensive.

Now, if you are getting ready to move to a new home and are overwhelmed with how to begin your packing process, most especially in the kitchen, these useful tips might help you to get started.

 

1. Select and Sort Things

Get rid of the kitchen items you haven’t used for a long time and choose only the kitchen items you need for your new home. You can sort things according to their usage.

Donate/ Sell / Gift – Items you haven’t used for quite some time and are still in good condition can be sold. You may also give some of your kitchen items to family and friends who might want them or simply donate to a local charity.

Seldom Used – There are items you seldom use. Those you only use for parties or other special occasions like wine glasses, platters, vases, and other wares. It is best to pack these first.

Essentials – These are the items that you use and need daily like dishes, silverware, handy appliances like coffee make and toaster, and some food items you still need. You can pack these later as you still need them until the last few days in your old home.

2. Get Proper Packing Supplies

A lot of fragile items can be found in your kitchen, so you need to invest in packing supplies to secure your kitchen items through the entire moving process.

Prepare heavy-duty boxes in various sizes, a good amount of packing paper and bubble wrap, packing tape, markers. Dividers for your glassware will also help ensure they stay in place and prevent them from tapping each other during the move.

3. Prepare a box for Essentials

Remember to set aside kitchen items that you’ll need on hand for the last couple days before your move and on the first couple of days in your new home. Prepare an essentials box that contains kitchen utensils (plates, cups, forks, spoon) for each member of the family, hygiene items like soaps, toilet papers, trash bags, rags, etc.) towels, and emergency kit. You can also include in this box the remaining ingredients, snacks, and drinks.

4. Start Packing

Once you already sort things out and prepare for the necessary packing supplies to use, you can start packing the items in the kitchen. Pack kitchen items depending on its type.

Dinnerware

Line the bottom of your packing box with bubble wrap or packing paper. Make sure that you wrap each item and use a good amount of packing paper or bubble wrap to secure the extremely fragile items. You may use cloth materials such as towels and old table cloth for wrapping and cushioning. Always pack the larger and heavier items first in the bottom of the box.

Silverware

Sort your silverware according to type. For spoon and forks, you can use a rubber band or any strings to bundle them together and then wrap it with some packing paper. Once secured, place it in the box.

For packing sharp knives, roll each blade with at least 3 layers of packing paper and secure it with packing tape.

 

Food

Few weeks before the move, you should start consuming the food items in your cabinets or fridge for you to have less waste and fewer items to pack. For perishables like meat, egg and dairy products, these items won’t survive unless you’re moving nearby. If you are having a long-distance home move, you can check any families or friends if they want to have these

Non-perishables like canned goods, pasta and other items can be packed in a box. But if you are having a long-distance move and are hiring a removalist, you must consider how heavy the shipment is. Removalists also based their quotes on the weight of the goods to be transported. If it’s not cost effective, consider donating these times in a local food bank.

Appliances

Appliances are best packed using its original box. Make sure to pack them in advance so all are ready on the day of the move.  Each appliance should be clean and dry before packing. Parts that are detachable, especially those that are fragile, should be removed. Wrap the fragile pieces with a generous amount of bubble wrap.

Using these tips can help you ensure a stress-free home move. But if you don’t have enough time and you need some professional help, the first question you might have in mind is, “Where can I find trusted removalists near me?”

Using platforms that will help you reach out to a number of local and interstate man with van services is a good start.

Guest post by Asad Shoaib

Taking a loan to buy a home or any property is the biggest commitment you would ever make.

You must look at the long term view of the situation to make sure that you can pay back without facing any hassle.

You can also refinance your current loan after considering the circumstances to ensure whether it is the right time to do so or not.

For instance, if there is a significant change occur in your financial position, the refinancing option will make sense.

However, you should follow small tips and tricks to ensure that you carry out this process wisely.

Here are the top 7 tips mentioned to help you get the most out of Australian mortgage refinancing.

Interest Rate/ Honeymoon Rate

The interest rate that the lender offers should remain constant throughout the process.

Some lenders might offer a lower interest rate for the honeymoon period, so the interest rate reverts to a higher than the standard rate after the honeymoon periods ends.

So, you should make sure that the interest rate you are considering is for the life of the mortgage instead of a particular phase.

Comparison

It is wise to compare the best Australian home loans options to be able to analyze them properly.

Each option would further have different features that you might or might not need.

So, make sure that you choose the best suitable option after considering all the features, headlines rates, ongoing fees, exit fees, and application fees.

If you make the decision this way, you won’t have to pay extra for the features you don’t use.

You should also keep an eye on all available deals at the moment and compare them to ensure that you cut down the maximum cost to repay your loan quickly.

Mortgage Applications

While making the comparison, you shouldn’t send mortgage applications to all of the options you come across as it can reduce your credit worthiness.

Instead, it will help if you first finalize your option and then send the mortgage application to that one lender that fulfils your needs.

You can also get in touch with him to have a detailed conversation regarding the further process.

Loan Affordability

You should have a clear idea about your loan affordability.

If the interest rate of your loan is highly likely to get increased in the future, you should be prepared to pay that increase to the minimum repayment amount of your loan.

You can also ask your lender if he offers any discount for a specific professional group or organization where you work to ensure your affordability.

It is even better if you make a proper budget plan to determine your limitations and constraints beforehand.

Equity

You can make use of your equity to make the most out of your refinancing option.

For instance, you can upgrade your old home by doing some renovations.

You can also rent out your property to potential tenants after applying some useful home care tips.

Whatever plan you make, you should do a few calculations to make sure that you can afford it.

Also, your plan must be able to work well even if any change in the lifestyle or emergency causes a sudden shift in your finances.

Right Time

In addition to the long-term view, you should also consider the current time or situation if you want to make the most out of your mortgage refinancing in Australia.

Also, analyze both the pros and cons properly to end up with a decision that turns out to be profitable for you.

For instance, you must know if you take a home loan during pandemic, what are the possible consequences or challenges you will have to face.

At this time, you might get the lowest interest rate, but it depends upon your income source whether you will be able to pay it or not.

Also, if you want to go for the mortgage refinancing option to get the positive outcome, the lender you choose must be offering relief packages to his borrowers.

It will allow the delay of repayments for at least three to six months in critical situations.

Flexible Repayment

When you start searching for different Australian mortgage refinancing options, you should consider the one that allows you to choose a repayment schedule based on your needs.

It is also wise to select the fortnight repayment plan rather than monthly.

For instance, if you make a monthly payment of $5000, it means you would have paid $60,000 over a year whereas when you make a fortnightly payment of $2500, you would have paid off $65,000 by the end of the year, which is a month more over a year.

Guest Post by Shawn Edwards

LED bulbs and fittings are becoming more of the preferred choice of electricity mode.

An LED lamp or light bulb makes use of one or more colour-shifting lights that make use of the energy emitted by a diode.

This energy can be used to either give off light or create heat, which makes it suitable for lighting up any kind of surface.

The advantages of these are what have encouraged many to move away from fluorescent lighting, just as most of us moved from incandescent lighting to fluorescent.

LED bulbs, however, do have disadvantages which can be tackled by involving electricians.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages of LED bulbs or integrated fittings.

Advantages

LED bulbs bring a wide-variety of advantages for those who choose to switch over to them.

Eco-Friendly 

One of the advantages of LED bulbs is that these are environmentally friendly.

These bulbs don’t create any mercury emissions that may cause harm in the environment.

The fact that these consume less power also means that greenhouse gas emissions are reduced so you can turn your home into an eco-friendly space by installing led lights Brisbane.

Various Colours 

LED bulbs come in different colours.

This is appreciated when you want to enhance the theme of a room, or prefer a colour that isn’t too bright but is efficient enough for you to have clear vision.

Colours range from white, red, blue, green, and other custom preferred combinations of colour.

You can use these multi-coloured bulbs to complement a ceiling fan design. When you switch on the fan, the light simultaneously switches on meaning you enjoy the functions of both the light and the cooling effect of the fan.

Low Maintenance 

LED installations and bulbs have a long life meaning, you don’t have to constantly worry about replacing these.

This means that you get to save on maintenance costs compared to more traditional lighting, such as fluorescent.

You only have to consider having an electrician come to clean light fixtures or do routine electrical checks.

Fire Safety

Installing LED lighting means lowering the risk of electrical fires.

This is because LED converts electrical power to electromagnetic radiation within a semiconductor.

This means that LED installations require fewer routine checks and fire prevention measures, which can become a financial disadvantage over time.

Various Installation Spaces

LED lights can be installed in all sorts of locations, so they can be used anywhere where conventional lighting is not possible.

If you plan to put up a new building, then you can choose to have LED lighting on the floor or above the windows  because it requires less space and does not require the same kind of installation as more traditional lighting.

Electricity Usage 

LED lights also have reduced electricity usage as compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

Disadvantages

While LED lights have many great advantages, it is worth taking a look at the disadvantages so you can make a fully informed decision for your and your home’s needs.

Heat Absorbers

LED lights are susceptible to heat. If you live in a particularly warm climate, or are working in a room made hot through activities like cooking, your LED lights will likely deteriorate more quickly than they would in a cooler environment, which can reduce the longevity of your purchase.

Price

Compared to incandescent and fluorescent lighting, LED bulbs themselves – and their installation, depending on how extensive your renovation is – tend to be more expensive per unit. The initial cost of replacing your lighting may be higher than it would be with other kinds of lighting.

Potential Eye Damage 

We mentioned that one of the advantages of LED lights is that they come in different colours.

However, the dimmer the colour, the more you strain your eyes under the light.

Continuous use of dimmed lights may lead to eye damage, meaning you might not want to rely on this type of lighting for prolonged periods.

Conclusion

Although there are disadvantages to LED lights, the advantages are ones to be appreciated and outweigh many of the costs.

These include the eco-friendly effect that the bulbs and installations contribute, various colours, low maintenance costs and fire safety.

Make sure to have expert electricians to install LED lights that will let them function optimally.

You can also consult an electrician on things to consider such as the efficiency of the LEDs being used.

It is important to measure the amount of energy that these lamps produce to ensure that they are suited for the job that they are meant to do.

Shawn Edwards is a father to three children and blogger who writes pieces on home improvement. Shawn’s blog is filled with articles and videos to teach his readers how to be successful with their home improvement projects, and where they can buy the best tools for these projects.

Guest Post by Monika

There’s so much going on in a bathroom that finding the space to squeeze in storage can often be tricky.

But storage is super important, especially if it’s a really tiny bathroom we’re dealing with.

Leaving your hygiene essentials and personal care products out in the open contributes to clutter and makes an already small space feel even more cramped.

Luckily for you, there are plenty of smart ways you can add storage and make even the smallest of bathrooms serene and clutter-free.

Do Get a Vanity

As far as bathroom furniture goes, a vanity is the most hardworking piece you can include.

It offers a great amount of storage space, some practical counter space and can be a unique opportunity to add some stylish personality in a room that’s mostly about utility.

However, owners of small bathrooms can feel reluctant about including a vanity in their setup.

After all, a bathroom vanity is a piece of furniture that can take up a significant amount of floor space. . . but that may be the case if you go for a traditional vanity unit.

In fact, you’d be surprised by the amount of bathroom vanity units specifically designed to solve small space problems.

For instance, there’s a little something called a wall-hung vanity.

Wall-hung bathroom vanities are directly mounted on the wall, and as such, they leave the floor space beneath open.

You can utilise this space for other purposes or simply leave it empty.

By leaving it empty, you’ll manage to keep your bathroom feeling open and airy.

Then, there are bathroom vanity units with slim profiles.

These units are usually narrow and long, occupying more wall space than they do floor space.

As a result, you can store more things along your walls without affecting the freedom of movement in the bathroom.

Because they are long, these vanities also offer more counter space which you can also use for storing your things.

But If You Have a Pedestal Sink – Create an Improvised Vanity

Of course, not every bathroom can fit a vanity, even if it’s big enough. For instance, if you have a pedestal sink in place, there’s no possible way to fit a vanity – or that’s at least what you think.

With a little ingenuity, you can include a vanity without having to remove your pedestal sink.

For one, you can try to build a DIY vanity around the sink itself.

But if this seems like a complex project for you, you can simply sew a skirt that matches your bathroom’s colour palette and attach it to the sink.

Then, you can fit a few storage baskets or racks underneath where no one can see them.

A Mirrored Medicine Cabinet Can Go a Long Way

A mirror is obviously a non-negotiable element to include in a bathroom.

But you can make the mirror work even harder by picking one that’s incorporated into a medicine cabinet.

If you’re worried that a medicine cabinet will ruin your sleek bathroom design or hit you on the head when bent over the sink to wash your teeth, there’s always the possibility to have it built into a cavity inside the wall.

This way, it won’t stick out hideously, and your bathroom will have an undisturbed look.In addition to being highly functional, medicine cabinets can add a decorative touch to the bathroom as well, just like the vanity.

Pick a cabinet made of a rich hardwood such as oak or walnut that will bring some beautiful raw texture into the room.

A sloped finish on the edge of the mirror adds a subtle accent to the medicine cabinet while enhancing the mirror with polished elegance.

You can also keep your mirror frameless if you like crisp lines and precise angles.

Don’t be afraid to go for a big mirrored medicine cabinet.

The mirrors presence takes off some of the bulk from the cabinet.

Plus, the bigger the mirror the more light will bounce off the space, and this is one of the tricks you can use to make a small bathroom appear bigger than it is.

Mount Caddies on the Walls of Your Shower

Regardless whether you have a bathtub or not, you’ll probably agree that your shower space takes up a significant portion of your bathroom.

The walls around the shower are usually left empty because it’s not practical to hang something that will become wet the minute you hit the shower.

However you can use the walls to store the products and items you commonly use while in the shower.

You simply need to find some waterproof caddies made of plastic, stainless steel or some other type of non-corrosive metal and mount them on the shower walls.

This way, you will keep your shower essentials off the shower floor or bathtub and contribute to a more orderly look in the bathroom.

Plus, having all these things within easy reach can save you some time and effort when you’re hurrying to get ready in the morning.

If you have a glass screen that’s shielding your shower space, you can simply hang a caddy over its top.

This way, you don’t need to drill holes in the wall or use glue to fix the caddy.

Accessorise With Cute Storage Baskets

Storage baskets are a great way to add more storage space in the bathroom without spending a lot of money.

You can use them to store everything from laundry to clean towels and toiletries.

If you’re going to place them on the floor, choose tall and narrow baskets.

Shallow and long baskets can be conveniently tucked underneath a wall-hung vanity or a claw-foot bathtub or some other tub design that features legs and is elevated off the floor.

You can also mount these baskets conveniently on the wall where they will take up even less space.

Woven wicker baskets are a particularly cute option as they add an earthy warmth to the space.

Slimline Wall Shelving Can Have Decorative Potential

Slimline shelves are always a good idea to add extra storage in a small space.

If you already have your storage needs met with a bath vanity or medicine cabinet, you can also use these shelves for displaying some decorative items.

After all, the bathroom can use a personal touch no matter how big or small it is.

Consider placing some lovely scented candles that will add colour and help transform your bathroom into a spa whenever you need some unwinding.

Use the Door to Hang Hooks or Shelves

If you don’t want to damage your walls or wall tiles by installing hooks and shelves on them, consider using the door for the same purpose.

Mounting a simple rack over the door’s top can be a great solution for storing robes and towels.

You can also attach a few shelves on the backside of the door or mount shelves above the lintel.

Just keep in mind, that items placed on these shelves may be too high to easily retrieve.

Guest Post by Asad Shoaib

Replica furniture is highly in demand nowadays.

Most of the homeowners prefer to buy replica furniture instead of the original one.

It is one of the most convenient ways of buying affordable furniture pieces for a commercial or residential property.

However, there are certain critical aspects that you must keep in your mind beforehand to make a calculated and informed final purchase decision.

Here are a few things mentioned that you must know about before you buy replica furniture online.

Advertising

Advertising is now being used to divert your mind from your original goal.

For instance, if you start searching for your preferred supplier on Google, multiple ads from different companies will start popping up.

It will take you to the competitors’ websites with a few clicks.

So, you should be clear in your head about your needs and preferences when you buy replica furniture online.

Over Searching

When you start searching for authentic websites to buy your replica furniture, you will lose track of time.

Since it is exciting to explore different unseen options, you won’t realize how much time and energy you are wasting on it.

So, you must set a time limit to avoid over-searching and make your shopping experience enjoyable instead of hectic and tiresome.

Deals or Sales

Deals or sales can sometimes help cut down your cost.

But some scammers or low-quality suppliers also use cheap deals and sales to tempt the buyers.

It leads to impulse buying of those items that you don’t even need, so, make sure that you stay stick to your planning and decision to avoid regretting later.

Allocate Your Budget

When you allocate your budget in “must-have items” and “want to have items” categories, it saves a lot of your money and time from being wasted.

Most of the homeowners don’t realize the amount of money they are spending on buying replica furniture online.

This way, they end up facing the financial crisis. So, it is better to make a budget plan beforehand and allocate it properly to the different lists you create.

Quality

Replica furniture is considered to be the cheapest option because of the low prices, but it doesn’t mean that you will have to compromise on the quality of the product.

The supplier you choose must be trustworthy and reliable, like E living furniture that offers the best quality and durable furniture pieces at affordable prices.

Designs

The designs of replica furniture are common or local mostly.

However, when you decide to buy the replica furniture online, you should still search for the exclusive designs that reflect your lifestyle and fit into your room.

Accessible 

Replica furniture is easily accessible through online websites.

Moreover, if you are looking for beautiful antique pieces in great condition, you can get the replica furniture as an alternative.

However, it depends upon the manufacturer you choose whether he provides you with multiple useful options or not.

Guest Post by Emily Taylor

Ever noticed that if you draw a line down the middle of Australia on a map, the left hand side looks like a dog’s head, and the right hand side looks like a cat’s head?

I’ll wait while you go check that out… back?

That’s a fun little trick you can show your friends.

But, unfortunately, homes in Australia don’t come fitted with guard dogs and attack cats.

We must protect our homes using our own wits and cunning, made all the more difficult by the climate…

Open windows need shutters

Australia is famed for the seemingly never ending sunshine.

That means homes get hot. And that means people leave their windows wide open – even on the ground floor.

Check out the cost of plantation shutters for a stylish way to ensure that thieves and robbers are prevented from slipping into your home through an open window, all without hindering air flow.

Typically, home security gear is anything but eye-catching, but shutters allow you to upgrade the safety of your open windows while increasing the visual appeal of your home.

Keep your house and garden maintained and trim (for good reason…)

When it comes to home safety tips specifically in relation to Australia, we have to consider the vast number of insects, arachnids, reptiles, mammals, flying things and swimming things, marsupials, and … are there any other types of Australian creature left?

The point is that Australia is wild.

Animals of all shapes and sizes will slither and scurry into darkened corners and cracked walls and uncovered pipework.

If you’re not careful, your unkempt garden and poorly maintained home structures (including sheds with easy access at grass level) will invite danger from potentially venomous animals such as snakes.

Keep things tidy, with enclosed bins and minimal shrubbery, to help dissuade such visitors.

Tip: snake repellent vibration devices and oils don’t always work – removing all places to animals to hide is a faster way to keep poisonous animals away.

Solar powered security lights 

If there’s one thing that Australia has plenty of, it’s sunshine.

Even on days where the temperature dips to the lower end of the yearly national average temperature, the heat is still going to be in the mid to late teens (in Celsius), meaning sun, sun, sun.

When it comes to home safety, you can make use of this endless natural source of energy by installing solar powered security lights.

There are two ways in which you can go about this.

First, garden lights designed to help light pathways are a great way to out off any potential night time prowlers – thieves and robbers are more likely to target homes with no outdoor lighting at all (even if you garden lights only offer a low level of light at ankle to knee level, that’s better than nothing).

Secondly, you could invest in motion detector security lights and security cameras.

This is more expensive, but it all depends how much you want to protect your castle!