Storage Solutions
Seasonal Storage ideas
Q: Have you any ideas for storing seasonal items and things we use infrequently but yet will definitely need in the future? A. You don’t say what it is you want to store, because whether the seasonal or infrequently needed items take up a small or very large space does make a difference. 1) Smallish [...]
Stackable Storage solutions
Q: I have shelves in my utility room and in the back of the garage and they are full of containers with such things as my husband’s tools, recycling, washing liquids and conditioner, dirty clothes and sports gear and lots of miscellaneous items that I need quite often. My containers are full and stuff is [...]
Home Ideas
Sliding Wardrobes
Q: we presently hang up our outdoor clothes under the stairs, which consists of a long rail with hangers on, and hooks at one side. This works OK but what doesn’t work is that all kinds of things from umbrellas to pairs of shoes and slippers, outdoor hats and scarves, dog leads and other family [...]
Hiding messy stuff in the home
Q: Even though I do keep things tidy in my home, when I look round each room they always look untidy. All the stuff is someone’s precious possessions: my husband’s magazines, my children’s toys and my knitting and sewing projects in process. I do put things on shelves but this still looks like mess city. [...]
Moving House
Living part year abroad
Q: We have bought a house in France and are planning to live there up to six months a year. What kinds of things should we be thinking about?
A: This sounds to be an exciting event in your lives, which like all moves, is likely to be stressful. In order to reduce the stress you will need to plan ahead and a number of things to think about that you will need to organise.
Firstly, are you leaving your house empty or renting it? You will need to let your mortgage lender know and your home insurance provider. If the property will be empty you will need to think about keeping it secure – and safe from water bursts and similar that happen in unheated properties. You may want to ensure the security of valuable furniture items by putting them into temporary storage . Before you leave you will also need to arrange for your post to be forwarded and let your bank know the dates you will be away. Any annual payments that will be due whilst you are away you should make arrangements for. Similarly you will have the same security concerns about your house in France whilst you are back at home.
Secondly, you will need to decide which items of furniture or similar you are going to take with you, including things such as your bicycles and lawn mowers, garden furniture, decorating equipment and ornaments. You may decide to hire a van yourself to take over the possessions if not too much ,but using a professional shipping company such as Alliance Shipping will ensure that everything is packed securely and safely and delivered door to door. Start booking your shipping company three months before you want to move.