MoveMinder

Nothing like a bit of Brucey to welcome people into your home

Claire — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:42:34 +0000

I just stumbled across this doormat from www.NotOnTheHighstreet.com. And I like it!

What makes a house a home?

Claire — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:47:26 +0000

The Top 10 items that turn a new house/property into a home are:

Light Shades – nothing says abandoned quite like a bald lightbulb.
Pictures / photos – to avoid the hotel room look, make them as personal as possible (not that kind of personal!).
Made beds – this is why ‘my bed’ is most peoples favourite place in the world.
Soft furnishings – specifically rugs, cushions, and curtains. They can make all the difference between sterile and homely.
A pet – dog, cat, python, goldfish, hamster, stick insect; there’s just something about a little creature to add to the ambience in your home.
Plants / flowers – get a bit of oxygen into your home, along with a nice splash of colour.
Books (and DVDs) – show an insight into your tastes, can fill a space nicely, and if you have old ones, can add no end of character.
Lamps – soft lighting in the right parts of each room changes the feel from ‘hospital waiting room’ to ‘haven’.
Ornaments – I’m not a fan of ornaments, mostly because they require dusting, but the right one can add a nice personal touch.
A welcome mat – even if just for it’s most practical purpose of preventing muddy footprints all over!

Don’t try this at home

Claire — Tue, 31 May 2011 21:48:50 +0000

I’m moving house this week. And while I wouldn’t ever consider doing this for any of my clients, here are a couple of short cuts I have taken so far because I didn’t have any packing paper to hand:

Breakables wrapped in inside out socks – a handful of little tea light holders safely snuggled up
Mugs & plates wrapped in pashminas – tea towels can also be used

Doing my bit for the environment!

I can also highly recommend plastic storage boxes with fixed lids, ikea (or any make) moving trolley, and arranging for strong men to help!

Empty Boxes

Claire — Tue, 31 May 2011 20:50:29 +0000

A quick tip for what to do with your empty boxes once you have moved (assuming you are using them, and not hiring plastic crates).

Flatten them and neatly place them in separate piles depending on size. Put them somewhere that they won’t be in your way and call your removal company as soon as possible to schedule a time when they can collect. If you’re lucky they will come within a day or two, but it has been known to be longer.

If you have moved cross country and your removal company are not nearby to collect, call another local company to see if they would like to reuse the boxes. You shouldn’t have to pay them to do this, if anything you’re doing them a favour.

A Moving Film

Claire — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:30:09 +0000

There aren’t many films about removals. Well, technically Blue Valentine isn’t entirely about removals, it’s more of a love story, but it just so happens that Ryan Gosling’s character is a removal guy who goes the extra mile with his unpacking (like I do) and as a result meets the love of his life. Then their relationship crumbles and it’s a bit depressing but a good film nonetheless.

Tea Cosy Revival

Claire — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:37:22 +0000

Do you own a tea cosy? I see everything that people own when I help them move house, but I rarely see tea cosies. It’s a crying shame and I blame the one cup tea bag producers. I have just purchased a lovely purple aran knit tea cosy from eBay for my lovely picquot ware teapot. The one pictured is from www.libbytdesigns.co.uk.

Organise your drawers

Claire — Thu, 05 May 2011 14:24:50 +0000

When I’m helping clients settle into their new home, the inner Monica inside of me despairs when I have to leave items unpacked in anything less than a perfectly organised state.

The bedroom is one of the worst places. I’ve already looked at shoe storage, and in a perfect world, people would have organisers to keep their drawers all neat and nice.

You can fashion your own from various different sized boxes, or you can buy a few different varieties like this or this from ikea or a place for everything. Most are adaptable to different sized drawers so can be moved from place to place.

Shoe and Boot Storage

Claire — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 21:24:15 +0000

This week I purchased a load of boot storage boxes and boot supports from the Clear Box Company for a client. They are basically clear plastic storage boxes that come in a variety of different sizes for shoes, boots and clothes to keep them clean, protected and all nice and neatly stored. A big tick from me!

The Toilet Brush Debate

Claire — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 16:25:23 +0000

Lowering the tone from yesterday’s rather classy Jo Malone related blog post (in my humble opinion), today the focus goes on toilet brushes: to take or not to take when you move house.

It’s a tricky one, if you’re the owner of a bargain basement brush then there’s no question, bin it (don’t leave it for the new in habitants!) but what if you’ve splashed out on a Brabantia or another fancy brand? Well, in this instance I would bleach before I move and say no more about it.

Jo Malone Candles

Claire — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:01:07 +0000

I know they’re expensive for something that you’re just going to burn, but I really love Jo Malone candles. They smell amazing, make a brilliant house warming gift and come wrapped in a pretty little box with a ribbon round it – what more could you ask for!