Ensuring Prompt Delivery With a Moving Company

In the middle of relocating, the last thing you want to do is worry about the moving company. There are some things that need to happen to ensure that this process goes as smoothly as possible. If the professionals show up on time to pack your items and arrive at the destination at the right time as well, it ensures that things go according to plan. The sooner you are settled and established in your new home, the faster you can start to enjoy your new place.

Clear Directions

It may sound obvious, but it is important to provide clear directions for the moving company to follow. Think about how they are going to gain access to the home. Provide the major cross streets as well as the physical address. If there is a gate in the front of the community, make sure that they have the code. When all of these things are handled in advance, there is a better chance of everything getting started on time. In addition to the directions, make sure that there is plenty of room at the front of the house for the movers to unload your items.

Clear Communication

Provide any and all specific directions in writing. If there is special furniture that cannot be taken apart to be moved, make a note of it. If there is a box that contains some of your most fragile and valuable items, let someone know. When the moving company has specific directions to follow and information about certain things, it allows them to move through everything with a clear understanding.

Don't leave home without your cell phone. If the moving company runs into an issue along the way, you want to be available and easy to reach. Every minute that they are sitting around waiting for you to call them back, time is being wasted. Aside from your number, consider providing a second number that will connect them with someone else associated with the move.

Plan Ahead of the Deadline

If you need to be out of a house at the end of the week, don't wait until the day before the weekend comes to bring in a moving company. While the goal is to get everything out and moved in one day, sometimes things come up. Not giving yourself enough time to actually get everything handled can be a real problem. Even if your items need to be in storage for a while, it is better to pay the extra cost than to run out of time and create more problems.

Water Damage Doesn't Necessarily Mean the End for Your Home

Water damage can be your worst nightmare if you don't learn how to handle the situation correctly. Don't assume that just because you have homeowner's insurance that you have nothing to worry about. One of the biggest problems about this situation is the destruction and chaos it leaves behind. It can destroy some of your most prized possessions. It is often something that happens when it is least expected. In order to minimize the amount of things you will have to replace and the amount of inconvenience you have to deal with, learn how to effectively handle this type of situation.

If possible, try to determine where the source of water damage is. If it is because of a busted pipe or a backed up sewer, you need to put an end to problem right away. In cases of a broken pipe, you need to turn off the water supply to the pipe. You can usually locate the shutoff valve by tracing the pipe until you see the valve. If your problem is because of a backed up sewer or drain, you need to get a wet vacuum and start trying to eliminate as much of the excess moisture as possible. You may need to contact a professional plumbing company to fix the problem and help with proper drainage. The sooner you can put an end to where the moisture is entering your property, the less damage you have to worry about.

Contact your homeowner's insurance. It doesn't matter what time of day or night you have problems that result in water damage. As soon as you recognize there is a problem, you need to let your insurer know so they can open up a claim and start the process to get things taken care of as soon as possible. Ask them what you should do and make sure you follow their directions or you can end up inadvertently voiding your claim. Ask them which water damage companies you can contact to help get the ball rolling. Don't take chances by choosing a company that your insurer may not provide reimbursement too. Each insurer has different rules; so make sure you understand your policy. After you get off of the phone, assess the situation and try to save as many of your possessions as possible.

Since you are dealing with this type of issue, you need to make sure that anything you are able to salvage has been properly dried and stored out of the way. Once all of the excess moisture has been removed, you need to disinfect and check for mold. Depending on how severe the damage is, you may to continue checking for the presence of mold every few weeks to protect the health of your family. Your water damage and restoration company can help you get things back together after a disaster like this. They can also help you learn how to protect your home and valuables from a situation similar to this in the future.

Conservatory Ideas - The Victorian Conservatory

If you are considering extending your property, then a conservatory is one of the most popular options. Coming up with conservatory ideas on the other hand, can be quite a daunting task.

Conservatory Designs

There are many types of conservatory that you can choose from, and each has their own unique design. Below you will find the predominant style types.

• The Georgian conservatory
• The Victorian conservatory
• The Edwardian conservatory
• The Gable fronted conservatory
• The P-shaped conservatory
• The Lean-To conservatory

Out of all the above conservatories (or glasshouses as they were formally known), by far the most popular design for modern homeowners is the Victorian conservatory.

The Victorian conservatory has been around since the reign of Queen Victoria, who ruled in England from 1837 until 1901. It is characteristic in its design by having an almost octagonal shape, with around seven splays. The term splay is pretty much outdated nowadays and has been replaced by the more common wording of bay or facet.

Another characteristic of this design is the pitched roof, which typically has very ornate mouldings running along its apex. The roof itself can often be very extravagant, and many are found to be domed in design.

There are many well-known conservatories built during the Victorian era. Many of these were built in botanical gardens, as another key characteristic of conservatories is their ability to utilise the maximum amount of light available on any given day. Probably the most famous of these is the conservatory built at Kew Gardens in 1859. This conservatory is the oldest surviving glasshouse in existence today.

The popularity of Victorian conservatories sparked huge interest in this period, not only in the UK, but also around the world. With the British monarchy having influence on most continents, so the building of these elaborate Victorian structures boomed. Many of these are still fully functional to this day, and are key attractions in their respective locations listed below:

• The United States Botanic Garden, Washington DC, U.S.A.

The U.S. Botanic Garden is the oldest fully functional conservatory in the United States and was built in 1867.

• The University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Palm House in this botanical garden is a magnificent example of Victorian construction and boasts a cast-iron spiral staircase. It was built in 1874.

• The Adelaide Botanic Garden, Adelaide, Australia.

This botanical garden was inspired by Kew Gardens and has a Victorian glasshouse which was in fact imported there in 1875 from Bremen, Germany. It was opened in 1877.

• The Pearson Conservatory, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

The conservatory was named after the Mayor of Port Elizabeth, Mr HW Pearson, and was opened in 1882.

With these fine examples of Victorian conservatories, with their elegant styling and grand appearance, it is no wonder that this is still the most popular of all conservatory designs to date. They make a fantastic addition to your home by enhancing your existing living space which makes your home that extra bit more enjoyable.

Decorating Your Bedroom

Having a beautiful and organized bedroom is more important than you may realize. The bedroom is often neglected because guests in your home don't see it. You may concentrate on other more public areas first, pushing the bedroom to the end of your list of things to do. However, if you think about it, your bedroom is a place where you start and end your day. It is a place of solitude and bonding. It is where you prepare yourself, physically and mentally, for the challenges of each day. This is where we do our deepest, uninterrupted thinking and reflection on life. Give your bedroom priority when decorating and organizing and you could benefit from it in more ways than you ever imagined.

Bed

Your bed is very important. Clean sheets, comfortable pillows, blankets and quilts that have personal meaning to you or reflect your personal taste all affect how you feel and approach each night and day of your life. This private place should be totally relaxing, clean, personal, and give you a feeling of freshness every day.

Walls

Your walls (and ceiling) should be any color that you like. Light blue is calming, red is passionate, white is clean, yellow is cheerful. This is a private place, so feel free to let your personality shine. Avoid cluttering the walls with a lot of art, photographs, or shelving. Make your bedroom a place where you can clear your mind. If you can stand it, avoid putting a television, game system, or any other electronic distraction in your room.

Lighting

Dimmer switches, soft lamps, track lighting, and natural light are great for the bedroom. You definitely don't want the lighting in your relaxing retreat to equal that of your office or kitchen! Think about how you would like to feel in your bedroom. Lower, softer lights are calming to the mind, eye and spirit.

Textures

Fill your room with textures that speak to you. Soft faux furs, chenille, satin, and other soft fabrics can be used around the room to help you feel safe, soft, and comforted. Throw pillows and blankets, soft rugs, and even soft curtains will help you to relax in your bedroom.

Organization

Keeping your room clean is important. You never want to go to bed surrounded by things that need to be done, and you definitely don't want to wake up to things that you don't have time to do. Keeping a neat and organized closet can help you to keep storage items in storage and clothes put away where they belong. Use the right hangers to keep clothes neat, wrinkle-free, and most importantly, on the hanger. Hangers for tops and separate ones for bottoms will help to keep things organized. Bamboo hangers are light, strong and useful. Cedar hangers smell fresh and add timeless beauty to your closet. Choose the style that you love and keep your closet organized for easy mornings and restful nights.