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Your Home Connection printable version Spring 2005 A R C H I V E S In this issue Simple planning makes a simple move Spring into cleaning with these helpful hints! "SPRING IS HERE". Yes, it seems like yesterday that we were putting away the Christmas decorations and now we are planning our Spring Break activities. The Real Estate market has been very active and is proving to still be very strong in the Lower Mainland. If you have any questions, please call me anytime. Simple planning makes a simple move Making the transition to a new home can be one of the most exciting and anticipated moments in a family's life. Unfortunately, it can also turn out to be one of the most stressful and challenging if done incorrectly. There are many factors to consider when making a move and if each is not addressed in advance, there is a chance that problems will arise come moving day. Atlas Van Lines Ltd. cites preplanning as the best way to ensure a smooth move, which is especially true during busy periods such as the summer. Too often, people leave their arrangements until the last minute and then find that their options are severely limited. To avoid this situation, it is best to begin the process of selecting a moving company at least five to eight weeks in advanc of the move. Be sure not to reply on a quick flip through the yellow pages. Instead, ask friends and co-workers for recommendations and obtain written estimates from at least three different carriers. Some movers, such as Atlas, will send an agency representative to your home to explain the services and to perform a survey of the articles to be moved. Once a mover has been selected, you should begin preparing your belongings for the move day. One job you should have completed is packing, which, if done with care and detail, can make the move significantly easier. Keep a detailed list of what you are packing and how many boxes you have. Instead of using flimsy grocery store boxes, you can ensure your items' stability by purchasing moving boxes from a moving company or rental facility, which can be obtained for a very small fee. Labelling is a tedious task but one that will pay dividends when you arrive at your new location. It is especially important to label boxes containing sheets, towels and food so you have essentials available your first night. Upon arrival at your new location, make sure all your items are with you. If you prepared a list while packing, or hired a company that does an inventory, this can be as simple as checking off numbered boxes on your list. In the case that there are missing or damaged articles, claim them with the moving company before they depart to avoid running into problems down the road. Prior to unloading your boxes, check that all utilities are turned on. If your utilities are working you can begin emptying those boxes you so prudently packed. It is recommended to unpack the kitchen first and use this area as your home base during the unpacking process. After the kitchen, the bathroom should be set up with the essentials before beginning to arrange the bedrooms and living rooms. These are areas that should not be unpacked without a floor plan to avoid unnecessary moving. When you finally have your new home set to your fancy, take some time to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Then remember how simple a move can be with a bit of pre-planning, just in case you move again. T O P   O F   P A G E Spring into cleaning with these helpful hints! The only thing about spring that everyone dreads is the ritual of spring cleaning. To make this season's must-do chores a little more manageable, try one of these helpful hints that are guaranteed to make the process a little less painful. For stubborn stains, even the ones you're convinced will never come out, try a mixture of 1 tbsp baking soda, 1 tsp dish soap and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide. Shake and apply to stain full strength. Blot and the stain will be removed instantly. Have pets or children left an unpleasant odour on your carpet? Simply apply baking soda on carpet overnight and the smell will disappear. Blinds are prone to dust build-up because they sit directly in the light. Dust blinds by wrapping a cloth around a ruler. Spray cloth with dusting spray and run the flat end across each blind. Candle wax can be a nightmare. But the good news is that it can be eliminated. Use baby oil to clean up candle was spills on furniture surfaces. If was has spilled on the carpet it can be removed with an iron and a paper towel. Wait for the wax to cool and harden then set the iron on "low". Place pieces of paper towel over the wax and apply the iron. As the paper towel soaks up the wax, continually move it around to a fresh spot on the paper towel. When you bought your stainless steel appliances, you were so impressed by their shine but now they're covered in spots and fingerprints. To remove the prints, just pour some white vinegar on a cloth and wipe away. Glass surfaces are prone to dirt and spots, but the good news is that they can easily be cleaned with lemon juice. Pour juice on a cloth, wipe the surface and then dry with newspaper. For surface scratches, use a hint of toothpaste. What to do when your kids have gone wild with writing utensils? Rubbing alcohol can be used to remove permanent marker on counter tops and appliances. A damp rag dipped in baking soda can be used to remove crayon marks from walls. If there is one monotonous chore it is, no doubt, cleaning the windows. To simplify this process, use vertical strokes when washing windows outside and horizontal for washing windows inside - this allows you to see which side has the streaks. Finally, when the house is cleaned, spray a touch of perfume on light bulbs. The fragrance will be distributed when the light comes on, filling the room with your favourite aroma. T O P   O F   P A G E Not intended to solicit properties currently listed for sale.

Nancy McCabe, Realtor 111 - 20434 - 64th Avenue, Langley, BC  V2Y 1N4 Phone: 604-530-0231  Fax: 604-530-6042  email: info@nancymccabe.com Created by Crimson Design.  Copyright © 2005. All rights reserved.