Home Sweet Home – TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®

May 28, 2018June 18, 2018 Movers Who Blog College Moving, Moving, Moving with kids, Organizing, Our People, Packing, Preparing to Move, Spring Cleaning, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

What we can’t move during your home relocation

-Written by Caitlyn Laidler

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®, we’re dedicated to making your moving experience stress-free and successful. To ensure the safety of both our customers and movers, we must follow certain rules and regulations that restrict the transportation of certain items.

In order to avoid conflict and confusion on moving day, we recommend you speak with your local franchise beforehand to ensure you have time to make arrangements to move the items we’re not able to.

Our movers are unable to transport the following:

Flammable, explosive, or corrosive items

Federal law prohibits the transportation of propane, paint, car batteries, antifreeze, household cleaners, weed killer, and ammunition. These items will not be moved under any circumstances.

Gasoline-filled engines or machines

Prior to move in day, make sure to empty any items that run on gasoline. Items such as lawn mowers, grills, tractors, and mopeds must be completely empty in order for our movers to transport them.

Plants and animals

In order to guarantee the safety and well-being of your plants and pets, we do not transport any living thing, including potted plants and fish.

Perishable food

Fresh, refrigerated, and frozen foods are banned from our trucks to prevent rotting and spoiled, unpleasant odors. Plan out your meals the week before the move so you don’t have a fridge full of food on moving day. Or, plan to box and transport in your personal vehicle.

Sensitive or sentimental belongings

We care about your things and take care of them as if they were our own. To ensure your prized possessions and important items are not misplaced during the process, we do not move items such as cash, jewelry, insurance papers, or birth certificates.

Prescription drugs or medications

In order to prevent any emergencies where you may need access to your medications, we do not move prescription drugs.

Reminder: Each franchise has their own policy regarding non-allowable items. For a complete list of items we are not able to move, please contact your local TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® office.

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

July 10, 2017July 24, 2017 Movers Who Blog DIY Projects, Home Decor, Home Sweet Home, Our People, Spring Cleaning, Tips and Tricks, Uncategorized

Organizational tips to help keep your home spotless

-Written by Anna Stephens

A clean home equals a clean mind. The best way to keep your home truly clean is to do a little bit of cleaning every day instead of letting it pile up. Developing these habits will prevent any critters from finding their way into your home, and will also decrease the spreading of germs and allergens in your home, helping your family stay healthy. It also encourages kids to establish strong habits of picking up after themselves and creates a greater sense of responsibility.

We’ve assembled a list of recommendations for how often you should be cleaning the different areas of your home.

Every day:

Wash countertops and appliance handles with disinfecting spray/wipes
Eliminate any clutter that has accumulated and put in proper location
Clean all used dishes and wipe up any spills that have occurred
Sweep floors
Take out the trash
Straighten up and make beds
Hang up all wet towels or hand towels and allow to air dry completely

Once a week:

Wash and fold laundry
Wash all hardwood and tile floors
Vacuum carpet and underneath cabinets
Dust shelving, furniture, and light fixtures
Wipe down toilets, showers, and sinks with proper disinfectant
Clean mirrors
Wash all pillow cases

Once a month:

Empty the refrigerator, wipe down shelving, and throw out any expired items
Dust the baseboards, fan blades, and air vents
Clean the inside of microwave and oven
Hose down and disinfect the bottom of trash cans and underneath the trash cans
Disinfect all doorknobs
Wash all bath mats
Dust underneath all furniture

Once a season:

Clean pantry and throw out any expired items
Steam clean carpets
Wipe down blinds and wash curtains
Wash windows and window screens
Clean out bedroom, shoe, and coat closets and throw away or donate items you no longer want
Wash or dry clean duvet covers, throw blankets, comforters, and throw pillow

We hope you’ve found this information to be useful. Do you have any advice for keeping your home tidy? We want to know! Like us on Facebook and subscribe to our blog for more helpful tips and tricks.

June 30, 2017July 19, 2017 Movers Who Blog Downsizing, Hiring Professional Movers, Home Sweet Home, Moving, Moving with kids, Organizing, Packing, Preparing to Move, Tips and Tricks, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, Uncategorized

Hooray, your move is complete! Now what?

Congratulations! You’ve just completed the moving process and are now settling into your new home. After all of the hard work, packing, organizing, and moving, it seems like the process would be over, but it’s only just beginning.

It’s now time to settle into your new home and make sure everything is unpacked and organized exactly where you want it. As the “Movers Who Care®”, we’re here to provide you with a few tips to make this next phase an efficient and stress-free process for you!

From unpacking to organizing, and meeting your new neighbors, it’s important to make sure you do everything in your power to make the transition seamless as you become acquainted with your new surroundings. The process takes time, but in the end, will prove to be worth it as you become part of a new community!

Inspect your new home

Hopefully you followed our expert TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® packing tips when getting ready to move, and have everything packed in an organized fashion. Now comes the fun part – getting everything back out of the boxes!

Make sure you start with essential items, and work your way down in order of importance. You don’t want items you don’t use often cluttering a room.

It’s important to ensure your utilities, cable, internet, and other services are activated before, or as close to your move in date, as possible. Be sure to check around the house and make sure each everything is working accordingly. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re in a new home and have no electricity or running water.

Another important step to take is to walk around the entire home – inside and out – and check to see if everything is up to par. If you’re moving into an apartment community or you’re renting a home, be sure to contact your landlord if you find an issue.

Organize efficiently

In order to make sure organization of your belongings isn’t a total mess, go room by room and organize how you see fit before moving on to the next room. This allows you to stay focused, and not sidetracked by having too many items together in multiple rooms at once.

Make sure kids and pets are comfortable

If you have children or pets that have made this new move with you, you need take the time and help them settle in. New surroundings can create stressful situations, especially for little ones and pets. It’s important they understand the new setting they’re in is safe and allow them time to get comfortable with it.

For kids, make them a priority, and allow them to feel involved in the process. Let them decorate their new room the way they’d like, and help out with other tasks around the house. For pets, make sure it’s a calm environment and that they’re out of harm’s way during the moving process.

Get involved in your new community!

One of the best ways to settle in after completing a move is to get involved in local activities and events, or just take a walk and introduce yourself to your new neighbors you see out and about.

Other things you can do to get familiar with a new area is visit local establishments such as the neighborhood restaurants, grocery stores, or shops, get involved in local clubs, or find activities happening in your new city that you can become part of. This will make you more comfortable in your new surroundings, and will help you meet others as well!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is here to help with any and all moving needs you might have, from packing and packing supplies, to local and long-distance moving. We can even help after your move is complete, as we offer in-home moving services such as reorganizing furniture, or helping to get rid of items you no longer need.

Visit our franchise locator today, and find out how TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® can help assist you on your journey to a new home today!

October 17, 2016October 17, 2016 Movers Who Blog DIY Projects, Holiday Fun, Home Decor, Tips and Tricks

Candy, costumes, and creative decorations … oh my!

Trick or treat walk with my dog

Written by Katie Peterson

It’s that time of year again! Fall is upon us, and the kids are already on premature sugar rushes; it’s time for Halloween! Your kids are mentally prepared, but are you? We’ve compiled the most useful and creative things to know so you’re ready for anything this Halloween season.

Candy

Candy always seems to be a stressor on Halloween. What if you leave a bowl out and the neighborhood kids take too much? What if you run out? What if your kids eat way too much while they’re out trick-or-treating? A really great way to save yourself from worrying about candy on Halloween is to be as prepared as you can.

Buy more candy than you think you’ll need and keep the receipts! You can return whatever you don’t end up using later.

If you can’t be home to pass out candy, placing a bowl out with one of these cute reminders should help encourage the trick-or-treaters to help you ration your candy for a while:

Roses are red. Violets are blue. We’re out trick-or-treating just like you! Please take one treat!
Take a treat! But leave the rest for other boys and ghouls!
Trick-or-treat, smell my feet, please take just one sweet to eat!
Although we’re not home to give you a scare, here’s a bowl of tricks and treats, take one … if you dare!

After Halloween is over, take full advantage of the candy on sale at the stores and begin stocking up for next year (assuming the candy isn’t the type to go stale). You’ll thank yourself when the prices rise again right before the holiday.

Costumes

Costumes can cause unwanted stress without the proper preparation. With these tips in mind, your kids will be safe, and you will be stress-free.

Depending on where you live, encourage costumes for your kids that will look good while still keeping warm. For instance, a genie outfit with high heels might not work out so well on a cold night of walking. And if you can help it, you don’t want your cute costumes (and the kids inside them) to be covered up with big coats while out for the night. A good solution for making your costume warmer is to layer turtle necks and leggings of the same color underneath.

For Halloween safety, fasten reflective tape to candy bags and add it as an accent to your child’s costume. No need to go overboard with this one, but as long as your child can be seen by cars in the dark, the tape will be worth it. Another good thing to keep in mind, utilize all sidewalks or walkways to avoid walking close to traffic. Be sure to keep an eye on your little ones and have them by your side to avoid any accidents.

To avoid last-minute stress before going out, be sure your kids try on their costumes a few weeks before Halloween to double check there aren’t any last minute adjustments or accessories needed. Make sure everything fits and isn’t broken beforehand so you have extra time to rebound if you find a problem.

Creative decorations

One of the best parts of Halloween is the decorating, but it can also be one of the most stressful and expensive. You’ve got to round up all the boxes from the attic, untangle the lights (and end up buying more when you find all the bulbs broken), and there never seems to be enough money in the budget for all the ready-made decorations at the store. Whether you are the house on your block to “Deck the Halloween Halls” or not, we’ve gathered some of our favorite DIY decorations that might scare the kids, but certainly not your wallet or gumption to decorate.

: Photo courtesy of http://www.woohome.com

Use the light from inside your house to create window decorations:

Grab big pieces of black construction paper, colored crepe paper, and scissors, and you’ve got all you need for this creative and easy decoration hack. The light from the room behind the paper is all the illumination you need to make a big statement on your street.

Reuse milk cartons to make a lit pathway for trick-or-treaters:

: Photo courtesy of http://www.eighteen25.com

All you’ll need for this one are milk cartons, a craft knife, sharpie marker, and lights. Draw the ghost eyes and mouth on the empty milk carton, and cut a small round hole in the back for the lights to go in. After that, you’re all set to line them up and plug the lights in! (Just make sure the plug side ends up somewhere near an outlet or extension cord).

: Photo courtesy of http://www.coolmompicks.com

Make your door a monster with whatever crafts you have lying around:

The best part about this DIY is, whether you have time to go all out with spider webs and sparkles or you just slap on streamers and eyeballs, the door monster will still come to life!

Create hanging ghosts:

: Photo courtesy of http://www.simplydesigning.porch.com

All you need for this project are a few Styrofoam orbs from the craft store, cheese cloth, eye-hooks, string for hanging, and black craft paint for the ghost’s eyes. Just drape the cheesecloth over the orbs after you’ve painted on the eyes and start shredding the ends. A few of the ghosts grouped and hanging on your porch or from trees makes for some cute (and cheap) Halloween decorations.

Utilizing these creative DIY’s and tips this Halloween will save you money and stress so you can focus on what really matters… enjoying the holiday, however you’ll be celebrating! Have fun this year, and remember, this is a day when too much candy is the goal, as long as the majority is saved and shared rather than eaten!

What are your favorite Halloween tips and DIY’s? We’d like to hear them! Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

August 1, 2016September 6, 2016 Movers Who Blog Moving, Organizing, Preparing to Move, Tips and Tricks

Surviving your move: What to know about moving into your first apartment

Apartment moving pic

Written by Katie Peterson

At TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® we know moving can have its fair share of challenges. There’s the packing, the cleaning, and let’s not even mention move day itself. Moving into your first place is stressful, and apartment moving has its own set of headaches. Neighbors are more like roommates, there are a ton of rules and regulations while renting an apartment, and what about all those stairs? We’ve come up with some tips to help you survive your first apartment move.

Ask questions

-Ask the landlord about any concerns beforehand. Good questions to ask might include what kind of maintenance is available if something goes wrong in the apartment, how old the building is, and even questions about the previous tenants. Your landlord will love bragging about any new construction, and you will be making a more informed decision about your new place as a result.

-If you have a chance, talk to some of the current residents of the building while you are there. What do they think of the landlord? How are the other tenants in the apartment? This will help you make an informed decision about the apartment and give you a chance to introduce yourself to some of your future neighbors if you are already serious about renting.

Be prepared and organized

The actual move into your new apartment is all about being prepared and organized throughout the process. With these tips in mind, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way.

Before your move:

-Make sure to bring paper documentation to your lease signing. This might include proof of employment or a copy of your lease with highlighted areas you might have questions on. Especially in competitive markets where multiple tenants are looking to rent, it pays to be prepared! This will also give your landlord a good idea of your trustworthiness and ability to bring important documents in on time (like your rent).

-Schedule a walk-through of the apartment with your landlord before you move in. This is a good opportunity to take photos of the condition of the apartment for reference when you are negotiating your security deposit. The photos can also be used to ensure you took care of the apartment when you eventually move out and want your deposit back.

-Measure the dimensions of your new apartment before you buy furniture or bring in items you already own. This will save you the headache of having to return any items that won’t fit, and the backache of your movers trying to fit the furniture through the door. Important spots to measure include the area for a washer and dryer and the nook for your refrigerator (if you have to supply them), tight doorways, and wall space for seating.

On move day:

-First things first, clean every nook and cranny of your new apartment! Scrub all those places you won’t ever be able to get to once your furniture is moved in, and even the places you will. It will save time and energy later in the day when all you have to do is a quick trip around the apartment with the vacuum.

-Schedule a timeframe to move into your new place at a reasonable and respectable time. The earlier, the better! Make sure you have enough time to finish moving in before residents in your apartment building are thinking about going to sleep. Your neighbors will appreciate meeting you during daylight hours as opposed to when they are complaining about the noise in their pajamas.

-Schedule any big items you’ve purchased to be delivered on separate days or spaced apart on the day of your move. Items such as mattresses and large furniture pieces will have their own deliveries and can create inconveniences on move-in day if arriving all at once. The day after your move, or a few hours after the movers have gone, are good times to schedule these deliveries to ensure the elevators and parking lots aren’t crowded and remain accessible to other tenants.

Be friendly and considerate

-This probably goes without saying, but be friendly! Introduce yourself to your surrounding neighbors. Even if you don’t go around knocking on your neighbors’ doors be sure to say “hi” in passing or on the elevator. You might make new friends, or at the very least, get to know their names in case their mail ends up in your box by accident.

-Make sure your landlord knows who you are and has a face to go with your name. It will be useful for him/her to know you in case you have a maintenance problem or you are a few days late on the rent. A little effort will ensure your landlord knows you as more than just a name on a check.

-Be considerate of the noise level and your activities at certain hours. Bouncing a basketball in your room on the third floor is never a good idea, especially if it’s at three o’clock in the morning.

Moving into your own apartment for the first time can be exciting, scary, and stressful all wrapped up in one. Making preparations beforehand, staying organized, and being considerate of your neighbors are great ways to help you survive your first apartment move!

What advice do you have for moving into your first apartment? We’d like to hear! Like us on Facebook for more helpful tips and updates. TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward!

December 7, 2015September 6, 2016 Movers Who Blog Moving, Preparing to Move, Spring Cleaning, Tips and Tricks

How to avoid leaving a huge mess when you move out

Don't forget to clean the stove before moving!

Moving is a huge time-consuming and stress-inducing chore, but there’s no other way about it. You have to spend weeks sorting and packing stuff you’ve accumulated over the past few years, talk to the movers, arrange for utilities to be transferred, unpack and put things away in your new home…the list just goes on.

With all this occupying your mind day and night, it’s only natural that you’ve forgotten one essential part of moving – that’s right, move-out cleaning! This house has been your home for the past many years; don’t you owe it a good cleanup before you leave? Okay, you are not that sentimental about the house, but do you think you have a good chance of getting the deposit back intact if you leave the house in the condition it is in right now?

To make things easier on you and help you avoid leaving a huge mess behind when you move, we have put together a handy list of things that you need to do before closing the door of your old home one last time. Happy moving!

What you will need:

A pair of rubber gloves
A vacuum cleaner
A mop
A broom and a dustpan
A squeegee
A spray bottle
Scrubbing sponges
Dish detergent
Baking soda
Magic erasers
Vinegar
Toilet cleaner and brush
All-purpose cleaner
An old toothbrush for tough-to-clean stains
Old newspapers
Cleaning rags
Trash bags

Tip: Remember to keep the above items separate from your packing boxes so that they don’t get shipped out to your new home before you are done cleaning!

In all the rooms:

Spray all windows with a mix of 50% distilled water and 50% tap water and wipe clean with a squeegee or a scrunched-up newspaper. If you had not washed your windows for a long time and they are particularly dirty, you may want to wash them with soapy water first. Clean the ledges.

Dirty window blinds? Simply put on an old cotton sock, dip your hand in the vinegar mix, and run your hands over each of the blinds. And there you go, good as new!

Take out all nails and hooks you have put into the walls and doors and fill them with putty. Use a magic eraser to remove scuffmarks, but take care to first test the eraser on a small surface. Harsh erasers can take the paint right off the walls and make your job twice as hard!

Bright lights are magnets for insects. Make sure to check for dead insects when you dust and clean the lighting fixtures and fans.

Wipe the closet shelves and check if the walls are clean. Remove cobwebs from the ceiling, vacuum the floor, and mop the hardwood and tile surfaces.

Tip: Always clean from top to bottom to avoid having to clean the same spot twice!

In the kitchen:

Empty cabinets and remove liners. Wipe the insides and the front surfaces clean with a damp cloth.

Remove refrigerator shelves and soak them in the sink while you scrub the inside clean with a scrubbing sponge and dish wash soap. Wipe the inside dry with a cleaning rag, wash the shelves, dry them, and put them back in. While you are at it, clean the sides, back and top of the refrigerator and also sweep below the refrigerator. If you have a dishwasher, clean it thoroughly.

Clean the oven, microwave and stove next and make sure that you remove all traces of grease and burnt food. While cleaning the stove, make sure you clean below the drip pans too. Scrub the kitchen counter top, sink and plumbing fixtures and you are good to go!

Tip: For the oven, use a paste made of baking soda and water to remove stubborn grease and grime without the harsh odors associated with heavy-duty oven cleaners.

In the bathrooms:

Empty the bathroom cupboards and take out the liners. Scrub clean the shower walls, tub, sink and counter with an all-purpose cleaning agent. Use the toothbrush for attacking the grout. Clean the toilet thoroughly from top to bottom. Spray the mirror with the vinegar solution you used on the windows and wipe clean. Dust the exhaust fan. Mop the floor.

Tip: Remember to keep at least one bathroom for the last or you may have to clean it again before you leave!

Don’t forget the outside areas

If you were using any outside storage facilities in the building, such as garage lockers, clean out those spaces. Dust and clean the outside lighting fixtures. Check your mailbox. Sweep the porch and patio.

One last time

Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you say goodbye to your old home for the last time.

Are all the closets and cabinets empty?
Are all the electrical appliances/lights/fans in working condition?
Have you taken the trash out?
Do you have time-stamped photographs to document the condition of the house at the time of your move-out? These may be necessary if the landlord comes up with false damage charges later.
Do you have all the keys to return to the landlord?
Have you informed your neighbors you are moving?

A thorough move-out cleaning, especially if you have not been very particular about keeping the house in great shape all these days, can take a lot of time. If you have friends who are willing to pitch in, don’t hesitate to ask for their help. You should ideally start a few days in advance so that you are not left elbow deep in soapsuds and detergents even on the last day.

If you hate getting your hands dirty and don’t mind spending the extra dollars, you can always consider hiring a professional cleaning service to spruce up the home before you leave. But whatever you decide, don’t forget that move-out cleaning is essential to ensuring that you get your security deposit back from your landlord without a major deduction. In most cases, a happy landlord means a full refund. Here’s hoping that your moving happens as smoothly and easily as possible. All the best!

Kurt Jacobson is a writer and vacation rental manager. Knowing what it takes to maintain pristine appearances for customers, he thrives on sharing what he’s learned from his experience. When he’s not managing a property, he writes about home cleaning for the Professional Home Cleaning Inc website.

July 28, 2014 Movers Who Blog Moving

5 staging tips to sell your home faster

Written by Claire Schneider

Looking to sell your home quickly and for top dollar? Staging your home is the best way to meet these objectives. If you think the cost of staging your home outweigh the benefits, think again. In fact, 95% of staged homes take an average of 11 days or less to sell and are sold for 17% more than non-staged homes. So what are the key tried-and-true home staging tips?

We found a staging expert and Tomie Raines Inc., real estate agent, Katie Spyke, to share five simple yet effective home staging tips to get your house sold quickly and at the best price possible. Check out this video to learn how painless home staging can be!

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® is the first and largest franchised moving company in the United States. Let us help move you forward! For more helpful tips and information on moving services subscribe to our blog and like us on Facebook.

July 21, 2014 Movers Who Blog Moving

Moving with kids: tips from the mini movers

Written by Claire Schneider

Moving with kids can be a demanding and taxing effort, but with a little preparation and guidance on what moving day will be all about, the experience can prove to be just the opposite.

What are the most effective ways to create a fun, exciting moving experience the whole family will enjoy? We turned to the experts for their advice. See what these mini movers have to say about moving.

Be sure and check out these additional resources all about creating memorable moving experiences for each family member.

Planning on moving with kids? 5 ideas to turn packing into a game

Moving is a grueling process, especially when little ones are involved. Abrupt changes have the potential to make them feel unsettled, so it’s important to create a seamless transition. To accomplish a smooth shift, simply transform packing into a series of engaging games. You and your kids will remember moving as a fun and special time spent together by infusing creativity and engaging the senses into the process. Click here to read more.

How to move with kids and make lasting memories

Sure, we all know moving is no cakewalk, but for kids, the emotional toll could potentially run deeper. For most children, moving means leaving perhaps the only home they’ve ever known. Whether moving out of state or just around the block, children and adolescents typically exhibit signs of resistance or anxiety at the prospect of starting a new chapter. By making a few adjustments in your approach, a life-changing move can be more cakewalk than obstacle course. Continue reading here.

Tips for starting a new school

The first day of school can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re the new kid in school. Here are some simple tips to help your kids prepare for their first day.

Boss for a day

Make it easier and more fun by assigning age-appropriate tasks. For younger kids, make them responsible for bringing the movers water and snacks during breaks. Allow older kids to monitor when belongings are ready to be moved, and charge them with handling last-minute cleaning duties. A special job for younger children is to give them the role of honorary mover or “boss for a day.” Check out the video below showing how young Cade’s anxiety was reduced when the TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® movers let him help lead the move project.

Don’t forget to download your free moving with kids’ checklist!

September 17, 2012 Movers Who Blog Uncategorized

10 Renovations to Consider for Your New Home

Guest post by Erin Devine

After the selling, buying, and moving processes are over, you can sometimes find yourself living in a new house that feels a bit foreign. Renovation projects provide you with the perfect opportunity to make the most of your creative skills while transforming your house into a home. Here are 10 popular renovation projects you can undertake to add some personality and style to your new stomping grounds:

Install Hardwood Flooring

Hardwood flooring gives your home a distinctive mark of elegance and sophistication. You can install tongue-and-groove style planks that slide together. Visit one of the large hardware stores near you and get a lesson from an expert. Not to mention that hardwood flooring is an investment that increases the value of your home if you have to move again in the future.

Accentuate the Kitchen

Remove the knobs and pulls from the drawers and cabinets in the kitchen. Find pewter or antique finishes in restoration hardware stores. Shiny ceramic knobs are available in many colors. Backsplash tiles can also take any kitchen from drab to beautiful, and most colors and styles come in mosaic mesh mount for easy installation.

Install Medallions on the Ceiling

Unless your new home has plaster moldings, you can replicate the elegant look with plastic. They are lightweight and easy to install, and they give your home a distinctive and aristocratic look.

Replace Kitchen Faucet

Style and function are important to you in the kitchen, and the right faucet can make a big difference in both. A faucet that has a high arch lets you put large pots under it so you can scrub them easily. A graceful shape complements your kitchen area as well.

Upgrade the Mudroom

Laminate flooring is, by design, perfect for the rooms of the house that are subjected to more dirt and water than others. By prepping the floor and following other recommended procedures, laminate flooring makes a beautiful floor, and it is less expensive than hardwood. You can also install it yourself with little hassle. Join an installation class at your local hardware store.

Install Stepping Stones to Your Door

Find some round or square stones at your local store, or buy a bag of quick-setting concrete mix. Use your old cake pans or your child’s plastic toys as forms, and paint them when they are dry.

Upgrade Your Showerheads

Replace an old showerhead with a large, luxurious one. Find one that conserves water but still creates a wide spray. Or, you may want to purchase a showerhead that features a pulsing massage.

Replace Switch Plates

Armed with only a screwdriver, you can remove the old plates and install new ones. You can choose the same color for all plates or adapt your choice to match each room.

Spruce Up Your Bathrooms

Older homes often have a small mirror in the bathroom. However, you can easily update your bathroom by replacing it with a mirror that covers the entire wall, making the bathroom appear larger than it actually is. You also may want to purchase a vanity so that you have something to store your make-up, medications, and toiletries in.

Buy a Bucket of Paint

Nothing improves the overall appearance of a home more than fresh paint. Start with the room that needs it the most. If there’s a room without windows, you may want to choose a light color to instantly brighten the space.

There are many renovation possibilities for your new home, and all it takes is a little bit of dedication and some elbow grease to make a new house truly feel like home.

Erin Devine blogs for Floor & Décor Outlets, a factory direct flooring company specializing in hardwood and tile floors. She also maintains her own interior design and home renovation blog, DIY Home & Floor.

Photo courtesy of http://www.woohome.com

Planning on moving with kids? 5 ideas to turn packing into a game

How to move with kids and make lasting memories

Tips for starting a new school

Boss for a day