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Ever Wondered if you had a House Elf? Illustrated Mythical Creatures That Live In Your Home

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Our homes mean a lot to us, and we’re happiest when they’re filled with joy and positivity. But it’s not always easy to keep the balance, so sometimes we seek help from elsewhere to keep home life happy and ordered. We think this is why there are so many creatures in folklore that are thought to live in and around the home. It’s also useful to have someone, or something, to blame when things don’t quite go to plan! Some of these creatures are good and helpful, others are less so. Climadoor have created some lovely illustrations of the mythical creatures you might find around your home. 

 

Different cultures have talked of house spirits for centuries, with stories and traditions carried down through generations. In the UK, you might have heard of a Brownie or Boggart (perhaps you’d recognise the alternative name, Bogeyman better!). The Brownie is a helpful creature who helps with chores whilst people are sleeping, but may leave the home or become malicious if upset. A Brownie shares a lot of characteristics with Dobby the House Elf, so may be where J.K Rowling got her inspiration for the magical creature from! 

 

Russian homes may welcome a Domovoy and do their best to keep him happy. Home owners in China sought the presence of a Baku to keep other evil spirits away. Many cultures embrace these age-old tales that have been passed down through generations. They affect the way people run their household as they’re so deeply rooted in people’s minds.

 

In France, luck can be brought to the home by a Matagot, only if it’s kept happy and content. In Scandinavia, a Nisse will watch over farmland if looked after with a bowl of porridge with butter on Christmas Eve. The Irish might be wary of a visit from a Banshee, as they indicate that someone is about to die. But in Japan a Zashiki Warashi house spirit is fun, mischievous and believed to bring great fortune. 

 

So if you ever wondered if you had a house elf, look closely and you might find that you do!

 

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check out some tips about moving home with a pet...

Moving house with a pet – Tips for moving with dogs and cats

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Ideally, the best case scenario for you and your pet would be to find someone – a friend or a family member – to look after the pet and keep it away on your moving day. But we don’t live in an ideal world and that probably won’t be the case for you on your moving day. So what can you do to make the moving house with a pet easier?

 

We’ll talk here about dogs and cats because they are the ones who can have trouble with moving to another home. Read on and check out some tips about moving home with a pet…

 

Tips for moving house with a dog

 

  1. Leave packing the dog’s bed and toys to the last minute. Let them feel at home until the last moment.

 

  1. When hiring professional movers, it would be best to keep the dog in a room where the movers won’t go. It’s to protect the dog and the movers. There could be someone who is allergic to dogs or deadly afraid of them.

 

  1. If you’ll be traveling a long time to get to the new property, don’t forget to secure your dog in the car and stop regularly for bathroom breaks and feeding time. For overseas relocation, it’s important to talk to the vet and get advice about taking your dog to another country.

 

  1. Make a new collar for your dog with the new address, in case your pet gets lost.

 

  1. Research vets and dog parks near your new house so you can be prepared.

 

  1. Do not be quick to wash your dog’s bed. Leave it as it is for a couple of day at least in the new house, so the dog can sense a familiar smell.

 

  1. Try to maintain its normal routine as much as possible.

 

  1. If there’s a garden at your new property, check if there are holes or places your dog can easily escape from before letting it play freely.

 

  1. Take the dog for a walk around the neighbourhood to meet the neighbours (especially the canine kind) so it gets to know them.

 

  1. And most importantly, be patient with your dog. It will get used to the new house but you will have to help it.

 

 

Some dogs get used to new places rather quickly, but unfortunately that isn’t always the case. Sometimes, often youngsters or very old dogs can have trouble getting used to the change. They may exhibit the following symptoms: lower activity levels, trembling, tucking its tail, hiding. If you notice any of the signs, call the vet.

 

Tips for moving house with a cat

 

Cats are a little bit easier to handle in such situations. Most cats love their routine, which when they get older is mostly sleeping and eating; and most of them don’t mind changing homes.

 

Some, however, can dislike the change and feel uneasy at a new home at first.

 

  1. Make sure the cat is put away in a room where movers won’t go on your moving day.
  2. Buy a cat travel bag in advance to limit the chaos it can cause while on the road.
  3. Stop regularly for bathroom breaks for the cat. Carry it in on a leash or in the travel bag, it might get scared and run away otherwise.
  4. Just as with dogs, if your cat has a bed – don’t wash it for a couple of days after moving in.
  5. Find a new vet if your current one will end up being too far away.
  6. Introduce the cat to the new house and be patient. Chances are it will walk around and sniff for a little while and find a place it likes and fall asleep. But if it starts acting differently or weird, call the vet.

 

Takeaway

Cats and dogs have feelings too. If they feel nervous and show unusual behaviour, do not wait too long to call a vet. Moving is stressful for them just like it is for you. Be understanding and supportive. Keep things as normal to them as possible and they should get used to the new place.

deal with stress when moving

How to Deal With Stress When Moving

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Whatever the circumstances surrounding your upcoming move — good or bad, exciting or nerve-wracking — the process is going to be fast-paced, overwhelming, and potentially stressful. However, it doesn’t have to be this way! It is possible to go through with a house move and not turn your hair grey at the same time.

 

If this sounds appealing to you, here are our top five tips to deal with stress when moving.

1. Plan and then plan some more

We all procrastinate, especially when something as overwhelming as moving house is on the horizon. However, attempting to clear clutter, pack those boxes, organise your belongings, and vacate your old home all at the last minute is guaranteed to bring on unnecessary levels of stress. You need to start planning far earlier than you think!

 

However long you think it is going to take, double it. Seriously, things are going to crop up that you don’t expect and nothing will go entirely according to plan, so prepare yourself with a realistic timeline.

 

In order to remain calm, cool, and collected during this time, make a list of what needs to be done, and then break these tasks into weekly to-do’s. From this point, you can divide the weekly to-dos into more manageable daily tasks. This strategy is the best way to beat procrastination and help you feel as though you are in control of the situation. There is so much to remember that it helps to have a moving house checklist.

 

2. Schedule “me” time

Whether or not you want to be moving, there are still (probably) going to be feelings of grief about the upcoming transition. Don’t be afraid to experience these feelings – they are normal, and everyone has them!

 

That being said, it is essential to take care of your own well-being while you are dealing with this process. Ensure that you are regularly getting enough sleep and that you are eating a wholesome, balanced diet. Far too often, when you are busy, these things go out of the window. But being tired is only going to make the move feel a lot more overwhelming and stressful!

 

Additionally, schedule “me” time so that you don’t feel as though the move has taken over your entire life. Whether that means regular exercise (which you should be doing!), time to read, coffee with friends, or meeting up with your local knitting group, don’t forget about the things that make you happy.

 

3. Hire a professional removals company

There is a reason that people hire professional movers – they reduce so much of the stress! If your budget allows, hire a dependable removal company that can pack and move your furniture. On the day of the move, you will be thanking yourself for making this investment.

 

4. Reach out to your friends and family

In addition to hiring movers, you also should make use of your network. Friends and family will undoubtedly be willing to help you with anything you need before, during, and after the move. Relocating shouldn’t be a lonely process and having your loved ones by your side as much as possible can aid you in reducing the stress.

 

5. Shift your mindset

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, profoundly said “the only thing constant in life is change” and even all these centuries later, it remains true. Change is going to happen in your life, you can’t always resist it. However, change can be seen as exciting — a new adventure — you just have to shift your mindset.

 

When you find yourself getting sad, stressed, or nostalgic about what you are leaving behind, reflect on this quote and open yourself up to embracing what is to come.

 

There’s no question that moving is stressful, overwhelming, and often downright annoying. However, it has to happen. We all have to do it at certain points in our life. Don’t expect it to be a walk in the park.

 

When you feel stressed and crabby, sit with yourself and identify what exactly is making you feel this way. From this point, you can make a plan for dealing with it. By utilising these five tips, you can make the move a lot less stressful and maybe even bearable. Good luck with the move and remember, “home is where the heart is, even if you can’t remember which box you packed it in!”

 

AUTHOR BIO

John Pfeiffer has been the proud owner of Ashtons Removals for over 40 years. His attention to detail, a product of his accountancy background, and his emphasis on training and empowering his team members, has ensured the vast number of Gold Coast families who have been moved by Ashtons Removals, have had their furniture and effects moved undamaged and with minimum fuss.

What Brexit Means for the Removals Industry

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There’s currently a lot of speculation regarding Brexit, if it will go ahead, and what it means for industries. Here’s what we anticipate it could mean for removal companies, particularly international removals companies. To be honest, Brexit’s consequences are difficult to predict, however, we can make some assumptions and educated guesses about its possible effects. If we leave the EU, the removals industry will likely experience positive, but also negative outcomes.

Domino effect in the property market

The effect of Brexit is likely to be significant on the property market in the UK. Removal companies may find themselves negatively impacted by this outcome. Brexit will likely cause economic instability particularly in the short-term. Instability will mean people find it more difficult to purchase property. It’s reasonable to suggest this will mean more people staying in their current accommodation and not needing removal services. The law of supply and demand means we’ll have a surplus of removal companies looking for bookings and less jobs available so profit margins will be put under pressure.

 

Free movement

In order for removal companies in the UK to operate smoothly, they often need to move freely across Europe. After Brexit, free movement will become problematic. UK removal companies may look to build better relationships with EU removal companies to create mutually beneficial partnerships. Companies will likely need to complete more procedures and paperwork before they are allowed to cross the borders. This will delay the process and cost removal companies more time and money. UK nationals, who move to the EU and later decide to move back to Britain, will possibly be more inclined to hire a local European removals company to avoid the perceived complications.

 

Tariffs

All countries involved in the EU have benefited from the trading agreement between the European countries and the United Kingdom. This has allowed free tariff trading agreements for our removals companies. If Brexit goes ahead, companies will need to negotiate new agreements. This makes the UK vulnerable to unfavourable tariffs when they deliver services to European countries.

 

Labour force changes

Being part of the EU, UK companies have the right to use an experienced workforce from all over Europe. Unfortunately, Brexit will likely create complications for British businesses, including our removals companies. Potentially this could be seen as good news for unemployed citizens. It will possibly open more job opportunities for the currently unemployed.

 

More citizens moving

The increase of British people wanting to move abroad is one short-term positive of Brexit for removals companies. Should you stay or should you go? This will possibly result in a small increase in bookings of removals companies. EU nationals who now live in the UK may feel unstable in their residency and choose to move home. This could result in mass-migration for the short-term, meaning more work for the removals industry.

 

Conclusion

According to the referendum results, the UK voted in favour of leaving the EU by 52%. Only Wales and England voted to leave the European Union by the majority, while all Scotland and Northern Ireland councils voted to stay in the EU with a majority of votes.

 

We all hope citizens and businesses will benefit from Brexit if we choose to go ahead. Of course there will be a time for us all to recalibrate and prepare for the future. After a couple of turbulent years, we hope for economic stability to be restored. We cannot tell for sure what the outcomes of Brexit will be – we are cautiously optimistic that a good decision will be made for the benefit of us all.

Timber Furniture

Choose Timber Furniture as A Part of Home Renovation Project

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It is astonishing that there is no single household that does not prefer using wooden furniture. The reason is simple and that is the warmth, elegance, rich appeal, grace and finesse that is found in wooden furniture. It is not possible to find a similar experience in any other material out there. Timber furniture hence provides homeowners a unique combination of aesthetic appeal and structural integrity at reasonable cost. Wood is a material that can transform the mood of any space in just few seconds. Choosing timber hence is popular in many home renovation projects.

Why is Timber the Best Choice for Furniture?

Traditionally people used to choose wood as the material for the creation of furniture. However, with time and technological advancements other materials like glass, aluminum, and steel are also being experimented. An industrial revolution in the furniture industry is witnessed by the introduction of new age alternatives. Wood however, till date has no match and offers the following advantages.

#1. Great Strength combined with durability

The best thing about timber furniture is that it is long lasting and is a robust material which can serve you for years to come. If you are looking for longevity in furniture, then timber is the only choice offering you an innate stability and reliability. It’s also an ideal value for money which means that you can sell it at a good price if the furniture are well maintained.

#2. Look and feel is unmatchable

Timber furniture adds integrity to the space and hence is used by many home designers and owners to create charm in your room. When renovating or improving the appeal of a home, charm is an element which is always added so that the new home gives a completely different feeling than the older one. Timber with its varied colors and designs is indeed a perfect way to achieve a charming and elegant living space.

#3. Sustainable material

Timber furniture is an excellent option for ensuring that you have an eco friendly home. An environment friendly home is made from objects which are non renewable in nature and hence helps conserve the natural resources. Wood for example can be considered as the only renewable building material. Trees are harvested continuously for wood and they can be replenished by a completely new growth. You can also hire specialized artisans and ask them to design eco friendly home interiors.

#5. Variety of designs

Wood comes in a wide range of colors, patterns, rings and shades. There are endless choices and hence you can easily choose a theme-based furniture for your entire home.  Having a well balanced and aligned look in every part of the house will no doubt improve it aesthetically.

#6. Versatility of timber

Any furniture which is made of wood looks good and pretty in any environmental setting. Timber along with its versatile shades, tones, patterns and hues hence can sync with all kinds of design schemes used in home improvement plans. So, whether you are creating a modern, classy, vintage or rustic theme there is a wood available for all themes.

Timber furniture is a historic and matured choice made by people all over the world. It A simple piece of wooden furniture will be enough to change the overall aesthetics of a space. Tiber furniture must be well maintained. If you are able to take care of the furniture with regular maintenance and cleaning, then its value will always be at a higher side. Check out timber furniture’s and research more about it before making an investment decision.

 

 

 

moving out of home

Tips For Cheaply Moving Home As A Student

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Students move home regularly, which is why it is important that every move is as cheap as possible. Here we have some great tips to help students move home cheaply and efficiently.

 

Moving home is expensive for everyone, especially for students. Students in London tend to move around a lot from home to halls, from halls to a shared house, then back home again. It’s a pretty changeable lifestyle when you’re a student which is why you have to become pretty great at moving your stuff or find someone else who can move or store stuff cheaply.

There are tons of ways you can save money when moving home as a student, here are just a few of them:

Mates Rates

Get everyone and anyone to help you. Don’t be afraid to trade cups of tea and favours for help moving, you need the help and this is when those closest to you should be available. Your family should be your first port of call as your parents probably have a bigger want and need to care for you than most of your mates, plus they like to help out however they can and may well be offended if you don’t ask them first. Then it’s time to call in the heavies – your mates. Plenty of them will be moving as well so simply call it ‘helping each other out’. You carry my box I’ll carry yours sort of thing! Everyone is in the same boat so hitch lifts and lifting help wherever you can, just don’t forget to say thank you and offer your services back, otherwise you won’t be getting much help next time!

Use What You Already Have

Where possible, try to avoid buying packing materials and use what you already have. Wrap clean kitchenware in scarves and clothes and ask friends to save up newspapers for you to wrap things in. Don’t bother buying packing boxes either, get down the local supermarket and ask them for spare boxes. Many shops have to pay to get their cardboard removed so will be more than happy to give you their spares. Top Tip – banana boxes are particularly strong and often come with lids so ask for those as a priority!

Have A Sale

Use moving as a chance to sell some of your unwanted items for extra money. Not only could this save you money on your move (saving fuel costs for car trips etc) it could make you money! Car boots are always an easy way to make a bit of spare cash on a Sunday morning (in some places pitches are just £5.00 for the whole morning!) or there are auction sites available to, not to mention recycling shops where you can weigh in old clothes.

Don’t Buy New

If you’re moving out for the first time, this is not the time for you to be buying loads of new and fancy items for your new home. You want clean and comfortable, not designer, so go mad on shabby chic! The best way to do this is by frequenting the car boots every Sunday in the lead up to your move. You can get plates for 20p, cool ornaments for £1.00, board games, clothes – anything you can think of! When you’re a student you can get away with being as wild and as out there as you want – so do it and grab yourself some second hand bargains!

Self-Storage

If you’re moving somewhere for a short time, try one of the many cheap self-storage units available to save money. The rates charged are very variable so compare prices of different self storage providers – but this is a great way to find secure space for your stuff if you need to stay in a friend’s room for a bit or at home for a bit while you save or look to find better digs.

Leave Time

 

Leave plenty of time to get yourself organised. Pack up your stuff for storing well in advance and try to label it so you know what is in every box. If you’re putting items in self-storage in Cambridge, Oxford, London (or wherever you are based at university) you need to make sure you lay out your self-storage unit well so nothing gets broken or damaged through collapsing stacks or dust infiltration. If you’re already studying then time management should be second nature to you, so there’s no excuse for being unorganised!

Moving House Indicates Buy New Home And Box

Top Tips For Finding A Great Removals Business

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Finding the best Removals Company in the market filled with fierce competition could be daunting. It can be quite problematic especially when you know that you do not have the capacity to do extensive research and interview all the companies that are available. What you want is a removals company who are professional, trustworthy and reliable. You will be tasking them with taking care of your items. This means that if you choose the wrong company, you will probably end up with broken items or worse.

We have heard our fair share of Removals nightmares that we know already which factors to look for so you can ensure that you do not end up with a hellish experience. Moving homes or office can be quite stressful. There is no need for you to add up to that stress by dealing with a problematic company. You should look for professionals and experienced movers that will pack your valuables and belongings in a quick and efficient manner.

When moving, you also have to take into consideration that they will be handling your expensive items ie. fine china, furniture, etc. Having a great Removals company will also be beneficial as they can hook you up with self-storage facilities that can make the entire moving process convenient for you. Professional Removals companies will also have specialists that are experts in packing your stuff and moving them which will make everything efficient.

Here are some tips on how to find the right Removals company for you.

 

  1. Check the Internet and use the appropriate keywords to find the best Removals company in your area
  2. Once you have a list of potential companies, check out the experiences of each company. When it comes to experience, the longer the better.
  3. Check out if the Removals company are partnered with self storage or other storage facilities. Companies like this are indicative that they know a lot about moving.
  4. Inquire how they would be handling your furniture, valuables, and all your other materials. This will guarantee that you will be in safe hands.
  5. Only sign with a Removals company if they have insurance. You can’t avoid accidents from happening
  6. Go to their office before the moving day. It would be best for you to meet the point person, the driver, and the other men that will do the moving for you. This ensures that you are not going to be moving with complete strangers
  7. Double check the terms and conditions of your contract and clarify some unclear terms
  8. If you’re going to get a storage facility, do an ocular visit before so you can be sure that it is appropriate

 

Before the removals men arrive, here are some things that you should do first:

  1. Create a master list of all the items that you will have the Removals company bring. It would also be more prudent to take pictures of the more valuable items like your furniture. This would also help you with insurance claims if something unfortunate happens. This would also help you if you are missing items at y our new place
  2. Label all the boxes and packages properly to prevent any sort of confusion and mishandling
  3. Keep all of your important documents like your passport, bank statements, etc. with you. Jewellery should also be handled personally. As a rule of thumb, if you can’t risk losing them, bring them with you
  4. Before you finally leave your house, make sure that it is entirely empty. Check every room, wardrobe, cupboard, and closet to guarantee that you do not have items that you have left.
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Apps You Need to Help With Your House Move

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With the ability of mobile apps to streamline nearly every aspect of locating a new place, the process of moving has become significantly easier. Without taking advantage of these tools, you may find yourself overwhelmed with moving tasks and unable to finish everything in time for move-in day.

 

For example, it’s a good idea to research cheap renters insurance before you move so you can be sure your valuables will be protected in your new place. The same goes with searching for moving services and supplies – you don’t want to put these basic tasks off until the last minute. You can also check out the salary you’ll need to buy a home in the major towns and cities across the UK. Explore the data, compare cities and follow house price trends here.

 

You may be familiar with the vast array of real estate websites available to help facilitate the process of buying, selling, and renting properties, but there are also many lesser known programs for other tasks that come up while moving. These tools are must-haves for anyone planning an upcoming move, and having them downloaded may be just what you need to get your moving jobs done on schedule.

 

 

Zillow

 

Zillow may be the biggest name in the world of real estate websites and applications, and it’s easy to see why. The platform receives roughly 36 million unique visits every month from users around the world, and it’s a great starting point if you’re still looking for that perfect place.

 

If you’re interested in a more interactive experience, Zillow’s mobile app also contains a feature which allows you to look at local listings in real-time as you walk through target neighborhoods. This makes it easy to visualize your life in a new place and get a feel for each area you’re considering.

 

Wunderlist

 

Wunderlist isn’t actually a house move app, but its general suite of productivity tools make it a great way to stay on top of your progress and make sure you don’t push things off to the last minute. With Wunderlist, you’ll be able to put to-do lists together and set reminders for tasks that you want to finish at certain times.

 

One interesting feature of Wunderlist is the ability to share these lists and reminders, allowing you to delegate tasks to any roommates or friends that are helping you pack up your place. Syncing this information to the cloud turns Wunderlist into a centralized platform, making it that much easier to prepare for your move.

 

Facebook Marketplace

 

There’s a good chance that you’re among the 2 billion-plus people that use Facebook each month, but even regular Facebook users often aren’t aware of the platform’s robust marketplace features that facilitate the buying and selling of a variety of items. This is the perfect place to find people in your area and arrange a purchase.

 

Selling and giving away old items is one of the most commonly overlooked tasks involved in moving out, and these pieces can be tough to get rid of as your move-in date approaches. Put a few things on Facebook Marketplace well before you’re planning to move in order to give yourself time to field offers and find a convenient time and place to meet buyers.

 

TaskRabbit

 

Fixing up your current place is a great way to increase the sale value of a home or guarantee an apartment’s security deposit. Repairing any damage and performing routine maintenance may involve more tools and specialized skills than you’re comfortable taking care of yourself.

 

Fortunately, TaskRabbit makes it easy to find professional freelancers and contractors in your local area. It’s an especially useful tool if your moving date is rapidly approaching and you don’t have time to complete everything you need to before leaving. Anything from cleaning and painting to more in-depth projects can be found on TaskRabbit.

 

Moving out is an often overwhelming endeavor that requires careful preparation and planning well in advance. If you’re looking for ways to streamline the moving process, these house move apps will help you make a number of moving tasks easier, including everything from searching for a place to finding buyers for items you no longer need.

winter move - moving house in winter

Winter Move: 5 Tips for Your Most Efficient Winter Move

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Moving can be worrisome enough but trying to do it in the middle of winter can make things even more stressful.

It’s one thing to relocate in 100-degree heat, drink gallons of Gatorade and sweat enough to lose five pounds, but somehow everything seems worse if it’s 20 below outside of your apartment in Bloomington, Indiana when the wind is blowing and the roads and sidewalks are covered with ice.

What can you do to make a winter move more palatable? Check out these five tips:

Prepare Your Stuff

Things freeze quickly in extremely cold weather. A caterer we know used to like delivering food in the winter because his vehicles were turned into refrigerators by the outside ambient temperatures, and when it was between 30 and 40 degrees, he didn’t have to worry about keeping anything at the proper cold food temperature. One day, however, the temp quickly dropped to 10 below, and all of his cheese and fruit trays froze within minutes. So, while not all of your stuff is cold-sensitive, things that are like some food items and of course pets and plants need to be protected. Remember also that china dishes and some glassware can also be damaged by a rapid temperature drop since items get brittle in the cold.

Keep Your Home Clean

On both sides of the move, make sure that mud, snow and ice are not tracked in and out of your home. Lay down protective plastic at all entrances to make sure that the dirt stays outside at your old home and your new residence.

Be Nice to Your Helpers and Movers

If you’re doing a DIY move, take some time to dress properly, eat well, have hot liquids available, and have a warm place to take a break. If you are using a moving service, make sure that you do the same for your hard-working movers. Even if it’s not required in your contract, buying them a hot meal is a great thing to do.

Be Flexible

You have no doubt planned your move months in advance, but when moving day is accompanied by a winter storm warning, be prepared to wait until the storm passes. Even if you are able to load up the truck in a blizzard, you’re not going to get anywhere fast or safely until the storm is gone.

Prepare and Winterize Your Car

If you live in a cold weather climate, for example, you just bought a contract for deed home in Minnesota, you know that your antifreeze needs to be checked yearly, and if your vehicle has been giving you any trouble, all problems should be taken care of before winter. If you live in a warm climate and are moving to a cold one, however, make sure all cold-weather systems are functioning. You may not care if your heater doesn’t work in Miami, but in Fargo it will be a different story.

Again, moving is rarely fun, and even if you have a great plan, the weather can interfere. Therefore, take care of all things you can control, and if the weather does not cooperate, at least you’ll know that you have everything ready to go as soon as the skies clear.