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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT

Why I wish I’d known about mobile self storage last year!

Sponsored by Super Easy Storage

Last year was not exactly relaxed; moving not once but twice (we had six weeks between homes, waiting for settlement), then when we finally bought a house and moved in, the renos started. There’s nothing like ripping out your kitchen and all your floors to make life interesting!

Something I really wish I’d known about last year was mobile self storage! This service, offered by Super Easy Storage, allows you to rent small (or large) self-storage modules for as little as $19 per week, and store them where you want. So, rather than do what we did when we sold our apartment, which was pay removalists to pack up and take everything to my in laws’ empty double garage and then unpack it, then do the same again six weeks later when we settled on the new house, we could have packed the modules at our leisure (rather than all on one hectic day), store them at their warehouse (you can store them on your property if that’s option but obviously we didn’t officially own ours at that stage), and then brought them to the new place, again at our leisure, later.

Not only does this often work out cheaper, but your belongings are safe and dry (and if you can store them on your own property you save there too). What happened with us is that when we removed everything from the in laws’ garage six weeks later, a lot of things had been hit by the dreaded mould and had to be thrown out.

Good to know for next time, eh?! I’m hoping you can all save yourselves time and money by me telling you about this!

The other time this would have been amazing, was when we did all our floors late last year. The thing about doing floors is you have to get everything off the floors and out of the way, and because we had a lot of levelling that needed doing, and a lot of wet cement around, we couldn’t really move things from one room to the next (which wouldn’t have been much fun either!). So, we had to pile everything up in the carpeted rooms we weren’t touching, and when I say piled, I mean poor Seb’s playroom was unusable, so we had pretty much no clear rooms in which to relax during the four-day process. It was so stressful!

Four days where we had to move pretty much everything for new floors to be laid!

We couldn’t fit everything in the rooms that weren’t being touched either, so ended up with our huge modular sofa and dining table on the patio outside, just praying that the roof over them wouldn’t spring a leak (and yes of course it rained). Everything was okay but I had a few sleepless nights there!

But what else could I do though, I thought?! Well, as it turns out, I could have packed everything into some Super Easy Storage modules and had them sitting in the front yard. Now they tell me!

There are so many situations where these self storage modules could make life easier and save you money. Renos in particular can be a real nightmare to live through, so if you can just get things out of the way while messy work is happening, while still keeping them safe and dry on your property, happy days! And all for an affordable price.

I love that mobile storage removes the travel time of getting your things to a warehouse, which is often out of town and not convenient or close by. It’s also a much more efficient process and I love that. Saving time and money (especially time!) and making life easier, especially when you have a toddler running around, is the best. Moving house and renovating are right upon there in the stress stakes so anything that minimises this is a Godsend.

Super Easy Storage (formerly known as Super Cheap Storage) either let you keep the modules on your own property (if that is possible) or they’ll come and collect them for you and take them to their warehouse. It’s just one less thing to worry about. And when it comes to packing and unpacking the modules, you can choose to do it yourself or pay them to do that too. You really can tailor the experience to your needs and budget. There’s also no lock in contract, you just use what you need for as long as you need it.

To give you an idea, one of their large 10m3 units (one of the largest on the market) will comfortably fit the contents of a studio apartment, including appliances. And they’re made of industrial materials so if you’re storing on site, they’ll be secure and dry and you’ll be the only one with a key. To work out how many or what size modules you might need, you can use their handy online calculator.

When else could you use them?

  • To declutter your home when you stage it for sale
  • If you’re renting your home out unfurnished while you move overseas for work temporarily
  • To store family heirlooms you don’t have space for in your current home but would love to keep hold of for when you have a bigger home later

They’re just a few of my ideas!

Find out more about Super Easy Storage’s flexible and affordable services.

 

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Competitions Expert Tips

How to move house like a pro + win $2000 to spend with Grace

GRACE Australia provide these top tips to help minimise stress and disruption during your next relocation.

Make a list and check it twice

Make a list of things to do on moving day and gather supplies such as boxes, bubble wrap, sticky tape and a permanent marker a few weeks in advance. Make a list and running sheet of all the tasks to complete on the day.

Declutter and donate

Create a STAY and GO list, and purge items that aren’t wanted. GRACE’s ‘Move house, make a Difference’ cartons will collect and deliver unwanted items direclty to St Vincent de Paul Society so you don’t have to!

Involve the children

If you have children, spend time explaining the changes and get them excited about the move. Bonding time will help capture the memories and an opportunity to talk about the next home and all the exciting sights to see.

Storage solutions 

Consider self-storage options so you don’t have to rush the move. This will help you to move in progressively.

Don’t forget your furry friends

The four-legged members of the family also need more attention when it comes to relocating. Before you move, speak to your veterinarian about what’s best for your pet when it comes to both moving and settling in to their new home.

Overnight bag
Pack an overnight bag for each member of the family with the essentials which means that you don’t have to unpack and sort through moving boxes on the day. Your first night survival pack should include the toilet paper, pyjamas, toiletries and phone chargers. Not to mention coffee and breakfast supplies!

Spring clean 
Allow enough time to clean or book a cleaner. A removalist company will be able to remove any packaging materials following the delivery of your household goods. GRACE offers a valet cleaning service, so you don’t have to source and book a cleaner during this busy time.

Rely on the professionals for the rest
Did you know it takes an average of two-to-five days to pack up the average four-bedroom family home? Consider using a professional removalist to pack and transport your household goods so you don’t have to take time off work.

When it comes to relocating your family, GRACE is the name you can trust. From preparing and transporting the pets to packing, transporting and cleaning your house, they cover all bases. For more information on their comprehensive removal services, visit the GRACE website.

Win a $2,000 GRACE voucher! Got a move in the New Year? For your chance to win $2,000 to spend with GRACE, simply complete the form by 5pm AEST on Friday 22 December 2017.

Terms and conditions:

  • $2,000 credit applies to moves with moving and packing services (ex GST) in our Australian service areas.
  • Applies to moving and packing services for private household moves only.
  • Insurance, valet, and other ancillary services are excluded from this offer.
  • Offer valid until 30 September 2018, and is subject to availability.

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Expert Tips RENO ADDICT Renting

9 storage and packing hacks for moving house

Whether you’re moving or clearing a home, packing up household items is a time-consuming and tedious task that everyone is familiar with. Supercheap Storage share their expert insider tips to ensure your belongings endure their journey.

mods in warehouse

  1. Add bi-carb soda to clothing, books and linen. Before stowing clothes and books away, add a sprinkle of bi-carb soda to prevent that stale scent from occurring. Including a fragrance bag of dried lavender will add a pleasant, fragrant touch.
  2. Recycle cartons for packing Christmas decorations. Egg cartons, shoe boxes and iPhone cartons are perfect for separating items and making them easy to find. Winding fairy lights around a flat piece of cardboard is an easy way to avoid them getting tangled.
  3. Pack mirrors and picture frames upright. Logically, many people pack these items horizontally, but by packing them in vertically and tucked in tight, they are less likely to break. Blankets are best to protect these fragile pieces.
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  4. Pack linen within its own pillow case. Just like socks, pillows and sheets of a set easily go missing. To avoid this and to keep linen tidy, fold everything and place inside one of its own pillow cases.
    colourful_sheets
  5. Match up item shapes. To maximise space when packing items, match up similar shapes. For instance, if packing away kitchen trays, put all the rectangular trays together and all the circle trays together.
  6. Tape screws, bolts and allen keys to matching furniture items or toys. In the rush of a clean or a move, it’s easy to misplace these essential parts. It’s the same with electrical items — ensure the cord is attached or taped to the item to make it easier when unpacking.
  7. Remove batteries from toys, gadgets and appliances. This will prevent items from accidentally being switched on while also protecting these items from battery corrosion.
  8. Teabags are useful for fridges. After cleaning the fridge, it needs to stay ajar. Placing teabags on each corner is a handy way to do this before wrapping.
  9. Prevent damage using mobile storage options. If external storage is needed, opt for mobile storage. This prevents double handling of loading and unloading items, which helps ensure belongings remain intact.

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– Supercheap Storage are Australias premier mobile storage company with warehouses across Australia and internationally. For more information visit their website here.