Stay on top of the million-and-one details of your next move.

With moving season about to kick into high gear (more than half of all moves take place between Memorial Day and Labor Day), we thought it was the perfect time to bring a digital version of our popular Moving.kit online.

The Digital Moving.kit is a comprehensive set of instructions, checklists and forms that will guide you through the process of moving step-by-step. We help you close up your old house, plan the move itself, and get you settled in your new home. We’ve worried about, stressed over, and obsessed about every possible detail so that you don’t have to.

With this digital moving kit, you can organize your entire move (in Adobe Reader) & print it out OR print it out first and fill out by hand. However you use it — it’s bound to help maintain your sanity while you pack up, move out, travel…and move in!

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We’ve all done it, probably more than once.

Whether it is coast to coast or down the street, Americans move and move a lot. According to the US Census Bureau, the average American changes houses once every five years. Given our nomadic tendencies, you’d think we’d have a system for minimizing headaches and maximizing efficiencies. Yet anyone who has moved is almost certain to have multiple horror stories — we hear about them all the time. And we’ve certainly experienced our fair share of nightmares – between the two of us, we have moved 26 times! While we can’t promise that it will ever be easy, we have learned that with a bit of pre-planning and some creative thinking, most of the biggest pitfalls can be avoided.

Alicia on ‘Overcoming Inertia’

‘Although the actual moving day may be weeks or months away, your move actually begins the day you decide to change your residence. The impending day is likely to produce a fair amount of anxiety. You know you should be getting organized, but it can be a daunting, even overwhelming prospect, so many people procrastinate until the last possible minute. Knowing where to start is truly half the battle. We’ve got two simple tasks that you can do right away that will help you overcome procrastination and organizational inertia. The first is: create a master calendar to plot out the major events. Keep it in one central place and use it to write down everything from cable appointments to house closings.

It’s much easier to stay on top of all the details if you also can see the big picture. The second is: have each family member over the age of 6 pick one closet and make a pile of items to give away or throw away before you move. The simple act of deciding what not to take often makes it easier to start thinking about what you will take.’

Sarah on ‘Keep a Notebook’

‘Moving is by definition, a period of flux. It can be incredibly challenging to stay on top of all the bits of information that inevitably accompany a move. Most people just jot down critical information (from telephone numbers to bids to emails) on slips of papers or post-it notes…and waste hours searching for them later. You’ll eliminate half of the headache of a move if you get one notebook that can serve as the central repository for all notes, numbers and notices.’

Here are three more moving tips that will help you get ready for that big day:

#1: Create a YUNKâ„¢ Box
YUNKâ„¢ stands for ‘You Never Know’. Set aside and label one moving box for just that purpose. You might throw in a remote control that you still have but are not sure what it goes to. Put in those plastic ‘do-hickeys’ in the kitchen that probably make something work. You will surely find a home for some of these things when you unpack at the new place.

#2: Consider What You Need to Open
First Put aside one box for items that you will want to get to first and label it ‘Open Me First.’ We like to include things like toilet paper, garbage bags, box opener, paper towels, pens, and screwdrivers. Make sure to put this in the moving truck last so it is easy to get to right away.

#3: Pack a ‘Gift’ Box!
Whether you’re single or have a family — take few minutes to pack a small gift box to open on your first day in the new house. Include some of your favorite items — ones with sentimental value and things that make you smile. Write a quick note to yourself (or have each family member write a note to the entire family) with your wishes for your life in your new home and your top 5 favorite memories of your old home.

Stress-Free Back to College Plan

The lazy, hazy days of summer are wonderfully slow, but if you’re heading to college in the fall, the time to move-in to your campus housing will be here before you know it. If you thought the blood, sweat and tears you expended preparing the application last fall was the hard part – think again! Making the physical move to college can be as stressful as writing the perfect essay or even picking the right college, especially if you ignore your mom or dad’s entreaties to get packing, and wait until the last possible minute to get yourself organized. Take it from two who have been there, you do not want to start off your college career in a discombobulated state, or have your last day at home be one spent with parents furious at your lack of preparation.
Getting ready involves much more than going out to buy a shower caddy from Bed, Bath & Beyond. To help you get through it without too much fuss, we’ve put together five simple steps that’ll have you heading to college in style, and stress-free!

1. Visualize the Room & Make a Checklist.

Think about what you’ll need when you arrive before you head to the store to buy things. If you don’t, you’ll end up spending more than you need to on items you’ll never or rarely use. Sketch the floor plan on a piece of paper and picture what you will need to make the space work. There isn’t going to be much storage space in the room, so consider adding tools that will keep clutter from overrunning the room to the list of things to buy. Most colleges also provide a checklist of items that students need, which cover things like sheets, towels, etc., so be sure to incorporate the school’s list with your own. Just remember: less is more.

2. Plan the Move.

Unless you are going to college in your hometown, you will need to take a bus, car, or maybe even a plane, to get there. Figure out the best way to get you and your belongings to school. Does your school have an organized dorm move-in? Are your parents or siblings coming along to help? If so, do you need a hotel reservation? Think of this move-in adventure like a trip and plan accordingly.

3. Get your Systems Set.

Plenty of people plan for college by buying new notebooks and some new clothes, but one of the most overlooked, but most important, aspects of planning for school is how you’re going to set yourself up for success. You might have done well in high school, but you also had parents who were always there as a safety net, ensuring homework was done, schedules were adhered to, and the big picture was organized. For the first time in your life, that responsibility falls entirely on your shoulders. It is entirely up to you to dot the “i’s” and cross the “t’s” in your life now. Take some time to think about how you are going to organize yourself so that you make the most of college. Whether it means seeking out tutors, signing up for one less class, or finding your favorite spot in the library, a little time now can mean a lot to your GPA later.

4. Set Up a Budget.

If you aren’t careful, you could end up in a heap of consumer debt – in addition to any school loans – by the time you graduate. Don’t put yourself in that kind of financial hole. It’s bad for your credit and may even hurt your chances of getting a good job upon graduation. Sit down with your parents or your financial assistance advisor and devise a reasonable budget that allows you to stay on track and have some fun. Be sure to brainstorm ways to say no to those credit card pushers that seems to pop up all over campus before you arrive as well.

5. Use Those Professors.

They are there for a reason – you. They’re getting paid to make sure that you learn something, so start right away by getting to know your professors. Take advantage of that network; visit them during office hours for extra help or advice on other classes. It might just be the smartest thing you do.

What would YOU add to the plan? What ideas or suggestions can you offer to the college freshman?

Organize a Stress-Free Move in 5 Simple Steps

Are you moving this summer? If so, you’re in good company. The end of June through the beginning of September is considered the “high season” for moving. That’s likely driven by recent graduates striking out on their own and families with children looking to minimize school-related disruptions.

If you are moving, are you stressed about it? If so, you’re in good company there too. According to researchers, moving is one of the five most stressful things you will ever do in life. Whether you move across town or across the country, you have to figure out how to organize your possessions, pack them up, and then unpack them on the other side – and that is just plain hard. Especially when you have a million other “regular” activities to tend to. It’s not as though everything else comes to a standstill just because you are moving. No, you have to fit it into already bursting-at-the-seams schedules.

So, how do you cope without going totally gray? Here are five tips to manage (and master) any move:

1. Bind It Up.

Get yourself a binder and use it as your moving “command central.” It can be one you make yourself, or a pre-printed, tabbed binder with helpful checklists, like the Moving.kit from GetButtonedUp.com. Not only will a binder or accordion file neatly contain any and all papers, of which there are many, but it will mentally give you the sense that you have the important things together, at your fingertips, which will keep stress levels lower than they otherwise would be.

2. Comparison Shop.

Moving is expensive. Once you get past initial bids, which are often artificially low, hidden costs for boxes, tape, packing materials, and of course, labor, quickly add up. Before you spend a dime, get at least three quotes, and ideally five, from different companies and really compare the fine print. If you’re just renting a van, compare the per-mile charges, often what appears to be a flat rate is not. If you’re hiring professionals, carefully consider how many hours it will take to move the things in your house. It is not unheard of for companies to try to win a bid by providing a low estimate that is based on an unrealistic number of hours.

3. Get Insurance.

One word: Yes. You need it. Loss of property is the number one headache reported by the moving industry – one in every five moves files a claim for more than $1500. The moving company only provides the most basic insurance based on weight ($0.30-$0.60 per piece per pound), and will not cover loss or damages unless you’ve purchased additional coverage. Most homeowners’ or renters’ insurance does not cover good in the possession of movers, so you can’t count on that either. Don’t risk being one of the unlucky one whose moving truck splits open on an Interstate spilling Grandma’s dining room table or whose things get “lost” in transit. Moving insurance is worth every penny, because moving does come with is many mishaps.

4. When in Doubt, Definitely Throw it Out.

Do you really want to lug that ugly coffee table to your new destination if you know you’re never going to use it and it will just sit in the garage or basement? Remember, it costs you to move every little thing, so go through your stuff and make some serious decisions. Goodwill, Salvation Army, Veterans Associations, and other charities are waiting for people like you to donate their items, so do some good for yourself and for others and pick and choose what really gets to come along for the ride.

5. 15-20 Minutes a Day Keeps Chaos At Bay.

Even if you chose to have the professionals pack you, start going through your stuff in 15-20 minute increments as soon as you can. Doing a little bit every night before you head to bed for four weeks or so will set you up for a much less stressful moving day/week. Start with a few things that you know you won’t be using. For example, you can box up the Christmas decorations or the kids Halloween costumes without worrying that you’ll need them. Whatever you’re not planning to use in the next few weeks in your home can be sorted and packed well in advance.

Twelve moves down, one to go. Since I graduated from college 20 years ago, I have moved that many times, and I am about to embark on what I hope will be the last for a very long time.

Whether you are single or hooked, with children or pets, moving is a major ordeal. Yes, it can be an exciting adventure, but transplanting yourself from one piece of ground to another is not akin to gardening.

In fact, experts rate moving as one of the top ten most stressful events in life, right up there with divorce and loss of a loved one. So if you are moving this summer, take lots of deep breaths, make lists, and try not to sweat the small stuff.

Given my extensive experience, I have put together some tips to save you time and headaches when choosing your mover. Unfortunately people get ripped off – just visit MovingScam.com, where I got recommendations for honest moving companies with the best record.

Which Kind of Mover Do You Need?

Large Moving Companies
National operations like United, Allied and Mayflower are not likely to spring any surprises on you. On the minus side, the costs will be higher.

Another disadvantage of large companies is that, because they will combine your stuff with others to fill their tractor-trailer trucks, you’ll probably get a delivery window of two days to two weeks!

Do-it-Yourself, but Not All of It
Of course, with all things in life, you’ll save money if you do-it-yourself. I have rented many a U-Haul in my day, and we even leased a bucket of bolts for our first move as a family.

However, since we no longer knew a bunch of brawny guys who would unload our stuff for pizza and beer, we hired moving help through eMove.com. The guys arrived on time, did their job extremely carefully, and there were no hidden charges. eMove.com can also help you pack, unpack, and clean.

You Load (Calmly), and They Drive
Driving a run-down truck full of heavy furniture across the country can be harrowing. Just ask my dad. Another budget-friendly option is to hire someone to do the driving part.

Perhaps the most well-known company in this category is ABF U-Pack Moving, but watchdog website MovingScam.com also endorses Atlas SmartMove and Broadway Express.
A variation on this theme is PODS. With one of those white storage containers placed in your driveway, you can take your time loading (and unloading), while the company hauls the container for you.

Small- to Mid-Size Moving Companies
This is my favorite method. We found a small New York City-based company by consulting MovingScam.com, which lists a handful of mid-sized companies which have received only positive ratings from people on that website.

The company we are now using for the third time, All Star Moving, uses smaller trucks, take one family at a time, and deliver the next day. I love that their competitive fee is not an estimate, but a fixed price.

Be Careful of Who You Trust With Everything You Own

While cost is a concern, so is safety and trust. To avoid getting cheated by a rogue mover, who might quote you a low price and then demand more money before they release your things, follow these tips:

• Try to get an all-inclusive price, not an estimate, which will be free of hidden charges and last-minute fees
• Beware of companies that ask your budget straight off and tailor their estimate accordingly
• Do not rely on telephone quotes: an estimator should come to your house and evaluate your stuff
• Be wary of a company that asks for a deposit, which is not standard practice
• A mover should get mainly positive consumer ratings at places like Epinions.com or MovingScam.com
• Go with a company that has been around for many years
• Ask friends, neighbors, and real estate agents for recommendations
• Make sure there are no complaints lodged against the company at the Better Business Bureau

Amy Suardi, Buttoned Up’s Savings Expert, is moving from Syracuse to Washington, D.C. at the end of the month. She writes about ways that save money and make people happy at Frugal Mama.

A yard sale is a great way to get rid of things you don’t need anymore, and make sure your old possessions fall into the hands of those who can reuse and better appreciate them. They take a lot of planning and work though, so here are 20 tips to help make the process a bit easier.

Don’t schedule your yard sale on holidays. It may seem like a good time for people to be out and about, passing by your sale, but they most likely have places to be and things to do already.

Advertising is the key to any event being a success. If you put your yard sale’s date, time, and location out there, you’re going to bring in a much larger amount of people. Try listing the info online, in your local paper, and on posters throughout the area. A great website to create your own eye-catching sign: SassySigns.com

Make sure you don’t overlook the essentials. Start with a good amount of small change and bills. This is also a good time to get rid of all those plastic grocery bags stuffed together in your kitchen.

Before your yard sale, start accumulating the items you want to sell. Put all the items in a box in some out-of-the-way place. If you don’t have to retrieve an item out of the box before the sale, it’s probably safe to assume you don’t need it.

Make sure you have a clean, freshly cut yard if that’s where you’re going to be hosting the event. You don’t want any of your kid’s toys mixed in with what’s being sold, or customers falling into ruts in the ground.

Place the more desirable items near the road- it will lure buyers in.

Go the extra mile and put a price tag on everything. It will save you time answering questions about price, and give you the final say on what you want for the item, rather than wasting time bartering if you don’t want to. However, if money, and not time, is your concern then you have the potential to get more than what you would have asked for if you let the buyer make an offer first.

Clothes generally don’t do well at yard sales, so if you have some high-end items that you don’t want to let go for a few dollars, check out local consignment stores and see what they would offer.

Set up early- at least an hour before you’re scheduled to be open for business. Oftentimes serious buyers will show up a little early to get the best picks, and are ready to pay more for the items.

Price reasonably. Usually it’s a good idea to go with 1/3 of the original cost of the item, but when it comes to old textbooks or outdated gadgets you might want to go lower.

Buyers love “Buy 5 for a dollar” types of deals. If you have stacks of old paperbacks, this is a great way to get rid of them fast.

Set up a table of “25 cent” items, filled with toys or useless trinkets. It draws in children who probably don’t have too much money to spend, and keeps them occupied while the older crowd sifts through the more expensive items.

Clean up any dusty or otherwise dirty items you’re going to be selling. Making the products as attractive as they can be is going to help you sell.

If it’s a hot day, set up a place where customers can get a drink, even if it’s just some paper cups with a pitcher of iced water. The buyers will then potentially stay longer, and be more likely to purchase items. It also creates a friendly atmosphere, so they’ll be willing to work with you more on prices.

Don’t accept checks unless you are willing to risk getting a bad one.

If you want to get your kids involved, allow them to set up their own table with old toys. Explain to them that if they get rid of the toys they have outgrown, it will make room for new ones they can buy with the money made.

Each item should be displayed to show its best side. Don’t pile books or CD’s into cardboard boxes to be put on the ground. Stack them neatly on a table, with each title visible.

Have a plan for the items that don’t sell. Whether it be donating to charity, your local library, or going to a consignment store, it’s best to have an alternative to dragging all your junk back into the house for an indefinite amount of time.

Admit to yourself that the main goal is to get rid of your junk. If as the day goes on you still have a lot of items left over, put up ½ off signs, and try to be more open to those who want to barter with you. Money is nice, but a de-cluttered house is better.

Once your yard sale is over, take down the sign. Don’t be inconsiderate of those who might believe there’s still good buys to be had.

Is Renting Better Than Buying?

by Amy Suardi, of Fruga-Mama.com and Buttoned Up’s Savings Expert

I confess that I’m 40 — whoops, make that 41 — and I have yet to buy a house. Not that I don’t want to. Lack of funds and a vagabond lifestyle have conspired to keep us writing those rent checks, even as we raise a family.

I do look forward to buying a place someday. Partly because it just feels good. Partly because I want to live free of a landlord’s whim.

But not all agree that buying a house is the best investment.

Is a House Like a Mutual Fund or a Used Car?

Emily Peck of the Wall Street Journal’s Juggle column argues in Why Homeownership is a Bad Idea that, “One of the lessons of the housing bust has been that a home is not a sure-thing investment. A point driven home recently by WSJ.com columnist Brett Arends, who writes that the real return on buying a home is lower than buying government bonds.”

That said, buying a house is not just a financial decision. Amidst warnings not to overspend, marketing genius Seth Godin points out in How to Buy a House:

A house is not just an investment, it’s a place to live. This is the only significant financial investment that has two functions. Things like cars and boats always go down in value, so most of the time, if you’re investing, you’re doing it in something that you don’t have to fix, water, fuel or live in.

You’re probably not going to be able to flip your house in nine months for a big profit. Maybe not even nine years. So … imagine that there is no financial investment, just a house you love. And spend accordingly.

Finally, Get Rich Slowly has a thorough article that explains ways to figure out whether renting or buying is more advantageous for you: Does Renting Make Sense?

You can also try the New York Times Rent Vs. Buy Calculator.

Reasons to Rent Instead of Buy

As home prices continue to fall in mid-2010, analysts are arguing more than ever that the American Dream may have to be redefined. Besides the gloomy predictions that homes may no longer serve the dual purpose of living space and nest egg, here are some more reasons why you might consider renting your abode:

1. The obvious: You don’t have a down payment, you can’t afford the mortgage installments, or you can’t qualify for a loan.
2. You might be moving in three years or less. These days, the amount of time you need to stay in a house for it appreciate enough to cover inflation and closing costs might be much longer.
3. You are not handy, you don’t have a green thumb, and you don’t ever want to unclog a gutter. (I have admit, I love being able to call the management company when the furnace breaks, the sink drain is slow, or the dishwasher goes kaput.)
4. You are new to a city and you know very little about area. Renting can be a great way to buy time as you figure out where you really want to live. (A house is not an island. Finding the best neighborhood should be the first step in your search.)

On the other hand, if you’re not good at socking money away for the future, buying a house is like forced savings. The down payment and all those mortgage checks can be like making deposits into a savings account (as long as you stay in the house long enough not to lose money).

After almost ten years of renting and moving, my husband and I are hoping to settle down next year. Since we are planning on staying put, we will probably buy.

Having had experience living in apartments, condos, townhouses and single-family homes, we kind-of know what we want. And that’s a good thing when you plunk down your life savings.

Amy Suardi has written about finding low-cost movers and good rental houses on her blog, Frugal Mama.

10 best shortcuts to get your house ready for a move

By moving expert Becky Harris of blog.upack.com

After six years of helping coordinate cross country moves, I’m a firm believer in preparing your house ahead of time—whether it’s a self-move or you’re hiring someone to do it all. I don’t know about you, but when I don’t have a plan, and the things around me are disorganized, my life feels a little out of control. And when you’re dealing with the stress of a move, the last thing you want is to feel out of control. Besides that, in most cases, the more stuff you move, the more your move costs. That could mean preparing your house is a money saver too. Maybe it sounds intimidating, but really, if you do it right, it doesn’t have to monopolize all your time. Here my top 10 shortcuts to getting your house ready to move:

1. Purge, eliminate…whatever you want to call it, just get rid of stuff you don’t need.

Don’t do it all at once though. Make it a goal to clean out one room a day…or week (depending how much time you have before your move day). Pick a room and clean out all drawers, cabinets, boxes—anything that holds “stuff”—and separate it into donate boxes, garage sale boxes, keep boxes and trash. If you haven’t used it in the last year, purge it. If you won’t use it at your new home, purge it. If it’s stuff you want to keep, but won’t use right away, go ahead and box it up.

2. Have a garage sale.

Or give it all to charity…whatever you prefer. Garage sales are a lot of work, but if you’re looking for a way to make a little extra money—maybe to pay for a couple of nights on the road while you’re moving—they’re a great idea. If you decide it’s not worth the hassle and prefer a charitable donation, make sure to get a receipt for a tax deduction.

3. Organize the stuff you keep.

It’s OK if you’re not ready to box up the stuff you’re keeping. Just organize it. You’ll find that if everything has a place, it’s much easier for you and your moving labor crew to pack safely and in an organized manner (where you know what box everything is in when it gets to your new home).

4. Clean as you go.

The cleaner your home is when it comes time to pack and load, the easier it is to get it done efficiently. After you’ve purged and organized a room, clean it and close the door. You’re done. This is especially helpful if you’re close to move-out day and leaving a clean house or apartment is a requirement.

5. Use things you can’t take with you.

Most moving companies have a do-not-ship list that includes items like perishable foods, household cleaners, candles and propane tanks. So, have a packing party complete with candles, perishable foods, and burgers on the grill (to use up the propane). Then, finish off the cleaning chemicals when they leave. Seriously though…use it up, so it’s not wasted.

6. Begin an inventory.

If you’re doing a do-it-yourself move, the moving company won’t require an inventory, but it’s a good idea to have one for your own file and for insurance purposes. You can do a room-by-room inventory on paper, but a video or photo inventory may be more useful. Get serial numbers and any other identifying information and keep it in a safe place (preferably with you instead of in a moving box).

7. Create a “move file.”

When you’re moving, you’ll have tons of paperwork—quotes, estimates, receipts, contracts—and it’s all important stuff that you don’t want to misplace. Put it all in a labeled file and keep it with you. You’ll definitely need it during your move, and you may need it after your move for tax purposes.

8. Gather all important forms and documents.

As you’re purging, organizing and cleaning, locate all school records, dental records, medical records, bank records, tax information, birth certificates, social security cards…any paperwork you may need to start a new school, change residency, register to vote, register your vehicle or visit a new physician. Put it all in a “forms and documents” file that you keep with you throughout your move.

9. Begin collecting boxes and moving supplies.

If you’ve decided on a do-it-yourself move or you want to save money on a full-service move, you’ll need good sturdy boxes. I’ve heard of people using throw-away grocery store boxes, or dumpster diving behind liquor stores for boxes, but I don’t recommend this practice —these kinds of boxes are not designed to protect fragile household goods. Instead, use boxes that were designed for moving. Start looking early, you may find good quality used boxes online.

10. Return any borrowed or rented items and pick up any items you’ve loaned out.

If you hire packers to put your belongings in boxes, they won’t know what’s yours and what’s not. You don’t want to take rental DVDs, library books or something you borrowed from a friend with you. So, while you’re purging make sure you give back the things that don’t belong to you. At the same time, don’t forget to pick up things like dry cleaning and things you’ve loaned out to friends.

About Becky and blog.upack.com
Becky Harris is a moving expert for ABF U-Pack Moving, a nationwide “you pack, we drive” moving service based out of Fort Smith, AR. The What Moves You? moving blog serves as a forum where consumers who are searching for moving companies, are seeking information about moving, or who have specific questions about moving can get their questions answered and find useful moving tools.

Be sure to check out Buttoned Up’s Moving.kit, Valuables.doc and Life.doc products to help you in your move!

Insurance Quotes: A Guide For First Time Homeowners

Difficulties Arise When Shopping For Homeowners Insurance Quotes

When it comes to searching for homeowners insurance quotes that fits your budget, it can be similar to selecting the perfect home for you and your family. You shop endlessly, until you come across:
• The right coverage that fits your lifestyle
• The right price that allows you to save
• The right insurance agent who will tell you your best options

But as you shop for those homeowners insurance quotes, you have to be careful or else you could run into future problems with your insurance policy. With today’s economy in turmoil, you may be more determined to get the lowest quote to save money on your coverage plan, but doing so may put you at risk of coverage gaps. Another possibility that could happen is that you choose homeowners insurance quotes that are too expensive and still don’t have the coverage you need to protect your property and assets.

Many homeowners do not know that they can negotiate rates with homeowners insurance agents by asking for ways to lower their monthly premium, instead of going with the flow. As CNNMoney.com reports, homeowners insurance policies can be settled between homeowners and insurers, before insurance claims are filed. Unfortunately, the opposite happens: homeowners end up being dissatisfied in the aftermath of a peril, and due to the insurer’s legal and contractual obligations, homeowners lose out on saving money.

The Right Way To Look For Homeowners Insurance Quotes

As you browse for homeowners insurance quotes, make sure that you compare them and select the best price that fits your means. However, remember that sometimes the most inexpensive quote is not necessarily the best, which is why you should also compare the coverage options of each insurance company.

Since each insurer differs in both homeowners insurance quotes and coverage options, you should:
• Thoroughly investigate every insurer’s background
• Ask your family and friends for recommendations
• Ask for discounts to lower your monthly premium.

Finding homeowners insurance quotes can be a frustrating process, but nothing can be more frustrating than encountering problems in your policy after you file a claim. To ensure an easy claim filing process and to secure its validity, make sure you record any valuables that are included in your policy (i.e. jewelry, furniture, electronics, appliances, etc.).

Last but not least, be sure to keep your eye on the fluctuation of homeowners insurance quotes annually. Even if you have an affordable homeowners insurance policy, there could be another company that has a better coverage plan at a lower rate. Practicing these tips will aide you in selecting the right insurer and reduces the chance of you running across surprises in your homeowners insurance policy in the future.

InsuranceAgents.com, an Inc 500 fastest growing company, provides consumers with expert articles and insurance quotes from up to five local agents.

Get your kid clutter under control—once and for all!

Ninety percent of my organizing clients are women and of those, ninety-nine percent are moms. This comes as no surprise to me, since I’m a mom of two kids myself. I understand how toy and kid clutter can invade a space and spread like a virus and why, when you’re already overwhelmed, you just want to wave a wand and make it all disappear.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple, and you’re going to have to take some measures to set up maintainable systems for your kids and their stuff. And then the really hard part comes in: you have to do the same for yourself. More on that in a moment.

First, follow these tips when setting up an organizational system for your child:

Bow down to kid clutter. Get on your knees when organizing your kids’ space. Seeing things from their perspective (and reach) will make a huge difference in how you organize their space.

Categorize and containerize.

Teach your child about categories by supplying containers where they can sort their toys and craft materials by type: Legos, Barbie, Pokemon finger paints, chalk, etc. Consider the type of learner your child is. If you have several children and they are visual learners, you can purchase different color bins for each child. Or you can use the colors to indicate the type of toy that should go in it. If she’s a kinesthetic learner, choose bins with different textures (metal, plastic, leather, wicker, faux fur) for sorting. If he’s auditory, attach bells and whistles to the bins (literally).

Create zones in the room.

Identify with your child the activities that take place in his or her room—sleeping, dressing, reading, crafting, music, homework, collections—and then make sure stuff for that zone stays there. When they get a new toy, decide together where its storage place will be so that they know exactly where to put it away when they tidy up and there’s no excuse for it to be on the floor.

Maintenance is key.

Teach kids to tidy up their rooms (bedrooms AND playrooms) just two times a day. The first is when they get ready for bed. Teach them to “put their rooms to bed” the same way they put their body to bed. So in addition to brushing teeth and changing into PJs, they clean up their room. This way they never wake up to yesterday’s mess. They start with a clean slate.

The second time they straighten up is whenever they leave the house for any reason. So no matter whether they are leaving for school, a sports practice, or dinner out with the family, the room has to be in order first.

Now back to why it’s important to keep yourself organized for the sake of your kids. It is imperative for parents to model the behavior they desire for their children because even before kids have the developmental capability to organize and compartmentalize their toys, clothes, and playthings, they have the most powerful ability imaginable: the ability to observe.

So if you want to know how to get your kid to put away his toys and clothes and keep his room organized, start in your own closet and take a look at the papers on your own desk. Are you setting the right example?

Ask yourself if you are modeling the “less is more” philosophy.

Do you keep things (clutter, paper, clothes) to a bare minimum in the home? Or do you buy a little something for your kids each time you go to Target just to keep them quiet while you’re there? Uh huh.

Once you are committed to modeling the right behaviors and you have set up systems your kids can use, you need to:

1. Set limits on what toys, books, and clothing comes into the home (and
playroom) and
2. Instill routines (remember, maintenance is key—hence why I’ve bolded
it). Lastly, you must
3. Be The Enforcer, and demand that these systems, limits and routines are
adhered to, even when you’re tired or in a hurry. Setting these
expectations early on will save you so much time (and nagging) in later
years.

Final thought:

July is Purposeful Parenting Month (I know, they have a holiday for everything, don’t they?). If you start to apply these tips now, when your kids are young, you will be taking the first step toward teaching your kids how to be organized adults. Now that’s what I call parenting with purpose!

About Heather and www.yourhomeeditor.com:

Heather Lambie is a professional organizer in Tampa Bay, FL and the Founder and CEO of www.yourhomeeditor.com. The names Your Home Editor (SM) and Your Business Editor are a nod to Heather’s degree in journalism and her 15 years experience in graphic design (much of it at magazines). Your Home Editors will help you organize and edit your possessions in the same way a magazine editor edits down the word clutter in an article. When only the best of the best remains, simplicity and perfection is revealed. Heather and her team offer inventive, clever solutions for simplifying the everyday clutter and stress that invades the modern lifestyle. Check out her amazing before and after shots as well as tips for organizing at www.yourhomeeditor.com