Posted on February 27, 2012 by Ruth

Moving during the winter months can be challenging. With recent cold snaps that have hit the UK, the thought of moving at this time of year can be daunting. So we have put together our top tips for moving in the cold weather to help you prepare.

First of all make sure your new home has heat and lights! Ensure all the utilities have been set up and are fully functioning. If you’re lucky enough to have access to the property beforehand, try and ensure they are all turned on a few days before you move in to make sure everything is working and it is warm for when you arrive.

If there has been snow or ice, take the time to clear all walkways and parking areas. Use salt or sand to ensure these areas are not icy or slippery. Moving boxes in and out is difficult enough in good weather conditions so ensuring this is clear will help. If you are moving to a new area and unable to visit your new property, have your agent or property manager look at that for you. Remember to also check the area on the morning of your moving day just in case it snowed overnight or conditions have changed. In which case, you may need to clear those areas again to avoid any potential accidents.

Use floor protection in your old and new home to protect inside space. Correx board is a great product for floor protection. Correx board is lightweight corrugated plastic sheeting. With its corrugated design it will absorb small impacts protecting your floors from damage (it is also useful for protecting walls and decor from the inevitable small knocks and scrapes that occur when moving furniture). Alternatively, you could use large pieces of cardboard or multipurpose floor protection that can simply be rolled out to ensure high traffic areas are protected from snow, sand and water. If your floors will not be damaged from using heavy duty tape (test in a corner area first), then tape plastic sheets to the floor. Cardboard works well for carpeted areas as small tacks can be used to secure it to the floor.
Having salt and sand as well as shovels available is important. Make sure whilst you are transporting your belongings (especially if you are doing it yourself), that you have these to hand at all times in case of an emergency or your vehicle gets stuck.
Plan your route carefully and if the weather is bad then try to keep to the main roads. If you are moving to a more isolated location the weather may delay your move so keep an eye on the weather forecast.
As you will be relying on your transport, it is a good idea to ensure that your car is serviced. Carry a spare tyre, a petrol can and oil in your boot for an emergency. It is also wise to carry a shovel and salt in case of snow, a blanket, extra clothes and a flask! Keep your road side assistance up to date too! Make a list of emergency contact telephone numbers and put it in your glove compartment or mobile phone. If needed you will be glad you took the time to do this.
It is always a good idea to keep extra supplies on you. Extra layers of clothing as well as hot drinks to hand will be welcomed when the temperature plummets. Keeping a flask on you at all times will help to keep everyone warm and motivated. It is a good idea to pack your kettle last and then load it into the essentials box before you lock up and leave your old home. To save having to pack mugs and spoons, you could buy some recycled paper cups and wooden spoons which can be put straight into the recycling when used. You will also need to provide hot drinks at your new home, so make sure you have enough supplies on hand for both the move out and the move in.
Whether you are hiring movers or having family or friends to help, having a supply of snacks and food is important. In the winter, try to provide hot foods that will help keep people warm. Instant soup mixes or chili served with hot rolls makes for a great lunch or quick snack.
These tips for moving when it’s cold will help to prepare you and hopefully ensure a smooth transition to your new home. Planning is key, if you are organised and prepared, everything should run smoothly!

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Posted on February 22, 2012 by Ruth

Every day people throw away items that could easily be recycled. According to research 60% of the rubbish we throw out is recyclable. For many, they underestimate the benefits of recycling and do not see the value in making the extra effort to do so.
Here are a few facts that may make you re-assess the impact that recycling has on the environment:
• Facilities for paper recycling are widely available and yet paper is the most common item to be thrown out. The next time you are about to throw away the Sunday newspaper remember that over 500,000 trees are used to make the Sunday newspapers in the UK alone. By recycling your newspapers and household paper waste we can help to sustain the environment. Paper production from recycled stock requires 70% less energy than manufacture using raw materials. This is a huge saving for the environment and should encourage us all to recycle paper.
• Plastic bottles and bags make up a large proportion of the rubbish in our landfill sites. Most families throw out plastic every year which could very easily be recycled. Plastic can be re-used and recycled. Plastic bottles that have not been recycled take hundreds of years to decompose and can also be responsible for trapping and killing a large number of small creatures in the wild.
• Aluminium cans are a widely used commodity in the UK. Even though companies are trying to move to more environmentally friendly ways of packaging their products, there is still a huge amount of aluminium cans being produced which once used are not being recycled. A single can take around 500 years to decompose and power a television for around 3 hours! So wherever possible recycle your aluminium cans or when buying your items, see if there is an alternative packaging option.
• Glass is another material that people don’t always tend to recycle. Glass that is thrown away ends up in landfill sites and will never decompose. So wherever possible, it should always be recycled or re-used as it is 100% recyclable and can be used again and again. Huge amounts of waste are produced each year just to make glass. If everyone tried to recycle glass, this waste could decrease by more than 80%.
• Statistics reported in the Daily Telegraph in February 2012, show that more than 17 million electronic devices such as mobile phones, music players and sat navs are sent straight to landfill sites. Yet according to O2, the mobile phone provider, 1 in 3 adults who throw away this type of item would have received an average of £43.54 from a recycling centre.
• Supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda as well as Boots and Royal Mail are among the companies that offer cash for used goods in reasonable conditions.
At times it may seem like a lot of effort to recycle. Nevertheless what seems like a minor inconvenience can help to reduce the pollution we produce and have a hugely beneficial effect upon the environment. And in some cases you can get paid for it.
*Figures used in this article were taken from the recycling-guide.org.uk

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Posted on February 2, 2012 by Ruth

When it comes to de-cluttering our houses it is often difficult to know what to do with the items that are no longer needed. Many possessions seem too good to throw away or you simply don’t know how to dispose of them. Here are a few simple ideas and tips on how to recycle your de-clutter!
Most people in towns and cities have access to recycling banks. They are quite often positioned next to supermarkets. So when you make your next trip to the supermarket for your weekly shop, load up the boot of your car with items that can be recycled there. You can usually deposit glass bottles and jars, paper, plastic bottles, textiles, tins and sometimes aluminium foil, cardboard and batteries. Start getting into the habit of separating your items and rubbish and it will be easier to get into the habit of recycling. Most local authorities now provide doorstep recycling for most of these household items including food waste.
If you have transport, another option is to take larger items including electrical, oil and paints to your local council tip. Look in the yellow pages or search the internet and you will find where your local tip is located. Usually, anything considered in a sellable condition will be on show to the public and will be sold very cheaply.
For larger, bulkier items such as furniture and mattresses, get in touch with your local council. They are often able to take these items for you and recycle them by making them available to needy families. You could also try and scrap larger items such as furniture. Steel and aluminum furniture, as well as appliances can be sold for scrap and some plastic furniture can be melted down and reused. It may well be recycled into something new and exciting.
Donating is a very valuable way to recycle your clutter. Giving items to charity shops, shelters or any non-profit organisation is a great way to help others in need. Charity bags are quite often distributed to households and it is easy to use these to donate any unwanted clothes as they will be collected directly from your home. Alternatively, drop any items you would like to donate at your local chosen charity shop.
For electrical and electronic equipment it is worth noting that all companies classed as "producers" under the UK Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations have to provide consumers with an option for recycling waste electronic products so when you purchase a new electrical item from a store, retailers may take back your old electrical item. It is worth asking when buying your new product whether they provide this service.
De-cluttering is a great opportunity to recycle. With our landfill sites becoming increasingly burdened and the environmental impact of waste, this can provide an excellent opportunity to kick start a new recycling way of life!

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