Author Archives: The Move Makers

Energize Your Home With Feng Shui

Move Planning and Management Productivity No Comments

Employing the ancient practice of Feng Shui (“fung shway”)  is a perfect way to establish a fresh, vibrant energy in your new home or reset the energy in your current home.

The Move Makers Project Manager Paivi Panttila Vargas is a certified Feng Shui practitioner, and advises on the positive elements of the practice for those who have been in their home for some time, or wish to incorporate it into a new space..

“Creating a good energy for a new home makes it possible to get settled faster and unlock new opportunities for the new life phase,” said Paivi.  “Feng Shui and other methods like Vastu and Wabi Sabi are there to give you inspiration and guidance on how to look at your home in a new, deeper way... Read the rest

Making Move Day A Little Less Maddening

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

The boxes are packed, the movers are scheduled, the new home is ready for you.  You’ve got the big moving day coming up, but will you be ready?  With a little preparation, move day can be a breeze.  Here are some ways to prepare that you may not have thought about: 

  1.  Pet care – while you’re excited about the move, your pet may be very confused and scared when the door is flung open wide and strangers are toting his favorite couch out to the truck.  Consider an offsite pet sitter or doggie day care for the day, so you won’t have to worry about your pup hiding somewhere or bolting out into the neighborhood. 
.. Read the rest

Pack The Right Way For A Move

How to Organize Move Planning and Management No Comments

When it comes to moving, packing is the task that many people dislike the most.  If all decisions have been made and you have gathered the proper packing materials, the task is much easier. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure your beloved items are not only efficiently packed, but safely, too.

Not all boxes are created equal – This may seem obvious, but some items can be damaged if transported in the wrong box. While liquor store boxes with their compartments may seem handy for your stemware, they are often not strong enough to sustain the normal jostling on a moving truck, and their thin sides can buckle easily if something is placed on top or shoved next to them... Read the rest

Keep It or Toss It?

Downsizing and Organizing Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

Here’s a quick checklist of items around the house to consider disposing of or donating before packing for a move.  You might find you get on a roll and clear out a lot more than you thought! 

Kitchen:

Plastic bowls and lids

Chipped or extra dishware

Promotional mugs

Unused appliances, like waffle irons

Excessive glassware

Duplicate kitchen tools

Bathroom:

Old prescription medication – don’t flush them down – the FDA has recommendations here

Expired over the counter medications

Old bath mats

Complimentary hotel shampoos/toiletries – consider a local shelter or charity for these

Stained or torn washcloths or towels – most animal shelters appreciate these

Living Room/Family Room: 

CD’s and DVD’s – there are many streaming services out there

Outmoded electronics and old cables 

Books – often a tough choice – here’s some help in deciding what to keep

Old magazines

Bedroom:  

Excessive clothing – now is the best time to glean what you want

Worn shoes, hats and purses

Old Linens

Broken or tired lampshades

Garage:

Unused camping, skiing and snowboard equipment – consider selling here 

Unused exercise machines or other sports equipment

Half-used potting soils or seeds – consider donating to a garden club

Old or cracked flower pots or planters

If you need assistance on organizing and sorting the things you have in your home before a move, get help from friends or family, or consider professional help with a company like The Move Makers... Read the rest

Why You Should Sort Before You Pack

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize Move Planning and Management Packing and Move Preparation Unpacking and New Home Set Up No Comments

You’ve found the house you love, and best of all, sold the one you’re in.  Now the real work begins – getting ready to move. Your first instinct may be to start packing up everything and organize it later. What you may not realize in your hurry to get the task accomplished is the longer-term negative effects of that decision, like the costliness of time, money and stress.

Here are four points to consider before you decide to pack up for moving day.

Saving Money:  Moving is costly, and whether you’re moving locally (where movers charge an hourly rate, or out of state, where the move cost is based on weight and distance), you should ask yourself if the investment in money up front and the time spent later, is going to be worth it to you... Read the rest

Quick and Dirty Tips to Keep Your Home Tidy and Organized

How to Organize Productivity No Comments

We’ve all been there on a sunny Saturday, faced with cleaning a messy house and having an opportunity to do fun things instead on a bright day.  Even if we choose to go out and have fun, sometimes knowing what’s facing us when we get back home can put a little tarnish on what should be a carefree moment.

There are a few quick tips that can keep the house in check if practiced throughout the week.  When practiced regularly, these small actions add up to a tidy house, and a place where you’d be happy to have friends stop by on a moment’s notice... Read the rest

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Home Safety Tip Productivity No Comments

That ice storm in February hit many of us by surprise, and with widespread power outages across the Portland metro region (including The Move Makers office in Lake Oswego), the idea of being prepared for the next emergency event is top of mind for us.  

We’ve compiled a short list of comprehensive websites that list the most important things to have on hand in advance should an emergency take place.  Since these are website links, it may be a good idea to print out the pertinent information and keep on hand in a handy file folder in case you lose power... Read the rest

Selling Your Home – Simple Steps for a Big Impact

How to Organize Move Planning and Management Packing and Move Preparation No Comments

You’ve found the perfect home, so now the pressure is on to sell the one you’re living in.  You know you have work to do to get it ready, but where do you begin?  The outside, for first impressions, or the inside, where the potential buyer needs to see how they’ll live in your current space?

Make a List. Before taking on any one project, take a long, objective look at your home, at those small things that you’ve ignored over the years, like the mismatched switch plates, the creaky bathroom cabinet, the dented wall by the back door.  Making a list is a simple task and as each item is addressed and corrected, you know you’re on your way to showing your home in its best light... Read the rest

How do you want to live in your space?

Downsizing and Organizing How to Organize Move Planning and Management No Comments

If you’re thinking about moving this year, or considering a refresh of your current space, one of the first things to think about is: how do I want to live in this space?  We take for granted that at least some of our furniture will work in our new space, no matter where that may be.  But it might be a good idea to look around and really SEE your furniture, and whether it’s functioning well for you. Are you looking for less upkeep?  Is mobility a factor?  Scaling furniture to your room can take some practice and knowing what to keep and not keep depends on the life you want to lead in the space... Read the rest

Just How Long Do Your Pantry Staples Last?

Home Safety Tip How to Organize No Comments

Baking season is upon us, and if you haven’t baked any cookies since the last holiday season, chances are some of your baking supplies are ebbing on the edge of expiration.  Right now may be a good time to get out the step ladder and dig deep into your pantry to purge any old supplies from your shelves and purchase fresh ones. Your cookies may come out a little nicer, too!

According to HGTV, home to many televised and online cooking shows, here are a few general rules for common baking staples, and how long they last at their best performance:

Vanilla and other extracts – these last indefinitely as long as they are sealed well

Baking soda – as long as it is sealed, it lasts indefinitely

Baking powder – up to one year

Sugar – indefinitely if kept in an airtight container – sugar has the added benefit of not allowing bacteria to take hold

Salt – the same as sugar – never get it wet!.. Read the rest