Important Steps to Get You Ready to Move Abroad

Moving abroad is one of the biggest lifestyle decisions that you could ever make. It changes your location, living situation, and the culture and people you’re surrounded by. In other words, it is not a decision that should be made lightly.

For many people, this change is a dream come true. However, some people are not reluctant to move because of the reasons mentioned above. Instead, they’re intimidated by the logistics of this international relocation. While this is a legitimate reason to postpone such a decision, the truth is that you can’t let fear (especially fear of making an effort) govern your life.

With that in mind and without further ado, here are several important steps to help you get ready to move abroad.

Talk to Your Family

The first thing you need to understand about moving abroad is that it won’t change things just for you. You’re also taking your family with you, which means that your partner and children will have to change schools, circles of friends, and even the entire culture that they live in. Even your friends and relatives who stay behind will have to come to terms with the fact that you’re… well, no longer there.

Seeing as how this affects a lot of people, it is vital that you postpone this conversation until you’re 100% sure that you’re actually moving abroad. When that happens, make a list (it can be a mental list, as well) of people who need to know and start breaking it down to them (preferably as gently as possible).

Most importantly, try to make your family understand why this is so important and why this has to be done. Explain all the benefits (pro arguments) of moving and promise them that you’ll do all you can to help them make up for the things they left behind. Now, here’s the hard part, you actually need to follow up on this promise to make them adjust.

Transporting Your Belongings

When looking for a clean start, you might just decide to leave everything behind and move abroad. However, from a financial standpoint, this is definitely not a good idea. Instead, you need to think about transporting your belongings and gathering as many items as you possibly can. If we’re talking about furniture, you might want to look for freight services.

Even then, it’s vital that you prioritize. You won’t be able to take everything and, depending on the cost of the freight and the size of your inventory, this might be less than cost-effective. Nonetheless, it is a calculation worth making, seeing as how it doesn’t save you just the money but the effort of acquiring new furniture, as well.

Lastly, if you have a personal vehicle, you might want to look for car shippers to help you out. There is one piece of advice that many people forget about when it comes to this – not everyone drives on the same side of the road. Therefore, it might be better to get a new vehicle if your steering wheel is on the “wrong” side (from the country’s perspective that you’re moving to). It is also worth your while to get a couple of driving lessons once you get there.

Moving Your Pet

One of the biggest issues that you will encounter is the idea of moving your pet. This concept is far from simple, seeing as how they might not have an easy time handling the international voyage.

So, look for a flight that allows pets (flight is the quickest form of transportation, which means they’ll suffer the shortest). Also, discuss with their veterinarian the prospects of sedating them for the flight. This is not taking an easy way out. It’s about minimizing their struggle and unnecessary suffering.

Remember that there are probably a lot of certificates to obtain, as well. For instance, you might have to vaccinate them properly before they’re allowed into a new country. Also, you’ll probably need to get a passport for them and closely study the pet import law of your target country. Overall, there’s far more paperwork here than you would expect.

Temporary Storage

Another thing you need to consider is the issue of temporary storage. Will you be able to move in immediately? Are there some renovations that you’ll have to handle on your own, which means that they won’t be finished by the time you’re ready to move abroad?

So, what do you do with all your belongings before you proceed to furnish the place? Ideally, you would find reliable and affordable storage at your target destination. Keep in mind that skipping this step and not scheduling it all in advance can cause a major halt in the process. This is something you can’t allow to happen.

You should also keep in mind that reorganizing your future home might depend on its layout. For instance, you may move to a bigger house than you originally had, which means you could get some more furniture or add an extra area or two. You could finally make a home office that you deserve.

Then again, your future home might be smaller than its predecessor. This would cause you to prioritize and choose to leave some of the items behind. It all comes down to a broader context of your move.

In Conclusion

Preparing to move abroad is not a simple task. However, it is something you are not likely to do many times in your life. Also, since this is a significant change, it is bound to be quite stress-inducing. This is why it is important that you take your time, plan everything, and always work with professionals. Check the professional reputation of people you’re working with to reduce the odds of an unexpected problem.

Most importantly, remember that you’re not in this alone and that things won’t change for you alone. Talk to your family and make sure that they’re on board before you set out. This may sound quite difficult, but you would be surprised at just how easy it is to reason with someone if you were just to try.

Guest post - The Most Common Patio Misting System Installation Mistakes

The patio misting system is proving to be one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways of staying cool outdoors.

With the tiny water droplets that a standard misting system forces out of nozzles at very high pressure, anyone can spend their time on their patio without overheating, even during the hottest days and nights of the year.

If you’re planning to install a patio misting system for your home, it’s best to have a professional misting system technician do the job. It’s not uncommon for some homeowners to take the DIY route, but many make mistakes with the installation that their misting systems end up not working as well as expected.                                                                                                                                                                                  

Here are some of the most common patio misting system installation mistakes.

Choosing The Wrong Pump Size

Whether your patio misting system produces microdroplets of water, as it should, or a dripping mess out the end of its nozzles depends primarily on the pump you’re using.

It’s the pump that supplies the pressure to force water out of the very tiny holes of a misting system’s nozzles and produce the very fine mist that keeps everyone comfortable. Appropriately-sized pumps should be able to do the job.

Some homeowners, however, end up choosing a pump that’s too small for the job. It may be able to provide enough pressure for the nozzles nearest to it to produce the expected mist, but the farther nozzles will tend to just drip water and make a mess.

To ensure you have the right pump size and power for your misting system, it’s best to ask your provider about it.

Too Many Nozzles

A patio misting system pump is designed to perform optimally with a set number of nozzles.

However, many homeowners make the mistake of adding more nozzles, thinking it with help with distributing the mist over a larger area.

What happens when your patio misting system has one nozzle too many is that it messes up the required pressure to produce the mist that keeps people cool without getting soaked.

Each extra nozzle will take away some of that pressure, and the system will end up producing larger droplets that will get people and things wet.

If you want to add more nozzles to expand your misting system’s coverage area, make sure you get the right pump size for the number of nozzles you have in mind.

Forgoing The Filtering System

Most misting systems come with a filtration system, which is essential, especially if you live in an area where the taps run hard water.

If you skip the filter and the water coming out of your taps brings minerals like calcium and magnesium along, your patio misting system will eventually have problems.

The scale that hard water leaves behind as residue is bound to build up over time and eventually clog the tiny holes of your nozzles. Worse, scale buildup can also clog the pipes.

Forgoing the filter can eventually damage your misting system, and that’s why you should not skip this step if you have hard water coming out of your taps.

Failing To Tighten Joints

A misting system is essentially a plumbing system with pipes, elbows, nozzles, and joints, and water running through it.

As with a plumbing system, every single joint must be tightened to prevent water from escaping in places where they shouldn’t be.

However, with the sheer number of parts involved, many DIY installers tend to forget to tighten every single joint. The only time they realize that there are loose connections is when they turn the system on and see pressurized water blasting out of everywhere.

When installing your patio misting system, make it a point to double-check every single piece to ensure that all of them are securely fastened.

Nozzles Are Too Close Together

Some DIY misting system installers get creative with the spacing of the nozzles and put them too close together.

The problem with nozzles that are too close together is that the tiny water droplets they produce will likely collide, and they end up becoming large enough to make the people within its coverage area feel damp.

As much as possible, follow the manufacturer’s recommended spacing and distribution for the nozzles.

These are just some of the most common mistakes people make when installing their patio misting systems the DIY way. Avoid them when you finally decide to install one yourself and have a smoother and more enjoyable patio misting system experience.

About the Author

Anna Fox is the Content Marketing Strategist of Señor Mist, a Phoenix, Arizona-based company that provides high pressure misting systems/fog effects, comfort heaters, patio drop shades, hvls fans and more. When not writing, she makes use of her spare time reading books and hiking with her dog, Blaze.

4 Signs It's Time to Have Your HVAC System Serviced

As a homeowner, one of the things that you will need to stay comfortable is a functioning HVAC unit. With a HVAC unit that is working properly, you will be able to stay cool in the summer months and warm during the winter months. While most HVAC units work properly, there are times when you may have to get it serviced or replaced. Whenever you are looking to address any issues you have with your HVAC unit, it is important to hire a reputable HVAC contractor.

Utility Bills Keep Increasing

According to USA Today, one of the signs that you need to get your HVAC unit serviced is when the utility bill keeps rising. Whenever you are getting unexplained changes to your utility bills, it is possible that there is something wrong with the HVAC unit. Anytime your bill consistently goes up, you will want to contact a HVAC company to inspect your unit, make any necessary repairs or get it replaced.

Uneven Temperatures in Your Home

Another sign that you will want to look for when looking to get your HVAC unit serviced is when the temperatures in the home are not consistent. Throughout the home, the temperature on the thermostat should be the actual temperature in every area. If not, it is time to get it looked at. Whenever the temperatures in the home are uneven, there could be a defect with the unit and you should therefore get assistance from a HVAC company to help you find a way to address this issue.

Little to No Airflow

As well as there being uneven temperatures throughout the home, you will need to get your HVAC unit serviced if there is little to no airflow. Any HVAC unit that either has weak or no airflow is a sign that there is a potential defect. As a result, you should contact a HVAC company to find out more about how you can resolve this issue with your HVAC unit.

Your Last Tune Up Has Been Longer Than a Year

When owning a home, it is important to get your HVAC unit serviced at least once a year. If you have not gotten your HVAC unit tuned up in one year or longer, it is a good idea to get it serviced as soon as possible. Getting your HVAC unit serviced once a year will ensure that the unit is working properly and/or if there is anything that needs to get repaired or replaced.

It is important to make sure that your HVAC unit is working at all times. The best way to ensure that your unit is always working at its best is to look for signs that it needs to be serviced. These four signs are the things to look for to determine whether or not you need to get our unit serviced and complete any necessary repairs so that you can remain comfortable in your home at all times.

9 Clever Ways to Keep Your Tiny House Kitchen Organized

Tiny homes are making huge waves nowadays. From rustic to fairytale-like aesthetics, these houses are slowly sprouting here and there.

However small in size, this type of house doesn't mean it needs no cleaning. In reality, a scaled-down version of a traditional home has areas that are harder to tidy up.

Because the space is limited, there are restrictions when it comes to cleaning. Sometimes, you have to take your furniture out of the house before you can even start.

One of the most crucial spaces that need attention is the kitchen. Aside from the fact that this is where you prepare your food, it's also where you'll be most of the day. More so if it also serves as your dining and living area.

Take it from sanitation experts, Maid Sailors Cleaning Services Austin, TX. They believe that a clean, tidy kitchen is the happiest place to be in. We couldn't agree more.

To inspire you to get moving, here are nine clever ways to keep your tiny kitchen organized.

Clear Away Some of the Clutter

First, you should get rid of anything that does not spark joy.

You don't want any clutter to get in your way when you're about to make the meanest chicken pot pie in the world, or well at least in your world.

Start by going through each of the drawers in your kitchen. A high-level purge is exactly what you need when you want to clear away some of the clutter. There's no need for you to keep two pairs of everything when you can get by with one.

Once you see that all drawers are clear of mess, that's when the absolute satisfaction begins. The next step is to find other storage in the house to clean.

Prioritize Most-Used Kitchen Tools

Identify which of the kitchen tools you use most often. Once you're done, put them in the most accessible drawer so that you won't have to rearrange stuff all the time.

A tiny space means you have to be more creative on where you place your stuff. You don't want to constantly move things around so that you can reach items that are pushed back at the bottom of the drawer.

Whether they're ladles and spoons, or knives and scissors, you still have to be careful about where you put them. 

Invest in Useful Storage

When it comes to tiny houses, clever and functional storage spaces are ample. You can have a settee converted into a drawer where you keep your pots and pans.

Ensure you have storage for every item in your kitchen—knives, cups, plates, and holders included. That way, it's easier to identify where you put them and where exactly to get them when you need them.

Invest in such drawers or containers so you can give yourself plenty of room to move. Multi-functional items are helpful when you are a tiny homeowner. You may have a smaller space, but you have complete items around you—and that's one of the essential factors when owning a home.

Use the Tops of Your Cabinets

The space on top of your cabinets is a good spot for extra storage. You don't have to add another drawer for all your bulky items like pots or cookbooks. You can stash them above your existing cabinets, and you're good to go.

It's one organizational skill that you can use when living in a tiny house.

However, don't try to clutter it with non-essential stuff. It's not a pleasant sight, especially if you want to keep your tiny home looking all sparkly and exquisite all the time.

Consider a Fold-Down Table

Instead of a typical kitchen table, a fold-down version is your best bet. It works similar to a traditional table, but it respects the space that you have.

When not in use, you can easily fold and stow it away in one of your cabinets, so you can have the extra space to move around and go about your day.

Another upside is that it's also easier to clean. You can take it out, wash it down with water, and you can put it back without a sweat. There's no need for you to uninstall and reinstall all the time.

Besides, you can always choose to have al fresco dining right outside your tiny home when you feel like doing so.

Organize by Zones

Another organizing hack we swear by is when you do it by zones. Don't just stash and stack things just for the sake of organization. Try to be as strategic as possible.

If you don't know where to begin, you can arrange everything by function. For example, you can put everything edible on the right side and the tools on the left side. Whatever floats your boat, do it as long as they are neat and properly stored.

Make Use of Cabinet Shelf Risers

When you don't have the extra space, there's no need for you to add shelves. What you can do is to buy shelf risers instead. It gives your already existing cabinet an added layer where you can put other essential items.

There is no need to read manuals for installation; just put it on top of the cabinet, and you're ready to start organizing again. Easy as that. No need to exert extra effort.

Keep Counter Space Clear

When maintaining your tiny kitchen, always keep your counter space clear. It may be small, but it gives you the illusion that you have space even when it's limited.

When you're starting to notice that your kitchen countertop is filling up with clutter, remember its primary purpose—to prep meals. If it doesn't serve its primary purpose, build another storage space for the mess.

Hang Items on the Back of Cabinet Doors

The back of cabinet doors is also a great way to hang stuff. The fact that it's hidden most of the time is a great excuse to hang items that you don't want visitors to see, but you use often. It's a creative space to put potholders and washcloths.

Besides, it's a great use of space, especially when you have nowhere else to put them. You can mount racks or hooks behind cabinet doors, and you have an instant place to put other essential kitchen tools.

Your home may be tiny, but if well-kept, the feeling is much like living in a groomed mansion.